Daily Gratitudes 2017

[Lessstressedhemum]

A nice, gentle thread for us all to count our blessing, to pause, breathe and be thankful for all the wee, small things that go right in our days.

Everyone is welcome, no matter our personal beliefs or faiths.

Today, I am grateful for a new year and a fresh start and for time spent with my family.x

You gave me a smile to start the day, oliver!

The coolness of the early morning.
The prospect of a party where I'll renew acquaintance with people, meet new ones and enjoy the fact that extended family members are there, too. Well worth the journey.
An engrossing audiobook to listen to on said journey.

You are so right about freedoms, oliver. We are so blessed to live in a country which has a mature and stable democracy, even though it isn't perfect, and one which is governed by the rule of law. The news out of China in the last couple of days has put this in the forefront of my mind. I remember the persecution of Liu Xiaobo well, and tianamen square. I was at uni when that happened and had been involved in various protest groups since my very early teens and could just never even imagine something like that happening here.
So I, too, am very grateful for our freedoms and for the relative stability of this country.
Cuddles from my teens
On a really shallow note, I am grateful that we now have a release date for the new series of Outlander. I can hardly wait.

The sound of rain on the windows when I am inside
Rainbows
Fresh fruit

Finally some summer heat
Being alive
The beautiful world all around us

The people that make the NHS work.
A thoughtful text from a friend.
Summer.

Education
Health care
Flowers

The NHS and all who make it tick, great call optimist
Family, like friends that you can put upon just a bit more
I was trying to think of another, going with teeth because the baby has more than are comfortable for breastfeeding right now so to turn a negative into a positive teeth are brilliant, look after yours and you'll never regret it.

I try to tell my children that about their teeth all the time, oliver. Mostly they listen, for which I am grateful. Thankfully, they all have excellent teeth, long may that continue,

Time with good friends
Warm jumpers
A comfortable bed in a safe home

Friends from years back who've stood the test of time.
A new friend who just gets me.
Some truly amazing family members whose qualities far outweigh the difficulties presented by one or two others!

Sunny washing
Summer heat
Fizzy water

Ds2 having an interview for a relevant job field
That he is able to travel independently now
More sunny washing

A day of rest
My children being older and more self sufficient

A few quiet days
The chance to help a friend
A slightly more peaceful house

Sitting down for the evening in a relatively clean and tidy house.
Shopping list for tomorrow's family lunch is prepared (Mediterranean Chicken - perhaps it will conjure up some better weather?).

Shelter from the rain
The ability to feed my family
Pepsi max ginger, quite possibly the best drink ever, especially with a nice scotch whisky

A lovely church service this morning
Singing
A home to come home to

The first rain-free day for a while, so you can guess what's billowing in my garden!
Long chat with a pal whose friendship has prevailed many years even though we live hundreds of miles apart.
The opportunity to help out a recently-bereaved friend.

My parents still being around when I am in my fifties, not something they could have imagined with theirs
My beautiful children, all of whom are adults or almost adults now
My fluffy bunny

A safe and not too frustrating drive for the best part of seven hours today - I've been in the fortunate position of having a reliable car for a good few years now, but well remember the days of hoping that my vehicle would make it to my destination without conking out.
Prompted by your post this morning, Lessstressed - my wonderful grown up children.

Line dry washing
Fruit from the garden
The beauty and bounty of the earth all around me.

A sunny day
Garden herbs
Prayer

A lovely church service
A restful afternoon
My husband going shopping to save me doing it

Was wondering if I could join you? Writing each day or so about what I am grateful about sounds an excellent idea.

DH being unusually helpful atm
Good drying weather (we had a lot to wash and dry after a week away!)
Being 'wealthy' enough to be able to go back to my country for a couple of weeks (I have been printing all the train ticket etc etc this PM and it Dawn in me that some people would not be able to do that)

Hi, Red! You'll fit right in here - good drying weather features very often in our gratitudes!

Plans to meet one of my oldest friends tomorrow - we haven't seen each other for 4 years.
Weather forecast looking promising.
Clean sheets and a lovely comfortable bed for me now.

Hi, Red. Welcome to our lovely thread.

Sunny washing
Ds2 has a second interview
Fresh food to feed my family