Gratitude

KATERI Tekakwitha

First Native American Woman

to be a Saint!

 Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, known as Lily of the Mohawks or Genevieve of New France, was a convert to Christianity who took a vow of chastity. She was beatified in 1980, and was the first Native American proposed for canonization by the Roman Catholic Church.

This most remarkable sculpture was outside the entrance of

St Francis Church in

Santa Fe

as if welcoming folks in

and

she was

stunning in her stature, her amazing grace...

And I was taken by her beauty

and

was really rocked to my core

when telling my friend

EE

about her

...

Only after lighting candles in that church for EE who is facing life threatening surgery, and then being told the story of

Kateri

and

then almost falling faint in Santa Fe when learning that

EE had in fact taken a small sculpture of

Kateri to the sacred Grotto out there in Colorado

and

had her son to place it there in the

Grotto for her own prayers of healing ways!

THUD

I had no idea

and

of all the things in the world for a friend so far away to have taken to the sacred Grotto

...

Kateri

the very same Native American woman I was now looking at in

Santa Fe?

Oh the power of spirit

even now at times makes me weak in the knees indeed

and

I am grateful.

It's almost that day of

Thanksgiving

and

it seems many across our lands

are thinking

"mindfully"

of all the many things

they are "grateful" and truly "thankful"

for in their lives.

Oh how long my list is when I sit and let the thoughts and feelings pour freely of

gratitude

for

LIFE and all that it holds.

I am richly blessed by all of its wonders in life

and those who love me

and

who I am honored to love.

You too I am sure

will find much to be thankful for

if you take the time

this day, this week, the coming days

to

"just sit with the thoughts"

with a

cup of coffee

or

a soda

that you are "thankful to enjoy"

and

also to join in reading my dear friends

blog here

http://workthedream.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/up-for-a-challenge/

Yep

she's done it again!

She has really gone and done it this time

as

she challenges all of us

to

dig a little deeper in the

"gratitude list"

as we move through the days ahead!

Thank you friend!

This coffee has never tasted better than right here and right now!

Life is filled

with moments

of

amazing grace

and

beauty that surrounds us

even in frightening and fragile times.

This is the week of

THANKSGIVING

and

as the roads get busy,

the

stress levels ZOOM like cars on the highways

with folks rushing to do shopping

and

guests gather

friends and relations

make calls or visits

I hope

you

will find the time

to

take the time

and

remember

all the many many moments

and

times

and

people

places

things

that you have

to be grateful for

to be

really really

thankful

for

and

to

express that thanks

in as many ways as you can think of!

TO SELF AND TO OTHERS

...

May the Creator/God/dess smile on you today

and

each day...

We are warriors of gentle spirit here

I wish you all that you dare to dream

and

the strength to work it til it becomes all that you hope!

Blessings on the wind...

Walk in Beauty,
DRSES

www.drsherryeshowalter.com

Hope you are sending those postcards to cuzzie

there in Pulaski VA!

She reports they are already receiving them and enjoying all and

have received one already from all the way

from

AUSTRAILIA!!!

Let's do this thing

and

just

"send MORE"

Angela Loy, Director of Activities

Pulaski Health & Rehab Center

2401 Lee Hwy N

Pulaski, VA 24301

they are

Lovin THEM!!!

Thank you all !



Oh goodness

I just could

NOT

resist this cartoon

as

I hear stories of folks

preparing for the

Thanksgiving gathers

and

the shopping

and

rushing

and

"doings"

all over our lands!

those

"Hallmark moments"

that are preparing to happen

just as momentous as "thawing the bird"

and

wondering

how many will

actually

take the time

to

be

truly

"thank-FILLED"

for all that is around them.

It is amazing to me

as

I've been on the phone with a dear friend

who is facing some pretty scary surgery in the next few days

and

with my best friend

and

listening to the stories of so many around

how very stressed people are/

then

I had the nerve to go out

and into my very own little community

to the store...

Where I listened to

the

"rudeness" of those in the

"service industry"

and

witness the "ugliness" of others in my community

as

they were out and about

doing whatever it was that was so very important

that the little things

like

"holding a door open for another"

was much to much to ask for or even think as just a casual but kind gesture.

I got an opportunity

to see

Moms be unkind to their children

in grocery stores

and

the

"I wants" get ignored in stores

while

the

"can I's" get filled up with abundance in other isles

and

I had to wonder...

And wonder I do

where is our kindness to each other in our communities

and

why does it seem so rare?

I can't help but feel perplexed

as

I join all of you as we are in the week

of

THANKSGIVING

and

I sit here and wonder.

We all want world peace,

we all talk about how great it would be if all people just got along,

but

yet in our own communities

I see such ugliness from those who go to the same grocery stores

and

visit the same places of worship

and

yet cannot extend simple courtesies to others in their day.

