Another Trip Around The Sun

Today I Am Grateful For...

Another Trip

Around The Sun

(photo: Santa Fe sunset)

The Ability To See Such Beauty

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Ability To See

Such Beauty

(photo: pre-dawn glow behind Helena, Montana)

The Crunching Sound Of Snow

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Crunching Sound That Happens

When I Walk On Fresh Snow

In Really Cold Temperatures

(photo: Helena, Montana)

The Stillness Of Freshly Falling Snow

Today I Am Grateful For...

A Morning Walk Through The Stillness

Of Freshly Falling Snow

Unexpected Detours Along The Way

Today I Am Grateful For...

Unexpected Detours

Along The Way

(photo: Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve located just south of Hillsboro, Oregon)

Snow In Montana

Today I Am Grateful For...

Snow In Montana

The Blessing Of Family And Friends - Merry Christmas

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Blessing Of Family & Friends

Near & Far

Who Enrich My Life

In So Many Ways Beyond Counting

* * * * *

May You All Experience

A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve Services

Today I Am Grateful For...

A Whole Lifetime Of Christmas Eve Services

Outrageous Flowers

Today I Am Grateful For...

Outrageous Flowers

The Coming of the Light

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Coming Of The Light

(photo: Mt. Hood at sunrise as seen from Pittock Mansion in the hills west of Portland)

The Changing of the Seasons

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Changing Of The Seasons

(photo: the Portland Japanese Garden)

This Amazing World

Today I Am Grateful For...

This Amazing World

That Is So Full Of Surprises

(photo: fungus at the Portland Japanese Garden)

Life

Today I Am Grateful For...

Life

(photo: bronze sculpture "Girl with Doves" at the Nedra Matteucci Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Love

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Presence Of Love In My Life

Dinner with Daughters

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Opportunity To Have Dinner

With Two Of My Daughters

(and wihing the third could join us)

Surprising Beauty

Today I Am Grateful For...

Surprising Beauty

In Unexpected Places

A Very Good Day

Today I Am Grateful For...

A Very Good Day Filled With

Meaningful Opportunities To Contribute,

Cute Kids In Costumes,

People I Care About,

Wonderful Music,

Sunshine,

And The Woman I Love

A Beautiful Tree

Today I Am Grateful For...

A Beautiful Tree,

Freshly Cut, Covered In Lights,

& Decorated With Memories

MAX Trains

Today I Am Grateful For...

TriMet’s MAX Trains

That Make It Easy For Me To Get

Where I Want To Go

(photo: TriMet's MAX light rail train system serving the greater Portland area)

Long Ago Silliness

Today I Am Grateful For...

Memories Of

Long Ago Silliness

(video: a silent home movie from 1975 featuring my brother and me being silly)

The Gift Of Play

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Gift Of Play

(image: digital fingerpainting created in the "Paper" app for iPad)

The Airplane Flying To Portland

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Airplane That Will Be Flying To Portland

Carrying A Passenger Whom I Love

Sweet Memories

Today I Am Grateful For...

Sweet Memories To Savor

(photo: Yellowstone River in Montana)

The Interplay of Light & Shadow

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Interplay Of

Shadow & Light

(photo: Santa Fe sunset)

The Approach Of Winter

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Approach Of Winter

* * * * *

A Season Of Dormancy, Rest & Renewal

(photo: the Portland Japanese Garden)

Beautiful Places

Today I Am Grateful For...

Beautiful Places I Can Easily Get To

(photo: Portland Japanese Garden)

Massage

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Gift Of

A Healing Massage

(photo: not me & not my photo - just one I found to illustrate my gratitude)

Paying Attention

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Beauty I Discover

When I Pay Attention

(photo: sunset in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

The Magic Of Candlelight

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Magic Of Candlelight

On A Chilly December Night

Meaningful Work

Today I Am Grateful For...

Meaningful Work

& Good People To Share It With

(photo: First Congregational UCC in Hillsboro, Oregon - where I serve as Transitional Pastor)

Music That Touches My Heart

Today I Am Grateful For...

Music That Touches My Heart

The Uniqueness Of Each Moment

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Uniqueness Of Each Moment

(photo: new moon at sunset in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Art

Today I Am Grateful For...

Art

(photo: Girl with Doves at the Nedra Matteucci Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Family, Friends, Food & Pie

Today I Am Grateful For...

Family, Friends, Food

& A Cast Iron Skillet

Full Of Banana Cream Pie

(thanks Alisa)

The Many Ways In Which Peace Is Shared

Today I Am Grateful For . . .

The Many Ways In Which Peace

Is Shared With The World

(photo: Tibetan Buddhist monks creating a mandala sand painting in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

New Landscapes To Explore

Today I Am Grateful For...

New Landscapes To Explore

(photo: sunset in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Everyone Who Made It Possible For Me To Travel

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Train Operators & Shuttle Driver

& Pilots & Maintenance Crews

& Support Staff & Flight Attendants

& Everyone Else Whose Labors Made It Possible

For Me To Travel Yesterday

Reminders of Love

Today I Am Grateful For . . .

Reminders Of Love

(photo: angel created by Veronica Lassen in 2006)

Great Old Trees With Character

Today I Am Grateful For...

Great Old Trees

With Character

Time Spent With My Mom

Today I Am Grateful For...

Time Spent With My Mom

Going With The Flow

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Resources To Go With The Flow

When The Plan Changes

(photo: Rio Chama near Abiquiu, New Mexico)

A Life Filled With Gifts

Today I Am Grateful For...

A Life Filled With So Many Gifts

I Cannot Count Them All

(photo: Mt. Hood at sunrise as seen from Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve)

Truly Noticing The Moment

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Amazing Gift Of

Truly Noticing The Moment

(photo: sunrise at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve)

The Dramatic Majesty of Winter

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Dramatic Majesty

Of Winter

(photo: Multnomah Falls - 30 miles east of Portland, Oregon in the Columbia River Gorge)

The Simple Things In Life

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Simple Things In Life

(photo: rainbow cast on the wall by prism hanging in the window)

The Simple Pleasure of a Sunrise

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Simple Pleasure

Of A Sunrise

(photo: sunrise at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve)

Music

Today I Am Grateful For...

My Friends Jacquie & Rich

(Small Potatoes)

and the Music They Share with the World

When the Sky Plays with Colors in This Particular Way

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Privilege Of Watching The Morning Sky

When It Plays With Colors

In This Particular Way

(photo: just before sunrise at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve with Mt. Hood on the horizon)

The Magical Interplay of Light & Shadow

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Magical Interplay

Of Light & Shadow

(photo: just before sunrise at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve located south of Hillsboro, OR)

Being In the Right Place at the Right Moment

Today I Am Grateful For...

The Wonderful Gift

Of Being In The Right Place

At The Right Moment

(which is, of course, always true)

(photo: Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve near Hillsboro, Oregon)

~ click here to view a video of this scene & hear the sound of the birds ~