Monday, 11 December 2006 - Pine trees

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for pine trees.

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.
~John Muir

The best part of happiness is the pines. ~Terri Guillemets

What do I miss most when I survey the early winter landscape? The color green.

Thus, I am very fond of the pine trees that grow in our front yard, the neighborhood park and our favorite climbing venue, Red Rock Canyon.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon - lone pine trees stand tall on the Quarry Wall where we climbed yesterday (top) and the east canyon wall (bottom)

Sunday, 10 December 2006 - Ability to adapt

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the ability to adapt.

Chris Sharma, the world's best climber, once remarked that the rock doesn't adapt to us; we must adapt to the rock. Victor Frankl also wrote, "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." Very sage advice.

I don't blame the rock when a climb is difficult. I know when I've been pushed to my limits. Sometimes, however, I just wish I were taller. Because I am short, a moderate climb becomes more difficult when the next move is just out of reach (this happens all the time). So, I follow Chris Sharma's advice. I am constantly adapting to the rock - finding intermediate hand or footholds (or both) so I can follow the intended route.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - T grazes on the scrub oak bushes while we climb on the Quarry Wall.

Saturday, 09 December 2006 - More outdoor adventures

T and I walk carefully along the soggy, muddy trail

during today's hike in Red Rock Canyon.

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for more outdoor adventures.

A leisurely hike in Red Rock Canyon along muddy, snow patched trails - just what the doctor ordered for our "active" rest day. S scouted our next climbs - probably the ones on the Quarry Wall that we have not yet attempted. If the weather holds, we'll be back on the rock wall tomorrow morning.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon

Above and below:

S unsuccessfully tries to coax T to drink more water.


S surveys the Wailing Wall -
aptly named because all of the climbs
are difficult - 5.10 or higher.

Tree trio with red rock and blue sky

The afternoon sun illuminates
the Quarry Wall.

I really liked this tree - was impressed
by its graceful, erect stance.

S and T: dwarfed by the southern end
of the east canyon wall.

Friday, 08 December 2006 - A good climbing day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a good day for climbing - at last!

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon

T waits for S to catch up with us along the trail.

T and I hike up the snowpacked trail.

S and T pass the frozen duck pond.

December landscape:
Pikes Peak with frozen duck pond

Today's climb on The Whale

Thursday, 07 December 2007 - History's lessons

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for history's lessons. I hope our leaders will heed this quote:

If the past cannot teach the present and the father cannot teach the son, then history need not have bothered to go on, and the world has wasted a great deal of time.
~Russell Hoban

For these blessings, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 06 December 2006 - My own prayers

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my own prayers.

God can pick sense out of a confused prayer.
~Richard Sibbes

Once upon a time, a friend of mine told me about her very busy prayer life. She claimed that she was always praying for others. That people called her all the time for prayer. That I should let her know if she could pray for me.

So, one day, I called her and asked her to pray for me. She told me that she would - tomorrow - when she had an opening. She was already booked solid that day.

And, so I learned a very humbling lesson. That I can't rely on others to intercede on my behalf when it comes to talking to You. My own prayers - confused, poorly-worded and tear-stained - must be sufficient.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen. Photo: Red Rock Canyon (October 2006)

Tuesday, 05 December 2006 - A daily routine

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a daily routine. It creates continuity in my life when more creative and exciting tasks aren't on the day's agenda.

We are what we repeatedly do.
~Aristotle

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Routine is a ground to stand on, a wall to retreat to; we cannot draw on our boots without bracing ourselves against it. ~Henry David Thoreau

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Monday, 04 December 2006 - Mulch

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for mulch.

In October, I dutifully fertilized the plants and spread a thick layer of leaves over the front yard garden. Because the garden is east facing, the occasional blanket of snow melts slowly during the day, deep watering the plants. The mulch helps the ground hold the precious moisture, allowing my plants to thrive even in dormancy.

You shall ask
What good are dead leaves
And I will tell you
They nourish the sore earth.
You shall ask
What reason is there for winter
And I will tell you
To bring about new leaves.
You shall ask
Why are the leaves so green
And I will tell you
Because they are rich with life.
You shall ask
Why must summer end
And I will tell you
So that the leaves can die.
~Nancy Wood

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Sunday, 03 December 2006 - Miracles and magic

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for miracles and magic.

Everything is miraculous. It is a miracle that one does not melt in one's bath.
~Pablo Picasso

There's a bit of magic in everything, and then some loss to even things out.
~Lou Reed

I don't mean save-your-life miracles or a magician's grand illusion. I'm talking about real-life, everyday occurrences that simply take my breath away.

Like today's masterpiece: snow dusted peaks standing against a scintillating blue sky. It's make-my-eyes-hurt and heart-throb beautiful!

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.


Photos:

(top) Blodgett Peak rises above the fenceline.

