For today....

For today:
   - I am thankful for the visits I had yesterday and for the love that was shown in those visits.  I am so incredibly thankful for my community and my support!
   - I am wearing black capri yoga pants and a purple T-shirt.  Yup, yoga pants are my uniform right now.  But it would be nice to find some that aren't black as I believe spring is really here and black is sure hot in the sunshine!  (And, yes, this is what I wore yesterday, too.  Except that I dressed up a bit for my one short excursion of the day.)
   - I am going for lunch with my cousin and her adorable 6 year old.  (How did he get to be 6?)  I am so looking forward to really visiting with her.  It's been quite the month for both of us.  And, since neither of us can cook or do much right now, going out seems like a great plan.
   - I am hearing the silence in my house.  In the past I almost always had the radio on when I was home.  This last month (and more) it has been quiet in my house most of the time.  I have started to put music on more often, but still not the radio.  I'm not sure why CBC hasn't been part of my days lately.  Maybe what's happening outside my house just doesn't seem as important to me.  That will change.  And maybe silence and peace is more what I need right now.
   - In the kitchen nothing is happening.  Well, except for boiling water in the kettle, heating food in the microwave, searching the freezer to see what gift of food I want to eat today (thanks, wonderful community!), and the occasional washing of dishes.  

   - One of my favourite things is playing with fabric.  And I have done a little of that these last couple of days.  I have found a new infatuation with making bags.  I made 4 in the last 4 days, finishing them up this morning.  (There have to be some benefits of waking up early - although 6:00 is a definite improvement in that regard.) Yesterday, I used the first bag I made and got lots of compliments on it.  So much fun!

These are the same two bags.  They're just reversible.  (Sorry for the shadows.  I'm not feeling patient enough to wait until the sun is a little higher.  Besides, that's when I want to sit outside and read.) 

 

Again, these bags are the same two bags.  And, while the orangish one looks like the first one I made, I like it better because I figured out how to do stripes more effectively.  And the green one has one of the same fabrics as one above.  I actually really love them all and I am having a difficult time choosing which two to keep for myself.  Do I really even need two?  Yup, right now I think I do.

   - One thing I know for sure is that I am loved.  Loved by God who has given me so much peace and joy in this detour in the journey.  Loved by family who have been there every step of the way.  Every one.  Loved by friends who have shown me so much incredible love and compassion.  Loved by students and colleagues (see above). 
   - I am praying that I don't develop Spiritual Alzheimers.  (Thanks, Ann Voskamp for that term.)  I don't want to forget all that I have been reminded of and all that I have learned along this detour.

Today....

Tonight, I'm -
     - hoping that I sleep longer in the morning.  This waking up at 4 or 5 and staying awake is for the birds.  (And yes, the birds are up and singing at that time.)
   - remembering the wonderful morning I had with Kathryn this morning.  We drove (well, Kathryn did) to Bragg Creek and went for a short (well, long for me right now - 20 minutes) stroll in the provincial park before heading to a coffee shop for a visit.  (And I'm praying for the motorcyclist who got hit just moments before we got to the scene of the accident!  So glad we didn't actually see it happen.)
   - enjoying the anticipation for going to bed with clean sheets.  Love that feeling!
   - appreciating my friends and family and their incredible love.  And appreciating the soup from Terri, and the pork and vegetables from Leanne that I had for meals today.  I am truly blessed!
   - planning on finishing a bag I started sewing. 

For today:

I saw this format for blog posts awhile back (don't remember where) and thought I'd try it sometime.  Today's the day for the first try.

For today:
- Outside my window the skies have varied from light gray to dark gray to blue sky with the sun going down.  It is amazing how much the skies can change during the day.
- I am thinking about how blessed I am and how wonderful it was to have a guest for lunch - especially one who brought lunch with her!  Thanks, Ruth.
- I am thankful that I am gaining strength and was actually able to walk for 10 minutes.  (Although I will admit to being pretty tired when I was done.)  I am also thankful that I am able to do some short driving trips now!
- I am wearing capri yoga pants and a turquoise T-shirt.  Yes, I said capris.  It wasn't terribly warm today, but I'm pressing for spring to show itself in all its glory.  And - I will admit to the fact that I'm actually enjoying yoga pants.  Never thought I would buy them.  But, like many things in life, once you try new things you can be surprised how good they actually are.
- I am reading up on menopause and trying to figure out some ways to get control of (translation - get rid of) lovely hot flashes that wake me up in the night.  Last night was better.  Hopefully tonight continues the trend.
- I am hearing birds singing in the trees.
- I am praying for relatives of friends of mine. 
- I am rejoicing that my cousin was released from the hospital.
- Around the house, nothing is getting done.  And - I am totally okay with that.  It's really kind of freeing to not feel any compulsion to get things done.
- One of my favourite things is creating cards.  Today I played with some of my photographs to come up with some ideas for invitations for Middle School Graduation.  I hadn't been doing much of that and it felt good.  (Although it also felt good to get away from behind the computer and rest my healing muscles after an hour.)

It has been a good day.