Friday Fave Five - November 13th

Today's that day again - Friday!!! Time to take a look at the week and name my favorite five things about the week.

1. Mark and Lindsey's wedding - so fun and so great to see them happy! The hubby and I loved meeting so many of their other friends, too - people we felt like we knew instantly from years of stories!

2. Traveling with the hubby - airports, rental cars, crazy little towns, hotels, and new restaurants. So fun. We always enjoy new adventures with each other!

3. The hubby taking care of me all week - I've been down again with another horrible cold! I wish my body handled colds like normal people... Instead I get totally knocked out! But the hubby is so good to me - picking up meds, juice, and whatever food I'm craving at the store... Getting baths ready for me... Making me homemade mac and cheese! He's good stuff!

4. My pastor pulling me aside and telling me that all my hardwork lately has been noticed - by her other pastor friends. It felt really good!

5. Book group. Even though I didn't feel good - these ladies can always lift my spirits and make me feel better. And Melissa brought chocolate chip cookies!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. A day at home - it's been a long week!
2. Sleeping in.
3. The dog got her haircut and vaccinations...
4. Pizza!
5. Clean pjs.
6. Our Anniversary Memory book.
7. No plans this weekend.
8. Being able to breathe easier.
9. Candles.
10. The dog's sweater - cheesy, yes - but it gives her a little more independence when she's freshly shaved!

Miracles

"There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
--Albert Einstein

"Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lives the peace of God.

"In becoming aware of this, we experience the miracle of Real Life. 'In asking for miracles, we are seeking a practical goal,' Marianne Williamson reminds us, 'a return to inner peace. We're not asking for something outside us to change, but for something inside us to change.'"
--Simple Abundance

Things I am thankful for today:

1. A late start.
2. Cold meds.
3. Having my work noticed and appreciated.
4. Lots of visitors to Open Sanctuary.
5. A fun meeting - lots of good ideas and positive "vibes"!
6. Coming home to my hubby.
7. Grey's Anatomy.
8. Orange Juice.
9. My job being approved in the budget for 2010!
10. Feeling like I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Ladies of Grace - November 11th

I haven't done this in awhile - but I witnessed a cool moment that I thought I would share. The "Ladies of Grace" post is a time when we stop a take a moment to reflect on where we saw grace in the last week - either we experienced it from someone else or we had an opportunity to allow our hearts to soften or warm and to extend grace to someone else.

Last week, while we were in the midst of traveling from Minnesota to Michigan, I made my usual stop in the ladies' room before boarding the plane. The restroom attendant was busy cleaning the sinks and wiping up the dripped water after every woman reached for the paper towels... She was extremely dedicated to the tidiness of her restroom!

As I was noticing this, another lady - a well-dressed, business woman - stopped and thanked the attendant. Not a quick, "thanks," as she rushed out the door - but an intentional, look-the-person-in-the-eye, thank you for doing a wonderful job and for making our experience more pleasant.

I couldn't help but smile as the attendant practically beamed her smile. My guess is, she doesn't have that happen very often!

That moment of grace was a beautiful moment - it uplifted the attendant, and it was a wonderful example for all of us who witnessed it!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Grace.

2. Appreciation.

3. Hard workers.

4. A comfortable office to work long hours in.

5. A fun meeting.

6. Soft sweaters.

7. The hubby making me homemade mac and cheese.

8. Cucumber melon bubble bath.

9. Ideas.

10. Laughter.

"No"s

"When your prayers seem delayed or denied, you need to ask Spirit if you're praying for the right thing. If you're not, ask that the right prayer be revealed to you. Very often when we're told "No," it's to allow us more time, space, wisdom, and experience to prepare for the glorious moment when, because you're finally ready, willing, and able, Spirit answers you with a sharp, sudden, and resounding 'Yes!'"
--Simple Abundance

Things I am thankful for:

1. Answers to prayers.
2. Book group.
3. Realizing the things I worry about most.
4. Chocolate chip cookies.
5. A busy day at work.
6. Hot tea.
7. Banana bread.
8. Kleenex.
9. Purell.
10. Giggles.

