Showing posts with label counting blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label counting blessings. Show all posts
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
49-26 What did I forget and hope I don't repeat...
49. My marriage, it is a gift and I'm so grateful for all of it.
48. Stupid stuff like magic cards and Farkle, card games and Scrabble, I love playing these things with my kids, and I'm grateful they're willing to play with me.
47. My brother Danny who talks on the phone with me and makes me roar with laughter when we get the chance.
46. My husband's love of history is something that keeps educating me.
45. The power of the list. I don't know why it works but it does. If I write it down, somehow things happen. If I don't, nothing gets done. So I'm grateful for the tool. Now I just have to a) remember to use it and b) not lose it while I'm doing the things on it.
44. My son John is sweet, kind and smart. He also gives generously of his heart to his classmates and his family. He leads the younger ones in play, he helps daily by baking the snack, and he's always up for a game. He also does his homework without nagging which is a double bonus for me.
43. Barbecue Beef brisket and ribs, Bluebell ice cream (pralines and cream) and real coke-cola in a glass bottle from Mexico. Three samples of heaven on Earth that I will never turn down. So glad I can still have them.
42. Memories. Having lost my dad to Alzheimer's, I know how fleeting recall can be. I forget when I walk into the next room why I walked into the next room enough now. It is a gift to retain knowledge, deep awareness of what came before, especially in a day and age that flits from moment to moment and has half a twitter tweet span's worth of attention.
41. The struggles of every day are a gift, because they are opportunities for grace. I know I carry a light cross by comparison with so many in this world, both past and present. God puts up with me constantly asking to make it lighter.
40. My favorite person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. I suppose it should be Jesus, but I've always felt close to the advocate, I've always loved Confirmation most, and I've always worn a dove necklace representing the Holy Spirit. So I'm grateful for the gifts and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39. Furniture! Sometimes, we've not had what we needed and all of sudden, bam! We have a table that way, and two beds and two chests of drawers from three separate occasions where this sort of thing happened. Today, we get twelve folding chairs. :) March on. God will provide.
38. Opportunities like meeting Marie-Helen Matthieu of Faith and Light, and Gregg Gannon's family at the Food drive, that come from being a Freelance writer.
37. The vision of Heaven, the promise of it if we seek. The other day, I went to adoration and found myself singing in my head, a song sung at mass, the words of the good thief, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." and as I allowed myself to follow the memory, I imagined the giant receiving line one would find at a great wedding. We did not get to have a receiving line at our wedding reception as we would have spent the entire time greeting everyone. But in eternity, time is not an issue, and so we would have the distinct pleasure of getting to really converse with each person who led us to this moment, culminating in the one who gave us the opportunity to be here at all. It brought great joy to vision it, and to hope that this is part of the experience of the great wedding feast.
36. My intellect is dusty and clunky, but I'm grateful for all that my brain can do, even if the rest of me sometimes doesn't make what it thinks up, happen.
35. My body is dusty and clunky and clumsy, but I'm grateful for all it can do, even if the rest of me sometimes (read often) doesn't make what it should do (exercise) happen.
34. The gift of hearing stories, having an understanding face. Sometimes, I'll be just in the process of going about life and someone will tell me a story that is so heart-breakingly beautiful, I can't stand it. Whenever I get the privilege of hearing one of these tales, I know it is a gift.
33. Growing up with lots of Aunts, Uncles and cousins. I don't get to see them often, but when I do, it's like breathing in childhood, it feels comfortable, and I'm so grateful to have all of them.
32. The Happening Team. My parents belonged to a retreat team for young adult Catholics in the early 70's (hence the name), and the people I met there (as a child aged 4-8 I think), are still my friends today. They sang at my wedding. Some of them taught me in school, and when I hear songs at mass they sung, the way the songs are sung now, doesn't sound right to me without their voices.
31. Long road trips with my family are a gift my husband organized over the years that now is an expectation. Of course people always grouse when we say the magic word "Camping" but that complaint gets destroyed by the actual beauty and fun of doing it.
30. Unexpected Snow days. They are my favorite. We sleep in. We dig out. We make hot chocolate and everyone just unwinds. It's what makes winter (after Christmas) bearable for me.
29. Lunch dates with my teens. It's a tradition I began back with my oldest. When they get a half day, we go out to lunch. It's nice to get to visit with just the older ones and to give them that sort of solo time (or close to solo as it comes in our house).
