Sunday, November 29, 2009

Clothes Lines: Still Well-Loved in New Zealand

prettier than a dryer too.

1000 gratitudes...

132. The closest thing to a sunrise I've witnessed in a long time (light at 5:45am).
133. Realizing something once found uncomfortable has grown familiar and cozy.
134. Morning tea time.
135. Fish and chips, friends, and Pinot Noir at a bay-side park on Sunday afternoon.
136. Catching up with States-side friends.
137. Happy songs to counter the depressing ones.
138. Intentional beauty-seeking time with a camera lens.
139. Walking back into a home I've known before.
140. Another walk down to Rothesay Bay with a certain Jack Russell Terrier.
141. Funny French films.
142. Quiet ending to the day with Sandra (and a bit of Derek).

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Gentle Murmurs from Sea



1000 gratitudes...

120. Takapuna Beach.
121. Sand in my shoes.
122. Cozy clouds.
123. Sun breaks.
124. Getting to see deeper into friends.
125. Laughing off potential frustration.
126. Sharing things we love.
127. Community at mealtime (even when the meal isn't my preferred foods).
128. Artistic aesthetic (richly found in a new shop: The Department Store).
129. Composting.
130. The feel of the air right before a rain shower.
131. Dusk's stillness.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Orange Spiced Goodness

pumpkin pie

1000 gratitudes...

109. Pumpkin pie.
110. Another Thanksgiving meal.
111. A park to read in.
112. Making a lull in the day for stillness, Word, and journal.
113. Babies' new teeth.
114. Four-year-old innocence and joy.
115. Never being too old for swinging.
116. Climbing and spinning.
117. The imagination.
118. Story-filled scarves.
119. A beautiful looking tomorrow.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Day



1000 gratitudes...

98. The kids in my Bible in Schools classes.
99. Meeting new people.
100. Getting to know "old" ones better.
101. This beautiful country.
102. Shelter from the wind.
103. Rest.
104. A little boy's babbling.
105. A phone line to the U.S.
106. The repairer of my laptop screen.
107. Thanksgiving gratitude shared aloud.
108. An abundantly laid table at which to celebrate the holiday.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Redeemed and Treasured

discarded. waiting.

1000 gratitudes...

84. Late Tuesday (they still hit the spot).
85. Summer sun.
86. Dreams.
87. Little ones' hugs and smiles.
88. Summer weather for strolls with ice cream cones.
89. Humour that brightens moods and teases with love.
90. A turquoise, white-capped bay.
91. Windsurfers.
92. Seeing Auckland's skyline with grown eyes.
93. Always finding more bits of heart to give (and leave).
94. A bus ride on my own. Independence.
95. Fond holiday memories to remember as new ones are formed this season.
96. Girls' giggles.
97. The generous gift of this laptop, which does so many of the things I need it to (even if not all the things I want it to).

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Sojourner's Heart



1000 gratitudes...

75. A wake-up hour of the morning at Massimo in Takapuna.
76. Tropical New Zealand foliage.
77. The smell of coffee.
78. Art within the written word. (I'm reading The God of Small Things.)
79. Movember. (Awkward new moustaches make me smile.)
80. Beach (esp. Takapuna).
81. Studio space.
82. Back to bikram.
83. The beautiful people of NSCOC.

A Favorite View



1000 gratitudes...

63. Warm morning sun.
64. Getting familiar with Auckland's bus system.
65. Andrea.
66. Learning from others.
67. Friends far and wide.
68. Memorization method.
69. The Shaws.
70. A walking companion.
71. Getting to see ol' Rangitoto almost daily.
72. Sand and saltwater.
73. Ice cream.
74. The way He satisfies.

[This is yesterday's gathered Thank Yous, as I did not have internet access last night.)