This month’s Spiritual Journey Thursday (SJT), which happens the first Thursday of each month, is hosted by Linda Mitchell, who invites us to reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives. At the bottom of her post, there is a link to others’ blogs, and they are positively uplifting and inspiring for counting our blessings. Swing by and read them if you get a chance.
I’m a little late to the monthly SJT game, by like 4 days or something – which beats last month when I was a week late as the July host. I haven’t quite gotten my retirement routines in place and am still flying by the seat of my pants. But I’m flying, and I’m updating my calendar with the SJT reminders on my calendar.
My heart is grateful for the simple and most important things today. Here are just a few:
Gratitudes
for roots of home and belonging
for coffee and fresh eggs
for my childhood breakfast table
in my kitchen of today
for a fresh-clipped bundle of zinnias
from my sister in law’s garden
for time together with family
for a brother and sister in law who drove
five hours to bring me a coconut cream pie
at my retirement dinner
and friends who joined to share the evening
for watercolor painting with grandchildren
for seeing a grand-dog one last time in her life well-lived
for the warmth of my own dogs and so many in my heart
for books, for pens, for journals and memories to fill them
for writing friends, reading friends, travel friends….friends!
for deer at the salt lick in the back yard
for hummingbirds at the sugarwater feeders
for celebrating a new little grandson who shares my birthday
born safely in the tub of his own house
when his mother did not make it to the hospital in time
but most of all, for the gift of eternal life
for the promise of heaven, where we will all be together forever
when the roll is called up yonder.
Common Threads 
I thought about but didn’t contact you to see if you wanted to join the round up this month. And here you are. Sometimes I believe that we talk to each other through the spiritual realm. I love your gratitude list. Congrats on the new grandchild. How many is that now? I also love your vase of zinnias. I planted them this year with every intention of having cut flowers on my table all summer, but alas, when I go out to cut them, I decide to leave them for the pollinators. Butterflies, bees make me so happy to see. Maybe we should talk soon for real. Now that your days are more flexible.
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Margaret, thanks so much! Yes, the blessings are everywhere. This is my 8th grandchild. 6 boys, 2 girls now. Our Magnolia Mae (Noli) reminds me of how you describe your Stella – – always changing clothes, wearing costumes and character wigs, and definitely a real sense of fashion when she wears her dragon hair from the movie Raya. I plan to plant zinnias next year – my parents always had them, and now with my sister in law having them I would like to do the same. I need to replant my fennel for the black swallowtails as host plants – – it outlived its cycle. Definitely let’s chat soon – – so much to catch up on!
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A beautiful life of blessings! 🙂
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