28. My daughter Anna keeps making me rediscover the joy of toddlers. Because I've had toddlers for so long, I sometimes gloss over the events I should notice. She revels in everything as a first child, and so I get to re-experience the newness with her.
27. I'm almost done with this boast and I've made good on it. Good thing I didn't say 1000...though I probably could....stop...don't say that Sherry. Okay, that I'm part of the Catholic Conference 4 Moms.
26. Catholicmom.com's weekly column of Small Success Thursday which began over at Faith & Family and became my project --a gift from Danielle Bean to me, and has led to other opportunities to write for publication and also a weekly habit of cultivating gratitude. Come over and see the last twenty-five posted and leave your own list!
48. Stupid stuff like magic cards and Farkle, card games and Scrabble, I love playing these things with my kids, and I'm grateful they're willing to play with me.
47. My brother Danny who talks on the phone with me and makes me roar with laughter when we get the chance.
46. My husband's love of history is something that keeps educating me.
45. The power of the list. I don't know why it works but it does. If I write it down, somehow things happen. If I don't, nothing gets done. So I'm grateful for the tool. Now I just have to a) remember to use it and b) not lose it while I'm doing the things on it.
44. My son John is sweet, kind and smart. He also gives generously of his heart to his classmates and his family. He leads the younger ones in play, he helps daily by baking the snack, and he's always up for a game. He also does his homework without nagging which is a double bonus for me.
43. Barbecue Beef brisket and ribs, Bluebell ice cream (pralines and cream) and real coke-cola in a glass bottle from Mexico. Three samples of heaven on Earth that I will never turn down. So glad I can still have them.
42. Memories. Having lost my dad to Alzheimer's, I know how fleeting recall can be. I forget when I walk into the next room why I walked into the next room enough now. It is a gift to retain knowledge, deep awareness of what came before, especially in a day and age that flits from moment to moment and has half a twitter tweet span's worth of attention.
41. The struggles of every day are a gift, because they are opportunities for grace. I know I carry a light cross by comparison with so many in this world, both past and present. God puts up with me constantly asking to make it lighter.
40. My favorite person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. I suppose it should be Jesus, but I've always felt close to the advocate, I've always loved Confirmation most, and I've always worn a dove necklace representing the Holy Spirit. So I'm grateful for the gifts and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39. Furniture! Sometimes, we've not had what we needed and all of sudden, bam! We have a table that way, and two beds and two chests of drawers from three separate occasions where this sort of thing happened. Today, we get twelve folding chairs. :) March on. God will provide.
38. Opportunities like meeting Marie-Helen Matthieu of Faith and Light, and Gregg Gannon's family at the Food drive, that come from being a Freelance writer.
37. The vision of Heaven, the promise of it if we seek. The other day, I went to adoration and found myself singing in my head, a song sung at mass, the words of the good thief, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." and as I allowed myself to follow the memory, I imagined the giant receiving line one would find at a great wedding. We did not get to have a receiving line at our wedding reception as we would have spent the entire time greeting everyone. But in eternity, time is not an issue, and so we would have the distinct pleasure of getting to really converse with each person who led us to this moment, culminating in the one who gave us the opportunity to be here at all. It brought great joy to vision it, and to hope that this is part of the experience of the great wedding feast.
36. My intellect is dusty and clunky, but I'm grateful for all that my brain can do, even if the rest of me sometimes doesn't make what it thinks up, happen.
35. My body is dusty and clunky and clumsy, but I'm grateful for all it can do, even if the rest of me sometimes (read often) doesn't make what it should do (exercise) happen.
34. The gift of hearing stories, having an understanding face. Sometimes, I'll be just in the process of going about life and someone will tell me a story that is so heart-breakingly beautiful, I can't stand it. Whenever I get the privilege of hearing one of these tales, I know it is a gift.
33. Growing up with lots of Aunts, Uncles and cousins. I don't get to see them often, but when I do, it's like breathing in childhood, it feels comfortable, and I'm so grateful to have all of them.
32. The Happening Team. My parents belonged to a retreat team for young adult Catholics in the early 70's (hence the name), and the people I met there (as a child aged 4-8 I think), are still my friends today. They sang at my wedding. Some of them taught me in school, and when I hear songs at mass they sung, the way the songs are sung now, doesn't sound right to me without their voices.
31. Long road trips with my family are a gift my husband organized over the years that now is an expectation. Of course people always grouse when we say the magic word "Camping" but that complaint gets destroyed by the actual beauty and fun of doing it.
30. Unexpected Snow days. They are my favorite. We sleep in. We dig out. We make hot chocolate and everyone just unwinds. It's what makes winter (after Christmas) bearable for me.
29. Lunch dates with my teens. It's a tradition I began back with my oldest. When they get a half day, we go out to lunch. It's nice to get to visit with just the older ones and to give them that sort of solo time (or close to solo as it comes in our house).
28. My daughter Anna keeps making me rediscover the joy of toddlers. Because I've had toddlers for so long, I sometimes gloss over the events I should notice. She revels in everything as a first child, and so I get to re-experience the newness with her.
27. I'm almost done with this boast and I've made good on it. Good thing I didn't say 1000...though I probably could....stop...don't say that Sherry. Okay, that I'm part of the Catholic Conference 4 Moms.
26. Catholicmom.com's weekly column of Small Success Thursday which began over at Faith & Family and became my project --a gift from Danielle Bean to me, and has led to other opportunities to write for publication and also a weekly habit of cultivating gratitude. Come over and see the last twenty-five posted and leave your own list!
And there you have it! 100 blessings.
And now I will promise to write something that's not a list next time.Wednesday, February 11, 2015
74-50 (also known as me and my big mouth)...
74. The gift of creativity. I'm grateful because I'll need it to see the totality of this list and have no repeats. But I've always been able to draw and writing came later, but I've always loved trying to write stories. The first day I took creative writing in 4th grade with Mrs. Bolic, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Who wouldn't love doing creative writing? That's what I thought.
73. The eventual gift of insight. You'd think with that sort of revelation, I'd have known sooner than I found out, but eventually, I figured it out --it took a sledge hammer of a hint. (Graduate professor saying she expects to see me in print didn't do it, writing stories for family didn't do it, having someone say you should send this to the Catholic Standard --that's what started it). Curiously, it happened during Catholic Schools week, and right before Lent.
72. Lent! I love Lent. It has always helped orient me if I've allowed it. I found one of my vocations because of a Lenten resolution --working with the handicapped, deepened a friendship with my sister, and read things I otherwise would have stoutly ignored and thus not discovered I loved. So Lent is a blessing to me.
71. My son John is a gentleman but he's also silly. He's one of those kids you savor spending time with because he takes such delight in spending it with you. These days, he's my baker and every day he loves to come home and prepare a baked snack for the whole family. My diet doesn't appreciate it, but I do.
70. I've come back to Peter because he does another thing I wish to be grateful for, he demands introspection about all things and has a fierce love of justice and fairness. As a result, he prevents his mother from going on auto-pilot parenting wise, and for this, I'm grateful because I'd miss much if he didn't.
69. The Magnifcat. It's a monthly magazine I receive and frequently lose mid month, but which I try to read every day I can find it. Twelve years ago my mother introduced me to this collection of the daily prayers, saint of the day, and meditation. She said then, "A mother of five doesn't have much time to pray." and it was true, my whole life was homework, errands and diapers, or felt that way. But having the Magnificat tucked in the mini-van let me spend a bit of contemplative Mary time in my then Martha life and still does.
68. My friend Shelley is a treasure. It doesn't matter that we haven't seen each other since she and her family moved to Dallas, we talk on the phone and the years and mileage slip away. No one can make me laugh as much as she does, and no one (I've told her this), has a more Catholic Marian heart than her who isn't Catholic. She is someone who I talk and the time slips away. It's just fun and joyous even the struggles of everyday life.
67. Organization and discipline. Two things I struggle with daily, but discover every time I use them rather than avoid, make my life easier or at least more manageable. You'd think I'd come to terms with simply embracing these two things as if they were salt and pepper of the day, but no, every day I have to will myself to look at the calendar, write down the list of things to do, and then begin the arduous process of doing them.
66. Did I already say books? I know I said music. I'm a lazy reader. That's a shameful thing for a writer to admit, but it's true. I don't read music very well either, I play by ear which explains why my repertoire of pieces remains so very small. But I love trying and when I finish a book, it feels like I hunted a giant boar or deer and now brought home the kill, I did it. It's a silly feeling, but I keep trying to force myself to read more, knowing it is good for me, even as the slothful part of my brain says...later....wouldn't you rather sleep or write --writing is good, but I know I need to read the same way I need to listen. I know I like to talk, but if I'm doing all the talking, I am missing out on other people, and if I'm doing all the writing, I am losing so much more than anything I have to say. So I love books and keep trying to become more well read.
