Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 194

This was the kind of slow day where things to add to a Daily 5 list flowed easily.  A day where blessings seemed full and rich, and the pace was one that allowed for them to be savored.  The kind of day that is, in itself, a blessing, an item to add to the list.  The kind of day I love, because so many days it is hard to find even five reasons to smile, but sometimes, on days like today, they flow, and I see deep, rich grace in that.

Today's Daily 5:

1. A day where the blessings to count were full, rich, numerous, and able to be savored
2. Sleeping in a familiar and comfortable bed after time away from home
3. a banana for breakfast
4. attending my first yoga class in a week and a half
5. green grapes
6. peanut butter toast
7. fortune cookies (I seriously need to buy a box of these things - I love them!)
8. Sunshine
9. list making (I had several lists on the go today, to do items, and those sorts of things)
10. Pretty mittens
11. clean water
12. the man on the bus, resting his hand gently on the shoulder of the woman in the wheelchair he was accompanying, his words, his eyes, his demeanor, speaking love and grace for her.
13. Those moments when the bus becomes a holy space
14. worn-in, comfortable jeans
15. words that capture the intangible thoughts brewing beneath the surface
16. Books that transport me abroad
17. a soothing shower, offering rest and time to think without other noise
18. clean smelling pajamas and a towel to wrap my wet hair in - all still warm from the dryer
19. A line in The Amazing Race that made me laugh "I'm from Oklahoma - I don't do water.  I don't even take baths."
20. making a new brownie recipe
21. buttery popcorn
22. a day of catching up
23. sharing time with family
24. magic bags
25. curling up comfortably in bed with my laptop

Like Tea Bags

I came across this quote today, and had to share:

"Women are like tea bags; you never know how strong they are until they're put in hot water."
(Eleanor Roosevelt)

Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 193

Today's Daily 5:

1. Sitting in a warm sunbeam, relaxing
2. watching Grey's Anatomy
3. waiting quietly for a flight - time to think, process, rest, pray
4. the beauty of flying over the mountains on a sunny day
5. the miracle of flight - what would be an 8 hour drive took 50 minutes in the air
6. time to chat with family
7. Chinese take-out
8. a hot shower after traveling
9. watching Kim Walker lead worship online
10. catching up on some favorite television shows.

Homeward Bound

In a couple hours I'll be getting on a plane, bound for home.

I'll be at my parent's place for the weekend, meaning, I suppose, depending on your definition, and mine is odd and ever changing, that I'll be truly home on Monday night.

Classes start again with a vengeance on Monday, and I'm mentally starting to gear up for that a bit.

It has been good to have some breathing room, to be away from the crazy realities of my day to day life, to hang out with friends, get hugs from a baby, watch some favorite movies, and rest a bit.

I have a list of things to accomplish this weekend that is, well, long. (Though most of them are relatively painless and can be done while sitting or reclining in bed.)

I plan to maintain the attitude of rest through the weekend.  I still feel the need for that.  It just might have to be a more active form of rest.

Sometime in the next several days I'll have the chance to see one of my favorite people in the world, my former roommate, L.  She'll be in Calgary for a visit for the next couple weeks, and while we have plans to spend a full day together late next week doing decadent things in the mountains, (afternoon tea service at a beautiful, historic hotel anyone?) I'm hoping to see her sometime before that day as well.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to take my first yoga class in a week and a half.  I expect my body will be protesting that on Sunday, but I think it will be worth it to round out my week of rest by stretching and resting.  I'm looking forward to the warm room and the peaceful nature of the class.

But for now, I'm catching up on a few things online, and chatting with my friend, across the table, and getting ready for my flight.  It looks like a clear (though very cold) day, and that should make for a beautiful view flying back across the mountains.  I'm not one of those people who has anxiety when flying - I actually love to fly, and always want a window seat, so that I can see what we're flying over

Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 192

Today's Daily 5:

1. Watching the movie "Arranged" last night with a friend (have you seen this movie?  I might have to devote a whole post to it!  I LOVE it!)
2. Popcorn
3. Getting a comment on my blog from an author I really respect, and whose books are always some of my favorites
4. the wonders of an e-boarding pass for my flight tomorrow (here's hoping it goes smoothly at the airport!)
5. Pizza
6. Cinnamon buns