Prayer

"...with every breath, with every heartbeat, women pray. We pray with desire, longing, hunger, thirst, sighs, remorse, regret. We pray with disappointment, discouragement, despair, disbelief. We pray with anger, rage, jealousy, envy. We pray with pleasure, contentment, happiness, exultation, joy. We pray with gratefulness, acknowledgement, appreciation, acceptance, relief. We pray when we comfort, cheer, console. We pray when we laugh. We pray when we cry. We pray when we work and play. We pray when we make love or make a meal. We pray when we create or admire creation. One way or another, we pray. Everyday life IS the prayer. How we conduct it, celebrate it, consecrate it. It's just that some prayers are better than others. Conscious prayers are best.

"In it's purest form, prayer is conversation. Communion. Connection. Intimacy. Prayer is the dialect of Divinity. Prayer is actually the authentic conversation because you don't have to hold back; you can say whatever needs to be said, exactly the way you want to express it, when you want to express it. You won't be judged. You won't risk losing love; instead, by praying you will increase your awareness of it. You won't have to phrase your words carefully lest there be misunderstandings, because you can't be misunderstood. Even if you don't know what you want or need, Spirit knows what you're about to say, ask, beg, scream, or praise before you utter a syllable."

--Simple Abundance

God hears us - when no one else does. We all need to be reminded of that sometimes.

Things I am thankful for today:

1. A day at home.

2. Cold medicine.

3. Being excited to get back to work!

4. Fuzzy slippers.

5. Books.

6. A cozy fireplace.

7. Toast with blueberry rhubarb jam. Yum.

8. General Hospital... Yes, I'm a sucker.

9. Honeycrisp apples.

10. The ability to pay bills.

Gratitude

"Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace as thunder follows lightning."
--Karl Barth

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Being home.
2. My church.
3. Generosity.
4. Thankfulness paper chains.
5. Nice long walks.
6. Having our Christmas shopping almost done!
7. New cookie sheets - GIANT ones!
8. Yummy squash soup.
9. Soduko.
10. Cuddles from the pup.

Heading Home

A long day of travel today... But still things that make us smile! Things I am thankful for today:

1. Comfy clothes for traveling!
2. Water.
3. Getting to say good-bye to friends.
4. Everything going smoothly again!
5. WARM weather! (In the 70s!)
6. The "tunnel" at O'Hare airport in Chicago - cool neon lights on the ceiling and oriental music... perfect for my sore head!
7. Art work everywhere at O'Hare - so fun!
8. Ginger Ale.
9. Mom and Dad picking us up at the airport with the pup, and our car. Lovely!
10. Our own bed. Splendid.

The Wedding

Well, today they did it! Mark and Lindsey are officially married! My hubby was a wonderful best man, with a funny and heart-warming toast! We made new friends and celebrated with old. We ate, we danced, we laughed - it was a nice night.

Congrats, Mark and Lindsey! We love you and were so excited to be with you on your special day!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Sleeping in til noon! Woo-hoo!

2. A yummy breakfast at the hotel.

3. Getting to drive our rental car around - a Pontiac Vibe. I liked it!

4. Making eye contact with the hubby during the wedding ceremony.

5. Remembering our day.

6. That the hubby is in the wedding party - and I'm not - for once!

7. Sparklers.

8. Big band music.

9. White Christmas lights.

10. Kicking my heels off!

Rehearsal

Tonight's the big rehearsal for our dear friend Mark, and his beautiful bride! We're having so much fun getting to know the rest of the groom's friends - people we have heard about for 8 years... and can finally place names and faces (and embarrassing stories!). He's a lucky guy to be surrounded by such great people! So cool.(After the rehearsal most of the groomsmen and wives went out for a couple of drinks - this is the crazy group!)

(Me with two of my favorite guys - the groom, Mark, me, and my hubby, the best man.)

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Waffles.

2. Pottery Barn Outlet! (Can you hear the "Allelulia Chorus" playing?) Too bad we were flying... No purchases were made....

3. Beautiful sunny days!

4. Having coffee with the bride and groom before the chaos began.

5. Yummy pumpkin lattes.

6. More outlets... GAP had a great deal on cozy sweatpants!

7. A pretty crystal chandalier bought as a memento of Frankenmuth, Michigan.

8. Bumming around town with the hubby - so fun. Even the crazy weird town of Frankenmuth can be fun!

9. Taffy and fudge - a staple of all small tourist towns!

10. Bronner's Christmas Store - didn't go in (it was HUGE), but thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas lights at night!

