Saturday, 30 September 2006 - One marvelous autumn day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for one marvelous autumn day.

If any day is priceless, today is that day.

After I finished my marketing project late this morning, we loaded up the truck and headed to Red Rock Canyon for nearly 5 hours of climbing and a mile or so of hiking (for T's sake).

S lead the 100' climb, Pikes Peak, on the east climbing wall. When I reached the top, I looked west and could see the snow-capped summit of Pikes Peak peering over the quarry climbing wall (wish I had had my camera to photograph the stunning vista). S finished the climb five times while I managed four (quite a workout).

Anyway, my feet are very tired. Time to knit, sip a cold Marguerita and watch an old movie.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - Pikes Peak climb on east climbing wall

Friday, 29 September 2006 - A great team

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a great team (and I'm not talking about sports).

Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. ~Andrew Carnegie

My latest venture - directing the marketing efforts of a local start-up company - is challenging and exhilarating. My efforts are worth the headaches and long hours because I'm part of a great team.

You don't need a lot of people to launch a successful company if the people keep their egos in check, are passionate about the product and willing to go the extra mile repeatedly for each other and customers. Of course, we hope to makes lots of money and realize a few dreams along the way.

But, until the first sale is on the books and the money in the bank, I'm working hard and having loads of fun.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 28 September 2006 - Bread with peanut butter

(Note: Sorry for the late post ... I'm having tons of problems with the network.)

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a slice of homemade bread slathered with peanut butter.

I am frightfully busy with marketing projects and have forgotten to eat again. I glance at the clock. No time for a proper meal. Guess I'll have to settle for a snack.

I snoop around the refrigerator before deciding to eat an open face peanut butter sandwich. I carefully cut a thick slice of the French bread I made this morning. I toast it for a few minutes before covering the surface with a thick, gooey layer of chunky organic peanut butter.

Yummy. I really like the way the peanut butter melts into the hot toast. Very satisfying.

Well, now that I've eaten some carbs, fat and protein, it's onward and upward!

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 27 September 2006 - Pain-free day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a pain-free day.

I am pushing sixty. That is enough exercise for me. ~Mark Twain

In the morning, I usually feel the aches and pains arising from years of athletic endeavors when I take my first steps of the day. Once my joints adjust to their weight bearing activities, however, I am fine and mobile.

This morning, as my feet hit the floor and I took my first steps, I experienced no pain in my ankles and knees. Not what I would have expected after rock climbing and hiking in Red Rock Canyon.

As I continue my middle age adventure, I'm hoping that my active lifestyle will serve me well. I plant to rock climb, hike and ride my bicycle well into my 80s and 90s.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Tuesday, 26 September 2006 - An afternoon outing

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for an afternoon outing.

The afternoon is too warm and lovely to waste sitting at our computers, so we decide to go Red Rock Canyon to rock climb and hike.


T is thrilled about the impromptu expedition to one of his favorite local haunts. He is, after all, the ultimate trail dog.

When we return home from our outing, he always reminds me that a bad day on the trail is better than a good day working at home. I heartily agree.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon: T amuses himself while S and I rock climb.

Monday, 25 September 2006 - Physical strength and quickness

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the physical strength and quickness required to rock climb.

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were? ~Satchel Paige

Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age. ~Victor Hugo

S, T and I slipped away for a few hours to rock climb in Red Rock Canyon. The weather was perfect and the rock in good shape.

Most people are surprised when I tell them I rock climb. My 52-year-old, 105-pound petite body belies my overall strength (I use to be a gym rat, lifting weights like a mad woman). This afternoon, I completed four strenuous climbs up a rather challenging route.

Yes, it's true. I'm not getting older - I'm getting stronger and better!

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - the quarry climbing wall

Sunday, 24 September 2006 - Green tomato recipes

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for green tomato recipes.

I'm collecting them because I'm afraid the remaining fruit won't ripen on the vine. Luckily, I've found a variety of recipes that suit our diet. I guess that we're not the only family on the planet with an abundance of green tomatoes.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: A snow-capped Pikes Peak rises above the duck pond in Red Rock Canyon. T and I hiked here this morning.

Saturday, 23 September 2006 - First snowfall

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the first snowfall of the season.

When September arrives, I begin to anticipate (and worry about) the season's first snowfall. I prefer that it arrive in October after the flowers have faded and gone to seed. But, Mother Nature rarely listens to me.

So, I sighed with relief after yesterday's storm brought snow to our neighborhood but did not harm the garden. Looks like the cold front has moved out. Tomorrow's high is suppose to be in the 60s.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Snow falls during yesterday's storm.

Friday, 22 September 2006 - Closed doors, open windows

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for closed doors and open windows.

It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity. ~Frederick Phillips

A week ago, I was worried because a few doors in our work lives are starting to close. We decided that I should secure a part-time job while S finds new clients.

What a difference a few days can make.

This week, several windows have suddenly opened for both of us. With very grateful hearts, we welcome the transition period and enthusiastically embrace our new opportunities.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: I bought this plant because I though it was a blue mist spirea - a very desirable xeric perennial. The plant is actually a variety of helianthus (sunflower). I was disappointed when yellow buds began forming on the very tall stems because I anticipated the spirea's dark blue blooms. Now, I am delighted by the enormous bouquet of yellow sunflowers that brighten my backyard garden.

Thursday, 21 September 2006 - Giving peace a chance

Dear God:

Today, the UN-declared International Day of Peace, I am thankful for ways to give peace a chance.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
~Seymour Miller & Jill Jackson, 1955, "Let There Be Peace on Earth"

It'll be a great day when education gets all the money it wants and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy bombers.
~Author unknown, cited in You Said a Mouthful, Ronald D. Fuchs (editor)

Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination. ~Robert Fulghum

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 20 September 2006 - My own troubles

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my own troubles.

Never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some people bear three - all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have. ~Edward Everett Hale

Two sad things happened today - a neighbor lost his job and a friend lost his father to colon cancer just two weeks after the initial diagnosis. I find myself in a familiar spot: upon learning of others' terrible misfortunes, I am truly thankful for my own challenges, disappointments, frustrations and uncertainties.

Tonight, I'm praying for extra helpings of faith and extra touches of grace in all of our lives - just in case.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: S sets up the top rope at Garden of the Gods.

Tuesday, 19 September 2006 - Patience

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for patience.

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Patience is the companion of wisdom.
~St. Augustine

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Monday, 18 September 2006 - Mistakes

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for mistakes.

Mistakes are the portals of discovery.
~James Joyce

Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
~Scott Adams

Seeing is different than being told. ~Kenyan Proverb

Indeed, I am far from perfect. I've made my share of mistakes over the years. With each infraction, I vow to do better next time.

Through my mistakes, I learned hard lessons about accepting the consequences of my actions (or inaction). I learned first hand about the power of grace, faith and love and how to forgive others and myself (although I accomplish the latter with great difficulty).

I learned to recognize my limits while expanding the boundaries of my experience. I learned to laugh at myself and eat some crow. I also learned to acknowledge frailties and my own, very vulnerable humanity.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Sunday, 17 September 2006 - Safe homecoming

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a safe homecoming.

Visits always give pleasure - if not the arrival, the departure. ~Portuguese Proverb

After spending 11 days in Sacramento helping his mother move, S came home safely early this afternoon. To celebrate his return, we enjoyed an hour hike along Scotsman Trail in Garden of the Gods.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: S and T walk ahead of me during our later afternoon hike in Garden of the Gods.