Mother’s Day Weekend has passed again and as I sit in the after glow with my Monday morning coffee I am filled with an abundance of gratitude so acute it almost hurts. It is a special day for me, special because I have been in active duty now for 35 years. Plus 15 years as a grandmother. I wouldn’t trade a single day. Not even the stormy ones.

Yes, it’s true…I had an early start. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you hit a home run.

Although, I didn’t wake one day and say, “Gee…I think I’ll try being a sixteen year old mom, won’t that be a smart idea!”  I did learn more from that rocky road than all of the other hard knock classes I took put together.

I learned about unconditional love. I learned about commitment. I learned about priorities. (You learn about that sort of thing in the middle of the night with an asthmatic child who can’t breathe and you haven’t slept in three days.) I learned about money. I learned about not having any.

Yep…kids teach you everything. All of mine have taught me new things. My oldest, being the pioneer daughter, blazing the trail for the others, had it the hardest. She had to dig her way through the hardest clay, my skills as a parent, untried and alone for the most part. We experimented together. Frick and frack, figuring it out as we went along. We learned a lot together. The rest of them should send her Mother’s day cards.

When she was 16, she wrote a poem and gave it to me for Mother’s Day.

I appeared like lightning piercing the sky;
Greatly unexpected, a hindrance was I.
Washing away goals, changing dreams like the tide,
I crushed her youth the moment I arrived.

But her love flourished with each passing day,
As she accepted her life, the gift that I gave.
Our life was not charted, predicted, or planned;
We faced our troubles hand in hand.

They flooded our lives, right from the start,
But made us two people; stronger of heart.
She welcomed my presence for she did know,
That when a storm goes by, it leaves a rainbow.

 I CRIED……

But it was true. All of my children are exquisite rainbows with the most glorious colors in the universe.

I know that all of the mothers out there feel the same way about their rainbows too. So for mothers everywhere this weekend, I am sharing my gratitude for all of our children and for everything they have taught us, shown us and shared with us.

For the gift of being a mother.

Happy Mother’s Day Moms.

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptkWYhX79N8]I have been blessed.

*Original post from 2008 updated to reflect current Mother’s Day Gratitude. I am grateful always.

Talk about going off on a tangent. This morning I started out organizing our various projects for the week, which then led to thinking about what I was going to write this week, which in turn took a deserted side road into our recent novel project and then veered off into some odd path on thoughts about collaborative novels. From there a small sign made me think of one of my most favorite collaborations by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman called Good Omens.

In a burst of sudden Museness (or temporary insanity) I started searching for contact information. How cool would it be to get an interview about collaboration from one of these authors?

Well, after an hour or so of searching Sir Pratchett’s site (yes, he was recently given the honor of Knighthood! Congrats!) I toddled on over to Neil Gaiman’s site. Hadn’t been there in a while and forgotten how enjoyable his blog was.

Once I got there and started reading the most recent entries I was very nearly a puddle of mush on the keyboard.

Kids and Pets

In some circles, talking about your pets is like talking too much about your kids. Not everyone is interested and not everyone feels the same way about those small souls in your life. Unless you’re a parent, to either the two legged or four legged variety of children, there’s often a connection others don’t understand.

Davidson

With the two-legged kids, the attachment is understandable. They are humans, after all. But when it comes to pets, if you treat them too much like human kids your friends and neighbors might look at you slightly askew.

It’s no secret that I have cats. Two of them. Never thought I would, considering I grew up terribly allergic to the critters. That all changed the moment I moved in with Pete. He was a first time cat owner then, a half Siamese by the name of Davidson.

Davidson was a great cat. Fearless as all get out. I never witnessed it for myself, but Pete actually managed to teach Davidson how to sit on his shoulder while he took the Harley out for a spin around the block.

Kota & Cougar

Davidson met an untimely end, unfortunately. And that’s when Cougar came into our lives. Seven years later, Lakota, my Pixiebob, came along.

The rest is history.

Now I’m a full-fledged, card carrying cat person. It’s a beautiful thing.

Change of Heart

There used to be a time when I could watch an ASPCA commercial and not start bawling like a baby. After having lived with Cougar and Lakota for the past 9 years it’s really hard not to look at those sad eyes on TV and not feel any compassion for them. I guess that’s how it is for people with kids when they see other children suffering.

You’re kidding. Right?

Now, I know my cats aren’t human. I don’t dress them up or give them birthday parties. Whether I spoil them or not is debatable.  Pete says I do, and my argument is I just want them to have a happy life. What’s wrong with a cat water fountain anyway?

I think my view and relationship with the felines in my life is all based around the way I was raised. Animals are animals, yes, but they’re also living creatures that need love and affection, respect and care as much as we do. That’s not to say I won’t stop eating steak any time soon. There’s a food chain for a reason.

When I saw Neil’s posts about his cat Zoe that got me thinking how much our pets contribute to our lives and families in the most subtle ways. Pets make us laugh, they offer unconditional companionship, and all too often we don’t realize how much they touch our hearts until it’s too late.

Unorthodox Inspired Gratitude

There’s no lesson here. If you figure out what it is, let me know. It’s just one of those introspective moments I find myself in from time to time.

I see how Neil is bringing Zoe home to die in the comfort of her own space and I think back to when my first real pet, Muffy (named “Ear Muffs” by Dad who said she looked like she was wearing a pair of earmuffs) was sent to the vet with an irreversible and fast acting blood disease.

I never got the chance to say good-bye to her. Mom and Dad thought it best “not to see her that way” and to “remember her as she was”. It’s still something that troubles me to this day.

I guess if there was a message to all this, it would be let those you love know it. Most of all, show it to those small souls who depend on you and ask absolutely nothing in return.

Sadly, Zoe didn’t make it. But at least the family had a chance to make her last few hours on this earth as comfortable as possible.

And Neil? Like I said on Twitter, it’s not weird to feel this way. You have a heart, your whole family does, and it shows.

THANK GOD FOR DIRTY DISHES; THEY HAVE A TALE TO TELL.
WHILE OTHER FOLKS GO HUNGRY, WE’RE EATING PRETTY WELL.
WITH HOME, AND HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS,
WE SHOULDN’T WANT TO FUSS;
FOR BY THIS STACK OF EVIDENCE,
GOD’S VERY GOOD TO US.
Anonymous

 Last year I wrote a post about gratitude and included the above poem.  To this day it is one of my most read posts. Frankly…it amazes me and I find myself shaking my head in wonder. I’m not sure if it is the poem or the post that has people returning to it again and again. However I do know, that a year later, the poem is still as timely for me now as it was then. I figured I could use the reminder. Perhaps you could too?

Look around at the moment at hand. Take note of what you see. Both the tangible…and the not so tangible.

Some of the things right under our noses often seem like the biggest pain in the pahootie instead of the very blessings we forget to be grateful for.

Our homes get messy-
But at least we have them-some don’t

Our children get tired, cranky, unappreciative-
But at least we have them-some don’t

Our spouses are slobs, ungrateful, unromantic
But at least we have them-some don’t

The list could go on, and on and on…

Right now I have a garage to organize, a dishwasher to empty and a list of projects that I would like to close my eyes to. But…they are all attached to the single fact that yes…I am a homeowner. And I shouldn’t be fussing because I am very grateful about that when I stop a moment to remember it. I have a roof over my head, food on my table and a warm bed at the end of the day and a wonderful family and friends I love.

My world is complete. I am going back to my chores with a more grateful heart.

How about you?

I have to admit, I was sceptical. In general, I am not a big Charles Dickens fan. I can hear some of you more literary readers groaning at me from here, but the truth is I find him to be wordy and long on description and narration and short on actual dialogue. So…I hemmed and hawed and tried to come up with a different idea but in the end…Dickens won out.

And I couldn’t be happier that it did.

While adapting the book to a script that would suit our audience, I had the opportunity to read the book over and over, and over and over again. I became enthralled with the messages behind the story,and knew that they were the exact inspirational messages we wanted to share for the holiday season.

