#010 Children

What a wonderful Christmas! The only gifts near our tree are our children. Julea arrived from London last week - tired but safe. What a restful yet wonderful visit we have had. Scott and Nancy arrived Tuesday night after a harrowing day of driving from Indianapolis on lots of ice. We are sooooo happy to have them here.

We took advantage of the poinsettias at the Christmas Eve service to take some photos. I don't like to let these opportunities go by. Thank you, thank you for a merry Christmas. I hope yours is the best also!

#009 The Cabin Scrappers

These women are the best! We spent several wild (for the over 50 crowd) holiday weekends in a lovely White Pass cabin, scrappin' and eatin' and laughin' and, lovin' the snow. We talked about grandchildren, health, grandchildren, children, husbands, politics, grandchildren, our childhoods, grandchildren and stuff. We solved several of the world's problems but someone made them a problem again.

We met once a week at the hardware store to scrap together. Each friend generously shared her tools and knowledge and inspiration. I finished several books with their encouragement. I miss these ladies. Several are not pictured here but you all know who you are. I miss you and am grateful for your part in my life.

#008 Delightful People

It's a long story but a good one.

Our church mails a monthly newsletter. The pastor (my DH) added the names of our Washington friends so the mailing list would be long enough. (If you have ever done bulk mailing you understand the need for 'enough' addresses.) The last two newsletters announced that Christmas poinsettias for the sanctuary can be purchased and a memorial added, if you desire.

Last month my mother passed away (see the December 30th post for her memorial). This, too, was noted in the newsletter. Well, what arrives in the church mail from these wonderful people? - a check for a poinsettia in memory of my mother! What is more amazing is they never met my mother. They were thinking of me.

What a blessing! Thank you, Ervalea and Dick for being the delightful people that you are! Thank you for continuing to minister to us! Thank you, thank you!

#007 High Speed Scanner

Once upon a time my business was in an office space in town. There was lots of space to store the paper that made it work.

Then I moved my office home. Not so much storage space. I began to learn about 'paperless' offices and how to have one. The first requirement is a different mindset. It's difficult to 'give up' the comfort and security of a paper copy properly filed in a metal file cabinet. The symbolism of it all is powerful for those of us who are a bit obsessive.

However, I'm a practical woman (usually). So, I took the plunge and invested in a high speed scanner and a document manager program. Haven't looked back.

After two years, the result is easy-to-find copies of anything I've scanned, including personal papers dating back to the 80s. I'm down to one business 4-drawer file cabinet (from three). Backup is done daily. Next step is off-site backup.

Like 'they' say, you won't need to look up 90% of what you have filed. At least I know I have it, I just don't have to devote valuable real estate to it.

I'm grateful.

#006 Beloved Spouse

How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.

Wait, that would take a long time and might become too personal for web viewing. Let's just say, my beloved has made all the difference in my life. We have had our ups and downs like anyone married for 42 years but I would do it all over again.

Gratitude isn't enough to describe my feelings for Don. Love and joy. Yep, that's it.

#005 Ode to Green

Aaaaah, I love green. It's the color of life. June, 2008 was a green month. We traveled from Washington State to Missouri. Everything east of Grand Junction, Colorado was green. One long, eye-resting carpet. What a gift.

Notice how many greens have plant names? Cactus green, mint green, evergreen, sage green, leaf green, avocado, sea green, grass green, forest green. Is turquoise green or blue? Either way, it's gorgeous.

Choosing a green photo was difficult. This was my view of Kansas. You can almost see the wind generators. I'm grateful for green (and for the property owner who allowed the turbines to be on his property!).

#004 Going Away Party

I am soooo thankful for these people. Without them, well, Beloved Spouse and I would be up-a-creek. The only missing person is Walt. Karen M. isn't in the picture, either because she was the photographer.

The people in this photo not only got all our worldly possession into the truck (and it was quite the challenge) but they fed everyone a scrumptious Mexican dinner (home-made, thank you!!!). A few people even carried away stuff that didn't make the cut. They were happy, we were happy. Well, as happy as someone can be who is saying good-bye to good friends.

Thank you, God, for people who minister to the minister!!

#003 Snow

This is our first snow since arriving in Missouri. Meet "Dewey" as in Huey, Dewey and Louie, one of six bulls in the pasture next to our house. The photo was taken in color but it was a black-and-white day.

We only got 1/2 inch but it covers the blah-ness with a sparkly white blanket. Floating snowflakes are soothing, especially if I'm not stranded, unprepared and cold.

I'm am thankful for snow, winter eye candy.

#002 Purring

Purring - cat's contribution to world peace and serenity. Did you know that purring lowers human blood pressure? Did you know that cats purr not only when content but when sick or injured?

I feel especially privileged when The Orange One snuggles into my lap and purrs. I bury my hands in his fur and am soothed by the low "motor" sound. I am being blessed, whether he means to or not. The big cat, Simon, "sings" in his sleep. His purring is varied, a combination of snore, song, and sigh. Sooo cute. I'm grateful to God/evolution/big bang for purring and the cats who do it.

#001 Blogging

Blogging. What a wonderful concept! Throwing one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors into cyberspace. Maybe 1,000 or more will read the words, maybe no one. It's still a way to offer what one has to those who want to look for it. It may even be helpful in some way.

This is my second blog. The first (blog.dunnsroom.com) is also new. I'm having difficulty getting the setup to suit me so it's a work in progress. The software is more complex than I need right now. However, I'm having fun with it.

So, who do I have to thank for this intriguing technology? Whoever you are, I appreciate your work and the opportunity to share my thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Introduction

Depression is a more common malady than we realize. Seemingly fully functional people with well-paying careers, long-term marriages, no substance addictions and healthy families may still suffer from depression.

Two practices of mentally healthy people are forgiveness and gratefulness. Accepting life as a gift, in spite of the horror, trauma, unfairness, pain and sadness is truly a miracle. That doesn't mean we need to be grateful for the fore-mentioned dark experiences. We do need to remind ourselves of the good things, the gifts that often become overshadowed by the painful times. Otherwise we live in the darkness and allow the anger to take over our lives.

Forgiveness is a topic for another time. This blog is to remind myself (and maybe you?) of God's blessings - people, places, things, happenings for which I am grateful - all year long. My goal is to practice the spiritual discipline of gratitude daily for a year. Should be a terrific journey!