Daily Gratitudes 2014

[Annunziata]

Old thread here

Welcome to our Gratitudes for 2014! The lovely crescentmoon started last years, and we are running out of space. So, here is our 2014 thread-for little things that go well for us each day.

Any MNer can join in! From any faith, no faith, every day, once in a while, everyone is welcome!

I am grateful for
a New Year and new starts
all my grown up DC having a good time at parties and returning home safely
a warm bath and a glass of wine

Good morning . How is everyone. welcome all lovely new people. Your gratitudes are beautiful. Simple blessings make life worthwhile.

Ramadan Mubarak, crescent. I pray that God blesses and sustains you during this time of service and reflection. Blessings to any other Muslim sisters at this most special and important time for them

Annunziata, have a fabulous holiday. Enjoy the calm before the storm.

gratitudes -
Summer mission was fab - 62 kids, all week, learning about Jesus and the Gospel, praising God and having fun
DS4 coped well with it, we only had a couple of incidents all week, thanks be to God.
summer sunshine
line dry washing
clean, cold water
that someone to fix my broken boiler is only a phonecall away - you don't realise how much you depend on hot, running water until you don't have it any more.
beautiful music
birds and bumble bees
safety and shelter

Was there a well hidden broken boiler lurking somewhere in those gratitudes stressed?!
If so, hope it gets fixed soon.

And meanwhile I'll join you with gratitudes for clean, cold water
It is indeed a great blessing, that many have to walk miles for, and often do not have a clean, safe supply even then.

When I start my new job I hope to be able to support Water Aid

Hello, I'm new to this, but want to say thank you for some good things that happened today:

1. A mistake I made at work came right. I had owned up and although, in hindsight, I could have keep quiet, I am glad I took immediate responsibility for what I'd done. I don't feel deserving of the "luck/whatever" that made my mistake right.
2. My DD's first school report.

Welcome, Sea, to our happy thread. I'm glad things worked out for you after a mistake. it's always best, sin't it, to take responsibility, it can be hard though, especially when you feel really stupid. Also, a first report card - s for your wee DD.

Crescent, I love dates. Is Ramadan a lot harder in the summer, you must have to go 16 hours without food or water - I don't think that I could.

Yes, there was a sneaky broken boiler, Juggling. It's fixed now, thankfully. That's about the only good thing about living in a council house - we don't have to worry about repairing things like that.

gratitudes -
restored hot water
skilled workmen who can fix things like broken boilers
more glorious summer sun
more lovely, sunny washing
clean, fresh cold water
salad for tea
outside prayer - I always feel closer to God when I'm outside

sleep
painkillers
NHS
rain to water the earth and nourish the crops
birdsong
cuddles

Glad your boiler is now fixed HE - it's very hard being without hot water I think. Of course world-wide it is quite a luxury isn't it? Even clean, cold water is far from universal, especially "on tap"

Ramadan Mubarak to all muslim sisters here. I'm curious to know more about how people keep Ramadan, especially as I enjoy shopping at our local asian supermarket, and see many people there in the evenings at the moment, preparing for an evening iftar?

Clean running water is such a blessing. it's so hard to imagine how people deal with not having it. All the things that we take for granted like baths, showers, washing machines and even cooking with water would be gone

gratitudes
food, water, safety, shelter
contentment
faith
prayer
reasonably happy children - although we all know what teenagers are like1
friends

Hi all. :-) My gratitudes.

Being recovered from a procedure enough to watch my children's sports days.
Having my mum come and help out.
Getting only a little sunburnt yesterday, nothing severe.

Sunscreen.
My husband's job being rewarding and accepting of illness, so he can just take a day off when he is sick.

This thread.

Bless you all.

Hello, nicering, what lovely gratitudes. I hope that you and your DH are feeling better and that illness is not ongoing.

gratitudes -
sunny washing
summer warmth
wee plants are beginning to produce delicious things
children continue to be well
Dh has a much needed day off coming up
food, water, safety and shelter.

crescent, I am so glad that Ramadan is going well. it must be difficult with the long days and the heat that some folks ar getting in England. I think that these things are easier when we are doing them for God. Isaiah 40 vv31 says but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.and Phillipians 4 vv12-13 says I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. So God gives us the strength that we need. Do you have similar verses in the Quran?

