"The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them up." - Dorothy Day


I am grateful for the Memorial Day holiday. I am glad that a day was set aside to honor those people who chose to serve in the military. Many thanks to them, the ones in the past as well as present. Many more thanks to those who never came home and gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country!

Whatever we are waiting for -- peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance -- it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart." - Sarah Ban Breathnach

I am grateful for the telephone (or cell phone) : ) Can you imagine how sad it would be to not hear your loved one's voice! My grand daughter called me today so excited because she lost her first tooth. She told me all about it and I had so much fun listening to her. It wouldn't have been the same in a letter (or email : )

"Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude!" - Henry Ward Beecher

I am grateful for people who accept me and my faults and who like me as I am : ) We all have different personalities as well as what we like and dislike. I am blessed when family and friends love me anyway!

"Gratitude helps you to grow and expands; gratitude brings you and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you. " - Eileen Caddy

I am grateful for my aunt and uncle who are 83 years young! I visited them today and took them out to eat. My aunt is my moms only remaining sister who is still with us. She reminds me so much of my mom and I love to talk to her about all those great memories of yesterday. Such great blessings I have!

"Nothing more detestable does the earth produce than an ungrateful man." - Decimus Magnus Ausonius

I am grateful for the act of forgiveness (especially when I am the recipient ) Sometimes I know what I have done is wrong, other times I am unaware of the hurt I caused. Either way I am grateful for the forgiveness that is extended to me by those who I have offended. I am blessed by them and am humbled by their kindness.

"True thanksgiving means that we need to thank God for what He has done for us, and not to tell Him what we have done for Him. " - George R. Hendrick


I am grateful that I can be busy and accomplish many things. I just have to be careful that I don't overdue it or feel like I haven't done enough. When I appreciate what I get done and don't fret about what didn't get done I feel empowered. I know that I can look forward to the next day with confidence.

"Gratitude is the heart's memory." - Proverb

I am grateful for the small acts of service that I see all around me everyday! I have been the recipient of some of these acts but I also see them occur for others many times each day. There are so many kind people who give of themselves : ) Many thanks to them!

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to live on this beautiful and astonishing planet Earth. In the morning, I wake up with a sense of gratitude." - Earl Nightingale

I am grateful when something is finished : ) (especially after the stress that it took to finish it )
Our bathroom is now done and looks beautiful! It was stressful to work around the mess but is well worth it now : )

"Be thankful. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Thankfulness is much more dependent on attitude than circumstance. When you feel the lack of what you don't have, thank God for what you do have! At any time, there is more going right in the life of a committed Christian than there is going wrong. It's just that the wrong makes a lot more noise than the right." - Jim Stephens


We are having our guest bathroom updated. It is looking good and I am so grateful to be able to do it. The people we got to remodel are great and should have it done by tomorrow. We have only been without a second bathroom for two days. They are speedy but good! I feel so blessed to have
it : )

"Gratitude is our most direct line to God and the angels. If we take the time, no matter how crazy and troubled we feel, we can find something to be thankful for. The more we seek gratitude, the more reason the angels will give us for gratitude and joy to exist in our lives." - Terry Lynn Taylor



I am grateful for birthday celebrations! Today was Chris' birthday and we enjoyed the day together. We went to the beach and ate dinner next to the pier at Duke's restaurant. So much fun!

"Gratitude is a twofold love -- love coming to visit us, and love running out to greet a welcome guest." - Henry Van Dyke

I am grateful to go out to the movies. It is fun to sit in a movie theater and watch the "big screen!" Some pictures are just better to watch in the dark. (with a bag of popcorn : )

" I hate ingratitude more in a person; than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, or, any taint of vice whose strong corruption inhabits our frail blood." Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare


I am grateful for the close relationship I have with my heavenly father. I find it easy to talk to him in conversations as well as prayer. I am blessed by the constant love he gives me and I know that he cares for my well being in a personal way : )

"Ingratitude is treason to mankind. " - James Thomson


I enjoy reading about the local history where I live (or visit) It makes me appreciate the area around me and I learn so many interesting things. I think it makes regular history more personal and intriguing. It is like stepping back in time for a short while to see what was going on around you!