(middle) T pauses on the patio

(bottom) T looks on while S and I shovel snow from the driveway and sidewalk.

Saturday, 02 December 2006 - Snow, more snow and a UCLA win

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for snow, more snow and UCLA's win over USC (13-9).

Since we can't rock climb during a blizzard, we might as well enjoy the snow. This time, the white stuff is light and powdery. Nearly a foot deep in the backyard and park. T and I had a blast running through the drifts this afternoon.

And, after an interminable seven-year drought, my UCLA Bruins finally beat USC in football! I'm a very happy alumna. Hurrah for the blue and gold!

For these blessings, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Our home - The second storm this week dumps 6-8 inches of Colorado's signature white powder on the neighborhood.

Friday, 01 December 2006 - The neighborhood "crew"

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the neighborhood "crew."

By chance, we all met in the park today - human and canine friends alike - the members of our unofficial "friends of the park" team. 'Twas a nice reunion after the hectic Thanksgiving holiday and bone-chilling winter storm.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos:

(top and middle) S and T greet our neighborhood friends (human and canine) in the park.

(bottom) Young Horus says hello to T.

Thursday, 30 November 2006 - Signs of normalcy

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for signs of normalcy.

Diet: The Thanksgiving turkey, side dishes and pumpkin pies are nearly gone. I'm letting S finish them off while I return to my sparer diet of salads, soups, oatmeal, juice, green tea and fresh fruit.

Exercise: With winter fast approaching, I can't count on rock climbing to help me maintain my climbing weight of 105 pounds. So, it's back to weights, medicine balls, boxing, Pilates, Callanetics, balance ball routines and snow shoveling. If the weather cooperates, we'll visit the high country to snowshoe and cross country ski.

If I can manage these two areas of my life, then the impending holiday stress won't upset my life too much. Plus, T won't let me get away with missing a walk or hike. For him, business-as-usual means two-a-days in the park!

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Garden of the Gods (taken 10.27.06) - A favorite photo - I was fascinated by the way the tree and its shadow created an interesting and complex image against the rock formation.

Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - A furnace working overtime

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a furnace that doesn't mind working overtime (although I dread this month's heating bill).

The weather report claims it's 14 degrees F outside, -8 degrees F with the wind chill. It's even colder in the foothills where we live because we're up another 500 feet in altitude.

T and I just retrieved the mail and experienced the cold and wind firsthand. We both survived the very bitter cold unscathed.

The low will certainly dip below zero. Before going to bed, we'll lower the thermostat from 63 to 60 degrees F. I must remember to drip the bathroom faucet tonight.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - Wanting what I've got

Dear God:

Today I am thankful for wanting what I've got.

I don't have digital.
I don't have diddly-squat.
It's not having what you want.
It's wanting what you've got.
~Sheryl Crow, "Soak Up the Sun"

In one of my favorite books, the author recounts a holiday shopping expedition to New York City. She's been living in a cottage in Nova Scotia for several months after a difficult divorce. While visiting family and friends for Christmas, she decides to do some last minute gift shopping. The glitz and glamour of Manhattan and 5th Avenue immediately sweep her off her feet as she begins shopping in earnest.

Suddenly, she's overwhelmed by the excess. While standing in the middle of a department store, she begins to suffocate as the piles of merchandise suddenly close in on her. Too much stuff. She panics and runs out of the store, gasping for breath and some sanity. She realizes that she prefers the sparse existence of her little cottage by the sea to the oceans of things that clutter the city stores, our homes and our lives.

Yesterday, I had a similar experience. After climbing in Red Rock Canyon, we rushed across town so S could keep his dental appointment. I didn't want to sit in the dentist's waiting room so S dropped me off at the local Ross discount store - an erstwhile favorite shopping haunt. Since I hadn't been to Ross in ages, I looked forward to browsing the aisles and aisles of clothing, shoes and household goods.

Yikes! An hour of my time wasted rummaging through so much stuff and junk. I didn't see anything I would give anyone for Christmas and nothing I would want to buy for myself or have someone give me. I used to breeze in and out of this store, buying this and that and the other thing that I probably did not need.

It's no longer just about the wasted money and time. It's all about "wanting what I've got."

It's also understanding what's really important in my life - what fills every minute with joy and purpose.

To my surprise, shopping no longer fits the bill.

I was relieved when S pulled up to the curb. I ran out of the store, gasping for breath and some sanity.

Yes, I want everything I've got - a husband who loves me, the best canine son ever, a small circle of close friends, excellent health, a roof over my head, enough money to pay our bills, a refrigerator and pantry filled with food, a closet filled with clothes and shoes I still wear, interesting work that tests my creativity, lots of challenging rock climbing adventures, my laptop computer, cable TV, a high-speed Internet connection, a set of Denise interchangeable knitting needles, and, of course, this blog.

For this blessing, I am very grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Snow!!!!