Not Another Manic Monday...

Not even close. Today is a marvelous Monday. A Monday marked by gratitude.

I am grateful for the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the orchid. I confess that the first thing I did when this plant was delivered last week was apologize to it for its imminent demise. I am notoriously neglectful of plants; I do well with chldren and dogs, but plants usually die slow and torturous deaths while in my care. I am glad to say it has survived for more than a week. In fact, there are more flowers on it today than the day it arrived. Around here, that is a very good sign.

I am grateful for the sunshine we have been blessed with recently. Much needed rain has also come, but when the sun is out, Maya and I head for the deck, each of us looking for a spot where we can bask in the sun. Furthermore, on the nights that follow the days when I get some sun on my face, I sleep very well. After a night of restful and restorative sleep, I wake up happy and even more grateful.

Heather sent me a photo of this prayer on her fridge. Amen, Heather, Amen!

And I am enormously grateful today (and everyday) for the gift of love. I had never seen a car decorated so brightly for Valentine's Day before, so I had to capture this one last Thursday night on my way home from a meeting with other church members who have gone to Haiti, hope to return someday, and in the meantime are looking for ways to continue to support the schools, the church, and the children there in Bayonnais.

How great are those lights? How great is love? 

Please hug somebody this week and tell them how you feel. 

I'm sure gonna be doing that all week long - and beyond.

I am grateful, grateful, grateful, grateful.
What are you grateful for?