Wake Up Call

There is something so sweet about waking up naturally after a night of good sleep.
This morning I felt myself waking up, returning to consciousness, slowly. Gerry still slept beside me and his regular breathing was like the sound of peace. The dogs still slept beside me, their little bodies warm next to me. The window was open and fresh, cool morning air filled the bedroom. I opened my eyes and took in the peaceful sight of my room filled with sleeping bodies.
For a while I lay there daydreaming and imagining how wonderful it would be to wake up this way every morning.

Inspiration

I received a blog award from Anita over at Rollercoaster Days. Thank you Anita!

Speaking of inspiration, check out Kathleen's post about saying "no". It inspired me to look at the things that I am spending my time on.

This week, I have found inspiration and encouragement in the eyes of my grandson, in my prayer group, and in my blogging friends. If we open our eyes, we can find inspiration all around. The challenge, for me anyway, is to slow down long enough to pay attention to that which inspires.

Where do you find inspiration these days?

Family

We spent a wonderful weekend with our son, daughter-in-love, and precious grandson Jaxon. The weather cooperated by providing us with beautiful warm sunny days.

There is nothing like holding a grandbaby to help one put things in perspective. I'm off next week to visit with our daughter, son-in-love, and baby Makiya. How blessed I am!

Happy Wednesday!

There was a crooked (wo)man....

I have scoliosis. When I was sixteen I had a rod inserted into my back to help correct the curve, but it was never completely corrected. Over the years, I have been blessed to have not dealt with pain due to the scoliosis at all.

All that changed a few years ago and I was diagnosed with chronic neuropathic pain that, my doctor tells me, will never improve and will more than likely get worse as the years go by.

Prompted by recent increased, almost unbearable, pain I visited my doctor yesterday. He tweaked the dosage of my meds, and I'm optomistic that all will be well.

This week I find myself thankful for that pain.

• I'm thankful that computer work doesn't affect the pain. Frankly I was getting worried about my memoir and other projects on the go, not to mention work.
• I'm thankful for the wisdom of my doctor who helps me keep this under control for the most part.
• I'm thankful that it causes me to step back from my frantic, sometimes obsessive, drive at work, and reminds me to slow down
• Most of all, today I am thankful that tomorrow we are getting a visit from Brandon, Nicole and baby Jaxon. And what perfect timing, the rain has even stopped!

Happy Friday, everyone! Share your gratitude with us as well......

Riding the Wave

Here is the way that same pot shown in yesterday's post looked in August of last year. It was full-to-overflowing with Wave Petunias.

I hope that in August of this year my memoir looks as robust as I expect my flower pot to look! Something tells me that it will take much more hard work and perseverance to get my memoir to bloom the way that I want it to, than it will for my flowers.

I consider them both well worth the effort required.