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.

I appreciate:

1. Spreadsheets. So helpful in keeping tracking of the stuff. (Including these appreciations. Want to know what I appreciated on September 12th last year? I could find it for ya!) 🙂
2. The gentle way our 30-year-old water heater let us know it’s time for a new one. We can replace it BEFORE it explodes. Yay for no flooding!
3. Luna-the-cat. Because she’s such a cute weirdo. 😛

I appreciate:

1. That our daisies seem to last almost exactly 3 weeks, so we get new daisies for each round of chemo. Cheery little flowers, those daisies. ;-).
2. A forecast for the week that includes 2 days over 40º. Whoopee!
3. So much improv on Sundays….class AND Gorillas rehearsal. Goody goody gumdrops.

I appreciate:

1. Rain, because it’s pretty and makes me think that spring may be on its way.
2. Lavender, because it smells pretty and makes me feel peaceful.
3. Purple, because it’s purply and makes me smile.

I appreciate:

1. Today’s dose of sunshine, sunshine, sunshine. Yes!
2. The Minneapolis skyline at night.
3. A wonderful dinner with my homeschool mom friends.  Thank you for the delicious food, good conversation, and friendship. And thank you for hosting, Emme!!