The story of the transformation of a lonely, bitter, self-serving man who hadn’t a friend to call his own is a remarkable story of hope for us all. Scrooge isolated himself from his family, his community and any hope of love in his life just to follow his dream of creating wealth. In doing so, he lost the quality of his life. The lessons learned by the visits of Marley and the three Christmas ghosts showed him the error of his ways and gave him a new desire to become close with his family and help his employee and community. He opened himself up to the amazing power of love and is re-created a new man, one of hope, compassion and kindness. We are reminded that our actions DO affect others and that the choices we make create a destiny for us that can’t be avoided. In our choices we can choose love or loneliness.

Scrooge was able to transform the destiny of his life by making a new choice. A choice to live on purpose with love in his heart for his fellowman. And he was able to do so in the blink of a decision.

The holidays are a difficult time for many people. A lack of good quality relationships create a deep well of loneliness and despair for isolated people. Depression is rampant this time of the year. The lesson of Scrooge reminds us to reach out to others and live a life of charity, kindness and love for all. It’s a message that can’t be mentioned enough. In this day of financial worry and tension, these companionships mean all the more. It doesn’t take money to reach out and care. A simple word of encouragement, a smile, a word of comfort can make such a difference in someone’s life. And it only takes a second.

There have been other lessons learned and highlighted in putting on this play. I have been constantly amazed at the pouring out of generosity, hard work and sacrifice from the cast and crew and the congregation. Everyone has pitched in and helped in so many ways that my gratitude for all of them is overflowing. The teamwork has been incredible.

A year ago, this play was just the seed of a dream, a lofty someday goal. But with everyone working together, sharing resources, time and energy, it has become a reality. It isn’t the success of just one person but rather the accumalation of many different miracles, faith and hard work.

When a group of people gather with a united vision, anything is possible.

I am so proud to be a part of that vision. I am so inspired by working alongside some truly amazing people of faith and generosity. I am so honored that they put their faith in us and helped to make this dream come true.

It’s all been too amazing to put in words.

Except maybe these words…

Thank You.

And God bless us, everyone!

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
`Denis Waitley

In the midst of great despair, at a time when I could find no light at the end of the dark tunnel that had become my complicated life, I discovered an amazing truth. No matter how dark, no matter how hopeless the world seemed, I could revive my state of happiness by focusing on gratitude and the people and things that I feel privileged and honored to have in my life.

I can be happy when I am grateful. No matter what circumstances befall me.

This morning as I sit alone in my silent home, coffee beside me as the sun peaks in the sky, I take the time to reflect on the joys of my life. Within the hour, I will rise from my meditations and I will start to prepare the stuffing for the Thanksgiving Turkey, and then the great bird itself and the rest of the meal. The table will be set with decorations and flowers and the family will come and this now silent home will be filled with the sounds of cheery conversation and children’s laughter.

I am grateful for this moment of peace as I begin this most precious of days. I am grateful for the family that will fill these walls soon. I hold family and friends to be among the most important gifts there could ever be, and in this area of life I have been abundantly blessed. When I think upon this one thing…my heart begins to overflow and I am welled up with more gratitude than my being can even hold.

I am grateful for the friends I have met here as I have made this pilgrimage into the on-line world of writing. A place I wasn’t even a part of at this time last year. I feel honored by so many helpful and kind friends who have lit the path for me and joined hands with me along the way. This community here and the others I have been a part of. Thank you for sharing this road with me.

I am grateful that in the midst of darkness in our world, I can still feel the hope. I can still look to the daily inspirations that come from everywhere if only we will seek them. They make themselves apparent and I can see, I can know, that somehow…somehow…life will turn out right.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is a day to express what we should be feeling and paying attention to EVERY DAY. I celebrate this day of gratitude by renewing my pledge to live a life more grateful.

A life that celebrates the daily gifts I am given. A life that gives back- in word and deed- with a grateful heart for all that had been done for me and those I love.

I can never repay all the beauty and love that has graced my life, it’s impossible. The more I try, the more it rains down around me. I have come to understand that it is one of the secrets of living a grateful life.

The more you are grateful, the more you will have to be grateful for.

I am grateful for my life. For all the love in it, for all of the people in it, all of the beauty and art in it and the amazing power of God to show up in everything-if only we are looking.

Happy Thanksgiving.

What are you grateful for today?