abundant gratitude

100. 100 things. last but not least. the woman, the book and page that started my gratitude journey.

100. "simple abundance: a daybook of comfort and joy" by sarah ban breathnach.
i love this book. it is a book of days, a return to the basic, simple abundance in our lives. a gift in 1996....and ever since.
january 14th is the page that changed my life. seriously. i've kept a gratitude journal since 1996. that's a long time. part of that time, my journal was typed out--online, part handwritten--in books.

at a women's retreat that year--1996, i led a session on gratitude journals.
this is the journal from that weekend. i know when that retreat was from the journal entries tucked inside. so much has happened in fourteen years.

it's funny, i'm still most grateful for the same things now as I was then--plus another son to love.


best
deborah

attitude of gratitude

i am thankful for songs and music, painting and sculptures, movies and literature everyday. some days, hard days--they pull me through. do you ever feel that way? and some days, the right song at the right time is like a blessing. a friend loans you a book just when you need it most? i love when that happens. these nine things are like that for me. enjoy. :)

91. jack johnson's song, "better together"....alright, pretty much anything jack johnson's does or is;)
92. dave matthew's song "you might die trying"
93. "night" by elie wiesel

94. mark rothko's painting #24
95. the sound of music with julie andrews
96. "wonder" by natalie merchant
97. any book or story by anne lamont
98. genesis 1
99. genesis 2


best
deborah

accessible thanksgiving

continuing on--as for me, thanksgiving is so much more than a day in november. it's a mind-set--a way of life. i am grateful for:

81. libraries
82. hospitals83. parks
84. schools
85. art museums
86. police and fire stations
87. theaters
88. places of worship
89. community gardens
90. post offices

best
deborah

cornucopia

the pineapple was not cooperative.

that's pretty much all i have to say about that cornucopia of fruit.

r and i baked. the one thing i can bake. the one thing that always turns out pretty and yummy. it's a thanksgiving miracle every year. i am thankful.

so we're busily cooking and baking.

tonight we'll watch "a charlie brown thanksgiving". we loooooove charlie brown in this house. i will pull for charlie brown. and will be mad at lucy. again.

when r heads to bed, big red, b and i will watch "planes, trains and automobiles".
i love that movie. it's steve martin and john candy. what's not to love? here's a clip. steve martin's character, neal is just trying to get home for thanksgiving with his family when he finds himself stuck with del, john candy's character.
big red and i try to watch this every year. it's perfect while waiting for stuff to come out of the oven.

i'll be back with more of my 100 things....in the days ahead.


best
deborah

you made the list

i am grateful for so many people. people i know personally--and people i've never met. my guess? you will see yourself on my list. alright, look for yourself.

51. people who show up in life
52. people who speak what is kind and true
53. people who work late into the night while the rest of us sleep
54. people who risk everything for someone else
55. people who play hard
56. people who never give up
57. people who ask for forgiveness
58. people who give with a warm hand
59. people who love unconditionally
60. people who listen
61. people who think before speaking
62. people who stand for something
63. people who dream big
64. people who see the best in others
65. people who do things i cannot
66. people who make it look easy
67. people who struggle through
68. people who step up
69. people who love deeply
70. people who make me want to be a better me
71. people willing to make the hard choices
72. people who do the right thing
73. people who write or sing or dance or paint or strum with abandon
74. people who recognize when they've made a mistake
75. people who are an open-minded
76. people who wear their heart on their sleeve
77. people who are patient
78. people who never leave anyone behind
79. people who respect themselves
80. people who understand a bigger picture
told you. :)


best
deborah

abundance of thanksgiving

the gratitude continues--what i am thankful for. the next 40 things on my list,in no particular order, outside of the number attached. ;)

11. clementines
12. hand-written notes
13. sunshine
14. painting
15. going barefoot
16. laughing until you cry
17. good manners
18. catching fireflies with my boys
19. kissing
20. the sound of waves
21. the scent of lilacs in may
22. passion
23. the kindness of strangers
24. books that can transport
25. big red on the 12 string
26. soup from bones
27. conversations about the deep important stuff
28. sunsets
29. sleeping with the windows open
30. holding hands
31. good big ideas
32. finding money in your pocket
33. friendliness
34. the deep love and friendship between our sons
35. birds singing
36. scarves and cozy mittens
37. photographs and moments in time captured forever
38. celebrating the big and little things
39. forgiveness
40. sincere compliments
41. a happy childhood
42. cheering for our sons from the sidelines
43. my creative space
44. coloring outside the lines
45. playing for keeps
46. one-on-one time
47. evening walks
48. coffee on the patio
49. candlelit spaces
50. pie

best
deborah
p.s. doing this on a grey monday morning? best. thing. ever. it's like a little dose of happiness.

keeping lists

it's that time of year.

that time to begin the list.

no--not who's been naughty and who's been nice.

the other list--everyone here makes one.

i encourage all the boys to make it as long as possible.

100 things or more.

it's probably the only list i'm pretty good at keeping.

i almost never write a to-do list or grocery list (which surprisingly doesn't always work out so well). i suppose there are many other kinds of lists too. i wouldn't really know.

so today i'll start mine, just the first 10 things.

100 things i am grateful for:

1. my sweet life
2. getting to do life with big red
3. being momma to my two most favorite spirited boys
4. my parents are still so much in our lives
5. memories of my wonderful grandparents
6. our adorable kitties--indie and true
7. a soft, safe spot to call home
8. my dear friends
9. finding joy everyday
10. a little idea from a book 14 years ago

so? want to join me? write your first 10 things? just 10.


best
deborah