I appreciate:

• This video of Ellis’ latest appearance on Prairie Home Companion.  What a lovely way to start the day.
• A good solid Monday of work.  I love my jobs!
• Ending the day at Show X. So fun to enjoy the show as an audience member — AND have the fun of appreciating the skill of sticking to the form, and watching improv tools like character matching and analogy in action. Oh – plus 3 women playing in one set tonight! That really was magic. Huzza!

I appreciate:

• Getting to see so many lovely people today!
• Having a post-grad-party clean house (with newly painted portions and newly mulched garden!).
• Bittersweet Bakery’s gluten-free pumpkin bars.  Um, yum.

I appreciate:

• That big bright thing in the sky.  Not sure what it is…. 😛
• Getting to spend the day with the kids getting ready for tomorrow’s grad party.  (I know – I seem WAY too young to have my baby graduating from high school….)
• Dividing and planting my hostas and the smell of newly mulched gardens.

I appreciate:

• Getting this website updated with the past 2 months of gratitude postings.  Whew!
• Knowing that moments of deep sadness (like suddenly missing Cimmy) come from living from a place of big, big loving — and remembering that it is worth it.
• The shuffle control on iTunes and the brilliant joy of listening to indie music all morning.  Not only is it stunningly good music, it always makes me smile to picture the person making the music (like Jenna, Justin, and Arthur, just now.)

I appreciate:

• That Mckenzie graduated today. Yay!
• That the faculty speech at the ceremony was all about neuroplasticity and how we can change our brains….by doing things like, uh, appreciations??
• The truly amazing community of Avalon charter school. It challenged and supported my kids for the past 8 years – and we are all so grateful for the good work and good people there. We are gonna miss Avalon!

I appreciate:

• Feng shui tips from Rachel. Especially when they result in me buying this beautiful orchid for my kitchen window sill.
• This beautiful orchid.
• The feeling of lightness and freedom that comes from doing things I’ve put off or avoided.

I appreciate:

• Our expanded recycling program and the single-sort carts. Yay!
• The really sweet sympathy card that our vet sent us. What a nice surprise.
• Facing down decades-old demons and surviving. And then going to bed early.

I appreciate:

• The first batch of guacamole made with our own home-grown cilantro. Yummers.
• 0 (yes, zero!) items in my action folder right now and 0 (yes, zero!) emails in my inbox. That one day of “found” time really paid off!!
• The perfectly perfect weather yesterday and today. Sunny, 60s, perfect.

I appreciate:

• Sunny sunny sun.
• The entire process of receiving, anticipating the redemption of, and using gift certificates for spa services. Got my feet all ready for summer.
• Doing just about anything with my kids – including sitting here listening to them talk as they make food for themselves.