G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y
{Sunday’s heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.}
*
If you would like to join us, share your gratitudes by leaving your link (or simply sharing your list, whether one or many) in the comments below for all of us to enjoy. Our gratefulness feeds one another.
If you would like to join us, share your gratitudes by leaving your link (or simply sharing your list, whether one or many) in the comments below for all of us to enjoy. Our gratefulness feeds one another.
*
~
*
Throughout the week I’ve felt grateful for:
-The fact that we are all safe and the house is okay (and the truck and the greenhouse!) after all the wild storm happenings.
.
-Having a powerful dream affirming my decision. I was struggling with a decision, then finally made up my mind and went to sleep. It felt really good to have a dream saying ‘yes, that was the best choice for you.’
.
–Our bed. Sleeping on the couch one night made me really appreciate the comfort of our bed.
.
–Home-canned applesauce with cinnamon sprinkled on top.
.
–Updating Bracken’s journal. Before I was even pregnant with Bracken, I started a journal for him and wrote to him from time to time (before I knew he was a him.) Then I wrote in the journal throughout my pregnancy and since his birth. The other night I realized that I hadn’t updated it since October. Jeff and I each wrote a message to him in there, someday it will be fun for Bracken to read.
.
-Appreciating the deep quiet of our house with no electricity. My energy body felt soothed by it.
.
-Jeff filling up a cooler we had with snow and storing our vegetables in it for a make-shift refrigerator.
.
-Having some wonderful family time.
.
-That some wood we were storing had bugs in it. That sounds like a funny thing to be grateful for, but we were very low on firewood and we never would have burned the beautiful wood we were saving for carving/building if it hadn’t had bugs in it.
.
-The most luxurious sponge bath I’ve ever had. That sentence sounds so funny to me. Jeff heated up water on the propane stove and added a blend of essential oils to it. He dipped wash cloths in the warm scented water and handed me one to put over my face and for a moment I was transported to a spa. Sponge baths are really no comparison to a blissful soak in the bathtub, but after a few days without electricity it felt sublime to get washed up and smell heavenly.
.
-Getting an oven!! We’ve been without a working oven for well over a year now (it stopped working right after Bracken was born.) Our stovetop still worked and we made-do just fine with our crockpot, but there were many things we missed having an oven for. We searched local thrift stores and craigslist and were always shocked to see how much they cost (not much below buying one brand new.) On Friday, we happened to be by a thrift store we rarely go to and we got an oven for $45!! We were so excited and got it moved into the kitchen yesterday. We love it!
.
-Signs of Spring: The flowering plum tree covered in pink blossoms, daffodils opening up all over the place and the sound of frog-song in the front pond (which is one of my very favorite things about this time of year.)
.
-Progress on knitting during our unplugged time and a car ride.
.
-Realizing there’s nothing to expand our appreciation of daily life like something that disrupts it. This week I felt humbled by it all and surrendered to the flow, to see what life had to teach me.
–
.Drinking a mug of herbal tea while I write this.
.
-These pictures taken early in the week of Bracken having fun in the garden and happy garlic.
How about you?
What are you feeling grateful for from your week?
Aja says
I am glad you all weathered the storms and even enjoyed the quiet it invited (though I am sure having power again is lovely – ah modern conveniences! π Yes, I think the theme of disruption is a good one for appreciating what we have in life. I didn’t get the chance to make my gratitude Sunday list this week and I really miss it, but I am appreciating reading everyone else’s and am feeling the love it inspires π
Debra Anne of The GIPSY in the PARLOUR says
I read what you are grateful for every week…and every week it makes me think how much I have to be grateful for as well.
Loved hearing about your week, so glad you are all well!! On the East Coast we had a similar storm in October, and were without modern conveniences for a week. I think of that time often, and fondly.
April says
So happy you guys are safe from the storm – what a week you all had! I love your list this week. Amazingly simple things that all sound so wonderful! We were spared from any power loss here but the weather has been nuts!
Hoping to post a late list of gratitudes soon! Hazel has begun staying up a ton during the day with only short naps so mama is either napping with her or doing housework, oh how my blog misses me! It makes for more restful nights though π
Lindsey @ The Herbangardener says
What a peaceful & wonderful list Taryn.
The electronics-free time sounds so nice!! I like how you mentioned it was good on your energy body; I was thinking about that just the other day as I was listening to the hum of the fridge. I think my energy body would love some electricity-free time. I’m so glad you all got some!
What a nice dream, to affirm your decision!
That feels good to update Bracken’s journal I bet; he will cherish those words forever I’m sure!
And what a cute picture of him in the garden! So sweet.
How cool there was snow to serve as your fridge! hehe!
An oven! SCORE! $45! Awesome. Now you can have roasted vegetables π hehe
A mug of hot tea… love that.
I love your list. As usual!!!
Here’s mine this week:
http://herbangardener.com/2012/03/18/gratitude-sunday-march-18-2012/
So much love!!!
Lindsey
Mama Forestdweller says
So glad you all made it through the storm OK ~ sounds like you had some lovely, quiet time too. Your posts are always so wonderful to read. I know some folks would think I’m crazy but I definitely dig non-electric time as well π
Eli was reading your post with me, and saw the picture of Bracken, and said, “ohhhhhh!” (That’s the sound he makes when he sees other babies.) Made me smile. π
leaves and blossoms says
So glad that the trees spared your home!
Bracken looks so beautiful in the garden, he looks so free in that spring time sun.
Lovely to read your posts, we’re all over the place with getting ready for a move, so to read a bit of normal living – even with scary bits – is just great.
Helena
Daniela B. says
Taryn, once again I am so glad to read your blog and to feel really in peace thanks to your words π
Trish says
What a beautiful picture of Bracken in your garden.
Love your gratitudes Taryn. I can imagine the peace and quiet without electricity, it must have been nice…for a while.
Glad those trees didn’t fall and hit your house or truck.
Doesn’t the blossom look lovely…I bet that frog song sounds wonderful.
Much love