Have we become so busy, so self-absorbed

that we have forgotten

to smile when out and about along the way

of our day?

Is it too much to stand for a moment

and

hold a door for another?

A person pauses in line at Mcdonalds for an elder to back their car out;

only to have the car behind them laying down on a horn,

then to see the same car rush in front of them;

the guy jump out;

come storming to their window and shout every

profanity one could imagine while holding their pants up

and

shouting like a maniac

and

then

meeting the same person on the other side of the drive through

only

to hold their hand in the shape of a gun

pointed at the kind person as if to say

"you are dead"/

REALLLY???

What are people thinking?

Does this man have a mother?

And wouldn't she just be proud to know that her son

was

making such a display on an afternoon to a woman who was being kind to an elder, making her son have to wait 3 minutes before he could order his "happy meal"

or park his car?

And

speaking of people

of

service

and

of

kindness

and

extention of self...

when did extensions of self

go out of vogue?

Really being kind to another is never out of fashion

and

it is in the service of and to others that we all grow and bloom beautiful like the flowers

during the most remarkable of seasons.

Speaking of seasons

we are in the seasons

of giving

of

being thankful

of the time

when so many talk of going out

to those stores

where we see so many

in the business of

"service"/

so

it is time to let them know

that we are consumers

after all

and

we do have choices!

I am just amazed how many folks are out there

and

act as if it is a hardship to be polite

to those who purchase and shop at their businesses!

"Hello/Thank-you"

are easy for anyone!

and

I believe

if we remind them of those courtesies

perhaps they will use them more often.

REady

Set

Let's get to

THANKS

in

giving

and

BEING

today

Happy Monday friends

STOMP

Walk In Beauty

DRSES

great time to gift a copy of

Healing Heartaches~!~~

www.drsherryeshowalter.com

to order with a free gift enclosed!

Days of Thanksgiving

ORNAMENTAL CABBAGES

IN

OHIO

Oh these were lovely and brought back memories of when I used to plant these in Northern VA,

so bright and beautiful they were!

Good morning warriors

of

gentle spritit

as we near the days of

THANKSGIVING

where turkeys are trotting

and

the grocerery stores are filled with

folks rushing to

lay claim on the most perfect bird and trimmings

for that special feast

in homes across our lands.

><

I'm being told

one should hurry to get to the store

as

not only are the turkey's being "picked and plucked"

over

but the temperments of the shoppers

are being

"picked and plucked"

as well!

AHHH

Thanksgiving

and

already we've been seeing the ads of

CHRISTMAS

AS

I wandered through the lobby of the hotel

looking for the gift shop to grab a

Postcard for the

Pulaski Health & Rehab

I fell into those most beautiful Trees!

><

Angela Loy, Director of Activities

Pulaski Health & Rehab Center

2401 Lee Hwy N

Pulaski, VA 24301

You can send your postcards to the above,

perhaps they will just be delighted to see the sights

and be able to be entertained by stories into

Thanksgiving, Christmas and

THE NEW YEAR!

><

As we rush, rumble, trot

it seems we keep forgetting to

STOP

embrace the moment

and

give

THANKS

for just the day, the moment, the breath we take

and the very moment we are with each other

with ourselves

and

make the most of the day we've been given!

As we now are entering

this time of Thanksgiving

I hope you are finding ways

to enjoy it,

really enjoy it.

Finding time to embrace it for its meaning of

"thankfulness".

Perhaps you can do that prior to getting out of your car

at the grocery store

cos' it seems once inside and getting one of those carts

"all bets are off",

as kind folks just seem to

lose their minds

and

then take to the isles like Andretti

and

zoom all over each other without a smile, a kind word

or

humor!

Just imagine

while out there fighting over that bird

if you could take the time

to smile, to laugh, to relax

in yourself!

OR

visualize all those turkeys just getting up from the section they are in

and running through the store and right out the front doors!

><

If that doesn't bring a smile,

pull that cart over to the side for a moment or two

and

just

"watch"

really watch the faces of those out there engaged in the shopping

and

remind yourself

you too are one of them!

Do you really intend to be that serious over

grocery shopping?

We're in the Fall of 2011

and

before you know it

the holidays will be gone

Winter will be settled in of these dark months!

GET OUT

and

let the sun warm your face

and

OUTSHINE THE SUN

with an attitude

of

gratitude

and

give

THANKS

for the day

for those that you love

and

those that love YOU

and

all that you are blessed to know

and

be!

Thanksgiving

a time to be present in your lives

and

to be thankful

to be mindful

of all that has ever been

all

that is

and

hopefully all that is to come!

