Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 102

Today's Daily 5 (the American Thanksgiving Edition!):

1. Having a Chinook (terrible for headaches, but great for weather in the winter.  35 C change in temperature overnight)
2. Not having to wear multiple layers of clothing over my entire body to be outside
3. Having the strength to get out of bed on the hard mornings
4. my iphone
5. Cute and cozy boots
6. wearing jeans at work
7. an encouraging conversation with sympathetic friends yesterday
8. "First, he loves me, second, he loves me, third, he loves me..."
9. A job I'm really enjoying, that, to top it off, is indoors (can't imagine having outdoor work in the winter here)
10. A roof over my head at night, however dubious my ridiculous living situation
11. sweet friends who offer love and care and prayers
12. coworkers I enjoy
13. email - what a blessing to be able to instantly keep in touch with friends so very far away
14. Skype - ditto to email, but with voices and sometimes even video!
15. a smooth move of offices to the building across the street today
16. having lunch provided today
17. chocolate
18. wise counsel from trusted friends and family
19. an inspiring conversation this afternoon about living out God's calling on our lives with one of the volunteers who works with the agency I'm working for this month
20. ease of access to necessary services like banking and medical care
21. speaking the dominant language of the society in which I live fluently.  I spend all day right now talking on the phone with immigrants who are struggling with English, and I think it's such a blessing to be able to freely communicate
22. being in full possession of my mental faculties (again, some of the people I encounter at work these days, not so much, and I feel for them)
23. starbucks caramel apple spice and cranberry bliss bar (those bars are TASTY)
24. Subway for supper
25. a smaller group at house church that made for really good, honest discussion,
26. shifting dynamics at house church that remind me that God is moving amongst us
27. closing the evening by simply sharing honestly and praying a bit for each other
28. the promise of a weekend retreating a bit, staying at mom and dad's for a break
29. a new glass water bottle, with a silicone sleeve, to help prevent breakage
30. finishing up an audio book (Kabul Beauty School) that was a fascinating "read" (gotta love unabridged, well read audio books)

Thanksgiving

When I woke this morning, I was feeling pretty dejected.  It wasn't the greatest night for restful sleep (though I did sleep, so hard that I forgot to take my glasses off, and woke with them still on this morning.)  And some of the more challenging realities of life right now remain most present in the late night and early morning hours when I am laying, alone, in the dark and quiet, and not filling time and space with distractions.

And then I remembered that today is Thanksgiving in the United States.

One of the bonuses of having dual citizenship is that I get my pick of holidays from two different countries (not as formal days off, but as things to celebrate and acknowledge), and it's rather nice to celebrate Thanksgiving not once, but twice.  And, the best part is, I don't even care about the meal.  Turkey and pumpkin pie don't do a lot for me, so I just get to celebrate the happy internal part, without the feast that leaves you feeling overfull and sick for the next two days!

And that's what I'm doing today.  Pausing to give thanks.  To think, as I move through my day, about the things I'm grateful for, and focus on those instead of on all the challenges of life right now.  My goal is to have a nice long daily 5 list at the end of the night tonight of all the things that come to mind today for which to give thanks.

So, today I'm virtually waving "hello" to my American friends and family, and wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I'd give each of you a hug if I was nearby.  May you know rich blessings of joy and peace and grace today, and have many, many things for which to give thanks.