2019 and An Attitude of Gratitude

The 120th day of 2019, the last day of April, 4/30/19 is here.  And today was National Honesty Day.  So I will direct my gratitude towards appreciation and being thankful for honesty and those who are honest with me, in my life.  I appreciate the facts and transparency, and I try to be as honest as I can in all that do.  I know we're not doing songs of the day, but I pretty sure I use this one a lot for this day.  Enjoy Billy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuFScoO4tb0

The 119 day of 2019 was a long one.  Started early at work and I was off and running all the way until 10PM when Alexa's Mustangs team won their game in Voorhees 9-1.  Then 4/29/19 ended with us coming home and being greeted by a fresh loaf of sourdough bread!  Alexa won bread for a year (one loaf a month) from Panera in a Basket Auction this year.  YUM!  Nothing like fresh bread, and that is the target of my gratitude this evening: Fresh Bread.  Yum!

It's been a tough week for my West Coast Family.  Early this past week, my sister and her family had to say goodbye to their amazing dog, Docker.  I never got to meet him (was supposed to happen this Summer), but I sure felt that I knew him from the videos and pictures posted online and the stories regaled to us by Stefan (and Abigail).  But, on the 118th day of 2019, we have a new family member.  On 4/28/19, Abigail's family welcomed a new pup, WAFFLES.  So, while I know we are all still mourning the loss of Docker, tonight my gratitude is for Waffles (the Dog), who is already bringing joy and lightening the mood for my sister and her family.  And, thus, my mood is lightened as well.  Can't wait for the many pictures and videos and maybe even to meet Waffles some time soon.

One of my presents for my 50th Birthday was a promise for a later dinner out, just the adults.  And, on the 117th day of 2019 we had the reservation.  So, on the evening of 4/27/19 I had a dinner with good friends and good food.  And my gratitude is for the good friends and good food.  And a great evening.

After work on the 116th day of 2019, I rushed to the Muslim American Community Association in Voorhees.  Our Confirmation Class at Old First (I am a mentor) took a trip to this mosque on 4/26/19.  Pastor Micheal feels (and I agree) that the youth should know about our cousin religions, especially Judaism and Islam.  And, as often happens, I think the adults learned as much as the Confirmands.  I have to admit, though, a lot that I learned made me sad.  Sad about the horrible stereotypes, opinions, and just untruths that many feel about Islam and Muslims.  I wish people would take the time to educate themselves about the religion and people who represent about 1/4 of the Earth's population and who condemn acts of hate and terror as much as we do.  I am grateful I was able to make this trip and even more grateful for the education about Islam that was imparted tonight, to the Confirmands and to me!

The 115th day of 2019 was the HS Competition Day at the Penn Relays.  It was fun to see, on Social Media, all of the friends and classmates of Alexa who ran in the Relays on 4/25/19.  SO, even though the traffic on campus was crazy, my gratitude today is for the HS Day of the Penn Relays.  It is great to see the purity of HS athletics on show on one of the grandest stages.

Throughout the entire day on 4/24/19, I kept being aware of the fact that, in my life, I have a lot of people I can count on when I need to ask a favor, ask for information, need a smile, or just need a friendly ear.  So, my gratitude for the 114th day of 2019 is for these people I can count on.  I am blessed to have so many of them and I strive to be a person on whom they can count as well.