On Thankfulness..

I just watched an hour of 'Nature's Most Amazing Events' on the Green Channel.  It's been a long time since i watched a television show that brought tears to my eyes.  Tears of grateful happiness.  This one did.  It was about the creatures of the Serengeti Plain and their struggle to survive throughout the year.  The program focused a lot on lions and wildebeests.  The scenery took my breath away.  But i was most enthralled with the annual wildebeest migration.  In springtime, thousands of these animals migrate back to the fertile North Serengeti Plain where they live through the dry season.  Many die from starvation, predation, drought, etc.  I watched a female give birth to a calf after surviving all these obstacles.  It reminded me that nature can be cruel, but it's also wonderful.  The entire natural world is miraculous.  And i'm grateful for the beauty of it.  For the fact that we live in a Universe where, though discouraging things happen, there is also much love, stunning beauty, grace, faith in humanity and the natural world.  We are animals, after all, we humans.  I try to count my blessings often, and this show was yet another reminder to be grateful for all i have.   My family, my friends, my community, the roof over my head.  The food i eat, my good health, and that of my family and friends!  The little things.  The opening leaves in springtime; the life giving rain we get. :)  (Sometimes we seem to get more than our share in OR.)  I try not to complain, but sometimes i weaken in that respect.  I love the trees big and small.  The beautiful shade giving ones, and the little growing maples and pines.  I love it all.  Grateful there is medicine to cure many illness and diseases.  Though i know we have a long way to go.  We've also come a long way.

Above on the right is a pic of a little rose in our yard about three weeks ago.  It made a valiant effort to open.  Alas it was not to be.  Too much rain.  Not enough sunshine.  Still beautiful though, and i wanted to capture it while its soft beauty lasted.  Sometimes i wish that all it needed was a few kind words and it would pop open.  Come fully to life.  You see, inside, sometimes, i'm still a little girl.  I hope, and i wish.  But the adult in me is realistic.  But i'll remember it was here.  I have the photo to prove it!  :D

And above is our Calico girl Tortie.  S and i are thankful for her too... and all our four awesome kitty-cats!  It was a year ago this month that she had a piece of one of her lungs removed due to cancer.  She's cancer free now.  Healthier than ever.  We are so very grateful.

As always, i wish you all love and happiness this Thirty First Day of January, Twenty Twelve!  L for Love.  Lots of it!