STOMP

Prayers on the wind today for all who enter here

and

those precious folks

that need us to walk with them

along a journey that is sometimes

dark, sometimes scary

and

sometimes

one that is walked easier with warriors beside them...

We are here;

we are warriors of gentle spirit

and

we are with you! 

As we express our gratitude, during this Thanksgiving and during each day,

it allows us to be mindful

it gives us the wonderful opportunity to experience

grace in being

thankful

for our

Ancestors,

for our present

and

to be hopeful

for all that is to come

and

it allows us

to

say

"thank you".

When I count my many many reasons to be thank-ful

I count the warriors of this page,

I am grateful

for each of you; your spirit, your kindness

and

because you are here.

Run Turkeys' Run

it's almost time!

FOR:

Dana, Kari, Cindee, Peggy, Joyce Cruz, a CANCER surivor working at Southwest Airlines *it was an honor to meet you dear one*,
Ike Davis, in New Mexico, an artisan who plays in the mud and creates beautiful tings out there, *www.negroartist.com*
what a joy you are to so many of
SOUTHWEST, thank you for visiting with me,
prayers of continued success and tobacco to your Pueblo uncle!
and for

Curtis, Susie Langham, Stasia and Billy Hall, Christina Chavez and Rick and Ryan, Pam Meyer, Whitney, Diane Bystista, Susan, Leann Vincent, Roxanne Duran, Carole Poppendeck, Mary Jo H-shortes, Bridget, Robert Tanner Mara Tanner, Yolanda L Acosta, Antonio F. Balderrama, Denise Flowers, Lisa Balance, Sherry Stedman, Rose, Marquette, Acosta, Ortega, The Pueblo Peoples,

All those I was honored to spend time with in

"Ohio, Crossroads Hospice, El Paso, Santa Fe, Albuquerque"

Jeremy, Florence, Cal, Sarch, our new friends of Portugal, Mike, AnnMary,Stephanie, Jimmy, Keli, Kasi, Katherine, Julie, Allan, Lynda,LeeAnn,
KS Comfort Keepers, Stephen Bright, Linda and staff tI learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me. -- Dr. Seuss here; Melody,Brenda A and children Sarah, David Rachel; Gloria, Pete, Fred, Max, JJ, Barb and Leo Henning, Rick Fechner, Ryan Baurain, Melissa Reid, "Probation Professional pals", Jim Vander May (*who has been working in the Professional Caregiving field for 45 years in Michigan*, Dale, Herschel, Bonnie, Louise, Holly, Jerry, Faith, Yvette, Happy, Audrey,

and

Rod Markowski, Lynn, Ryan, Jordon, Darryl Markowski, I thank you for your service) Brian Markowski, Shannon Becker, Nick, Reagan, Dr Iris of Detroit Medical Center, (was lovely meeting you on the flight, please take best care of you) Sandy R. Carol, Stephanie, Marnie, Geri, Chris, Matt,
those in Oklahoma City, in Tulsa, In Ft Worth, Dallas, Ike,
Isabel, Teresa, Janelle, Patricia, Susan, Karen, Laura in Yuba City CA,
Crossroads Hospice and those who care out there working and walking the walk, Perry, Clayton, George, Janet, and all in green!
Rick, Calley, Ron, Rebekeh, Brenda, Becca, Audrey, Gabe, Dena, BEth, Lill, Jay Hanson, Jennifer, Beth Jett, Huntsville AL, Sheri, Wendy Reese and family, The Boy Scouts of Dora AL, Cam, Sandy, Toby, Edith Vaughn and family,Susan, Greg and Kyle Korabek (Landon Korabek on the other side now), Stephen Bright and family, Walter Littlemoon, Jane, Laura, Mitch, Jenn, Chris, Mary, Taft, Martha Deaver, Morris, Dahlee, Rose Brick, The Baitinger Family, The Yaslowitz Family, The St Petersbug PD, Congresswoman Gabbie and her family, Dahlee in NJ, Judy Kelley, beloved husband and family, Jennifer, (now being watched over by her beloved husband and child), Norma, EE, Little Cub to CJ and Angel eyes Jack, Daniel, Dave, Cindy and Steve, Marty, Sweet Pea and Pie Face, Florence, Jeremy, Dennis, Darrel, Greg, Leroy, Rebekka, Carly, John, Diana, Crystal, Karen, Janet, Callie, Lorie, Laura, Larry,