65. The gift of time. Not many people can say they stayed home with their children these days, not for 22 years anyway. It is a gift from my husband, it is a generous gift, I'm grateful for each minute, God forgive me for any and all of the time I've wasted.
64. It's Rita's turn. She makes me sing. She makes me dance. She hugs tighter than anyone else I know. At mass, sometimes I'm in awe at her reverence. She has a big kind heart and is passionate about everything she does.
63. Running out of things in my brain and I still have 37 to go....okay....New York City. I'm grateful to have lived there before I had children, it was a fun romantic place to spend the first year of marriage. We had a blast and thus I have a soft spot for the big apple.
62. My writing community! They're intelligent talented people who push me to work harder and write better than I otherwise would.
61. Patience....something I only discover I'm missing when I need the gift most. But I'm grateful for when I do have it, and when I have the wits to ask for it.
60. The songs my daughter sings. Anna frequently sings to herself about herself in third person. It's rather delightful. "Oh yeah, her foot's better. It doesn't sting. She's all better." (the bandage fell off). or "She did it. (Pottying), Only Anna, she did it. Only Anna. Yeah Yeah Yeah!"
59. Answered prayers. I can't tell you how many times though if I could, it would make the list a lot easier, I've asked and BOOM, received. It's scary. It's also amazing and wonderful. Miracles every day, miracles constantly. The people of Israel received 40 years of mana and quail, following a column of fire or a column of wind, miracles every day they could see. I've had those in my life, from praying I'd meet someone who would love me for me (the summer of 84 at the beach) and meeting the man I would marry the third day of school, to silly things like "Saint Anthony we've lost a shoe again" and boom...I know I checked that closet six times but the seventh, there it is. I prayed for Dad not to be alone when he died, and for Mom to be present, to not be robbed of those last moments. It was answered to the letter, on Ash Wednesday, two days after I made that prayer.
58. God's sense of humor. I make plans. God laughs. God reveals his plans for me gradually, and I laugh.
57. Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College are part of my history, part of my family's life for generations past, and places I love, even as all the faculty I loved retired or has passed away. The places themselves hold stories and beauty and I hope one day, each institution gets at least one of my children to carry on the legacy.
56. The current and past two popes. I've had the honor of visiting one (as one of 1000 or so in the room) though I snuck to the front and got a good picture of him, attending mass celebrated in DC with another, and am enjoying reading and watching our current pontif. I'm grateful for all three, all of whom represent a different component of the faith, because none of them could encompass all of it, they are part of the body of Christ, not the sum. But I feel as if I know each of them, and there is a beauty in each of these men dedicated to God and his Church.
55. Facebook and emails and the internet. Why would I be grateful for these three things that do eat a lot of time if left unchecked? Because I've reconnected with people I would not have, met people I would not have, and learned things I would not have as a result of these tools. As long as they remain tools and not a lifestyle or substitute for life, they're good things, things which allow for beauty and knowledge, wisdom and community, friendship and memories to be preserved.
54. A husband that knows how to play and deliberately crafts weekends around play. He organizes football games, hikes, trips to museums and magic tournaments. He orders baseball tickets and sojourns to mountains and civil war battle grounds.
53. Boston College. I went there for graduate school and it was a very important part of my life, living on my own,
52. Cooking shows. It's a stupid thing to love but back when I first became a stay at home mom, cooking shows became a passion of mine, They gave me adult thinking during the day when most of it was breast-feeding and napping. I still love them.
51. My daughter Regina gives me huggies. She is quiet and reflective but also feels all things deeply. She's clever and kind. When she smiles, it's like the sun peaking through the clouds.
50. EWTN radio. (1160 AM). I listen every day. Having the mass on while I clean helps keep me from getting irritated with children who leave apple cores on a table or piles of laundry they should have brought down.
I'll get to the last 25 tomorrow...I hope I don't leave anyone or anything out, but I will, because even though it is hard to come up with 100 blessings, I know, there are always more if I bothered to look.
