April 9 .... silver linings...

We woke up to stormy skies and rain this morning. What a sweet smell so close to the ocean. As you can see... there is obviously a silver lining to stormy weather. It's absolutely beautiful. I tried recording the ocean - to share here, but it ended up sounding like a bad radio... so I encourage you to look at the pics and breath in deeply, exhale deeply, sigh, and that's pretty much the sound track to the ocean...

I am very grateful for the experience I have had this week.

I am very grateful to have a wonderful home to come home to, kids that await my calling, friends that are meeting me and waiting for me.

Life is good... and I am grateful.

February 21 .. appreciating beauty..

Hi everyone. I'm excited about my attitude of gratitude! Are you?

Our day began with an hour and a half walk on the mountain. What a glorious day. GLORIOUS!!! Warm enough, sunny as can be, lots of birds singing - just beautiful. And given we have had a nice falling of snow over the last few days it was just spectacular up there today. Loveliness!!

Then, Honey took me to see the Tiffany Exhibit at the Museum. Holy Cow ... to see such beautiful things, walking around with a permanent smile on your face, Mr. Tiffany's use of colour, yum yum and yum. I also rented the headset and was treated to wonderful music to go along with the things of beauty I was looking at. What an uplifting and lovely experience. Some of the vases, tiny little things, looking seductive and sensual, peacock feathers, dragon flies, oh my just gorgeous. Lots of candy for my tired old brain - and a definite must on our to-do list - go look at more beautiful things!!! It's good for you! Me! Us! Next week I am hoping to catch the Van Gogh show at the IMAX.

And then I came home, and cousin Z posted a link to images of the Olympics.. beautiful! What great, great shots. Here, go have a peek if you're not to Olympicked out already .. they're fabulous. I especially like number 35 :-) ..

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/vancouver_2010_part_1_of_2.html

Take some time, treat your brain...

I am very grateful for all the beauty in my life.

Day 13... Little Blue Planet...

This morning ... this painfully early morning, I was heading off to a Board Meeting. It was about 7:00 am, which at this time of year I guess pretty much means sunrise. The sky on the eastern horizon was ablaze in an amazing pink. Hot pink clouds. What a spectacle it was. It got me to thinking of all the moments I have had where nature has shown me her best, where my little blue planet became so very precious to me. Of course, it always is, but how often do I stop in my day to contemplate my gratitude for the beauty that surrounds me. How often do you?

Sometimes I look out my back door (big window kind) after a snow storm and the big pine tree across the lane looks like it belongs on a post card.

I remember once, sitting on the rock at Winnetou Lake, in a lotus position (right? lotus? legs crossed like a yoga thing?) .. the sun was slightly to the right facing me. It was reflecting off the lake and I was surrounded by this amazing light. It was a spiritual moment. I'm not religious by any stretch of the imagination - but at that moment I felt I knew God.

Anywhere in the Rockies is always a moment next to God. I spent last Thanksgiving in Canmore, Alberta. It cured me of what I imagine was a depressive episode, or menopause, or burnout.. take your pick, I'm still not sure what was up. But those mountains fixed it! They take my breath away.

I love moments like that. Like this morning with it's pink fairy sky. It was breathtaking. It gives me a sense of being connected to something much greater, to something beautiful and meaningful.

I'm grateful for having had the privilege to experience it.