Gratitude

I was off work today, and have been since Friday. I spent the past three days at a women’s christian experience weekend, which myself, and my friend, along with about 40 others, coordinated and implemented for 21 participants. It was wonderful. I had a very enjoyable role. I’m grateful for all the hard work that everyone put towards making the process run smoothly. They are an inspiration to me. The participants, and the people on our “team” who did all the behind the scenes work of set up, maintenance, trouble-shooting, cooking, cleaning, and emergency management were simply incredible. I’ve spent the morning reflecting on the experience and how it is affecting me. Mostly I feel overwhelming gratitude. There are definitely lots of teaching moments in a weekend like that, and one of mine was how much I can increase my connection with God just by changing a couple small things in my life, namely, pray more, and get out of the house and mingle joyfully with all the human angels treading the earth. We all have our troubles, but we are not alone. May you all feel the blessing of God’s peace and grace in your lives today, whether it is in the warmth of the sun, a bird’s song, or a butterfly flitting by…  The awe and wonder of our existence is available every moment.  What a miraculous mystery our lives are.

Peace,

Julia

60 days smoke free

I fell off the postaweek wagon.  But now I have another milestone to share, that is, sixty full days smoke free as of yesterday.  I took last week off work, which was great, nice weather, time with loved ones, and apartment hunting.  I need to move. I’m ready. I even got a call from my current landlord about a place she would rent to me April 1st, 90 days before my current lease is up.  That’s a pretty short time to pack and move, especially since I have an out-of-town retreat this weekend, but, we’ll see. If it’s perfect, I could manage. 🙂

The other new development: Hairstyle change.  See below…

Walking for a cause

Today it is 34 degrees and flurrying (is that a word?) snow.  I’m going to walk a mile and donate about 50 pounds of clothing I no longer wear to the Salvation Army.  Initially the idea was to donate “the clothes off your back”, so we were supposed to wear what we would be donating and then peel off layers until we were “nearly naked”, so to speak, thus, the walk is called the Nearly Naked Mile.  Well, this girl isn’t getting anywhere near naked in this weather. So, here I am in my walk attire:

I support our troops

postaweek2011

I’m sure I’ll have something more profound to say tomorrow, but today all I can say is that I’m glad tomorrow is Friday.  It was a good day, today, very quiet, almost nobody else around all day, and I got a chunk of a big task completed.  Once again, to revisit the gratitude list: woke up breathing, body functions all intact, plumbing, electricity, internet, phone, computer, coffee maker, all operational, food to eat, job (great job), car, gas money, friends, family, sun came out, 42 days smoke free, etc. In spite of all these blessings, it’s just one of those weeks when, I haven’t asked for a hug, nor wanted one (except from my amazing boyfriend at dinner last night), and I just don’t seem to have my natural smileability mojo workin’.  So, here’s to a new moon on Friday.  Even though I’m partial to new moons on Monday, and full moons on Friday, evidently it doesn’t always work out that way.  There is some cosmic law of cycles and irregular regularity that always keeps the moon waxing and waning, but the consistency falters there.  I guess I feel like the moon… pretty consistent over all, but definitely experiencing an irregular day.  Maybe I need some Mueslix.  That’s the closest I can come to humor. 😐

I think I’ll go babysit my friend’s kids now and get some real perspective on life.

Peace,

Julia