For Gratitude: Take Joy

For trust & hope

For joyful days

For Larry who wooed me with lilies

For living by the sea

For music
that soothes
comforts
lifts my spirit
opens my heart
moves my body

For books
to fall into
fall in love with
& read again & some again

For family and friends that give love and comfort

Warmth within

What nature did
was remind her that ripeness is all,
that autumn is the richest season,
that preparing for snow means building a shelter,
that warmth within withstands whatever winter howls without.

from the poem,
"Ripening"
by Joanne McCarthy


Today's sunrise and sunset: 

Sunrise 6:48 a.m.

Sunset 4:11 p.m.

Grateful with singleness of heart

THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Give us truth in our thanksgiving
that we may be grateful with singleness of heart

We are thankful for the extravagance of the harvest

For flavors
fragrances
melodies
shapes and colors

For love, and the love that makes love
For new babies and old friends
For the strength that comes from courage
For the joy that is born of integrity
For the peace that flows from tenderness

For good books
interesting places
and unexpected beauty

For artists who make music
prophets who love justice
statesmen who make peace
and saints who make little heavens in places of distress

We are grateful for work and for days off
for letters from dear ones
and someone to write to

For things that touch our hearts
and bring tears to our eyes
for laughter and fun

For children who keep us young
experiences that make us wise
and friends who make us necessary

Today: 

Sunrise 6:51 A.M. 
Sunset 4:18 P.M.

wishing i remembered where i found 

this lovely thanksgiving prayer

so i could give an attribution