Monthly Archives: June 2012

Gratitude Friday

1 Reply

This post is a mashup of The Little Bliss List and Joy Jam, and as such is meant to celebrate: the little things that brought me hope and happiness this week, the sweet stuff of life, those small gifts that brought me joy this week. By sharing them, I not only make public my gratitude, but maybe also help you notice your own good stuff and send some positive energy out into the world.

us, at the beach on our last trip, two years ago

1. We’re finally here! After two days, 24 hours in the car driving 1200 miles across five states with lots of stops for walking and taking breaks and going potty, we have made it to “our” house in Waldport, “where the forest meets the sea.” It’s pouring down rain, and rain is forecast for the next few days, but right now, I don’t even care.

2. The dogs did really well on the trip. Dexter still didn’t like being in the car for so long, did some drooling and panting and whining, but better than I remember from our last trip. My favorite thing was as soon as we came in the front door of the house here, it was obvious Dexter remembered, knew exactly where we were (it’s his fourth trip to the beach, his third time staying in this house).

sleepy d at our hotel

Sam was a little more timid, but I can’t blame him–the last time he was here, he was only six months old. He was so cute at the hotel in Boise last night, could not figure out why their were people walking on the roof (we live in a one story, and we were on the ground floor of the hotel, with some pretty noisy, stompy people in the room above us, something Sam has never experienced). Sam enjoyed the long ride in the car, but we are convinced that he thinks he’s driving.

tired sam at the hotel

3. We got here safely. It is however going to take me a few days to settle in and recover from the drive, I feel like I have a baby version of jet lag.

4. Cherry stands. We were too tired on the way in to stop and buy any, but they are in season right now, so we will be eating some Rainiers and Bings.

5. A makeshift stand up desk. Because I’m so short, I was able to set up my laptop at the breakfast bar/kitchen counter to work as a standup desk. I’m so used to having one at home, I was worried about having to sit, but I think this option will be pretty workable.

Okay, beautiful people, I just officially hit a wall and must go sit on the couch and cuddle with my dogs.

Wishcasting Wednesday

9 Replies

image from jamie’s post

What do you wish for this summer?

My biggest wish for this summer is that the High Park Fire will be 100% contained, controlled, stopped, extinguished. That the fire fighters will stay safe, that no more homes will burn, no more harm will be done, and no more fires will start this summer.

That Eric and I and our two boys have a safe trip to Oregon, and then back to Colorado. That our drive is smooth, easy, and without issue or complication, that the dogs stay cool and comfortable, and we arrive in Oregon (and then Colorado) with little effort or suffering. And that our Big Rig functions as a vehicle of love and light that protects everyone we pass or follow or meet along the way. That anyone else traveling in this same time frame is also safe.

driftwood beach, where we’ll be walking in just a few days

That I practice mindfulness and gratitude, experience rest and play and joy while we are in Oregon. I need the rest, and I want to connect wholeheartedly to the joy of the present moment and sink into it fully.

hiking two years ago at cape perpetua, on the oregon coast

That I have a good experience at the World Domination Summit. That I don’t freak out, I don’t push or bully myself to do too much, I don’t try too hard, don’t sink into feeling unworthy or afraid that I’m missing something, that I remain safe and well, and that I get to, in a kind and gentle way, meet the people on the list I carry in my heart and tell them to their faces “thank you and I adore you.” That I can have confidence, “the willingness to be as ridiculous, luminous, intelligent, and kind as you really are, without embarrassment” (Susan Piver).

Happy, comfortable, safe beach dogs.

Naps, eating seafood, reading, writing, yoga, meditation, walks on the beach, hiking, meeting new friends, long conversations about nothing and everything, laughter, love, love, love.

where the forest meets the sea

And this, from Mary Oliver (shared here this morning), this is what I wish, not just for summer, but for my life. And for you as well, kind and gentle reader. Happy first day of summer and much love to you. May you have everything you wish for this summer as well.

The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?