Fleur de Aleta

I'm grateful that Greg is home. Neither of us slept well with him being out of town. I worry about him driving so much, but I understand and appreciate what he does for a living. I can't imagine if he had to work away from home for months at a time. I know quite a few couples that have long distance marriages, due to work and the economy. It has to be so hard on them to be apart. Very, very grateful that our jobs keep us relatively close to home (a good 97% of the time) - yeah!

I was in such a bad mood after the sleep study this past Friday night. It wasn’t a good experience, but I’m thankful it’s the second and LAST sleep study that needs to be done. Now, I just have to wait to get the CPAP machine. On Saturday, with no sleep the night before, I didn’t think I would make the beading meeting. I’m grateful that I did. I brought some of the bead stones that Sally wanted to see. She said, “Look, you have a moon in this stone!” Beverly wanted to see it and then she replied, “This reminds me of the pendant I gave you that has a penis in it!” I busted out laughing. There are some things you just don’t expect to hear. Then Beverly told the story of how she went to a beading meeting once where they beaded around a penis (NOT a real one, of course – yeah, get that image out of your head now)… anyway, it was small plastic penises and Beverly told the group, “No thank you, I have the real thing at home.” One of the girls made a necklace with the penis as the pen...

I'm grateful for rainbows. Is that a silly thing? When I see a rainbow, if I have a camera with me, you can believe I'll take a picture. Rainbows make me think of laughter - all those pretty colors ~ I can't help but smile, seeing all those bright melding hues painted across the sky. When we were in Hawaii, on the way to and up the hike on Diamond Head Crater, we saw multiple rainbows. It was the extra highlight to the day. And, no, I'm not a hippie and I'm very straight. I just love colors! I read once about a cake that was made with white icing, but the layers on the inside were rainbow colors - how cool!

I'm grateful for my quiet world. I wrote about my hearing problems in the past. What I didn't write about was when my parents bought me hearing aides. This happened one Christmas not long ago; my parents gift to me was hearing. I never knew what I didn't have until I put those hearing aides in.... I got into my car and turned on the radio and... I HEARD the words! I listened to one song I've heard a number of times and said, "Ohhhhh, that's what it was all about!" When I got home, I was on the computer. Nobody else was there. I heard a sound, something moving. I turned towards the sound and wow - it was the window blinds moving in the other room. (Tigger, our cat, likes to sit on the windowsill and warm his fur.) Then, I was typing on the computer and had to stop. I heard something, but couldn't place it. I went absolutely still and finally realized - it was the tick-tock of the wall clock! The next day, I went to the office and sounds were pl...

"Attitude of Gratitude" That’s what my friend, Gwen, recently said on Facebook. She said that I inspired that quote and Wow – what a compliment! I’m happy to be a positive inspiration. My friends help me through so much ~ sometimes just because they let me vent, lend an ear and offer suggestions and continued strength. We are not an island to ourselves. We need communication and crave togetherness. I’m incredibly grateful for my friends. Not only for the wonderful friends that I know in real life, but also all you wonderful bloggy friends! Connections across the world, seeing the every day life and the joys and tears – sharing – it’s important; it’s valuable. Thank you *hugs