January 14

Day 14: Movement

Today I am so thankful for my mother's health. Unfortunately,when in ICU we were with others who were in such terrible, terrible situations. I cannot say it loud enough or strongly enough, I am thankful for the health of my whole family. I am thankful my mother is well enough to move out of ICU, and I am thankful that I can see my parents, my aunt, my husband and tomorrow my children and hug them, kiss them and tell them how very much I love them. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have the opportunity to tell them all how much I love them. I am thankful I can.

January 13

Day 13: Family

I am thankful to my aunt, my mother's only sister, who stopped everything in her life and flew up from Florida to help. I am thankful to my husband who took time out from his work to pick her up and bring her to the hospital. I am thankful for the support of my husband's parents, who are caring for the girls and keeping them busy and away from the temporary craziness that we are all involved in. I am grateful for cousins who check in however they can, and friends who have been in our lives for so long they are family. I am thankful for all the people in our lives who all love each other and help each other. I am thankful for the life of each and every one of you (and me too!).

January 12

Day 12: Snow

First off, I snapped this from the lobby, loving the snow dusted tress and play of sunlight streaming down. When I viewed it, I laughed that I caught my own reflection. I played with it, inspired totally by Carolyn (a fantastic photographer in California) and ended up with this:

So today:

I am thankful for the online community of photographers, who inspire me all the time, even when I am not even a little bit in a photo kind of mode. I am thankful for my online friends who reached out and prayed, and overall supported us in a situation that has nothing to do with photos.

I am also so very grateful to a friend (Jesse R.O.C.K.S.!!!) who shoveled out the walkway again, but also shoveled out my car so that when we returned to my parents' home, and it was only 10:00, I could make the drive to MY HOME. There is no way I would have had the energy to shovel and then drive home. I got to be with my husband, shower in my own shower, sleep in my own bed. These little things become so important and I am grateful for each. And I am grateful to my wonderful husband who was so thoughful, having a wonderful snack waiting for me, a relaxing drink, ready to go, and big wonderful arms to wrap me up in. I am thankful for my partner.

January 11

Day 11: Laughter

No pictures from this day, as I spent the entire day in my mother's room. I am thankful for the laughter we were able to share. It carries us through such dark times, and makes any time that much better. I am thankful for having so many in my life to laugh with, and so much in my life to rejoice about. Each day is a beautiful gift. I am grateful for the love of my family and my friends, and perfect kindness from starngers. I am thankful to laugh.

January 10

Day 10: Crossing into recovery

This is the George Washington Bridge, crossing from New Jersey into NYC. I snapped it on the way in to visit my Mom, and discovered it to be the perfect metaphor as she had crossed into wakefulness. I am thankful for seeing my mother smiling, and for the comfort it brings to make eye contact, and for her to respond to us.

January 9

Day 9: Sleeping (at home)

I am so thanksful that we were able to wake up in my parents' home, shower, and use familiar things. I am thankful for good coffee. I am thankful for the peacefulness of a lovely, snowfilled morning, the beauty of snow sticking to each tree branch, the beauty of my mother's eyes looking up at me.

January 8

Day 8: The sign says it all

Today, I am thankful for amazing people who all share waiting, worrying and praying for their loved ones. The support of everyone together was an amazing thing.
The staff working to help all of our loved ones, is an amazing thing.
The person who serves the cafe with a smile and ,"God Bless" is an Amazing Thing.
The person who parks the car with a smile, is an Amazing Thing.
The nurse who never stops moving, who attends to every detail, is an Amazing Thing.
The sunshine, the comfortable waiting area, a thoughful friend clearing the snow fromwalkway for us to come home for a shower, the beauty of the snow, "like someone sprinkled powered sugar, just the perfect amount, on all the trees" and staying like that for us to see are all Amazing Things. And I am grateful.