73. The eventual gift of insight. You'd think with that sort of revelation, I'd have known sooner than I found out, but eventually, I figured it out --it took a sledge hammer of a hint. (Graduate professor saying she expects to see me in print didn't do it, writing stories for family didn't do it, having someone say you should send this to the Catholic Standard --that's what started it). Curiously, it happened during Catholic Schools week, and right before Lent.
72. Lent! I love Lent. It has always helped orient me if I've allowed it. I found one of my vocations because of a Lenten resolution --working with the handicapped, deepened a friendship with my sister, and read things I otherwise would have stoutly ignored and thus not discovered I loved. So Lent is a blessing to me.
71. My son John is a gentleman but he's also silly. He's one of those kids you savor spending time with because he takes such delight in spending it with you. These days, he's my baker and every day he loves to come home and prepare a baked snack for the whole family. My diet doesn't appreciate it, but I do.
70. I've come back to Peter because he does another thing I wish to be grateful for, he demands introspection about all things and has a fierce love of justice and fairness. As a result, he prevents his mother from going on auto-pilot parenting wise, and for this, I'm grateful because I'd miss much if he didn't.
69. The Magnifcat. It's a monthly magazine I receive and frequently lose mid month, but which I try to read every day I can find it. Twelve years ago my mother introduced me to this collection of the daily prayers, saint of the day, and meditation. She said then, "A mother of five doesn't have much time to pray." and it was true, my whole life was homework, errands and diapers, or felt that way. But having the Magnificat tucked in the mini-van let me spend a bit of contemplative Mary time in my then Martha life and still does.
68. My friend Shelley is a treasure. It doesn't matter that we haven't seen each other since she and her family moved to Dallas, we talk on the phone and the years and mileage slip away. No one can make me laugh as much as she does, and no one (I've told her this), has a more Catholic Marian heart than her who isn't Catholic. She is someone who I talk and the time slips away. It's just fun and joyous even the struggles of everyday life.
67. Organization and discipline. Two things I struggle with daily, but discover every time I use them rather than avoid, make my life easier or at least more manageable. You'd think I'd come to terms with simply embracing these two things as if they were salt and pepper of the day, but no, every day I have to will myself to look at the calendar, write down the list of things to do, and then begin the arduous process of doing them.
66. Did I already say books? I know I said music. I'm a lazy reader. That's a shameful thing for a writer to admit, but it's true. I don't read music very well either, I play by ear which explains why my repertoire of pieces remains so very small. But I love trying and when I finish a book, it feels like I hunted a giant boar or deer and now brought home the kill, I did it. It's a silly feeling, but I keep trying to force myself to read more, knowing it is good for me, even as the slothful part of my brain says...later....wouldn't you rather sleep or write --writing is good, but I know I need to read the same way I need to listen. I know I like to talk, but if I'm doing all the talking, I am missing out on other people, and if I'm doing all the writing, I am losing so much more than anything I have to say. So I love books and keep trying to become more well read.
65. The gift of time. Not many people can say they stayed home with their children these days, not for 22 years anyway. It is a gift from my husband, it is a generous gift, I'm grateful for each minute, God forgive me for any and all of the time I've wasted.
64. It's Rita's turn. She makes me sing. She makes me dance. She hugs tighter than anyone else I know. At mass, sometimes I'm in awe at her reverence. She has a big kind heart and is passionate about everything she does.
63. Running out of things in my brain and I still have 37 to go....okay....New York City. I'm grateful to have lived there before I had children, it was a fun romantic place to spend the first year of marriage. We had a blast and thus I have a soft spot for the big apple.
62. My writing community! They're intelligent talented people who push me to work harder and write better than I otherwise would.
61. Patience....something I only discover I'm missing when I need the gift most. But I'm grateful for when I do have it, and when I have the wits to ask for it.
60. The songs my daughter sings. Anna frequently sings to herself about herself in third person. It's rather delightful. "Oh yeah, her foot's better. It doesn't sting. She's all better." (the bandage fell off). or "She did it. (Pottying), Only Anna, she did it. Only Anna. Yeah Yeah Yeah!"
