Time for More Gratefuls

Tonight, on this erev Shabbat, I want to express my gratitude:

I cannot find words enough to express how grateful I am for the job that I was offered this week! To think I was so upset when I didn't get the job at the school where I am presently working! I know now why that did not work out.

I am grateful for a job that will not end in a year but will continue to provide for myself and my family till retirement in a few years.

 I am grateful for the support and encouragement of dear friends - Liz for her constant love, encouragement, the gentle nudges needed. Kris for speaking out supportive words to a prospective employer, the years of friendship we've shared, the listening ear and insight. Kevin for always offering a real perspective and validating my feelings. Chuck for his few words that go right to the heart of a matter and the consideration he always shows.

I am grateful for a feeling of deep happiness I have not felt in many, many years, if ever in the pure form I feel tonight! It's really okay to be happy and to respect myself! It can last. These last few months have brought me a knowledge and acceptance of myself that only intensive time alone can do.

I am grateful for this sanctuary we call 'the beach house'. It's been nearly a year since Liz first got the idea, and now I get to move to my 'happy place' for reals!


I am grateful for the froggy voices outside my slider door. I think they're announcing that it's about time the travelers return.

I am grateful for the not-soon-enough return of my dear friends from faraway Greece.

I am grateful that there are only 5 weeks of school left with much to occupy my time as I move all my teacher stuff to the beach house. Then it's off on a road trip with my friends! I can't wait!

Recount His Praise - Volume II, 2015

A collection of gratefuls from the last couple of weeks:

I am grateful that Liz and Chuck arrived safely at their destination after a grueling nearly three days of travel.

I am grateful that they are settled into their apartment and that classes are less rigorous than PLU, allowing them time to explore the culture of Greece. The snippets of their experiences that Liz posts allow me to share in their time away.

I am grateful for Facebook – it’s amazing that we can communicate clear across the globe within seconds! It warms my heart to be able to keep in touch. I have a new appreciation for the gift of instant messaging!

View from Liz's study on this overcast
and drippy sort of day 

I am grateful for Tay. He’s been good company.

I am grateful for Skype! I love that I can see, in real time, my friends across the country and across the globe.

I am grateful for long conversations with my dear friend in Louisiana! We talked for over four hours the other night, sharing old family photos through Facebook while we talked about our ancestors, our lives in the present, and who knows what else.

I am grateful for game day – it makes for a pretty quiet mall. New shoes are a plus, too!

I am grateful for Netflix - I’ve gotten pretty much sucked into watching Hercule Poirot the last couple of weeks.

I am grateful for wine, for cozy fires, for the gift of music to fill in the background.

I am continually grateful for the beach house. I’ve spent the last two weekends here finding that I can relax more fully after the work week in my happy place. Even being here alone – walking the beach, snapping pics, tidying the apartment, checking on the main house – is wonderful.

I am grateful for helpful and knowledgeable folks at the Aberdeen Home Depot. Tigrey, the flooring specialist, set me up with a higher quality carpet at a lower cost. Travis, the carpet measure guy, was friendly and efficient, and I will likely have my new carpet within the next couple of weeks!

I am grateful for honest conversations with family – it clears the air and makes for healthier relationships when we respect each other and are humble and honest.

I am grateful for my co-workers. When we make time to talk about life and laugh together rather than just work, the job is so much more pleasant.

I'm grateful for my kids at school. They are treasures, albeit rather challenging some days. They make me laugh and remember what it was like to be ten.

Reflections on 2014

Thinking back through the last year,  I am amazed at where I find myself. It's been a full and wonderful year, with times of excitement, boredom, wallowing, happiness, adventure, hard work, relaxation - the full gamut. I want to note the highlights in order of importance to me rather than chronological:

First and foremost is time with my dear friends - I continue to be grateful every day for my beloved roommates. Liz and I continue to share a deep and strong friendship which I value so very highly. Chuck is such a treasure – he’s always ready for whatever adventure Liz thinks up, fixes everything that needs it, and is such a cool guy. They both know what it means to love unconditionally. I only ask that I may be allowed to give to them as much as they have given to me.

- A visit with Jacob - To top off the year, my son and I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours visiting on the last day of the year. It had been over a year since I’ve seen him. He’s changed so much! He is taking charge of his life and education, seems accepting of his Asperger’s, and is comfortable with himself. Actually seeing that he's doing well is a huge weight lifted off my heart.

