Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Another Trip Around The Sun

Today I Am Grateful For...
Another Trip
Around The Sun

(photo: Santa Fe sunset)

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Ability To See Such Beauty

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Ability To See
Such Beauty

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

Monday, December 29, 2014

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)

Sunday, December 28, 2014

The Stillness Of Freshly Falling Snow

Today I Am Grateful For...
A Morning Walk Through The Stillness
Of Freshly Falling Snow

Saturday, December 27, 2014

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)

Friday, December 26, 2014

Thursday, December 25, 2014

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

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas Eve Services

Today I Am Grateful For...
A Whole Lifetime Of Christmas Eve Services

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

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)

Sunday, December 21, 2014

The Changing of the Seasons

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Changing Of The Seasons

(photo: the Portland Japanese Garden)

Saturday, December 20, 2014

This Amazing World

Today I Am Grateful For...
This Amazing World
That Is So Full Of Surprises

(photo: fungus at the Portland Japanese Garden)

Friday, December 19, 2014

Life

Today I Am Grateful For...
Life

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

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Love

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Presence Of Love In My Life

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

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)

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Surprising Beauty

Today I Am Grateful For...
Surprising Beauty
In Unexpected Places

Monday, December 15, 2014

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

Sunday, December 14, 2014

A Beautiful Tree

Today I Am Grateful For...
A Beautiful Tree,
Freshly Cut, Covered In Lights,
& Decorated With Memories

Saturday, December 13, 2014

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)

Friday, December 12, 2014

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)

Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Gift Of Play

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Gift Of Play

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

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The Airplane Flying To Portland

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Airplane That Will Be Flying To Portland
Carrying A Passenger Whom I Love

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Sweet Memories

Today I Am Grateful For...
Sweet Memories To Savor

(photo: Yellowstone River in Montana)

Monday, December 8, 2014

The Interplay of Light & Shadow

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Interplay Of
Shadow & Light

(photo: Santa Fe sunset)

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Approach Of Winter

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Approach Of Winter
* * * * *
A Season Of Dormancy, Rest & Renewal

(photo: the Portland Japanese Garden)

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Beautiful Places

Today I Am Grateful For...
Beautiful Places I Can Easily Get To

(photo: Portland Japanese Garden)

Friday, December 5, 2014

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)

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Paying Attention

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Beauty I Discover
When I Pay Attention

(photo: sunset in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

The Magic Of Candlelight

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Magic Of Candlelight
On A Chilly December Night

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

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)

Monday, December 1, 2014

Sunday, November 30, 2014

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)

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Art

Today I Am Grateful For...
Art

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

Friday, November 28, 2014

Family, Friends, Food & Pie

Today I Am Grateful For...
Family, Friends, Food
& A Cast Iron Skillet
Full Of Banana Cream Pie

(thanks Alisa)

Thursday, November 27, 2014

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)

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

New Landscapes To Explore

Today I Am Grateful For...
New Landscapes To Explore

(photo: sunset in Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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

Monday, November 24, 2014

Reminders of Love

Today I Am Grateful For . . .
Reminders Of Love

(photo: angel created by Veronica Lassen in 2006)

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

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)

Thursday, November 20, 2014

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)

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Truly Noticing The Moment

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Amazing Gift Of
Truly Noticing The Moment

(photo: sunrise at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve)

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

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)

Monday, November 17, 2014

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)

Sunday, November 16, 2014

The Simple Pleasure of a Sunrise

Today I Am Grateful For...
The Simple Pleasure
Of A Sunrise

(photo: sunrise at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve)

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Music

Today I Am Grateful For...
My Friends Jacquie & Rich
(Small Potatoes)
and the Music They Share with the World


Friday, November 14, 2014

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)

Thursday, November 13, 2014

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)

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

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)