“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhart

Happy Sunday!

This week included not only Thanksgiving Day but also my 51st birthday. I have been thinking about gratitude this week as I feel so fortunate for all I have and the blessings and insights each new day brings.
I am using today’s writing as an exercise to record at least 51 things I am grateful for from this past year, so here I go:
I am grateful for starting out the year with 5 birthday cakes on my 50th birthday and all the wonderful people I got to share them with.
I am thankful for Peter, his patience with me and his own journey of discovery of self. I am thankful for all our interactions that make me reflect on my own behavior which aids in my growth.
I am thankful for Alex, for Jenna coming into all our lives, and for his finding a career path that seems to suit him. I am also thankful that I spoke to him when I was concerned with his thoughts on what I felt was an unsuitable career path.
I am thankful Ian, for his Graduation! (I am talking about the completion of his schoolwork; the party was pretty good too!) I am thankful for who he is, just the way he is. I am thankful for the self reflection I must do as a Mom trying to raise a good man.
I am thankful for Max and Ginger.
That’s fifteen so far.
I am thankful for Barbara, my sister and my friend. I am thankful for being able to help her this year with her move and family turbulence as she has helped me so often in my life. I am thankful to share time with her each week. I am thankful she has a new lovely home. I am thankful for a garage sale with Lauren. I am thankful for time spent with Georgia. I am thankful for a family wedding (congrads Rich and Robyn) bringing everyone together and most especially for the princess dance.
I am thankful for Sunday lunches with Mom, and that she has had good health this year. I am thankful for the hug I get when I see her.
I am thankful for each Sunday lunch, the ones when we are just a few and we speak of spirituality and when more family joins us and we get to catch up on everyones’ news.
I am grateful that George has had this time to share and re-connect with me once again, for his life that has moved through troubled times and seems to be better. And also for the lesson he gave me on acceptance.
I am thankful for Paul, his family, and how he makes me smile.
I am thankful for Mike, his family, and his caring for Mom and all of us.
I am thankful for Richard, his family, and reflections earlier this year about Dads and daughters.
I am thankful for a 60 year anniversary for Aunt Peg and Uncle Bob along with another great party with their wonderful family.
Thirty-seven!
I am thankful for my job and new realizations that I shouldn’t do it all on my own, that I am part of a team, and for acceptance that I need to be a teacher. I am thankful for my bosses and my staff. I am thankful for acting boldly and for getting recognition for my courage and wisdom. I am thankful that I have been wise enough to turn the tough times over to the Holy Spirit for guidance.
I am thankful for my health and no sick days from work this year! Amazing!
Fourty-six!
I am thankful for the spiritual journey I am on. I am thankful for the books that come in the right order to bring the lessons I must next work through.
I am so thankful for the inspiration that pushed at me for months to write this blog. I am thankful for so many lessons I worked through each week in the blog such as those on integrity, acceptance, brotherhood, courage, perception, and Love, to name the few that are significant in my memory.
I am thankful for an open heart.
51! (or perhaps more)
So here I am. So blessed and grateful to begin another year, being able to wake each morning and say “Thank you!” to God, Mother Earth, the Universe, and to me.
OK one more …
Thank you Lord for the awareness of the beauty of life.
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” ~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh