guess who's back!

Red-winged blackbird, heard, then seen on our walk this morning!

His call is the harbinger of spring.

life's gifts don't stop at 1000 (1003-1015 of gifts unending)

"Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it." - John Hughes

Believe it or not, I've been missing the weekly ritual of reviewing my gratitude list and posting updates of my life! I was thrilled to reach my goal of 1000 a few weeks ago, but now ...  what? So I've decided like some others, to carry on past 1000. May finding things to be grateful for become my lifestyle!

Since I put up my last 1000 gifts post (almost a month ago) here are some blessings I've recorded:


1003. Dr. Charles Price visited our church on his publicity tour for Living Truth. Another couple joined us and we found seats in the second row. Dr.Price ended up sitting right in front of me. (I felt like reaching out and touching the hem of his garment—just kidding!)

1004. I took courage and set up a Facebook page to help me publicize my soon-to-release novel. The process was smooth. It's here, if you care to visit it. I'll be posting book events on it plus other writing-related stuff.


1005. On the subject of the book, I got the proof copy of Destiny's Hands last week, checked it over closely and found no typos, weird spacings, pages missing etc. Whew! So it's on to the print phase.

1006. I love spring's continuing flower show. My camera wants to own! Here are a few mementoes.

1007. We celebrated a couple of milestones. A sad one was my cousin's funeral. He died suddenly in his sleep one Saturday to Sunday in May. I didn't know him well so his memorial service was like getting to know him. What an incredible man who made a huge impact on many people. Memorials always get me thinking too... What will people remember about me?

1008. A happy milestone was a friend's 60th birthday party. He's taken to running triathlons, reflected in his beautifully decorated birthday cake.

1010. We've been enjoying spring scents on our walk—the sweet perfume of wild roses and the spicy scent  of Dame's Rocket.

1011. We pass a favourite dogwood every day on our walk. I've been documenting it in all its phases.

1012. The salmonberries are ripe. Here is one, photographed just before I ate it.

1013. And how about this curious bloom on a shrub (also seen on a recent walk)?

1014. Father's Day in Vancouver. Son lives just off Main Street where they were celebrating Car-Free Day. The street was a big party / stroll. We had a delicious Greek food at The Main. Happy Father's Day to the man in my life.

1015. This very handsome flicker posed for me this morning.

To discover who had the idea to start listing 1000 and more gratitudes, and to find links to many more such lists, go here.

mother

May walkabout  (photographed near Nicomekl Creek - May 9, 2012)

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Thursday Challenge 

Next Week: MUSIC(Musical Instruments, Live Music, Sheet Music, CDs, iPods, Music Players,...)

spring—it's busting out! (#904- 918 of 1000 gifts)

"Forsythia is pure joy. There is not an ounce, not a glimmer of sadness ... in forsythia. Pure, undiluted, untouched joy." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." - Kahlil Gibran

We are being visited by spring! What a wonderful break from winter, and just on time for the long weekend. As spring establishes herself, the gifts of color and new life multiply. I just love this time of year!

904. A postcard from my Alma Mater Bible school that reminds: "What's my purpose?... I want to find a purpose before finding a career. That purpose can only be found in Jesus, through a life of service to Him" - E. a 3rd year student.

905. Finished reading and reviewing Rumors of Water. I love how a good writing book gives me a shot in the arm.

906. A matins singer.

907. A joint Good Friday service involving many of the evangelical churches in our community. This year's was one of the best ever. I especially enjoyed the worship set led by Pastor Cory Alstad of the North Langley Community Church. (It's interesting how different churches have different musical repertoires. Now there's a reason for a pilgrimage...)

908. During the time the communion elements were distributed, Valentina Beyard did sand art. That is, she drew with her fingers using sand as 'paint.' Light shone up through the transparent sand table, and her creations were projected. We watched fascinated as her hands and fingers flew across the screen, creating scenes of Jesus' life, holy week, and the crucifixion. (Watch Valentina do sand art at last year's Christmas production.)

909. A Friday outing to Boundary Bay Park in Tsawwassen with hubby.

910. A Saturday outing with friends to Aldergrove and Cultus Lake.

My garden is blessing me with

911. Gigantea Chionodoxa (there must be a simpler name—just quoting the packaging in my stash of garden instructions).

912. Siberica Scilla.

913. Hyacinth.

914. The Easter bunny visiting my little display. (My photo frame has hundreds of photos which keep cycling at about 3-minute intervals. It was serendipitous indeed to notice the rabbit; I had to take a photo.)

915. My sis arrived for Easter dinner with a basket she put together for me: Geranium, Ranunculus and two kinds of mint! (I love that girl!)

916. There is poetry all over the place this poetry month. I even found the star of my Easter feast, an orzo salad with spinach, olives, and feta cheese through poetry. Children's poet Linda Ashman shared the recipe on Jama Rattigan's Poetry Potluck 2012 (where each day of the week she features another poet and a recipe from her/him — yum!)

917. This morning the park was alive with more birdsong than ever.

918. This robin was looking particularly dapper. 

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If  you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts,  please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts  on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on  how to join are here.

still playing (#861-873 of 1000 gifts)

"Sometimes you have to play for a long time to be able to play like yourself." - Miles Davis

I'm not sure why the above quote resonates with me. Perhaps it's because I've been working on my novel edit with its vast amount of words (vast compared to poetry at least) and wondering, is this sounding right? What it should be sounding like. This is so different than editing short pieces of prose and poetry, which is tweaking one word here, a comma there. Hallelujah I am nearing the finish line of even the long edit. That is 861. of my list of gifts today.

862. Our flood reno is progressing wonderfully. Drywall has been replaced, walls painted, a beautiful new floor is in. The restoration company may be moving our stuff back this week!

863. More curling to watch—when I find the time. The Brier (playing in Saskatoon) is on this week.

864. A bonus of curling—I get to play with yarn! Here's my latest project all done.

865. Catching up with friends not seen in a while.

866. Listening to Jason Crabb while I do my number crunching.

867. Bird sightings—a Red-tailed Hawk.

868. ...and a Blue Heron.

869. Some missionary events at my church that focused on incredible people and opened my eyes to what's happening in North Africa, Zambia, Cambodia and Guatemala.

870. Spring is advancing, taking baby steps mostly, although the other day I saw this!

871. Yesterday's walk with extended family.

872. ... the new generation of bird watchers.

873. Psalm 20—a special encouragement this week.

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If  you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts,  please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts  on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on  how to join are here.

music (#792 - 804 of 1000 gifts)

There shall be music, sweet and clear,

Calling the reverent worshipers near,

Telling the story in notes and in rhyme

Of the Child who was born at Christmastime.

There shall be music, soft and light,

A lullaby sung on a crisp winter night,

Sweetly angelic like the voices that told

Of the birth of a king to the shepherds of old.

There shall be music, deep and strong,

Filling the air with melodious song,

Resonant sounds of gladness that tend

To lift every heart to a grateful amen!

- Alice Leedy Mason (Christmas Ideals - 1978)

As I always do at this time of year, I've hauled out the Christmas albums and am giving them some play time. Some of my favorites are the 2003 Michael W. Smith Christmas album and some CDs released by Our Daily Bread that contain beautiful classical songs. I have yet to play two golden oldies that we have only as records—a Nana Mouskouri Christmas album and one by Roger Whittaker. There's nothing nicer than a house filled with the warmth of a fireplace, the twinkle of lights, and the gorgeous songs of Christmas. That's number 792 on my list of 1000 gifts.

And ...

793. A hawk sighting.

794. Much shopping and other Christmas preparation done this week.

795. The way frost transforms, outlining ...

796. ... sugar-frosting ...

797. ... glazing ... 

798. ... and exposing.

799. Discovering a new worship album. The Journey by Stuart Townend has a lively Celtic flavour. Love it! (From some notes on Mr. Townend's website: "This album may signal that it’s time to turn the guitar amps down from 11, time to dust off the violin and flute, get out the accordion and the banjo, and lead God’s people in worship along slightly different musical paths to the ones we’ve got use to in recent years – and, in my humble opinion, that’s no bad thing…" - I'd say AMEN to that!)

800. A visit with my sis.

801. An inspiring church Christmas production.

802. A Christmas party with one of those wild gift exchanges where you get to steal someone else's gift. I came home with some Starbucks!


803. Plans for Christmas Day finalized. They'll be home!

804. A beautiful Sunday walk in the fog.

Fort Langley Bridge over the Bedford Channel

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.