Leavin on a Jet Plane

On our way to our friend, Mark's, wedding in Michigan! What a beautiful day for a plane ride!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. A funny flight attendant finished her speech with "Make it a good day!"

2. A little boy in the airport belting out "who let the dogs out, woof, woof, woof woof!"

3. The same little boy sitting behind us on the plane looking at a 3D book about sharks with his mom - we all knew when the 3D glasses were working! Such excitement!

4. All flights were on time - easy travel.

5. The hubby saying, "I like traveling with you."

6. Watching the sunset from mid-air.

7. Having a nice hotel in a funny little town.

8. With a Brewhaus right across the street! Good beer, and good service!

9. Driving into town we passed an old-fashioned looking diner called the "Oink Joint." It looked like one of those country diners in the movies that have ghosts sitting in the booths... It made us laugh!

10. Finishing the night off with a wonderful reuban sandwich!

Real

My reading in Simple Abundance today, reminds us of the story of The Velveteen Rabbit. Here's one of my favorite lines in the whole story: "The Skin Horse patiently explained to the bunny that 'Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child lives you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.

"Becoming Real doesn't happen overnight to toys or people. 'Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.'"
--Simple Abundance
Sometimes being Real comes with a lot of unpleasantness - I got my reminder letter in the mail yesterday to make my appointment for the 6 month mammogram to check on my breast lump... Which reminded me to make my six month appointment for my cancer check... There can be a lot of anxiety in being Real - but all of that can remind you how much you are loved, and how good life is, as well.

Sometimes we think life would be better and more fun if there wasn't unpleasantness... But I think it makes it all the richer and more beautiful!

Here's to being Real!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Encouragement
2. Teamwork
3. Ideas
4. Starting another blog for my church
5. Dinner with a friend
6. Two new ladies at book group!
7. A friend's funny laughs
8. Getting work done before I leave for my trip
9. Mom and Dad helping with the dog and rides to and from the airport - so nice!
10. Excitement

Soul

"We were created for no other reason than to love, nurture, nourish, sustain, protect, uplift, inspire, delight, charm and comfort the beloved presence within each of us... Psychotherapist and writer Thomas Moore calls this profound attention to the authentic needs that stir deep within 'caring for our souls.'"

"It is through 'the small details of everyday life' that we make our souls feel welcome."

"Today, be willing to ask your Soul what she requires to make her stay more pleasurable. Ask often:
What do you need at this moment?
What would bring you peace, contentment, joy?
It may be to slow down, take a walk, hug a child, caress a cat.
Flip through a magazine.
Call your sister.
Send a funny card to a friend.
Take a nap.
Order Chinese carryout.
Watch a favorite movie.
Have a good cry.
Find a drugstore with an old-fashioned soda fountain that serves cherry phosphates.
Solve an English mystery.
Turn in early.
Dream.
Fantasize.
Pray.
Whatever it may be, she will tell you.
Ask."
--Simple Abundance

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Getting to read interesting books for my job!

2. People from church sending me all kinds of interesting ideas!

3. My new boots. Love them.

4. Feeling rested.

5. Pictures of my god-daughter as a little lamb for Halloween. So cute.

6. More new recipes. Winter squash soup and cheese straws. Yum.

7. The show, "Castle." It makes me chuckle.

8. A beautiful full moon!

9. The smell of fallen leaves... Fall is here!

10. The sound of my dog's toenails clicking across the wood floors. So fun.

Anniversary! 6 Years!

"There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage."
--Martin Luther

"Life has taught us that love dos not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Wow... Six years! Here are some things I am thankful for about my marriage:

1. He's my best friend.

2. We laugh - a lot.

3. We can talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

4. We love to go for walks - and hold hands.

5. We have different interests - but love to share them with each other.

6. We teach each other new things all the time.

7. We love to cook together!

8. Surprises.

9. We always encourage each other.

10. He gives me the window seat on airplanes.

11. We love to daydream about our future.

12. We love to travel and explore together.

13. We greet each other with hugs and kisses!

14. We know how to make each other smile after a bad day.

15. I can sing along to the radio with him in the car - and he doesn't laugh or cringe.

16. He cleans my car.

17. He kisses me good-bye every morning.

18. He's strong when I feel weak - and vice versa.

19. He puts up with my many many quirks!

20. He believes in me. Always.

Happy Anniversary, Babe!