New-York'alicious!!!

Today I'm grateful to live in a city which has so much going on and so many things to experience, and many of them for very little money. :)

Antibiotic cure 2.0

I've started another cure of Antibiotics to get rid of the pneumonia. My doc gave me a prescription and this time it'll "hit" both the lungs and the sinuses.... so hopefully I will be able to get well before the Christmas Holidays! (I am SO SO SO thankful for modern medicine!!!!)

In other news, tomorrow I'm going to head over to see them fill the air in the balloons in prep for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with some friends! Pictures to come!!! This is a New York Tradition kind of like the parade itself... and New Years Eve in Times Square (though that one is one I have purposely skipped due to crowds, weather and lack of sanitation!!!) Last time I spent TG here in the city I didn't go to see them fill the balloons so I am glad I get to go this time. :)

For the beauty of the earth....

Thankful day... erm... (oops)

The little things in life, like a child looking at you and knowing you. Loving you for being... well YOU...

Good friends, friends that are like soul "twins" or kindred spirits... Friends that by a mere look or touch can uplift and sustain you.

The colour GREEN!!!!

Stories

Once upon a time... There once was a [fill in the blank].... East of the Sun and West of the Moon... In a Land far far away, in a time Long Long ago.... It is a truth universally acknowledged... It was the Best of Times, it was the Worst of Times.....

There are many ways to end a story... and even more ways to end them... but a good story captures your attention and holds it in it's grasp right until the last punctuation mark....

Today I am grateful for stories, great stories that are told, that last through time and place, that brings out emotions, Inspirational anecdotes, challenges our views and our opinions. Stories of love lost, love gained and eternal friendships. Swashbuckling Pirates, Brave Heroes, Sad Heroines, Comedic characters... you name it... :)

This posting was brought to you through inspiration from the latest movie version of Anna Karenina!

Fall Foliage

 While visiting a dear friend in Yonkers, I took the opportunity to get some pictures of the gorgeous fall colors and the gorgeous weather we had. We took the kids to the park and enjoyed the crisp and fresh air and the sunshine…

I am thankful for my five senses... though they're not all operating at full or perfect capacity... I am grateful that I have them, and thereby be able to enjoy life, and all the beauty in and of the earth... My taste-buds are slowly coming back, and it's been incredible to discover them again.. after six weeks of illness... another step on the uphill latter.. (if that's even the correct idiom... lol) 

Thankful Day 12

I am grateful for the friendliness of my neighbors. I met two new friends from Brazil at the Chinese place. The two guys just moved here, and asked my opinion on places to eat in the neighborhood.. places that didn't help them "put on the pounds" like the bodega's with their sandwiches... (*giggle*)

A little further down the road, I passed a cute little old lady (she looked like she'd grown out of the walls of the townhouses, like she was the neighborhood), and she walked me down the block. Or, I walked her down the block, (to tell the truth I am not sure which, *giggle*)

It is moments and encounters like this that colour and delight my little "world" here in Harlem.. and I am grateful for them... :) because they make my life rich and wonderful!!

Nursery lesson

Today was my turn to teach the lesson in Nursery. I wanted to do something out of the ordinary, because we have some really hyper kids who have issues sitting still and/or paying attention...so I decided to make up my own lesson. I based it on the song "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" and here is my lesson: (though in actuality it got even more abbreviated)

 Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam

Doctrine and Covenants 88: 7 

This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

The Lord helped make the sun. (show picture of the sun, let one child hold it, next to me)

This is a very important gift he has given us. Not only does the sun keep us warm, grow our food, and give us light it also gives our earth life. The sun gives allot of service to the earth. In this lesson we will learn some of the many ways the sun serves us.

The sun makes the seasons. (Show pix of the seasons)

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall

The sun makes the rain. (show picture of rain, make "rain" hand gestures)

The sun sends out allot of heat, this heat helps the earth in many ways. The sun warms the water on the earth and makes rain.