Oh and I wish that I could lose a much needed dress size

Wondering if there is something for me in the idea of being content in every situation. As you know I have been mourning the loss of my DNephew this spring and early summer, so I'm not going to be happy as it's easy to feel modern society wants you to be - you know like you were living in an advert!

But perhaps whilst missing someone and grieving their loss you can hope to still be content? Knowing that that sense of loss has a lot to do with the love you have for that person, and the beautiful, sometimes ephemeral quality of life - as seen in the Japanese celebration of the passing cherry blossom every spring-time.

So gratitudes for those we love, both those we share this Earth with today, and those we've loved but see no more.
For flowers and blossoms
And for poetry and other words of wisdom and insight
For friendship to share all of this with

Juggling, that is beautiful. I think that th pressure on us to be "happy" is immense and we are given a completely unattainable goal by adverts, magazines, tv programmes and the like. We are set up to fail, really. Contentment and acceptance are wonderful gifts, the weight off your shoulders when you stop trying to attain "the dream" and just try to make the best of the life you have is incredible. I love those verses and Jesus's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, they are the ones that help keep me grounded.

I really hope that you can find some positivity from your loss and can move towards feeling joy at your memories. I still hold you in my prayers.

God is walking with you this Ramadan, crescent, praise God. I am so very, very glad that you are strong and healthy now and that your faith is growing and strengthening within you. Allahu akbar.

gratitudes -

sunshine and warmth
food, water, safety ans shelter
the fun of playing with the children

Today I am grateful that I found my escaped guinea pig hiding under a bush in the garden, that my daughter's new mattress will arrive today and her room will stop smelling of wee, that my husband is all better, that my procedure seems to have had a good effect, that my children are budding entrepreneurs, and that I can rest a lot if I need to.

Thanks stressed

Thanks crescent - that link looks very interesting, though might have to get back to it in a few days as just trying to get the show on the road this morning for a couple of days with the DGP's (who live near London) - hoping for a London day trip during our middle day there.
Will miss this lovely thread whilst I'm away

So today's gratitudes to do with our visit to DGP's - for holidays and interesting things to see and do, and for all our loved ones and time with them.

Thank you too for your very kind words crescent

Hello. Happy to be back, trying to be on this thread as it does me good, while also trying to curb an unhealthy use of the internet to blot out/numb me to real life. So, attempting again to come here once a day. I've had a terrible day but can still find Gratitudes:

Cold water
Cool breeze
The view from the park
Dd's smile
Dd's face as she sleeps
Beautiful music on the radio
Friendly and supportive work colleague
That I had the confidence to state an opinion which differed from other people's. The more I do this, the less terrifying I will find it!

Sorry I haven't had time to read the thread today. I will hopefully catch up tomorrow

Welcome back, qumquat. I hope that today is a better day for you and that everything settles down in tour life. Sometimes finding good things amongst all the troubles we face is so very hard but it can give is the perseverance that we need to keep plodding on.

gratitudes -

that *qumquat was able to find the good amongst all the difficulties
that crescent continues to have a blessed and generous Ramadan
that juggling is having a lovely break from day to day life
that DS2 and 4 have been busy tidying up the garden the last couple of days - I don't know what I would do without DS2, he has the patience of a saint. Not many 21 year olds would be willing to spend hours every day with their 11 year old brother
for sunny washing
for garden tomatoes - this is the earliest that I have ever had any ripen
for the courgettes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs and everything else that are beginning to be ready to eat in the garden - God is great and his bounty overwhelming
food, water, safety and shelter
friends and family
an education

sunshine and dry washing
cuddles
cold, clean water
wee birds

Thank you stressed

Gratitudes:

crescent for linking to the TED talk which I found inspiring
Tears when needed
Sunshine
Cold clean water
Friendship
Scones with butter and jam
Cool breeze
Thunderstorms
Dd pulling herself up and exploring the world