12 January 2012

Day 12 - Thomas

Thursday January 12 2012

Recipient:
Dr Thomas

Thoughts:
Today I wrote a note of thanks to the obstetrician who attended the birth of our last baby. We had had a difficult time talking another ob into waiting until the 39th week to have an elective, but unwanted, caesarian. We wanted this birth to be practically perfect. It wasn't, but our son was born healthy and strong, and I am especially thankful that Dr Thomas listened to me and heard what my husband and I wanted to say.

Day 11 - Peter

Wednesday January 11 2012

Recipient:
Dr Peter

Thoughts:
Continuing with the medical theme, today I have written a thank you note to Doctor Peter, my son's cranial surgeon. When he was about 6 months old, my son was diagnosed with craniosynostosis, where his skull plates were prematurely fused and caused bone deformity. He needed some pretty radical surgery, but Dr Peter and his team gave us peace and confidence, and now 5 years post surgery, our son hasn't missed a beat. I've been thankful to Peter for 5 years. Today, I put it in writing.

Day 10 - Sam

Tuesday January 10 2012

Recipient:
Dr Sam

Thoughts:
Well, we're stuck at home this week, which makes me feel a bit "cabin feverish", but I continue to have so much to be thankful for. I'm writing today to my doctor, Sam, who provided my one-to-one care during my last pregnancy because my midwife wasn't able to. Sam is a terrific doctor and a good bloke; he was a real encouragement through a difficult time.

Day 9 - Kara

Monday January 9 2012
Recipient:
Dr Kara

Thoughts:
I'm late posting my notes this week. On Monday, Dr Kara (the kids GP) rang to say one of my sons had tested positive for whooping cough. Not good news, and of course I worry about the health implications for my children but also for people we have spent time with. However, I am truly thankful that I can access good quality health care, and that I was able to easily afford the medications needed for the whole family.

Pic:

08 January 2012

Day 8 - Bonnie & Josh

Sunday January 8 2012
Recipient:
Bonnie & Josh

Thoughts:
Bonnie & Josh are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today. A year ago, my family was honoured to be invited to New Zealand to be involved in the ceremony. Being asked to participate publicly in someone's wedding service is such a great honour. It fills me with such a deep sense of love and commitment to these friends; as they married one another, those of us who bore witness also make some kind of commitment, too. The ties of friendship are just as important and these relationships need care and attention, as well.

Day 7 - Angelique

Saturday January 7 2012
Recipient:
Angelique

Thoughts:
We have kids. Hundreds of them, it sometimes seems. Kids in plague proportion - and volume. Angelique is a beautiful young chick at church who is so generous with her time. She spends time talking and playing with the kids, who absolutely adore her, and she is so quick to meet their needs that it frees my time to spend studying and talking instead of chasing after the kids. It is such a precious gift, and makes our time at church a pleasure, which is exactly as it ought to be!

I found this postcard at a local market today. I love supporting local artists, too, so buying these cards seems really fitting.

06 January 2012

Photos

A blog needs visual aids. Photos = good. But 366 photos of cards/notes = bad. I'm wondering what I can do about photos here. Given I'm not promoting this blog or even teling friends it is here, I don't suppose it matters a lot!

Day 5 - Margaret

Thursday January 5 2012
Recipient:

My mum, Margaret

Thoughts:
An odd one today. I ran out of plain ol' regular soap this week so went to the bag of 'fancy soap' in the cupboard. I wonder why we (I) don't use the gift soaps, fancy candles, pretty-but-potentially-useful versions of the everyday items? It's like not wearing the expensive perfume that you keep in the cupboard for 'special occasions'. So todays thank you is to my mum, for always thinking of me and sending gifts. This mineral soap came from Rotorua in New Zealand.

Not-the-note:

Day 6 - Elaine

Friday January 6 2012
Recipient:

My Aunty Elaine

Thoughts:
Several years ago, Aunty E gave us a nativity that she had made & painted. It comes out on December 1 or thereabouts, and today, 12 days after Christmas, I'll pack it away again for another year. The kids love to move the sheep and shepherds and magi about, and the pieces are often used to tell some pretty creative stories. I am so thankful for the gift of Jesus, and Aunty E's gift of this holy family reminds me to be grateful for my less perfect but wholly wonderful family.

Again, not a note:

03 January 2012

Day 4 - Sam

Wednesday January 4 2012
Recipient:

Sam, mother of Scarlett (a friend of Miranda).

Thoughts:
About 25 years ago, I went to school with Sam. Now our daughters have become friends & classmates, and I've become reacquainted with Sam. She has been running an after school & school holiday program for about 20 years, and she extended the invitation to my big kids to join them today for an excursion to the movies. She also gave all five kids toys that she stocks in her market business. Her generosity was right out of her area of talent, business and abundance, but that doesn't mean it isn't truly appreciated, and a real blessing to me. I wouldn't take my kids to the cinema each week - too hard, too much money, excuse excuse excuse - but Sam's thoughtfulness reminds me that I need to be generous with what talents, abundance, and skills I have. That way, the cost to me is affordable but the value to someone else is great.

Note:

Day 3 - Chrissy

Tuesday January 3 2012
Recipient:

One of our Australia Post parcel contractors, Chrissy

Thoughts:
Our parcel contractor, Chrissy (and her colleagues) is a terrific person. She always arrives with a smile, and goes out of her way to make life easier for me. She hides my parcels if I'm not home, and she gives them to the kids if I can't get to the gate.

Note:


Day 2 - Kirsty

Monday January 2 2012
Recipient:

My best friend, Kirsty (Belle)

Thoughts:
It's not hard to be thankful for Belle. We've been friends for twenty years now, and her support, encouragement, and love has helped me grow into a woman I truly like. But it's hard to reduce the impact of this friendship into just a few sentences. I'm not very good at being brief - a new "rule" or challenge for this year of gratitude!

Note:


Day 1 - Matthew

Sunday January 1 2012
Recipient:

My husband, Mat

Thoughts:
Matthew makes my whole life easier, harder, more fun, busier, calmer, adventurous, smooth and agitated. I love Mat and being grateful to him and for him is the easiest thing in the world. I'm grateful for the ways he changes me, encourages me, needs me and meets my needs. I love sharing my life with him.

Note:


A Year of Thanks

Inspired by the story of a man who came to a point in his life of being at rock bottom and somehow came to choose not only to be grateful but to express his gratitude daily, I am going to practice being grateful every day this year - 366 days of gratitude.

I am planning to write a thank you note every day, and send them or give them to the person concerned. I don't want to make too many rules about the exercise, but the first is that I will write each note by hand. I hope my handwriting will improve as a result!

I am going to keep a record of each recipient, the note and any extra thoughts.