Steven, Lauren and Brock. He's in there somewhere.
2. My family "back home." I wish we saw each other more.
3. My faith. It is always with me.
4. My health and the doctors who help me stay healthy. Dr. B., you are the best!
5. Crayolas, colored pens, glue, stickers and paper. I still love to cut, paste, stamp and glue.
6. The sunrise. "May the great mystery make sunrise in your heart." ~ Old Indian Saying Every morning on my way to work it's interesting to see the sun rise. On foggy days like this past week, it plays hide-n-seek with the clouds.
7. A good book and my fireplace. And then the good book that becomes a great movie.
8. The scent of my home and the coziness of my bed. My home is my safe haven.
9. Pink roses, my favorite!
10. Photos that capture so many moments, places, memories AND the friends who take them and share them with me.
11. Computers...and they keep getting cheaper, lighter and faster. Love my new screaming fast HP! Thank you, my HP son, for making the right one arrive here!
12. Mani's and Pedi's...thank you , Jenny.
13. My newly acquired taste for red wine, especially Conconan 2005. It's sooo smooth.
14. Baseball. It's the Sign of Spring.
15. Small mistakes. "Mistakes are a fact of life. It's the response to the error that counts." ~ Nikki Giovanni
16. Online bill pay. Though it is fun to see the little 5x7 envelopes arrive at work.
17. My "binky" for tired shoulders.
18. I'm grateful for Spellcheck...now if I can just master Excel!
19. The smell of new shoes, the look of new shoes, just NEW SHOES!
20. Matinee movies and eating movie popcorn WHEN the movie begins!
21. Chunky peanut butter. Smooth peanut butter. Organic, of course.
22. The smell of a new baby. I Love You Brock... Nana.
23. Falling into bed after a long productive day. "A well-spent day means happy sleep." ~Leonardo Da Vinci
24. Handwritten thank you cards. "Thou that hast given so much to me, give me one thing more, a grateful heart." ~George Herbert
25. My inner peace. "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." ~ C H Spurgeon
26. Oatmeal and brown sugar on Sunday mornings.
27. A "smize" from a little brown eyed girl, named Myla, who smiles at you with big beautiful brown eyes that gaze at you, hence; "Smize". At age two she warms your heart with those beautiful eyes and makes you proud with every new word and adventure. Myla's sweet kisses are treasured.
28. My happiness. "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." ~Abraham Lincoln
29. My hairdryer. Whatever did we do without them. Maybe no swimming, PAnn?
30. My dependable, sturdy, reliable Yukon. We've seen so much together.
31. My iPhone. How did I ever function without it?
33. My feelings, my emotions, my heart. "Feelings are much like waves, we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which ones to surf. ~Jonatan Martensson.
34. My friends, near and far though it has taken me many years to learn the value of a good girlfriend...I've got it now and "it's a good thing." My friend, my neighbor...love you, Sharon. And my neighbors on Farmtown, too. It's been fun to reconnect with friends from my past on FaceBook because they have re-entered my present.
35. I'm grateful for headlights in my driveway...it means someone special is here to visit. Black vehicles have extra special meaning...
As I spend my Thanksgiving Day, I will take notice of all the abundance in my life, the good things in my life...the things that make my life run smoothly and how many small miracles happen throughout the day... a baby's laughter, extended families who love each other and create Hallmark moments, laughter and good food. I want to feel that moment of gratitude on Thanksgiving Day for the basic fact that one more time, the sun has risen, it brightens my day and it will hold me tight...safe and warm like a big hug. As Princess Diana said "Hugs are free, you can never have too many."
May All The Good Things In Your Life Be in Abundance! Happy Thanksgiving.
~ BABS
It's a new role for me...this role of Nana. I've always felt my role in my family, usually that of "lead role" since I am the oldest of four children. It's a role that brings about a mask to a large extent. For the people I love and those that pass through my daily life, I've worn a mask for a long time and I'm wondering if the mask can now come off...now that I'm a Nana. Being the oldest of four, I always felt a bit of pressure about being the "good girl", the pleaser, doing the right thing and solving problems. Being a problem solver has helped me so much in my career (well, most of the time) but, unfortunately, on a personal level people really don't want their problems solved...they just want you to listen, be supportive and let them know you care. I'm learning that lesson late in life. This scenario plays out in a work situation, as well as with friends and family. Sometimes I have the mask on so tight and wear it so well noone seems to notice. But deep down, I know I am not free to simply be who I really want to be; hence, frequently I feel invisible. There is nothing inherently wrong with wearing a mask or playing a role. It's a natural part of any social dynamic and it can even be creative and fun. However, it becomes a problem when I feel I have no choice but to wear the mask and it's certainly a challenge if I feel I am without it. Do any of us know who we really are—a special beam of individual light—and have identified ourselves completely with a role. We may be the dutiful, caring daughter who keeps her parents’ dysfunctional marriage intact. We may be the dutiful wife who enables her husband to continue on a destructive path. We may be the cheerful daughter to a deeply depressed mother. Whatever the case, knowing the motivation behind the performance—the function of the mask—can help to cover the true face and identity. In my opinion, anytime we find ourselves behind a mask, it is an indication we are entangled in a dysfunctional dynamic in which our true self cannot be seen. Perhaps we've been placed in this situation for the purpose of our own healing and, in some cases, the healing of others. From this perspective, life can be seen as a series of situations that call us to remove our masks—gently, and with great compassion for all concerned—to reveal the beauty underneath. The role of Nana seems natural and easy for me and I see no need for a mask in my Nana role. Perhaps it is because this little guy expects nothing of his Nana, doesn't know my background of trials and errors and just latches his little finger to mine. As it's been quoted: "The moment they placed you in my arms, you were forever in my heart." Definitely for this precious one...no mask needed!