- A visit from Kevin - What a treat to have her share my seaside sanctuary during her visit during our shared birthday month! We got to spend many hours vistin' as well as exploring Mt. St. Helens and Tillicum Village, not to mention walking the beach.

 - Time with my sister – I’ve gotten to spend time with Pattie more than other years as I’ve driven to Portland a couple of times as well as Mark and her coming up to see me. She is one of my closest friends and strongest supporters, and I love her dearly.

-  A full time job - I am so thankful for this job. Only HaShem could have orchestrated all the details that allowed me to get this position. It has taken two years for me to be mentally ready for it, and now I am. I’ve been teaching my fourth graders since September now, and love them all. There’s been quite a learning curve since I worked full time back in 2006. Can we say Common Core? Between the requirements for that and all the technology I’m expected to use, I’ve had a lot to learn.

 - The beach house - You could have blown me away when Liz said she wanted a beach house! I never imagined such a possibility (neither did she until the moment it came to her!). My own roomy studio apartment attached to the main house grants me one more step towards that independence I’ve been working towards. The view of the canal, a two minute drive to the beach, the truly fresh air, and the comfort of a small, friendly town make it a lovelyget-away. 

 - Travel - Our month long road trip was cut short due to real estate matters, but what we did do was wonderful! We explored parts of Idaho I’ve never been in before as well as enjoyed snow driving through Montana in June (okay, so ‘enjoy’ isn’t exactly what we experienced). A couple of trips to the Oregon coast - Newport and Seaside were squeezed in, too. We also fit in several day trips up and down Western Washington visiting antique shops and farmer’s markets and anything else that caught our fancy.

  

Healing has been a long time coming, and I still have so much to learn about loving others and myself as the Master does This past year has been amazing! I thank my G-d for His constant and bountiful gifts: faith, strength, provision, peace, healing, love. Really, love sums up all of them.

I look forward to the coming year. It will present its own challenges, and I’m sure surprises. I trust that what I need will be provided in His perfect timing. 

Recount His Praise - A Grateful Post

- I am grateful for the safe return of the travelers from a busy time in San Francisco!

- I am grateful to wake up to a sunny morning at the beach.

- I am grateful for relaxed, comfortable conversations.

- I am grateful for sweet, tropical iced tea in my bullet on this incredibly hot day.

- I am grateful for the years that have passed and the ones that are to come.

- I am grateful for a shared mealtime and a relaxing walk on the beach.

- I am grateful that I’m not a teenager.

- I am grateful for funny seagulls taking a walk down the beach.

- I am grateful for the kindness of my friends who put up my décor in my absence! I love, love, love it!

- I am grateful for a comfortable night’s sleep on my squishy, cozy bed.

- I am grateful for candlelight by the beach.

- I am grateful for a well-stocked hardware store.

- I am grateful for Liz’s words of kindness and encouragement.

- I am grateful for the release of tears and bike rides.

- I am grateful for the rain as it cleared the polluted air.

- I am grateful that I’m not in the middle of an out-of-state move with three kids living at a relatives in Seattle while waiting for the real estate game to close on my house.

- I am grateful for my talented friend – I love looking at her photography.

- I am grateful for a text from Jacob and remember, with joy, the day he was born 20 years ago tomorrow.

- I am grateful for medical benefits and retirement plans.

1 year old

- I am grateful when I finally pull my head out.

- I am grateful for tequila drinks.

- I am grateful for my career – it enables me to support myself and help with our household.

- I am grateful for practice, practice, practice of new thought patterns.

- I am grateful for an awesome day yesterday with my dear friend, Kris! We had a fabulous time in my little corner of paradise!

- I am grateful for insight into how I have handled relationships in the past – it's not exactly pleasant to think about it, I am developing tools and attitudes that will get me to my goal of emotional and relational health.

- I am grateful for my happy place!

- I am grateful for a new day with no mistakes in it yet. May I keep my mind free of clutter and negativity!

We give thanks to You, Adonai our G-d, and recount Your praise for our lives which are committed into Your hands, for Your wonders and Your goodness at all times." 

*adapted from the modim anachnu