giving thanks

Its Thanksgiving Day, time for the epic feast, parades, football games, family and friends and of course, reflecting on all that we’re thankful for this year.  Over the last few weeks, I’ve shared many of the things that I’m thankful for – my amazing job, my staff and volunteers, my boys, the opportunity I’ve had for a fresh start.

More than anything this year, I’m thankful for my family and friends.  Looking back at the last several months, two things stand out – I’m happier than I ever remember being and I am surrounded by a circle of wonderful people.  Those two things go hand in hand.  Without the support of my friends and family, I wouldn’t have gotten to this good place in my life.  And now that I’m here, my friends and family are part of this happy life I’ve created for myself.  In big ways and small, they’re here for me – to share a laugh, to talk through a problem, to spend time together, to have fun.  I’m so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.  You know who you are – I’m thankful for each and every one of you.

To those who celebrate it, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Today I am thankful for so many things, but more than anything, on this Thanksgiving I’m thankful for my grandmother.  Grammy passed away 10 years ago today.  I think of her often.  She’s in my thoughts in the moment in the morning when I put her ring on my finger.  When I watch my niece and nephew, I think about her, knowing how much she wanted great-grandchildren (and how vocal she was about it!).  I think of her when I crochet, remembering how hard she tried to teach me.  I wonder what she would think about my knitting, my dyeing, of The Painted Sheep.  I’ve thought about her often in the tough moments this year, wrapped in the afghan she made me for comfort, wondering what advice she would have.

Grammy was an amazing presence in my life.  Strong, tough as nails, kind, gentle, outspoken, caring, loving – she was quite the role model.  I strive to be like her.  More than anything, she taught me to value family, how important it is to hold each other close.  She taught me about tradition, to hold on to them and to pass them along.  Each time I make Grammy’s bread, I honor her.  In the simple act of making bread, I pass along to my niece and nephew, and eventually my own children, a little part of her.  It reminds of what she taught us and all that she brought to our lives.

For that, I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Its all about the little things to be thankful for this week:

• wifi that actually works – I’m hoping I don’t jinx this but I’ve had a full hour and a half with only one lost connection and a handful of slow downs.  Bonus – this connection is free.  Best connection I’ve had all week.  I’ve caught up on work emails (down from 70 to 17 – woot!), read blogs and checked my personal email.
• my Blackberry – without it, I’d have been completely disconnected from my world for the last few days.  In general, it keeps me connected, able to stay on top of email, organized and on task (sort of – its always a challenge).  Its also my in-the-car music, via Pandora, my frequent news source (I love the Associated Press’ and CBS apps), my on the go social network connection thanks to the Facebook and Twitter apps and my constant entertainment.  I love having it all, from calendar to email to task lists to fun stuff, plus the obvious – cell phone, in one device.  In other words, its rarely out of my sight and though I’ve only had it 2 months, I’d be lost without it.
• freshly made margaritas and a spot in the sunshine to drink them
• being in a place with 70 degree days in November
• taking long walks on the river a couple of times a day this week
• a good book – I’ve been reading Body Surfing by Anita Shreve this week.  I don’t want to put it down and will likely finish it on my flights tomorrow.  I picked up Live Through This: A Mother’s Memoir of Runaway Daughters and Reclaimed Love by Debra Gwartney at the conference after the author and one of her daughters (who’s a fiber artist!) gave the keynote.  Amazing and inspirational – I’m only a few pages in and can’t wait to get really into it.

And one big thing: I’m thankful for the opportunity I had this week, to come to this conference, in this great town.  For someone who’s worked my whole career in non-profits, I am acutely aware of how lucky I am to work in a place that puts a priority on training opportunities and is supportive of going to out of town conferences like this one.  In my whole career, its the 4th time I’ve done so – and three of those have been with my current job, in the last 18 months.  This year especially, in an environment of funding cuts and furloughs, I’m very lucky that federal funds, in the form of a stipend to attend, made this possible.  This conference has been so incredible.  I’ve gotten so much information, so many resources, made incredible connections to programs and people all over the country and am coming back with a list of changes to make to my Street Outreach program, new things I want to do and plans for creating an amazing Transitional Living program.  I’m energized and excited about my program in a way that I haven’t been in a while.  And of course, the other side of this trip – its been like a mini-vacation, even with the long days of conference sessions and networking.  I’ve had plenty of time to relax and enjoy myself, get outside in the sunshine (all that vitamin D I sucked in – I needed that!) and fresh air and have some much needed time away.  Its truly been a gift.

And one more time – yay for wifi!  2 hours worth of free, working wifi!  With that, I’ll catch up, with pictures, when I get home – final conference session and a long trip home tomorrow.

This week, I’m thankful for:

• my health – the occasional “blip” aside, I’m grateful that I’m in good health.
• my inner strength – It seems like an odd thing to be thankful for but as someone who took a long, long time to find it, I’m thankful every day that I did.  Earlier this year, I made the most difficult decision I’ve ever made.  I’m thankful that I had the strength to finally do it – its turned out to be the best decision I ever made.
• my mother – of all the amazing women in my life, no one is more a model of inner strength and courage than her.  Thing is, I don’t think she knows it.  I’m thankful that I’ve always had her to look up to.

What are you thankful for this week?

Carole emailed me earlier this week with a lovely suggestion.  Prompted by Kate, who is including three things she is thankful for during each post in November, Carole’s idea was to use Thursdays to do the same.  I think its a perfect way to share in the true spirit of the season.  I hope you’ll join me!

I have much to be thankful for, today and everyday.  What comes to mind today?

• My friends – so often in the last several months, I have been reminded of how lucky I am to have the most amazing, supportive, loving circle of friends, near and far.  They’ve cried with me, laughed with me, held me close, pushed me forward and kept me going through the good and the bad this year.   They’ve been there for me through the big stuff, when I knew I needed them.  Most importantly, they’ve been there in the moments I had no idea I needed them, with an unexpected word of encouragement, a hug or a simple smile.  And they constantly remind me of just how wonderful my life truly is.  I’m lucky to have all you all in it.
• My family – I’m thankful to have my parents, brothers and sister-in-law, niece and nephew so close.  They give me some of my greatest joys, are a huge source of support and comfort and yes, make me crazy sometimes.  I love them through it all, no matter what and always thankful to have them in life.
• My work – between The Painted Sheep and my full time work, I truly get to do what I love every day.  I’ve said it so many times, when I got to WFC, I felt like I had come home.  I work in the most incredible non-profit, surrounded by amazing, dedicated, passionate people who share my vision for the world.  I get to work on issues that are closest to my heart, to effect change in small ways and large.  Little in life makes me happier than walking into my office.  I never thought I’d feel this way about a job.  Its such a blessing.  And then I come home – to my little business, this thing that is all mine, that fulfills me in so many other ways, to pursue my creative passions.  Sometimes, I look around at my office and studio and can’t believe what I’ve done.  I made my dream of a fiber business come true.  Does it get any better than that?
• and something smaller – this morning I am thankful for stunningly beautiful, crisp, clear, cold fall mornings, snuggled up in my bathrobe with a steaming cup of coffee, a purring kitty and a sock on the needles.

Hope you’re day is as beautiful has mine has started out to be!