59. Answered prayers. I can't tell you how many times though if I could, it would make the list a lot easier, I've asked and BOOM, received. It's scary. It's also amazing and wonderful. Miracles every day, miracles constantly. The people of Israel received 40 years of mana and quail, following a column of fire or a column of wind, miracles every day they could see. I've had those in my life, from praying I'd meet someone who would love me for me (the summer of 84 at the beach) and meeting the man I would marry the third day of school, to silly things like "Saint Anthony we've lost a shoe again" and boom...I know I checked that closet six times but the seventh, there it is. I prayed for Dad not to be alone when he died, and for Mom to be present, to not be robbed of those last moments. It was answered to the letter, on Ash Wednesday, two days after I made that prayer.
58. God's sense of humor. I make plans. God laughs. God reveals his plans for me gradually, and I laugh.
57. Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College are part of my history, part of my family's life for generations past, and places I love, even as all the faculty I loved retired or has passed away. The places themselves hold stories and beauty and I hope one day, each institution gets at least one of my children to carry on the legacy.
56. The current and past two popes. I've had the honor of visiting one (as one of 1000 or so in the room) though I snuck to the front and got a good picture of him, attending mass celebrated in DC with another, and am enjoying reading and watching our current pontif. I'm grateful for all three, all of whom represent a different component of the faith, because none of them could encompass all of it, they are part of the body of Christ, not the sum. But I feel as if I know each of them, and there is a beauty in each of these men dedicated to God and his Church.
55. Facebook and emails and the internet. Why would I be grateful for these three things that do eat a lot of time if left unchecked? Because I've reconnected with people I would not have, met people I would not have, and learned things I would not have as a result of these tools. As long as they remain tools and not a lifestyle or substitute for life, they're good things, things which allow for beauty and knowledge, wisdom and community, friendship and memories to be preserved.
54. A husband that knows how to play and deliberately crafts weekends around play. He organizes football games, hikes, trips to museums and magic tournaments. He orders baseball tickets and sojourns to mountains and civil war battle grounds.
53. Boston College. I went there for graduate school and it was a very important part of my life, living on my own,
52. Cooking shows. It's a stupid thing to love but back when I first became a stay at home mom, cooking shows became a passion of mine, They gave me adult thinking during the day when most of it was breast-feeding and napping. I still love them.
51. My daughter Regina gives me huggies. She is quiet and reflective but also feels all things deeply. She's clever and kind. When she smiles, it's like the sun peaking through the clouds.
50. EWTN radio. (1160 AM). I listen every day. Having the mass on while I clean helps keep me from getting irritated with children who leave apple cores on a table or piles of laundry they should have brought down.
I'll get to the last 25 tomorrow...I hope I don't leave anyone or anything out, but I will, because even though it is hard to come up with 100 blessings, I know, there are always more if I bothered to look.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
The Other 75...
On Thursday, Small Success will include 25 people/things for which I am grateful, as part of my answer to my own boast during a conversation, "I could name 100 things to be grateful for in life without breaking a sweat." Writing an article with 25 things is a long post, so I will try to limit my commentary on those gifts I acknowledge in this piece, as I'm going to try to come up with the remainder to make good on my words. Here are the first 25 more....
100. The beach on the Bolivar Peninsula is a favorite place on Earth: The Beach house may not be there, but it's still a stretch of heaven to me both of past memories and present beauty.
99. My daughter Anna is potty trained. I am almost down to only one in diapers. That hasn't happened since before May of 1996.
98. Having a sense of humor; it keeps me sane and everyone else laughing when life is insane.
97. The Rosary: I cannot say it without discovering something new even if the prayers remain the same every time.
96. Music: I love to dance, I love to sing (though no everyone loves hearing me), and so I love good music and introducing my kids to tunes I love. It is a joy of this world and the next. We can't have a perpetual wedding feast without good songs.
95. Good Priests: I've known many at the various parishes I've attended over 48 years of living, and in many cases, I never got to say "Thank you" for the wisdom, counsel and service they gave me, be it at a hospital, or while in graduate school, or when I showed up out of the blue and very needy on occasion for steel to get through a hard trial.
94, Fishing. I don't do nearly enough of it these days, but it is a great love of mine, to stand in the warm gulf with a line in the water and wait. It doesn't matter if I don't catch anything, though it's always even more fun if I do, I love it.
93. Writing. Most of the time I sit down and discover what I think as I go, but sometimes, I sit with a purpose, and when something I write means something to someone else, it makes me happy for the time I spent.
92. Gardens. My husband loves growing and tending and creating them. I love how they look, and love harvesting from the ones he cultivates for us during the summer.
