Wallowing in Gratitude...

[FirstLight]

(you know, it beats wallowing in self-pity ANY day!)

I know I have done my share of wallowing here over the past couple months as things hiccuped and stumbled along. This has not been an easy season of transition...for many, not just me.
And as i acknowledge that i am not out of the woods yet, and that there are still others who are struggling during this time, i also offer a glimpse of something that happened and an awareness I am going to try and bring forth to remain with me even through the dark nights I am sure i have yet to face.

A friend from my Circle years ago and i crossed paths last week and chatted for quite some time. (She may end up taking a intuition class with me next January, and I would be really glad to be with someone I already know in that space..).
anyway, she took it upon herself and her and her mom put out flyers at their jazzercize classes and yesterday she gave me our christmas!!!!
She had toys & clothes - brand new for each child (based on their ages) and even a goodie basket for me, an 18 lb turkey (which I have NO idea how to cook! lol) and even a box of nice wine (yeehaw!)
Between her and my folks, who also brought us regular groceries, milk, eggs, bread, etc...i had enough to fill the back of my whole car!

So today i am reeling in gratitude, reminding myself that God/dess thinks I am pretty special - if he/she is taking care of me and my family this well.
My prayer & wish is that the next time I feel unworthy or unloved, I want to remember this love and kindness that my friends and family and the Universe has piled on me.
That even when I feel overwhelmed and uncared for - that I can reach into my heart and pull out the fullness that I feel at this moment.

a-ho!
*the talking stick is now passed to you...*


The Water crystal of love & gratitude

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Yep, gotta train yourself to be in a positive space...

...which is very helpful these days. Best to you and your journey.

The water crystal of blessing:

[FirstLight]

2. wow, seeing the crystals right next to eachother is striking.

Yes, as if there needs to be any MORE proof that how we intend is how we manifest. lol !!
and wow, how hard is it when we are in the thick of it!!

That's why I had to write this today, to capture the bliss and carry it forward to my own future self :)

[Kind of Blue]

3. Thanks, Journalgrrl. Usually when I'm down I know to draw on

something positive and good. But not tonight, until I read your post. I can't help but feel better. Darn! Just when I was on the brink of getting really into wallowing :) I thank you for passing along your good and positive thoughts!

[rosesaylavee]

4. Taking your talking stick and passing it on

I am very grateful that I am in a position to help my younger sister this Christmas... not sure I can provide her with all that your friend did for you... but am grateful I can provide some food aid for her Christmas dinner.

I am grateful that my son is receiving all the aid (both monetary and guidance) while he is for pursuing his music career. He has had a fantastic year and my hope is that it only continues for him. He's received a scholarship to a dream school and this week he lost his wallet in a taxi in New York City... it was returned to him! He is certainly blessed and I am so grateful for that.

I am grateful that my husband has commissions this winter. This has been historically a very difficult time for us monetarily but this year, he is working and there is money enough for us to eat, pay bills and have a little Christmas.

I am grateful for my family's health and that I will be able to see and visit many of my extended family this Christmas. I will even get to see a very very close friend and her boys this coming week who I have not seen in years.

a-ho!
*the talking stick is now passed on...*

[juno jones]

5. The turkey...

Get one of those turkey bags and a big foil pan. Or the big foil pan and lots of foil. Best to borrow a turkey roasting pan. If you don't cook turkey much, then you might not want a turkey pan laying about the rest of the year, the bags and temp pans are adequate. Make sure you have a meat thermometer.

Thaw turkey and remove giblets. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, and paprika on the turkey, inside and out, drizzle the bird with olive oil and place it in the bag.

Check it at two hours by opening the bag and placing the meat thermometer in close to the thigh joint. Go ahead and leave it there, as you will be using it. Check the thermometer every 15 minutes os so after. When it reaches 170 degrees you're good to go. The problem is that turkey gets cooked dry easily and most people think turkeys take a REALLY long time to cook (they are thinking of 25-30 lb monsters) and cook the shit out of them accidently thus the legend of the dry, inedible turkey.


If you need some creative ideas for the bits (even bones!) let me know. I've been professionally cooking for over twenty years. I love sharing the secrets of the trade with others ;)!


I'm glad you guys are having a good holiday!

[Shallah Kali]

6. My Gratitude Wallow - Just got power back after nearly 2days w/out

Thankfully we have a wood stove in the kitchen to keep us from freezing and allowed us to reheat and cook. While we will toss stuff from the fridge as it's likely too warm to be safe at this point the freezer and big freezer in the cellar are nice and frozen still. I am about to go and have a wallow in the shower as the power has been on for a bit over an hour and hopefully there is enough hot water :)

[FirstLight]

7. mmmmm...hot water! sounds great, shallah!

lol...I had one of those weeks a couple winters back, no power for 5 days or so, we stuck stuff in the snow to keep it cold, and cooked on the woodstove, and bundled under 5 blankets to keep warm, boiled water on the stove for baths for the kids...but boy was I glad to get the water heater back on! I have always thought about things I would miss if civilization fell and certain things were no longer there
...like "big daddy burgers", ice cubes, cheetos, silly stuff...and Long, Hot Baths!!! :grin: