This came to me via email from a website that I subscribe to - Dean Bleasdale, Love - A Passion for People.
It was written by Diane, Australia. Thanks Diane.
Hope you like it as much as I do.


The other side of the coin.

I'm thankful for the taxes I pay,
because it means that I have a job.

I'm thankful for the mess to clean up after a party,
because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

I'm thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug,
because it means I have enough to eat.

I'm thankful for my shadow who watches me work,
because it means I am out in the sunshine.

I'm thankful for a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need clearing,
because it means I have a home.

I'm thankful for all the complaining I hear about our government,
because it means we have freedom of speech.

I'm thankful for the spot I find at the far end of the carpark lot,
because it means I am capable of walking.

I'm thankful for my huge heating bill,
because it means I am warm.

I'm thankful for the loud music my children play,
because it means that I can hear.

I'm thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing,
because it means I have clothes to wear.

I'm thankful for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,
because it means I have been productive.

I'm thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early every morning,
because it means that I'm alive.

I'm thankful for getting too many emails,
because it lets me know I have friends who are thinking of me.

This week, try more to cultivate an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!

how abou the big phone and mobile bill becouse theirs people to talk to and one can afford such luxurys

When I have masses to do...tidying etc...I think of a woman who has no one to tidy after or no one coming home that night.
Mountain ash

What an attitude to adopt!

MOUNTAIN THAT cetinlie make me gratfull for the mess the child and po leaves....great bit of thinking their...

How about...the big MOT test and bill, becouse i got a car to test, the test ensures roadworthiness, it be safe for my familie and me to drive....So the monie spent on test and repars just ensures my roadworthiness!/safty!

gratfull For having to by bigger new clothes for lucien becouse that means he growing strong and tall. So whats a cloths bill faced with that...

The mistvchef he gets up to...the mess he makes....the cheekie things he says...becouse he got health enough to mess thing, hes not in fear to mess thngs, he smart enough to talk and be cheekie and verbalie exploring/experimenting with his world....

common ladies we all got something that means somethng like this, (turn a whing into gratitude)hehehe ....Whats yours thoughts or ways????

SharonE, excellent post. When I read something of this nature, I think about all the people who were affected by the hurricanes. God love um!

Now that sort of major scale sufferring wayyy beyond what most of us would face in a lifetime....Its great that people like you jj respond in prayer or resorces or both...this sort of thing needs people to give of themselfs for those people at those times....sure aint we a brother/sisterhood....its great you think that way jj

I'm grateful for plowing through 7 or 8 hours of research on my computer these past two days, because without computers and online resources, that task would've taken 5x as long. At least!

I'm thankful for my job because it gives me someplace to go alone to do something very useful and meaningful for others while putting bread on the table for me and mine.

I'm thankful for my car, even with the payments because it allows me to ride to work in style! Black '03 Nissan Altima with dark tinted windows, an airfoil on the back and a great stereo system...makes me happy every time I drive it.

I am thankfull that the child was extra sweet today, i woke from surgierie barlie singed lol...The medical services are as good as they are. That my partner taken good care of me today and all is fine in the world and why wouldn't it be...

celtic, did I miss soemthing? DId you have surgery?

I'm thankful for warmer weather.

Me too, thankful for the warm weather. In Minnesota, we know winter is over when we see a robin. I have seen many this week. I am thankful for spring.

Celtic had a hysteroscopy yesterday...and is now in bed recovering from the anesthetic and a little discomfort. Apart from that, she is in fine fettle and it seems that the results are as expected..ie good.


Popea

Po, please tell Celtic we wish for her sunny days and good health. I had no idea she was "going under the knife" as we say around here. Bless her!

My Best to Celtic as well...how did we miss that?

Anno...I'm with you...I'm so thankful for the robins who have returned to my yard...there are so many this year...maybe the ones I watched hatch last year are among them...I can't wait until my little nest gets full again...I hope she'll use the same nest this summer...she used it twice last year...

i kept it quite ....it was onlie a wee thing but thanks....

i know the birds are filling the park, its the type of thing you dont notice is gone till they come back....we keep seeing and heering wood pigones....their po's favourite..makes a diffrences to outdoor walks, the nose and daffodils finalie bloming they been late this year but i love the treas budding and the first displayes of couler from the flowers...

Gals, its celtics' wee nature to underplay some of these types of things. If it were me, I would have been panicing like no gals business. She is back in bed now (gets up for a wee cuppa and a wee hug and is too sleepy for much else)
Yeah, of course I am petting the life out of her..but she doesn't 'do' the staying in bed resting long!!!! I will put my foot down!

I see above she was talking about wood-pigeons...well I better tell ya before Celt feels weel enough to poke fun at me!! Every year, for about the past three or four years...I have had the same mammy wood-pigeon come to nest near the back of my house. I named her Mrs Hoe Hoe..and would watch her get ready to nest, feed her wee ones and then teach them to fly. I discovered that throwing out bits of bread would bring her to the back fence of my house...but if I threw her currants, raisins and apricot...(and custard cream buscuits!!)she would endeavour to come as close as the back door(which my grannie used to say was lucky for the year ahead). One of her little ones flew in through the window of the kitchen and was pretty stunned...I simply and calmly too it outside and set it near my tree where it's mama could see and call(reassure) it. I stayed until the little one found it's nerve and flew to mama. I also gave another one of her babies mouth to mouth after a bad flight...but that wee one didn't make it and I was heartbroken. (I did revive one before!!)
Celt thinks I am nuts!!! Well maybe I am...I just have a wee soft spot for wood-pigeons

Popea

I am thankful for being a bit of a nut when it comes to wee things like I have just spoken about.(yeah..it says something about me other than being a bit nutty! )
I am thankful that Celtic is ok and will be up and at it at as soon as I let her!!!
I am thankful that I am able to care for her and the Ba.

Popea

This is the 5th day without hubby and seem to be doing fine. I'm thankful that I went out last night with a couple of female friends to karaoke and had FUN!

I'm thankful for Dotsie letting me stay on the forum, being the stubborn, strong, bullheaded woman that I am.

I'm thankful I still have a sparring partner. Hubbo's been amazing nice these past few weeks, so I haven't been in many fights.

i am thankfull for the wit of women and how yous make me laugh.....

there positives in everiething lol

meradith i have a fight with ya just for fun, no taking the gloves off and no running rings round me too much please leave me with some dignitie...

ok i start the fight, pecan nuts are better than peanuts...your turn.

Okay, you two spar away, but ....

I am thankful for good friends. I can't believe my luck - making friends online. I am thankful to be so enriched in my life, my second half of my new beginning! Yeah to midlife!

yea just joke sparring about peanuts verses peacans lol just joking m bead not even instrested in fighting about that, come to think of it it aint the best thing to fight about oh welll

i thankfull for laughter in my life....in my eyes (making a sillie of myself) and then having the abilitie to laugh about myself later...

I am thankful for online friends with whom I can relate with in so many ways.

I'm thankful for how good it feels to take a really deep breath...to breathe in Spirit...love and peace

I am thankful for people that see the light in each and every day.

I'm thankful for the full moon tonight and the sense of power I feel with each and every full moon. I'm thankful that my Creator knows me intimately and loves me and has a plan and a design for my life.

I am thankful for Irish and Scottish friends who taught me last night another good way to make Easter much more fun for my grandchildren.

This grandmother has been taught how to suck eggs after they have been pricked and make them stand to drain which I shall do as I stand on one leg, twirl around three times and spit in the low wind for good measure. For that, I am thankful too that Po, Celtic and I share the same sense of humour!

Lola honey.....it's true, I promise!!!...you turn once for a thursday..twice for friday...and the third turn is just for good measure. The standing on one leg thing is optional!! Don't suck like Celtic advised..she is a scally!!

Popea

I am thankful Lola and I can chat on the phone for ages and giggle like teenagers up to mischeif!

rember and put holes in both sides otherwise you will be huffing for half and hour and all that will happen is the egg will explode....its this old irish mistake that gave rise to the saying left with egg on your face. lol.

I think i am gratfull for the brighter weathers which creates a desiree to clean....is it optional?? lol.

Now my windows are washed i see more light in each and everie day...dose that count ANNO lol..


I greatfull that another full moon pased and i ain't howeled onces. Has anyone?

ok sorrie just being sillie...
and for that abilitie i am trulie gratfull lol...

sunshine seritonin heer i come lol.

I am thankful for my visit with the Bregels, meeting my friend DJ in person, and also Dot's friend, Melinda. I'm thankful for arriving home safely and for finding two pieces of chocolate in the house.

I'm thankful my luggage was lost because now I have a new story to write!

I'm thankful that you made it back...safe and sound...and that your 'drawers' have a story to tell now!

I'm thankful that I'm feeling more inspired today.

Today, I am thankful for the profusion of roses blooming in my garden that are wafting glorious scents through the whole place.

Oh, I howled. I love the full moon and all that comes with it.

yonuh...how I miss my roses...I moved 2 years ago...and left them behind...my friend says they are beautiful this spring...smell yours deeply for me!

OWWWWROOOOOOOOOOOO

Is that my witch or the werewolf?

And Celtic, it's pistachios

I'm thankful that we finished cleaning the kitchen today. I'm especially thankful that El Hubbo did more work than I did for a change. I'm also thankful that he's sleeping in front of the TV right now, which means he's not interrupting me every 2 minutes.

