I appreciate:

1. Ginger tea.
2. Napping (yes, even at 7:30 am).
3. This gif, which is silly and makes me giggle. 

I appreciate:

1. The hat trick of great employment news that my household had this morning.
2. Reconnecting with the beautiful and funny Burcin. It had been WAY too long.
3. Echinacea, vitamin C, zinc, homeopathy, tea, tissues, pillows, and all the other things that either provide comfort or make me believe I’ll shorten the length of the dreadful cold I now have. 😉

I appreciate:

1. The delicious chili Cara brought us. Heaven!
2. The awesome new form we created in my improv class.
3. My HUGE 501 classmates. Wow, I’m going to miss seeing you wonderful people every Tuesday night!

I appreciate:

1. That every moment provides an array of choices. This morning, after lying awake for an hour (several hours before I wanted to wake up) I could choose to a) stay in bed, fuming about not sleeping or b) get up and have some coffee. See? Delicous choices!
2. Snow. I know this is a wildly unpopular opinion, and yes, I am fairly sick of winter, but it is still very pretty, the way it quietly covers everything with a clean layer of white. (Be careful when you go out, though, because one of the things it is quietly covering today is a layer of ice!)
3. That moment of clarity, when I breathe and shift from hurry-hurry-hurry-gotta-get-things-done to knowing that there is time for everything and all will be well. ♥

I appreciate:

1. The gift certificate my family gave me at Christmas (for a pedicure). After a week like last week, it is the most amazing gift to have an hour of total relaxation!
2. Getting to spend time with Mckenzie as he recovers from the wisdom tooth extraction. Even swollen-faced and uncomfortable, he is a pretty neat kid. 🙂
3. Tonight’s improvisers at HUGE Theater, who checked their egos at the door and created the hilarious and beautiful improv that comes from their willingness to be vulnerable and brave. Well done!

So very much to appreciate today:

• The incredible generosity of our friends. After a rather grueling week – and particularly long day of appointments – it was so indescribably wonderful to arrive home to another delicious meal from a friend in town, and the most lovely box of Easter goodies from our Seattle friends.
• A weekend with no trips to the doctor or hospital. Yay!
• Watching the Good Neighbors with the Mckenzie while he recovers. What a good show.
• Good news in today’s paper: “Cities are turning to artists as urban troubleshooters” and “St. Paul salon is giving makeovers to help battered women get a new look”

I appreciate:

• That surreal moment this morning when I was scraping the ice off the windshield, listening to the birds sing, and watching a bunny hop along the street. Ah, spring in Minnesota…. 😛
• That it was just raining this morning, not freezing & making the roads even worse.
• That I rarely have to be out in the world before 8 am!
• My excellent entertain-yourself-in-waiting-rooms skills. 😉

What a roller coaster ride yesterday was….Here’s what I appreciate right now:

• I’m so grateful that we didn’t end up having to go to the ER last night. I’m also grateful that Pat seems to be feeling better this morning.
• I appreciate the beautiful kindness of dear friends loving me while I fall apart a little — and their willingness to help me put myself back together. ♥
• I really appreciate the comfort and routine of morning coffee and cinnamon toast.
• And I appreciate my sometimes-hidden belief that despite the twists and turns of any given day, all will be well.

I appreciate:

1. The completely delicious gf quiche Lini made and brought for us yesterday! It was an especially wonderful gift since I’d forgotten to eat lunch and by 4:30 (when I got home from work) was really, truly hungry. Thank you, Lini!!
2. Lessons from improv and my brave and wonderful classmate-teachers: the beauty of vulnerability and imperfection. What a joyful way to chip away at my “always get things right” rule. 😛
3. The gift of sleeplessness: awake early enough to read a little of my new book in quietness — and have 2 cups of coffee before we head to chemo! 🙂

I appreciate:

1. The big group of lovely laughers from last night! Thanks for being so open to the totally-improvised Laughter Yoga session. (I’ll try to remember my notes next time.) Ha ha ha! 🙂
2. Living in a state that is CLEARLY one of the best places to live.
3. Sunshine this morning. Such a fabulous thing to see after yesterday’s gray gray grayness.