I  have been posting a gratitude journal on FB and I’m going to declare that this is day 7. Today I am grateful for my friend Ellen Carnie, who has invited me to spend an afternoon and night at her farm.  With that,  I am also grateful for Abbey Vogt and her friend John Heitman, who are going to house-sit (dog-sit, really) for me, so that I can go.  I had originally planned to take my dog but mysteriously, she has come into heat after a long spell of not doing so.

Anyone who knows me knows that this journey to live complaint-free has been a difficult one.  As I approach the end of the eighth month (I started on January 1, 2014), I am thinking of Joanna MacLaughlin, my mother-in-law, whose birthday is tomorrow.  I began this quest in her honor and remain inspired by her memory.  My Facebook page has a picture of her resting place on its cover, but here, I will share with you, a picture of the lady herself.  I dearly love her and I miss her so very much.

So perhaps tomorrow, I shall surprise you all by my Gratitude Journal, Day 8; and an extra-special thank-you-for.  But in the meantime, be well,  everyone, and be at peace.

Joanna Mitchell MacLaughlin’s photo appears here by permission of the photographer, Penny Thieme, c. 2012 Penny Thieme.