I'm thankful that Jawjaw's luggage was lost and found so I'll get to read the story.

well i got 1 living room understars cupord declutered, on top of the fridge, po papers stored (see lola)...a colection of old toys readie for charitie shop and the ramainding windows in the house done..

so am i thankfull for cleaning, no, i thankfull its done and finished for the day.

Jane, Sorry you had to leave your roses. I know that one day we will move from here and have to leave them, so I'm enjoying them every day. I have 8 bushes that are doing extraordinarily well - at least until summer hits! Can't you plant more where you are now? I also have mini roses - I'm up to 3 now.

In another lifetime my dwellings lay empty
That time when no-one saw me
Touched me, heard me; or even felt me
I was a ghost..drifting

Lived in vaporous shadow lands of hollow ache
A barren place, devoid of love, language and life
Longing, a thing noticed only in need to die
anguish, only noticed by the effort of slowly dying.
Simplicity offered a solution…just fade away
unnoticed.
Losing me…or what was left in that shell.

Where was I going?
..but back to nothingness….
No more pills, potions or points to take into account
Nothing to count on…no more could I stand the silence of my blankness.
What I believed to be truths crashing on my bones..and no fear apparent.

Yet, today as I write…let me share with you a newness
………………..that this is no sad tale…but triumph and resurrection
As I sit quiet in my skin and ‘feel’…the sweetness of surrender to divinity.
From then ‘till now, the battles fought and won are nothing short of miracles..
For the harder I turned my back on such purity…the harder I was loved.

Beyond the divine…someone else saw me…showed me the blessings I already possess..
Held me tenaciously, ‘till I could see for myself the wholesomeness of becoming whole…
and I am a big ball of learning since.

My heart expands to greet life anew each day with appreciation
My mind opens like a well loved biograpy..and I get to grow
My soul is in the safe hands of thee most wondrous caretaker…nudging me gently forward into living and loving as far as is humanly possible.

For those who see me, feel me and touch my life…
To colour it in shades of bliss…I am thankful for,
from my ever growing heart.

Popea

What a beautiful and touching reflection and thanksgiving to share with us, Po. In return, I thank you.

And she wrote it in ten minutes!

Po is a talented writer. Just beautiful.

I'm so thankful thankful thankful for this site, and for all the wonderful women who have enriched my life this past year.

well well well that is a good one, good job po proud of you...

Yonuh...

I could...but I'm in a rental house and probably won't...I had 6 bushes and they knew all their names...they were in full bloom when I put my house on the market...I think that's part of the reason it sold so quickly...

So I'm thankful that I am now a confirmed porch gardner...and I'm thankful that I didn't give in to my urges to get the plants out already...it has gotten cold again...

Po...lovely...meaningful...

Beautiful Po, you are truly gifted. Ten minutes? Wow.

Eagle, I am going to copy it also.

Jane, we were just told on the local news to cover our plants and/or bring them inside. A freeze warning yet.

Hannelore, did your Mom go up in the balloon or did I not see that post yet? Welcome back.

Popea, that's such a beautiful heartfelt post. Thank you so much for sharing. It speaks of an ongoing transcendence.

Thanks Lasses for all your kind and encouraging words...yesterday was(in part)just one of those special days when one gets to experience being connected to everything good in life
...but then by the evening, I forgot had forgotten to eat and became a sore, grumpy sausage!!!
Today..I will remember to eat and stay with the same feeling as yesterday.

Much Love

Popea

I'm thankful Hannelore and chick are back. I haven't heard too much about either of your trips. How about going in the Travel forum and filling us in?

I'm thankful my daughter came home for the weekend. I'm thankful my youngest son is coming home tonight. I'm thankful my oldest son has a local family at college to celebrate Easter with tomorrow. I'm thankful I have a house full of family coming tomorrow. I'm thankful I feel like cooking today. I began very early and am off to a great start. I'm thankful to be able to go to church tomorrow with hubby, two kids, and my FIL.

I'm thankful I have all my BWS friends who care enough to read what I'm thankful for.

Hi Dotsie! It seemed like I was gone for ages but it was only a week, and then a busy week back home;..so I haven't had much time. Here is the link reporting my return.

http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/forums/s...true#Post118579

Of course my friend, reporting back was the first thing I did when we returned. I'm a good wittle bunny.

Sounds like you have a full house for Easter! How wonderful! We will too, and my DIL is bringing a group of volleyball players from her team! We'll all be going to church first and then to our house for a big dinner. These girls are all 6 feet 3" and up! We got to get seats in the back, or no one will be able to see a thing.


HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE !
May you all eat to your hearts delight and not gain a pound!

Hannelore

I'm thankful for short periods of rest and relaxation when they come.

I'm thankful that God hasn't forgotten where I live and cares for me and mine.

I'm thankful for innocence and trust, qualities I hope never get lost in the shuffle of life.

