Kawai Joy

I play the piano.  I love to play the piano.  It is a stress reliever as well as a soothing activity when I'm all keyed up.  *ha ha*  My mom taught me my first song (I still have it memorized) when I was four years old....

I've played on a variety of pianos over the years.  When I lived in Germany, I even played on a Steinway.

BUT

My favorite piano (brand) of all time is Kawai.  My piano teacher bought a Kawai grand when I was taking lessons and I played on them in choir concerts when I was in school.  I play on an upright every week, actually, at church.  Kawais are the piano of choice for the LDS Church.  :)

One of my life long fantasies is to own a Kawai baby grand.  It brings me great joy to play on one...

Fortunately, I have that opportunity often because I play the baby grand in our chapel during services.  I was able to do so last week while my son was playing basketball in the gym.  I sneaked into the chapel and played my favorite hymns out of the hymnbook for about 45 minutes.

Pure.

Unadulterated.

JOY.

Looking for Joy

Wow.  I have been terrible the last two years in searching for gratitude in this blog.  Shame, shame, shame!  *wry chuckle*  Ah, well...  Can't look to the past, must look to the future.  Right?

I'm actually going to take this particular blog in a new direction with the new year.  I struggle with finding things to be grateful for (especially after the 19th surgery in 12 1/2 years with more in the future).  In fact, I don't know if it's the time of year or because of this latest surgery, but I've found myself dealing with fighting my demons again.  Now I don't mean actual demons ...  Anyway...  I mean dealing with my demons of deep depression and feelings of abandonment.  The week before Christmas was particularly bad, in part, because I was stuck elevating my scoped knee and I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  On one of those days, I was dwelling on how I always seem to feel like there is nothing but sadness or anger in my life when a small phrase from my Patriarchal Blessing popped into my head.  It was a simple three word phrase that is repeated time and again in my Blessing:  "joy and happiness."  I also had the thought that surely in my *cough cough* 40 years of life, there had to be moments of joy so I started brainstorming for weeks, days, hours, moments, minutes, seconds of joy in my life.

Surprise, surprise.  I found that there were/are moments of joy in my life! So to make a long story short, I've decided that rather than focusing on gratitude, at least for a while, I'm going to focus on JOY.  Who, what, where, when, and why has brought me JOY.

Sit back, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.  Most of all, thanks for reading.

Starting off 2010

It's been almost a years since I posted on my Gratitude Blog. Shame on me! What can I find to be grateful for today?

1. A knee that's fixed--for now--and a doctor who listens to me.
2. My puddy tats
3. Ending 18/3/8 with a smile and some hugs that were well worth the wait.
   

I'm Lacking

*groan*

What am I grateful for today?

1. Living
2. Sunshine
3. my electric blanket
   

Gratitude for Healing

I know it's been an awfully long time since I shared gratitude.

I tore my ACL back in September and had surgery 10 days later to repair it along with some other repairs that I knew needed to be done.

So today I'm thinking about my surgery and how far I've come...

I'm thankful

1. I have two legs and feet
2. For good insurance coverage *wry grin*
   
3. I can walk almost normally
   

Gratitude for My Husband

I know it's been a very long while since I've posted here.  I guess I've kind of been in a funk.  But I'm thankful today for my husband.

• His incredible compassion
  
• His willingness to even try to, let alone actually understand me
• His patience in dealing with such a high-maintenance wife
  

A Better Job

I need to do a better job of gratitude--it's been more than two months since my last entry!

I'm thankful for

1. Springtime
2. Sunshine
3. My best friend
   

Gratitude

On the evening before we embark on our epic odyssey to the Pacific I want to take a moment and share my gratitude for

1. The financial means to be able to go.
2. New memories ahead
3. Kevin's willingness to take two weeks out of his life to come with me. *wink*

I'm going to Hawai'i!!!!!!!!

A Stalwart Son

I know I've expressed gratitude for him before, but I think I can never be tired of being grateful for Greg!

1. That he hasn't let his life challenges keep him down
2. That he has an exceptionally smart head on his shoulders
3. His attitude of service.
   

In Gratitude and Loving Memory...

We thank Thee, O God....

1. For a Prophet.
2. Who loved us and set an example to follow.
3. And for the knowledge that families can be together forever.
   

Surgical Gratitude

I really need to make a better effort at this... *sigh*

• I'm grateful my surgery went well and I was up and walking (even down and up stairs) Thursday night.
• I'm grateful it was "only" a labral tear and not like my shoulder or knee--even though I was very surprised there wasn't any more damage this time!
• I'm grateful that it appears I won't have to use the pain medications prescribed.
  

Prayer of Thanksgiving

I have MUCH to be grateful for this evening.

1. I am grateful that Kevin kept his wits about him while I was losing mine.
2. I'm grateful we all got out of the house (including Zoey and my 25 year old Snoopy)
3. I'm grateful the fire department didn't give up when it "didn't feel right" and found the compressor on the fridge had caught fire instead of the light in the ceiling.
   
4. I'm very very grateful that our home is intact and I'm (eventually, if I settle down) sleeping in my own bed tonight.

I need--something...

Fluffy feline furball therapy?
Retail therapy?

Something.

Season of Gratitude

Oops. It's been over a month since I last posted here. I need to make a better effort to post my paltry three things I'm grateful for, especially since it's Thanksgiving time.

I'm thankful for

1. My gift/talent of writing. As a result of my blog/writing, I've connected with two old friends in the past week.
2. Dreams (the sleeping kind). Thanks to a few dreams I've been having lately I've been able to hug my dad as well as talk to him and someone else I'm unable to talk to for reasons I'm not sure I get--but if they're what I think they are then it makes sense.
3. My job. I love, love, LOVE my job--and the paycheck that comes with it!
   

Employment Gratitude

I'm grateful for:

• A job that I enjoy doing
  
• The constant variety of my workday
• That I only work 17 hours a week (usually!)
  

Vacation Gratitude

I'm grateful for

• The opportunity and capability of going on vacation
• Making it to Indy safe and sound.
• A nice hotel room with a comfortable bed (even if Kevin keeps the A/C on so low that I'm freezing my toes off!)
  

Random Gratiitude

Gratitude for:

1. People who change or grow up and become, well, better human beings.
2. All the second chances I've had over the years (and some third, fourth, or even fifth).
3. Have I mentioned I'm grateful for Zoey?
   

Zoey

1. I'm extremely grateful that Zoey was strong enough to beat the Distemper.
2. I'm also extremely grateful that she doesn't appear to be too traumatized by spending more days at the vet than she did at home that first week.
   
3. I'm so grateful that she is such a cuddler and a lovey kitty.
   

Trying

It's hard to feel anything near gratitude today but I'll try.

1. I'm grateful Turbo and Zoey knew/know that they are loved and wanted, even for a brief amount of time.
2. I'm grateful the vet was/is willing to try.
3. I'm grateful that I am capable of loving someone/thing so much that I'm willing to do anything for them.

It still hurts worse than anything I've ever experienced in my life other than my dad.

Random Gratitude

No theme today...

I'm grateful for

1. Sunshine
2. Rain
3. A comfortable bed at night (even if it did take more than a month to get used to!)
   

Gratitude for Greg

1. His willingness to help around the house


2. Always wanting to do the right thing


3. His strength (moral, spiritual, emotional)

I have an awesome son.