2 Wolves and Jinx in SD, (http://www.2wolvescreations.com/)

Kelly and family,Judy W and her 4 sons up there in New England, Cherokee Wick, Benni, Gayle, Jonathan, Great Aunt Effie's family, Marilyn Warren, Ilene, Tweak and Chris, Jen and Bian, Ericka, Shannon, Hannah Sherabow, Pam C. and family, Susan S., Angela A., Nancy W, Sue G, Kelly and family,Mato Oyate Kola, Susan Brouse, Cindy and Stevie, Kim, Olatz, EVB, Guin, Yiva, Mary, Sandra and family, Christina Hellen, Dotti B., Susan and Greg, Amy, Becky and Barry Long, Christina, Matt and children, Aaron, Lisa and family, Freda, Linda Katie, Pat D, Tink and Mitch, LITTLE Ben, Jerry, Trish, Barb, Anastasia, Mary, Rylee, Lindsay, Ann, Sarah, Ruth, Johnny, Bobby and the Tucker Family, The Spraker Family,Kenny H, Michelle, Sandy, Addie and family in Canada, Sandy, BraveHeart, Rowena, Chris, Robyn Elizabeth, Jean, Duke,Rowena, Chris, Baby Robyn Elizabeth, Diane Smallze and family, Patti and family, The Korabek Family and friends, The Gasse Family and Friends,

Officer Crawford of St Petersburg, The Kocab Family, baby Lilly Nicole Kocab, The Curtis Family, Tarpon PD, those serving here and there in Uniform... Those now walking The Thin Blue Line, (far to many joining that line recently across our Nation),

Mylee, Mikey and family in DC, Jack M & Janis in OC, Stephen, Stuart Wittel (back from his 4th tour as a fighter pilot of the US MARINES inAfghanistan) and his parents Sandy and Stuart, Lavie Coltrane and her loving family, Andrea Gasse and family here and in New England, Ali and family, Randy and Winnie in New Mexico, Jill Wheaton L, Dr Peter in NY, Dr Rev Bev, Irene M, Bernice, Eileen and family, Dorothy, Angela, Kamryn Elijah, Ode, "Southwest VA", Vicki, Matthew and family, Chris, Lovie, Nancy, Pedro and Our adopted family in BRAZIL, Our North American Black American Bears, The Windcross Convservacy and those beautiful Spanish Mustangs known as "pocket ponies"...

AND for:

Anne, Jim, JADE, Joseph, Cathy Madden, Nathan, and her family., Cindy in NC, Liz, Lee, Molly, Joanie, Jude, COFA, Judi, Ken, Matthew, Nick, Matt, Mark's family and many friends , Pat, Irene, Kevin, Dr D, Deb, Randy, Dr B, Isabelle, Kelsey, Sabrina , Charlie and family, Jean, Julie, Rhonda, Victoria, Mildred, Andi and family, Faith, Denise, Jim, Tom, Joey, Shelby friends and family, Judi, Phylis, Joyce, Gina, Tonya, Beverly and Family, Janeth, Melissa,Virginia, Stacey, Elizabeth, Nita, Gary Siegal, Adrienna, Brian Mawbey, the Boyan Family, Jean R and friend Christy Rider, Victoria and hubbie, Stephen, Gayle, Steph, Chris, Erica, Eileen, John, Mindy, Jack, Susan Werth Becken, her brother Mike and family, Craig James Lightfoot and his family, Kenny, Audrey, Ed Saner, Patty Crowley, Bennie, Gail, Jonathan, Moe, Beverly, Dennis, Peter, Trish, Cynthia, Heidi and her family, Kathy Knights family, Edith Vaughn, Candy, Cynthia, Jenn, Eve, Edith, Jason, Karen, Linda, Joyce, Belinda, Jeanette, Jennifer, Patti, Sandy S, and ...

(Feel free to let me know if you would like to add your/or a friends name to our circle)

May you walk in Beauty

DRSES

www.drsherryeshowalter.com

I'd like to invite you to visit a friend of mine...

http://workthedream.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/sometimes-you-have-to-make-your-own-timeline/

I think you will enjoy subscribing to this page;

a warrior here of gentle spirit

this is the page of

EE

our warrior who now faces some pretty hard and difficult surgery very soon, who I am honored to call

"friend"

and

I believe

YOU will be in for a read that will is sure to inspire

and

will give you an opportunity to let her

"feel the support" of warriors from here

to there

to everywhere

as

WE FIGHT WITH YOU EE

STOMP BABY

WE ARE RIGHT HERE WITH YOU

I'll even

sing

"I'll STAND BY YOU >> If ya want me to"!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU_JL-f0AN8

And you may indeed see, many others also will stand by you; with all the love you feel from warriors as the energy fills you up~~~~ from here to there to everywhere~~~~~

WE ARE WARRIORS HERE~~~~ STOMP~~~~

I'm off to spend a day on Lake Tarpon with friends that I'm so grateful for... It's been a long time since we just took the time, really took the time to "be together"... so today is the day, and we will just "be" and wait for that Eagle to bless us on the water!

Blessings dear Hearts to you all at this most wonderful time of reminders... Everyday, it is "THANKS-GIVING"....