I'm thankful that for every test and trial, God has made a way of escape for us if we just trust Him.

I'm so Thankful for my family, my new grandaughter, my friends, and just so many of the little things I tend to take for granted, like the everyday beauty of Gods awesome Earth.

Madalyn

Peace. Quiet. Spring in Florida. Tomorrow I'm off from work for two days!!!!Yeah!!!! Will probably go to the beach.

I'm thankful that God still sees a usefulness for me and my willing heart.

NL, you are so fortunate to be near the beach. Boy, would I love that.

I am most grateful for the spring weather we are enjoying this week. Everything's poopping through the earth and the air is sweet smelling. Gotta love it.

I am also grateful that a friend landed the perfect job for her at this point in her life. What an answered prayer!

I am grateful that my grand-son is back home.

I am grateful for the little bird that is singing to me outside my window.

I am grateful that I am alive to post being grateful.

Chick...I am so grateful that your grand-son is back home as well!

I'm am grateful that I have had a very productive day.

I'm grateful that my earlier headache went away!

I'm grateful that my nice soft bed is calling me....

for the wind and trees at this time of year....

i was driving down a street and a slight swirrling wind blowing the pink blossom from the trees in drifts across the street......it looks like the whole of belfast has just got married and its confestie....its BUTIFULL

I am grateful the media has backed away from VT!

Celtic, we are experiencing similar beauty. We have two blossoming cherrry trees in our front yard. The wind is blowing and it looks like pink snow. It's gorgeous.

we must have similare enough climats for the trees to be coordinated...with blossoming lucien loves it, it swirels in the wind and he spins rounf giggling and trying to catch it hes just amased by it...the simplicitie in his joy is butifull....

i have a good frend who done and gave us the wedding album...she done it in papercraft..scrapbook style. its butifull and what effort went into it...and it shows it took couple of mounths to make it

po cant stop looking throw it and i getting nice rushes of verie plesent memories..

im thankfullie for her frendship and for the recent wedding day (feels like a liftime ago)people are so kind at times its touching, one of nice things is knowing i dont have to but how do you repay that??

Celtic~~ I to am thankful for the beautiful Spring trees. I can only imagine how lovely Ireland is now. It's my dream to see it someday.

We have a crab apple and flowering cherry and dogwoods. They are so delicate and pretty. It does look like pink snow Dotsie..isn't it something to see. I'm Thankful today that God has blessed us with Spring.

Madalyn

I miss dogwoods. When I was a girl in NYC, my mom used the community land in front of our apartment to plant a dogwood tree and gladiolas. They wouldn't last long in this climate.

My tomato plant emerged in another area of the garden this year! It was last year's gift from the birds.

celtic, I'm sure she's not looking to repay. It sounds as though your friendship is enough!

Madalyn, you must be near Maryland. We are experiencing the same spring.

Meredith, that's one thing about NY and MD, you fully experience every season change and it always comes at the right time.

I have yellow 'snow' in my yard now from the Palo verde tree. We had quite a storm yesterday that blew blossoms from the tree so there are piles of yellow in some parts of our front yard. The rose petals are also getting blown around a bit, but my wildflowers seem to have held up very well. I planted some sunflower seeds last weekend and they are popping up already. They look funny wearing the seed casings like a hat!

Dotsie~~I'm in the mountains of West Virginia..near the panhandle. All my crab apple blooms are on the ground now, but the flowering cherry is still beautiful. We do have the same types of trees and flowers. We'll be visiting Maryland in June..Ocean City for a few days.

yonuh~~Yellow Snow..I love that! I don't have any yellow flowering trees. We have wisteria that will bloom soon.

Again, today I'm Thankful for the beauty of Spring. I took a walk in the woods behind my home. I always see wildlife and many types of birds.

Blessings~~Madalyn

Meredith~~ I love gladiolas. They come in so many colors now. What types of flowers are you able you grow in California? I bet the tomato plants grow very well there.

Madalyn

Madalyn, I have 2 avocado trees in my yard and bouganvilleas. Lots of cacti. We're semi-desert -- below freezing only 2 or 3 nights a year, hideously hot summers, and not much rain. Tomato plant grows well, but the opossum family gets more than I do (like the avocados!) Orange, lemon, zucchini and strawberries all flourish in this climate. My next door neighbor has 20 kinds of flowers, but I couldn't begin to tell you what they are! She also has more time to garden.

Where do you live?

Meredith~~I live in West Virginia..deep in the mountains. I love avocados, they're very expensive to buy in this area. How great to have your own tree! We have trouble with opossums and ground hogs. We grow pumpkins and other things to sell at our market, cant keep the ground hogs out of the garden.

I know California must be just beautiful..would love to travel more and see it someday.


Blessings~Madalyn