Perfect does not mean perfect actions in a perfect world, but appropriate actions in an imperfect one.
R.H. Blyth
Two years ago today my mother died in her sleep after a couple weeks in hospice. So, of course I’m thinking about her today, as are my sisters and dad. There are moments of sadness but there are those good memories mixed in. I must say I am grateful for the foundation she laid for the person I have become, although I’m far from being perfect. Hopefully I live with appropriate actions and words, seeds she planted. Thanks mom!! I miss you!!
Friday evening’s sunset at Cobb Lake State Wildlife Area
At the end of the day, give up your worries and give thanks for the journey.
Ben Vereen
It is another beautiful day here in Colorado. Just finished a busy morning with cardiac rehab and an echocardiogram. Good news is the new aortic valve is working just fine. Hope everyone is thankful they remembered where they hid all the eggs!
… I had my heart surgery, where they replaced my aortic valve. So, I thought I’d share my gratitude list with you today as it follows the theme of my last posting:
Thankful for a healthy heart and it’s as full as it is
Thankful for time with family and friends
Thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the things that have become such a gift in my life such as time with nature, photography, blogging, conversations with family and friends
Thankful for my prayer and meditation times
Thankful for my journals, fountain pens and the words I uncover with them
Thankful I can experience and enjoy each new sunrise and sunset
Thankful for another day to venture into a coffee shop to visit my favorite baristas
Thankful for the chance to read poetry, which I’d never done before
Thankful for the chance to try my hand at poetry, haiku
Thankful for the chance to create more of my photo books to share my photography and my words
Thankful for my home and the remodeling this past year
Thankful for blueberries in my Irish Oats 😂
Thankful for DQ Blizzards 😂
Thankful for my camera upgrade 2 years ago and a lust for the next upgrade 😂
Thankful that what I have is enough and in all honesty do not need anything more than what is already in my life
Thankful that there are still those who embrace love, compassion, serenity, joy, hope, peace and …. ❤️
Snow began yesterday afternoon and continued through the night. My guess is 4-5 inches total. However, it was warm enough to start as a wet snow which created a layer of ice under the remaining snowfall. I found it quite icey to walk in, almost falling once. The above image of the doors and stairs is the school of business sciences building at CSU about 7:10 this morning. No footprints in the snow yet.
Thankfully it is not very cold although we will not get above freezing. I do enjoy the art winter creates. I didn’t even notice the cold but found myself being grateful for the beauty.
An image of the sun about to set at a local park on Tuesday evening
Thursday and Friday of last week were very smokey over the city. The smoke filters the sun and changes the colors and shadows of everything, bringing on an otherworldly look. It has an affect on peoples moods, adding stress to the pandemic and our countries unrest. On Friday evening I drove out to one of the natural areas because I thought I may find an image to show just how the smoke looks from here. The top image was taken about an hour before sunset, all is dark and gloomy and the sun has a deep red color.
Thankfully, not everyday is like this. Saturday was a nice reprieve, winds blew in our favor so we enjoyed blue skies and not as much soot and ash falling on us. I’m wearing my mask practically all of the time and have my windows and doors closed just because of the snoke. It’s a good time to stay inside. Our Colorado sunsets are just not the same.
“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” ― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
With overnight temperatures staying somewhere in the mid to high 20’s for the past few days we are seeing ice form on the pond at my condo. Canada Geese are arriving from the north and are walking on the frozen ponds. They also are walking on sidewalks so we now must watch where we step. We are cleaning frost off the windshield almost every morning. In other words it is getting colder each night.
A couple days ago I noticed this homeless man sleeping near Old Town and it caused me to think about all that I have to be thankful for. Each morning I have the chance to wake up in a warm comfortable bed, eat a warm breakfast, take a warm shower. Not everyone has that opportunity. I will not bore you with a long list of things I’m thankful for but will share this short list. I’m thankful for my health, my family, my friends and those who are both, this blogging community, clean underwear, a home, a car, work, photography, gifts of nature, coffee shops, and of course chocolate.
It seems a lot of people come up with a list of things they are thankful for during this time of year. There are so many things I’m thankful for but I’m only going to throw out this short and sweet list:
Spirituality – A lifelong journey of discovery for me. I’ve come to believe the search for God will introduce us to ourselves and I’m liking what I’m finding
Health – Physical and mental (which some may question) health. 2010 will be my 60th birthday so I do feel the stiff joints and hear the loud popping sounds from those same joints as I get up from a chair a little slower, but I still get up
Family – Grandchildren who are now driving, hard to believe they have grown up so fast. My children, sisters and parents who all are gifts in my life. I love them dearly!
Photography – At this point in my life, it’s a love affair. It’s one medium I use to express myself and helps me to see the world with new eyes. LightRoom 2 🙂 I’ll also include the community of photographers who enrich my life as a photographer and as a person, that’s you!
Friends – I am blessed to have many, some who have been there to help lift me up when I’ve fallen and some who I have helped get back up. Distance and time have not deterred those friendships
Work – Which provides a comfortable lifestyle and an extended family
Chocolate – What more can I say, one of my crutches. I guess you can also include Thai food
I do wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope your day is filled with family, friends, turkey, stuffing,pumpkin pie and chocolate.
