Spring Thoughts

Okay, so the title isn't really accurate.  This is more about being grateful.  But don't you find it much easier to be grateful when spring is just around the corner?  I sure do. 

I am not far into my day, but it has already been such a good day.  I got up at six in order to see my husband off for the day.  I was a little groggy and a wee bit tempted to go back to bed.  But he would have encouraged that... but I'm stubborn... so I stayed up.  And I'm glad I did. 

After he left, and my breakfast was done, I headed downstairs for something.  I'm not sure what.  I'll remember some time today.  But I stayed downstairs long enough to clean up a bit.  We had an unmade bed in the guestroom and I needed to fix that.  Clean the seldom-used downstairs bathroom.  Straighten the family room.  My girls are reading a book by the Fly Lady (google it if you're interested) and are enthusiastic about cleaning these days.  I haven't picked up the book yet, but still need to do these things.  I wasn't down there long, but got a lot done.  Feels good!

As I entered my kitchen, my plants caught my eye.  The Cineraria, that my husband brought home earlier this year, is trying so hard to stay alive.  Actually the plant looks great, but the flowers are getting droopier and droopier.  I know they won't live forever, but it's determination to stay alive makes me smile  The African Violets that I tried to transport from my sister in Squamish never made it, but the one I picked up from Yahoo Freecycle from a woman in Winnipeg is quite happy these days with the extra sunshine. 

So is my Christmas Cactus.  I love flowers, and having them blooming inside is something I take for granted far too often.  Just imagine, I don't have to go to wherever the Christmas Cactus grows wild, to see it in full bloom.

I have probably had a birdfeeder before - though I'm not sure where.  Now I have several, including two suet feeders.  I have only seen Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Sparrows so far, but even these birds are fun to watch.  Even stress-relieving, I think.  I am thankful for a chance to watch the birds.  Even though they make a mess on my deck.  And I'm thankful that I now have a dry path on my deck to the feeder that needs filling most often.  Spring really is on the way!   

I have several half-finished monkeys sitting on my rocking chair.  I'm thankful that I enjoy doing this.  Maybe when I die, there will be a thousand monkeys to give away, but that's not a bad thing, right?

One of the reasons for finally getting to my basement is that our small group from our church is coming here on Monday for Bible Study.  I think we're using a DVD series, so we will have to meet in the basement.  I'm so thankful for new friends in a new place.  We miss our friends from Calgary, and know that we always will.  But new friends help to take away the loneliness of a move, and this photo - from our women's retreat last weekend, reminds me that there are a lot of new friends to be made here in Manitoba.  And for that, I am grateful.