“A thankful heart hath a continual feast”–W.J. Cameron
This is the monthly download of my daily gratitude practice–everyday I post five things I am grateful for. Gratitude has changed my life. You don’t need to read my list, but I hope you will start your own.
December 2012
Thank you for being Freshly Pressed and the lessons it has taught me; all the likes, comments, and follows; my amazing wife who taught me to see the doughnut, not the hole; my youngest doing his business on the toilet–Freshly Pressed and no dirty diaper today; validation that comes from within.
Doing something a little different today thanks to A Table in the Sun. Here is my top five wish list of things money can’t buy.
1. A constant reminder of how lucky we are to be alive in this wonderful country where anything is possible.
2. To be able to hug the chubby cheeks of my sons whenever I feel like it.
3. To have peace of mind no matter what is going on around me.
4. To have all the people I love know in their hearts that I love them.
5. To continue to grow in all ways towards unending happiness and joy
Thank you for Mirth and Motivation for passing on the hugs symbol–{{{HUGS}}}; all the wonderful feedback I have been getting about everything; Christmas cheer that is on WordPress–including the snow flakes. 
; my wonderful wife, again; Rarasaur’s great post on blogging.
Thank you for Tracy nominating Everyday Gurus for another Inspiring Blogger award;
the new customization from WordPress; all the wonderful feedback on my first Sci-Fi short story; walking in the rain with my son; my new blogger friends at MRTB, MindMindfulness, Professions for Peace, Enjoy Life for Once, Jiltaroo, and Far Away in the Sunshine.
Thank you for meditation with my two sons, even if it only lasted 1 minute; the dreams of my 2 year old. When he woke up, he asked, “Daddy, can I ride a sea otter?”; the Compassion Cultivation Training I will be taking with my wife in January.: my eldest son starting basketball; the wonderful Christmas cards we have already received.
Thank you for palm trees in December; my sons being bilingual even though I am not; the love that is put in our food; how my 2 year old loves to say thank you; dinner with the family.
Thank you for my wife getting up at 7 am to work on a Saturday; my older son’s growing independence; all the parenting advice from fellow bloggers; air-popped popcorn for movie night; awareness of counter-productive thinking.
Thank you for how my boys play together while I nap; udon lunch at church; reconnecting with my dear friend, Nancy; my wife taking care of everything while I volunteered at church; FOCUS: PEACE posted by Mirth and Motivation.
Thank you for the time off to see my son’s Christmas performance; the abundance of clean, hot water available to us; the wonderful feedback from Gina on a controversial post; the re-connection meditation lead by Joumana Rizk on FOCUS: PEACE; all the wonderful skills I am learning everyday.
Thank you for our 4 foot plastic Christmas tree; peace in our neighborhood/country; the cheese sampler my friend Edward brought me; tennis with my son; bigger smiles.
Thank you for my 5 year old’s tantrum to teach me patience; blue sky that paved my walk on a rainy day; the tender kiss my son gave me while I napped; the consistent visits from my faithful followers; being reminded to “be one with the reality of love” by FOCUS: PEACE morning meditation.
Thank you for my 2 year old’s growl–Fox, time for a nap. Grrrrr!; Lady Ruby’s two page comment on a 2 week old post; no television all day; the wonderful grapefruit dessert recipe from a A Taste of Morning’s blog; Ravi Shankar’s music.
Thank you for the safety of my sons on this day of senseless death; Cassandra’s post that gave me musical support this morning; the Rarasaur experience my blog had today; all the love that exists in the world; all the things I take for granted everyday.
Thank you for the kind people who helped me find my son when I lost him in the mall; Roald Dahl and his wonderful books; all the new followers thanks to Rarasaur; all the wonderful poems to help us heal; the abundance of fruit available in December.
Thank you for my oldest son’s Christmas spirit; the kind woman who wished me well at church; my youngest son forgetting what I wrapped for his gift right after watching me wrap it; handwritten letters and cards; the smell of applewood bacon cooking on a cool morning.
Thank you for being able to watch my 2 year old stand like a deer in the headlights during his entire Christmas performance; Pajarigirls nominating Everydaygurus for the Liebster Award; Tracy’s guest post;my son getting addicted to reading books with no pictures–imagination; my wife working despite being sick.
Thank you for Bloggers for Peace; my dad coming to take Jett to the park; the wonderful support on my “peace in 2013″ post; being able to sleep with my sons; the joy of popping bubble wrap.
Thank you for all the wonderful bloggers who signed up for Bloggers for Peace; how my older son giggles when he sleeps; the wonderful teachers, helpers, crossing guards, and parent helpers at my son’s school; the insomnia last night that lead to creative expression; for all the lessons that lead to happiness in 2012.
Thank you for blanket forts; playing with my kids at a park on a rainy day with no one around; the mochicream desserts we bought today; my wife’s support; Halu Ramen.
Thank you for making the sorriest sugar cookies with my smiling sons; my older son asking, “Do you mean inner peace,” when I tried to explain what a peace sign was; both my sons meditating in church yesterday; shelter from the torrential rains; clean running hot water.
Thank you for how my 2 year old says, “Yessh” instead of “yes”; early morning group hugs full of pillowy cheeks, button noses, and sweet morning breath; the thoughtful gift from my wonderful wife; the abundance of gifts for my sons; spending the day inside with my sons playing Beyblades.
Thank you for the cool night air to soothe my 2 year old’s croup attacks; Elizabeth from Mirth and Motivation joining Bloggers for Peace since she was the inspiration/motivation for the entire project; all the love I received from the blogging community on the post about online friendships; the amazing guidance from a consultation with Russell Bradley; my sister-in-law taking my sons, so my wife and I can have a date night.
Thank you for the undying love of my beautiful wife; all the abundance we enjoyed this year; the health we enjoyed this year; the love we enjoyed this year; all the blessings coming our way in 2013.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and/or smiling.
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- Everyday Thanksgiving in October (everydaygurus.com)
- Interview with a Blogging Guru: Rarasaur (everydaygurus.com)
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