"God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart." - Izaak Walton


I am grateful for grown children who consider it important to be the best parents they can be! They feel just like I did when I was a young parent, we were so unsure and wanted to do the best we could. They strive to do their best and it shows with my grandchildren. I am so blessed that they are my children : )

No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope or fear;
But, grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here. - John Greenleaf Whittier


I am grateful for having enough money to enjoy life. I know that money is not everything but it is nice not to have to worry about paying the bills. I am blessed to have enough to take care of my needs and a little to have fun with. I appreciate this blessing!

"My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate" - Thornton Wilder

I love to laugh! (remember Mary Poppins!) and I am grateful when I get the chance to be goofy. When I get started it is hard to stop but it makes me feel so good inside. I think it is true that laughter is the best medicine!

"Gratitude is not only the memory but the homage of the heart rendered to God for his goodness." Nathaniel P. Willis

I am grateful for the gift to persevere. I don't always finish the "race" but more times than not I actually do achieve my goal. It gives me a great feeling when I do!

"Our favorite attitude should be gratitude." - Zig Ziglar


I am grateful for the power of prayer in my life. I feel blessed that my prayers are answered so frequently. I know that I am loved by my heavenly father and he is always mindful of me. How thankful I am for this knowledge.

"Eaten bread is soon forgotten. " - Thomas Fuller


I am grateful for the modern conveniences that we have! There are too many to count but I appreciate them all : ) Some favorites are central air conditioning ( I don't know how I survived in So Cal before that) and microwave ovens (how did I ever cook some things? ) I do appreciate all of the things that we sometimes take for granted. : )

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." Epicurus


I am grateful for giving service to others. By helping others in need I tend to forget my trials and difficulties. I appreciate the blessings that I have and hope to help others to recognize the blessings that they still have in their life.

Let's choose today to quench our thirst for the good life we thinks others lead by acknowledging the good that already exists in our lives. We can then offer the universe the gift of our grateful hearts. " - Sarah Ban Breathnach

My gratitude today is for friends who willingly help me to learn something new. They give of their time and expertise to teach me some technique that I do not know. It is always generously given and I appreciate their love and kindness!

"Gratitude helps you to grow and expands; gratitude brings you and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you." - Eileen Caddy


I am grateful for spring days spent in the park, which is just what I did today : ) The weather was picture perfect, sunny but not too hot, and a little breeze. I was doing what I love, making lace! And it was spent at a cute little park in uptown Whittier on their birthday. I appreciate the little things that come my way along with the big ones!

"Whatever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart -- a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water -- I accept with joy." - Bhagavad Gita

I am grateful for my mom and dad! They did so much for me when I was a child and probably spoiled me a little too much : ) I know that they expected me to be a good person and I have always tried to be that for them. They have been gone now for nine years but I still think of them when I have decisions to make. I think we all want our parents to be proud of the person that we have become. I know that I was richly blessed by their love and support!

Gratitude is the heart's memory. - Proverb


I am grateful for the help I receive when I need it. It comes from friends, acquaintances, and total strangers! I truly am blessed by so many people who go out of their way to help and guide me along my human journey : )

"I had the blues
because I had no shoes
until upon the street,
I met a man who had no feet." - Anonymous


I am grateful for all types of four legged friends, that help lift us up and give us so much joy in life. They give us unconditional love as well as some crazy times but we love it!

"I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom." - Anonymous

I appreciate having a good doctor that tries to help me when I am ill and wants me to stay healthy. I visited him today so he could check my hand and wrist, which have been bothering me lately. I have to rest my hand more and wear an arm brace when I am working on my projects or typing on the computer. Hopefully it will not get any worse then that. I am blessed to have my doctor.

"We count our miseries carefully, and accept our blessings without much thought." - Chinese Proverb

I am grateful for the gift of wisdom. It has helped me through some situations that could have been difficult if not for this gift. If I follow my own advice (after I think things over carefully) I am always blessed.

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude." - Thomas S. Monson

I just watched a DVD tonight called the "Passion of the Marathon." It told about several different people who were preparing for the Chicago Marathon and what drove their passion to run. I have to say that I am grateful for uplifting entertainment that motivates us to improve our life.

"Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present -- love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure -- the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth." --Sarah Ban Breathnach

I am grateful for the serendipity that occurs to us every now and then : ) I have been at a heavily attended conference/convention this week with over 2000 people in attendance. I stepped into one class with close to 200 people trying to find seats. I found an empty one and asked the lady sitting in the next seat if it was taken. She looked so familar to me. We started talking and realized that we knew each from the same church group years ago. How good are the chances that I would end up in the same class as her and sitting next to her? Amazing!