91. My third child loves beauty and romantic love, and she encourages me to look after my appearance, to pay attention to my health, and for me to plan date nights. She gets the importance of her father and me getting time when we are not on the clock, even if circumstances don't allow for it to be very often. Still, she has a kind and generous heart, and wants to give us that opportunity when she can.
90. Money. It seems weird to write that but I'm grateful for the means to do what we do.
89. People who write brilliant beautiful and funny things, like the Anchoress, Mark Shea, Simcha Fischer, Rebecca French, the guys at Creative Minority Report, Larry D, A Mothering Spirit, Sarah Reinhart and Lisa Hendey. I know there are tons more and I could keep listing, but this is already a long list post, so I'll just say, there are more and I love them all.
88. My second son in particular, has the great gift of humor, though he sometimes uses it at the wrong time, and he also is very sensitive. He teaches us to pay attention to what we say at all times, to work on having gentle and generous dispositions, and when things are difficult, to pray more often. He requires I be vigilant (a virtue I lack) in organization, and in anticipating, he keeps me awake, so I don't sleepwalk through this parenting business.
87. My dance teacher. She taught me long ago, but the lessons she gave still work. Stand tall, tummies in, chin high, smile, eyes front, you're beautiful. Tall like the sun, a sunflower, be proud, be strong, be beautiful. She'd say while going around correcting form. I can still hear her when I suck in my stomach and straighten my back.
86. My piano teachers. I still remember many of the pieces they taught me, and when I'm frustrated or sad, sometimes, words can't get out the feelings, but those pieces on the piano can.
85. Scripture. This year I'm reading the entire bible --using a great book, My Daily Catholic Bible, to do so, and the more I read, the more I love it.
84. My brother Danny, who sometimes calls out of the blue, and whenever he visits or calls, it is always something that brings joy. Back when I first became a mom for the first time, he came over and played the guitar for me, making up silly songs about my infant son. I still remember them and the smile they brought to my face when I was coping with feeling utterly overwhelmed by it all.
83. My sister Jennifer, who dropped everything to come and help my family when Paul was in the hospital even though she was newly pregnant. (Very Marian of her, but then she is that way). I love our visits. Last Lent, we called each other each day, I'm sort of hoping we might pick that up again.
82. My brother Joe --always closest in age to me, and most of my misadventures from high school include him, he challenges me, he lives close by and I love when he brings his family to visit. I also love that he fills my house with beautiful music on the piano. I think the piano loves him too, "Finally.....something new!" the 88 keys exclaim.
81. Having a gym membership. My mother gave it to me for Christmas, and just as it feels good to work if you've not worked for while, it feels good to work out, even as the muscles rebel against being made to move.
80. Teachers from high school who believed I could do something. I know I didn't think so, and no amount of telling me would convince me, but there were some faculty who saw something I didn't, and somehow, via patience, expectations and persistence, coaxed my brain to work more than I knew it could.
79. Wild flowers. They're my favorite, the way they dot the Texas hillsides and highway sides. I love seeing flashes of red, pink and blue among the long green as we drive by at 65+, such that when I've stopped the car to look at them, they're different than I imagine.
78. Cuddles from Anna. She loves to curl up cat like in my arms. I'm enjoying this youngest one even as she continues to grow up.
77. My son Paul's sweetness. Yesterday I announced we were going to the store. He brought me my coat, and when I took it, he high fived me for getting ready.
76. Faith's kindness. Yesterday, she did the dishes without complaint. This morning, she brought me hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon. She does little things all the time with great love. I remain forever grateful for her kind heart.
(I'll post 25 more tomorrow, and 25 more on Thursday). Count your blessings, they're all part of small success.
100. The beach on the Bolivar Peninsula is a favorite place on Earth: The Beach house may not be there, but it's still a stretch of heaven to me both of past memories and present beauty.
99. My daughter Anna is potty trained. I am almost down to only one in diapers. That hasn't happened since before May of 1996.
98. Having a sense of humor; it keeps me sane and everyone else laughing when life is insane.
97. The Rosary: I cannot say it without discovering something new even if the prayers remain the same every time.
96. Music: I love to dance, I love to sing (though no everyone loves hearing me), and so I love good music and introducing my kids to tunes I love. It is a joy of this world and the next. We can't have a perpetual wedding feast without good songs.
