I've Got A Blue Gratitude

Sunshine

Hope

DONE with plarn!

1) Wonderful, deep sleep that refreshes me.

2) My divorce.  I don't mean this snarky either.  I am just so incredibly grateful that I had the courage to leave that soul-sucking relationship and atmosphere for me and my kids.

3) The freedom to have a whole day ahead of me without accountability to anyone but my big self.

Da Cable Man

1) The Cable/Internet Repairman is my hero.

2) Friday

3) Friday

Got WAY More!

Saturday was the gown giveaway that I and some friends have been working on for months.  We gave gowns to 7 incredible young women.  Some also got shoes and purses and most got fragrance, cosmetics and jewelry.  But what each of us took away was so incredibly much more gratifying.  From C, I got a jolt of courage.  She walked through her shyness and physical limitations and from her eyes shown triumph as she looked at herself in her swanky gown.  From M, I saw the self-esteem of a young lady clad in an over-the-top dress that only served to enhance her panache.  From T, I saw a young woman who had had to scrap her way each and every day and the dawning of recognition that something was being given to her with no strings attached and the wonder of that.  From C2, the blunt fierce honesty that she wouldn't even think about taking a drug or drink on prom night cause that is why they took her from mom and she herself had been clean for over a year.  From J, who got such great joy from trying on dress after dress just to hear the ooh's and aaah's of a bunch of strange women, I gained understanding of how important women can be to each other.  From A, sheer joy just watching her just giggle and twirl.  And my favorite of all, the young tomboy who had never worn a dress and who reached out in trust and allowed herself to be transformed into a beautiful young woman and who almost physically drank in our amazement and awe.

My fiercest hope is that each of these young women will allow themselves to someday receive the joy that I received Saturday - to feel the joy of paying it forward.  To feel the power of women helping women.  I truly feel the power of helping a woman become her very best - and that is a very important thing.  I am blessed.

Today

Today was such a blessing.  I am so tired, I can barely type.  My heart is so full that the words have no room in the wellspring of emotions.  I am so incredibly blessed.  I feel like I am part of something bigger than I will ever be alone.  I am honored and humbled to have been a part.

NOT springing forward

I'm having a hard time not jumping into tomorrow as I am bursting with anticipation.  But today, I need to stay in the moment.  Tomorrow is the big day when my friend and I and some ladies I have never even met will have a gown give-away to 8 Princesses.  This is an outreach ministry to the girls in our broad and rural community to help some young ladies dreams come true.  But for today, I just want to focus on the process to this point in time and recognize the gifts I have received - regardless of the outcome tomorrow.

1) Looking through my posts here, I have really been blessed with the recognition of the kindness and generosity of others.  This awareness of the good and kindness in the world has carried me through some rather bumpy times.  Just to know that the power of unconditional generosity is in the world warms my spirit and helps me to get out of my own self.

2) I have been blessed with a serenity not common to me.  As plans have changed and we have risen to meet the challenges, I feel a deep sense of KNOWING that no matter if it turns out according to MY plan or not - that it will turn out exactly as it is meant to be.  My Inner Control Freak has let go of the outcome - what an unexpected but welcome sense of relief. 

3) With all of the really ugly things in the news around the country and world, I in a very small way can make a difference - right her - right now.  And it's good and it will be enough.  I don't need to worry about that other stuff.

1) I am grateful that I am learning to find and use my voice.

2) I am grateful that I can learn from not only good examples, but also horrible warnings.

3) I am grateful for the feel of spring in the air and the hope it inspires.

Favorites

1) I'm grateful for my favorites  - Chinese Carry Out.

2) Fajita Burrito @ my favorite Mexican Rest.

3) Grocery Store with all my favorites to make my favorites.

Good things for those I love

1) OK - this is above and beyond Gratitude and borders on braggin' but I'm ok with that.  I am so grateful that my daughter's Science Olympiad Team is going to the State Level of competition.  Our team hasn't gone for years and I'm so glad that the kids who work so hard at such low recognition events will get the recognition they deserve!  They all have gone in early to school for weeks (in some cases 2 hours early when having to catch the early bus) and done so much of the work on their own.  OK - here's the braggin part - shield your eyes if obnoxious motherhood bothers you.  My daughter got 3rd place in Pentathlon, 2nd place in Science Crime Buster and FIRST (can we have a whoo-hooo?!) in Write-it-Do-it!!.

2) If the stage mom gets on your nerves, you're not out of the woods yet.  My son, a sophomore tenor player in our HS drum line competed yesterday @ the State level and their drum line WON - yes - as in FIRST - as in they rocked the place!  I wasn't able to be there and I really regret that, but the excitement in his voice when he called with results told all I need to hear.  Drums are his passion.  He has been struggling lately so much with finding his place and has been adrift in a sea of hormones.  I am so very grateful that he was given the experience of hard work and the thrill of success.  I so very much want him to find that part of him that is his true self and the thrill of your passion fulfilled.  He needed the boost and it couldn't have come at a better time.  I am so proud of him!!!  And happy for him as well.

3) I am so grateful that I can see my children's success.  I am blessed to be a part of it.  What a gift to hear their excitement and see them revel in the success of hard work.  In a world of instant gratification, it is hard to see the ones you love not getting immediate success but know that true self esteem comes from not only winning but working hard and not always seeing the fruits of such.  And not being able to make someone else understand how sweet the fruit is if one is patient is hard but oh how beautiful the payout.

Today

1) I am grateful for today.  Nothing special.  Just today.  Of course the fact that it's Friday helps.

2) And it was temperate.

3) And it was windy.  I do love me some gusty wind.