Gratitude Journal

Saw this article today and counting sheep has not helped. Talking to the Great Shepherd looks to be much more promising!

Gratitude is an attitude so missing from our nation. But let's not blame them in general, and look at ourselves, and from my perspective, me in particular. Keeping a Gratitude Journal is something I started a few years ago; however,not having developed it into a regular habit, I can't say if it impacts the quality of my sleep. This is something for meditation oh about 10 pm tonight!

http://stress.about.com/b/2009/10/19/feel-grateful-sleep-better.htm

Colorado - CSU

Returning to Colorado Springs on October 10 at 7:40 pm in an ice / snow storm was a piece of cake as far as the flight was concerned.  The roads however were a different story.  The City failed to spread sand in advance of the event and pileups of cars, trucks, semis and emergency vehicles occurred all over town.  Again, we arrived to our home safely.  Upon arrival, a yellow tag was on the door from the Utilities department -- there had been a "leak" in our meter outside so the gas was turned off.  Surprise! Our indoor environment was almost the same temperature as outdoors with the indication that it would not improve until a utility worker arrived to turn the gas on.  After 5 hours of radiation heating from a log fire, the interior warmed to a frosty 52.  At 2:00 am the representative of CSU arrived and restored life to our furnace and our fingers and toes.  By 4:00 am we were warm enough to climb into bed without becoming icicles.

I'm thankful for: 

• the man who came in spite of road conditions, 
• the wind was not blowing,
• we had wood and a fireplace in which to burn it,
• this was only the first day of the intense cold so the water pipes were not exposed to deep cold,
• hot chocolate, tea, candles and warm blankets
• electricity and heat!

Bryson City Tales

Beginning his medical practice, Walt Larimore landed in a small Smoky Mountain town called Bryson where he records the experiences not only of a country doctor, but veterinarian, and psychologist.  The simplicity of life in this rural village and the descriptions of nature are well told. 

Desiring to live in such a quiet and uncomplicated place, stimulates reflection on bucolic times and regret for loss of locales which generated meditative contemplation.

Pumpkin Pumpkin - Old Colorado City

Saturday, October 3 the pumpkins are coming, the pumpkins are coming!  Boy did they grow large.  The winner was right at 1000 pounds and several were over 800 pounds.  Amazing that anything edible would grow that large and require a forklift to move it.  We all had to pose by the pumpkins -- Frank and I were there in the morning completing some Christmas shopping.  Rhonda and I went later in the day once she finished her seminar. 

We also visited Deb's Coffee Shop for a perfect cup of coffee and bread pudding as well as Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, the first and original site for the Company.  Michael Garman's store and the Honey Store were also on the itinerary.  Tomorrow we hope to visit Garden of the Gods and maybe the Pioneer Museum.

Girlfriend Visit

My best friend from school, Rhonda, came to Colorado for a Compassion Advocate retreat this weekend.  During her off-hours we toured the headquarters for Compassion International, a child advocacy program for children in countries without enough food and clothing to reach their full potential.  This ministry not only provides for the physical well-being of the child but calls the child to Jesus Christ.  The statues at the headquarters building were donated to the organization and represent children from all continents coming to Jesus who cares for them.  Rhonda has traveled to Nicarauga and Dominican Republic to visit children she has personally sponsored.  After the tour at Compassion we went to the Air Force Academy and walked through the Visitor's Center and then hiked the tree-lined trail to the jet-inspired Cadet Chapel.  Following that we drove on to the USOC Headquarters in Colorado Springs.  While there we had a guide explain the purpose of the Olympic Committee and the National Governing Bodies, the sports that train in Colorado Springs as well as the facilities available here.  We rarely see each other so spending the time together and enjoying the blue skies and purple mountain majesties was a real treat!

Staff Orientation

September 28 and 29, two days of inspiring, invigorating and exhausting time spent in Staff Orientation for the Pacific Coast League, will lay a wonderful foundation for next season and the years to come.  The meetings held in the library of the Old Town Guest House in Old Colorado City were conducive to discussion and examination of our practices and patterns of work. 

Our first topic was the book Moose on the Table led by John and resulted in evaluating issues which were underlying preparations for next year.  We came away from the meetings with a fresh perspective and ready to move forward with the 2010 Season preparations.  My job will continue to be one of administration and oversight for the business operations of the League.

Estonian Lace - Mittens with Nancy Bush

On Saturday and Sunday September 26 and 27, the PPKG sponsored workshops by Nancy Bush.  Saturday was an Introduction to Estonian Lace.  Nancy Bush walked us through knitting a sampler with a Lily of the Valley pattern.  Cheryl, our over-achiever, completed, blocked and brought her sampler to the next day's class on mittens, which is the yellow pattern below.  Sunday we learned a braided cast-on and stranded color knitting of a cuff.  Traditional colors are white, black and red.  Estonian culture has a tradition that the red strand of color (symbolizing the life blood) surrounding an opening of a garment (sleeve, hem or collar) protects the person from evil.  My thoughts immediately turned to the story of the Exodus and how the shed blood of a lamb applied to the door posts protected the Israelites from the Destroyer.  Then on to Rahab and the red cord hung outside her window preserved her from harm during the invasion of Jericho and last on to Jesus Christ who's blood applied to my account preserves me from death and the Destroyer.  Traditions have an element of truth and this one certainly harkens back to centuries past.

Nancy did an awesome job communicating her knowledge of the Estonian life, culture and traditions including the unique forms of lace and color work.  The two days were a wonderful cross-cultural education in history and art.