Deo Gratias

Deo Gratias is Latin for “Thanks be to God.” Remembering to give thanks for all of our blessings, big and small, helps us to find God in our everyday moments and gives us an attitude of gratitude! Colleen at Thoughts on Grace has organized this meme and you can contribute by clicking here. This week I’m thankful for:

1. The plum blossoms that have burst out.
2. The warm temperatures.
3. The opportunity to tutor a lovely, cheerful high school senior planning to go to college in North America in the fall and who’s teaching me about Chinese culture.
4. For classic movies like Lifeboat by Alfred Hitchcock. I watched it last week and it was engrossing.
5. For Lent because, even if I don’t do all I wanted, it helps me focus on God.

A Thankful Woman’s Book of Blessings

On Wednesdays, Judy, creator of an inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman’s Book of Blessings encourages participants to list their blessings, to give thanks for the five things in the past week and then link to Judy’s blog.

Be sure to also check out her other blog and her website when you visit.

This week I am thankful for:

1. Vacation! I handed in my grades on Monday and now I can unwind and enjoy and reflect as Christmas approaches.
2. Vacation! I finished my online library science class on Saturday! Yippee! It was fascinating but also tough. Lots of reading and an ornery group project member.
3. Christmas decorations the world over. It’s lovely that Jinan, like many Asian cities, decorates for the holidays. No mangers except at a church on December 24th and beyond, but lots of lights, Santas and Christmas trees.
4. Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, which I’m reading for my book club. Boy, it’s better than I expected and I knew it would be good. The book outshines all the productions I’ve seen.
5. My colleague and friend Kristyn. She’s leaving for a new job, but I’ll get a few days to travel with her and her twin sister.  She’s a talented, patient, fair, creative person. Such a hard worker! It’ll be hard to fill her shoes.

Thankful Woman’s Book of Blessings

On Wednesdays, Judy, creator of an inspiring blog, A Thankful Woman’s Book of Blessings encourages participants to list their blessings, to give thanks for the five things in the past week and then link to Judy’s blog.

Be sure to also check out her other blog and her website when you visit.

This week I am thankful for:

1. Finding a hotel that’s having a turkey dinner here in Jinan.
2. Getting my iPad fixed so I can finish reading The Hobbit for my book club. I know that sounds like a rather privileged thank you, but it’s hard to bring lots of books here given luggage restrictions. I love that if I persevere I can find my problem posted somewhere on the internet and some good soul has taken the time to write a solution.
3. A lovely walk with my friends on Sunday. We enjoyed the warm colors and temperatures of the day.
4. That my contract’s been renewed so I have a job in the spring.
5. For the love I feel that comes from God.