95. Good Priests: I've known many at the various parishes I've attended over 48 years of living, and in many cases, I never got to say "Thank you" for the wisdom, counsel and service they gave me, be it at a hospital, or while in graduate school, or when I showed up out of the blue and very needy on occasion for steel to get through a hard trial.
94, Fishing. I don't do nearly enough of it these days, but it is a great love of mine, to stand in the warm gulf with a line in the water and wait. It doesn't matter if I don't catch anything, though it's always even more fun if I do, I love it.
93. Writing. Most of the time I sit down and discover what I think as I go, but sometimes, I sit with a purpose, and when something I write means something to someone else, it makes me happy for the time I spent.
92. Gardens. My husband loves growing and tending and creating them. I love how they look, and love harvesting from the ones he cultivates for us during the summer.
91. My third child loves beauty and romantic love, and she encourages me to look after my appearance, to pay attention to my health, and for me to plan date nights. She gets the importance of her father and me getting time when we are not on the clock, even if circumstances don't allow for it to be very often. Still, she has a kind and generous heart, and wants to give us that opportunity when she can.
90. Money. It seems weird to write that but I'm grateful for the means to do what we do.
89. People who write brilliant beautiful and funny things, like the Anchoress, Mark Shea, Simcha Fischer, Rebecca French, the guys at Creative Minority Report, Larry D, A Mothering Spirit, Sarah Reinhart and Lisa Hendey. I know there are tons more and I could keep listing, but this is already a long list post, so I'll just say, there are more and I love them all.
88. My second son in particular, has the great gift of humor, though he sometimes uses it at the wrong time, and he also is very sensitive. He teaches us to pay attention to what we say at all times, to work on having gentle and generous dispositions, and when things are difficult, to pray more often. He requires I be vigilant (a virtue I lack) in organization, and in anticipating, he keeps me awake, so I don't sleepwalk through this parenting business.
87. My dance teacher. She taught me long ago, but the lessons she gave still work. Stand tall, tummies in, chin high, smile, eyes front, you're beautiful. Tall like the sun, a sunflower, be proud, be strong, be beautiful. She'd say while going around correcting form. I can still hear her when I suck in my stomach and straighten my back.
86. My piano teachers. I still remember many of the pieces they taught me, and when I'm frustrated or sad, sometimes, words can't get out the feelings, but those pieces on the piano can.
85. Scripture. This year I'm reading the entire bible --using a great book, My Daily Catholic Bible, to do so, and the more I read, the more I love it.
84. My brother Danny, who sometimes calls out of the blue, and whenever he visits or calls, it is always something that brings joy. Back when I first became a mom for the first time, he came over and played the guitar for me, making up silly songs about my infant son. I still remember them and the smile they brought to my face when I was coping with feeling utterly overwhelmed by it all.
83. My sister Jennifer, who dropped everything to come and help my family when Paul was in the hospital even though she was newly pregnant. (Very Marian of her, but then she is that way). I love our visits. Last Lent, we called each other each day, I'm sort of hoping we might pick that up again.
82. My brother Joe --always closest in age to me, and most of my misadventures from high school include him, he challenges me, he lives close by and I love when he brings his family to visit. I also love that he fills my house with beautiful music on the piano. I think the piano loves him too, "Finally.....something new!" the 88 keys exclaim.
81. Having a gym membership. My mother gave it to me for Christmas, and just as it feels good to work if you've not worked for while, it feels good to work out, even as the muscles rebel against being made to move.
80. Teachers from high school who believed I could do something. I know I didn't think so, and no amount of telling me would convince me, but there were some faculty who saw something I didn't, and somehow, via patience, expectations and persistence, coaxed my brain to work more than I knew it could.
79. Wild flowers. They're my favorite, the way they dot the Texas hillsides and highway sides. I love seeing flashes of red, pink and blue among the long green as we drive by at 65+, such that when I've stopped the car to look at them, they're different than I imagine.
78. Cuddles from Anna. She loves to curl up cat like in my arms. I'm enjoying this youngest one even as she continues to grow up.
77. My son Paul's sweetness. Yesterday I announced we were going to the store. He brought me my coat, and when I took it, he high fived me for getting ready.
76. Faith's kindness. Yesterday, she did the dishes without complaint. This morning, she brought me hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon. She does little things all the time with great love. I remain forever grateful for her kind heart.
(I'll post 25 more tomorrow, and 25 more on Thursday). Count your blessings, they're all part of small success.
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