The sun makes the wind and the waves. (show pix, make waves w hands)

The heat from the sun also warms the air around the earth and the ground of the earth. When the wind hits water it pushes the water in front of it, if the wind is large enough it can cause some beautiful waves.

The sun makes rainbows. (Show pic of Rainbow)

The sun gives us allot of gifts. All of these gifts are important to the earth. The sun helps the earth have seasons, wind, rain, rainbows, and many other things. I am thankful for all the gifts the sun gives to me.

How can you be like the sun? (ask kids)

What gifts can you give to others? How can you help others? What are your talents? How can you share your talents with others? (this part might be too hard for the age-group)

I know you have a lot of ways you can help and give to others. I know that when you service you earn happiness back. I know that giving, helping others, and service is important. The more you give the more you will feel happy. Giving is a magic way of making everything better. Like the sun, everything around the sun is improved because of all it gives. You can be a sunbeam by giving to others like the sun gives to you.

Sing "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam"

Physical Activity: Color paper plates, adults cut out middle for little "masks" or "halo's" for kids to use as  they become little "suns"  :)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Mostly the lesson/activity went well... The kids did not sit much still, nor pay much attention... but it's a work in progress, and at least I think they felt like they were participating, and they all enjoyed being little
"suns". 

And my goal really was for the kids to remember this lesson when they got home, which I think they did... (I hope)

Season End

My poor little firescape garden took a bit of a whopping from the Frankenstorm we had here in NYC, I lost a couple of (mostly) dead plants, and many of the others wilted or drowned. And the squirrels have been back kicking up the soil and gnawing on the roots... (Grrrrrrr)

A few days ago however, I had a welcomed visitor!!! The guy below was too scared however and didn't sit still long enough for me to catch a picture, so I had to borrow this one.

So my mint is probably the only plant that will survive the winter, the elements and those nasty furries, but, that's okay I think!!

Update: I am thankful for nature, even just the tiny little piece of it that I have on my balcony, and the beauty and diversity of birds, animals and nature.

Thankful catch up! ;)

• A well stocked Public Library that provided me with enough books and dvd's to last me through the big storm! 
• The sun, after the storm that warms and reminds me that the clouds are only temporary... And the rain for bringing life giving water to plants and animals, and us humans... 
• my Crockpot!! It seriously is one of my favorite modern inventions... and it makes my apartment smell delicious all the while cooking me my delicious meal!! And a crockpot meal can stretch reeeeally far!!!! 
• Church, my belief, my faith... and my friends big and small... though the small ones are particularly special and dear to me when they come and give me BIG hugs (and/or slobbery kisses)
• DRUGS - the legal kind that comes from Doctors' offices... lol... I'm finally getting some help with the Bronchitis, and am grateful for it!!!
• my super awesome friend and VT whom I'm just getting to know, but is so generous and concerned for me that I can only humbly thank the Lord for having put her in my life (she's also the one who brought me the antibiotics)
• a winter coat ensemble for snowy cold NYC winters (especially on a cold-rain, snowy day like yesterday), my "ensemble" includes scarves, hats and gloves... 
• the internet which connects me to friends and family far and wide, provides me with entertainment, and  is a source of knowledge!

urch sickness

I have been sick with Bronchitis the past three weeks, preceded by a week or so with a horrid cold, it's not been a super fun past month for me, but these past few I've just had so many blessings and moments of divine touches in my life, so I thought I'd join the "flock" and do the whole "thankful-game" (or whatever one calls it)... I debated doing it on Facebook, but then I felt that it would be more personal for me to do it on the blog, in addition to giving me something to blog, so.... I've decided to do a daily "snippet" of "I am thankful for [fill in the blank]"
The rules I'm setting for myself is: I can only miss one day per week, and I will do it until Thanksgiving or the Sunday following.
Today I will post one longer "catch up" but from tomorrow it'll be daily.. (I hope!)

It can't hurt to be a little more grateful, and to be open about my gratitude... of course all the honor and glory goes to my Father in Heaven, and it is to Him I direct my thoughts and feelings more than any others.