Wednesday, December 11, 2013

This city having at least one relevant sports team

I am very grateful for the Miami Heat and Dolphins sports teams. Without them, we would have no relevant teams (apologies to the Marlins and Panthers, as I love you guys too). They make our city proud and have somebody to root for in tough times. I sure as heck wouldn't have to root for the New York Knicks or Baltimore Ravens to go far otherwise.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

poetry

Poetry allows us all to express ourselves differently. We can make the slightest, most minor event or thing seem important or beautiful Ultimately, it is up to each individual to create our own art and that I am very grateful for.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Family

I am grateful for my family. Not everyone has a family that can always be there for their child(ren) or always care for them. I am en blessed with one and I am thus very grateful for this fact.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Grateful

I remember, a while back when going to school at MDC and working for my friend Andrew's father,there was a moment during that time that I felt this feeling in between my eyes where I felt as if something had triggered this laser sharp mental focus. It was almost as if a supreme confidence had just taken control of me and I felt like I finally had something really good going for me.

This is how I feel now.

I just wanted to thank, even if they read this or not, those that have been there with me on this journey no matter how big or small of an impact they have had on me. And just to think that my life is still in its younger stages makes we wonder what else is it that I could possibly learn!

I am excited for the future and what it has to offer and I hope to be of service to those that have helped me and to those whom I haven't even met yet.

Happy holidays and hope to hear back from some of you!

-David Gonzalez

Sunday, December 1, 2013

The food on my plate at dinner at night


 
                                            Some people may take the food on the table for dinner at night for granted, but this should not be the case. I am always grateful for each meal, even if I would rather have something other than what is being served. Being well nourished is something that should always be appreciated in my opinion.
we ate our third thanksgiving dinner with a friend who lives half his life in Cuba and half here... he is one of my oldest remaining friends and i am so grateful to have listened to his wonderful story telling and hear his laughter... it has been hard losing friends and family from this existence and being with my friend has taken some of the loneliness i have been wrestling with for some time now... i have only two blood relatives left and so as i grew up an only child i have made friends as important family in my life... thank you friends and if your not one of mine yet, let's hang out more... Tere too has given me many opportunities to learn lovingness in non-blood relationships... i sense the bridges built with love last long and strong... thanks again...

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Thank you!

I just want to say "thank you" to my savior Jesus for my beautiful family. God bless you all.

 

Familia

Alguien dijo alguna vez q los amigos son mejores q la familia porque los primeros se escogen,los segundos ya vienen en el paquete.

Yo debo ser un hombre muy afortunado. Naci en medio de una familia q me dio todo el amor y la educacion q pudieron. Hoy no estoy cerca d ellos sin embargo sigo recibiendo ese amor a traves d sus correos y llamadas.

Pero por si fuera poco ahora he podido convivir con otra parte d la familia q me demuestra a cada momento su amor. Yo no los escogi a ellos, ellos tampoco a mi, sin embargo estan ahi, conmigo incluso cuando no estan a mi lado.

Me siento bendecido de haber recibido este regalo q no creo merecer.

Paradise

I am so ever grateful that I live in such paradise. Our home is perfect.  We have enough rooms so that each child can have their own space. Our great room is amazing. It's a living room and dining room all in one where we can all be together. It has exposed beams and I'm thankful the original owners never covered them. Our landscape is so lush that creatures feel comfortable making their nests.  Even our hens love roaming through it. There is so much peace all around our home. I am now writing this post next to the opened windows in the great room feeling the cool breeze of this last November day. My grandnephew is sleeping over for the first time.  He will be sleeping in our bed inbetween Carlos and me. Carlos finally shaved his No Shave November beard and is writing his post to complete this November challenge in which I am extremely thankful. Allan and I are sharing a table. He is studying and is working on some math problem. Not sure if it is for his Calculus or Biology class. It's really nice to see him enjoying his studies and to have him home tonight.  My mom just finished in the kitchen and has just said goodnight to us all and threw us a kiss.  David and Inez are out with their friends.  Dogs are happily laying on their towels.  What more can I ask for?  This is paradise!


Love

This has been a difficult year for me.  I've struggled with bouts of anxiety that have left me feeling fearful and ungrounded for weeks at a time.  I had never experienced anything like that before, so coming to the end of this month and the year, I am grateful that over the past month, I've been thankful every day, I have felt peace, and have felt well.    I realize that this is a beautiful and tremendous gift.  I'm writing this in front of a Christmas tree with colorful lights, a living room full of toys that my grandnephew who is three has been playing with all afternoon.  I'm in a house where there is never any shouting, disrespect, or arguments.  All around, there's so much love and peace. These things don't happen on their own, however, but are invited into being by people who are aware, conscious, and willing conduits of love that is unconditional, unflagging, and fierce.  I'm grateful today for my wife, who is such a human being.  She has held me, cried with me, and anchored me.  She is the clearest expression of love that I know. I end this 30 day challenge with her in my mind, heart, and soul.

*Blessings for all who have posted and read this blog these past 30 days! Namaste.



+Maribel Guenaga-Gonzalez
Grateful that we went to Fairchild to see an exhibition that was not installed yet!  So we spent the time in the butterfly exhibition, and watched moving beauty.

Grateful that in a search for a tutor, we found a young man who is working with ESL children in a tough school and our work will help him keep afloat so he can do the other work which is so needed.

Grateful for the instant family photos shared by distant family.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Practice

Just realized that there are 20 minutes left of the day and I have not written.  The practice of remembering to share is something I'm grateful for today.  There have been days this month where I did not feel or was in the mood to be grateful but realized that gratitude is not a feeling but an action, one that can happen during any time.  Practicing gratitude during the good times, like today and this past month, is something that I realize will help me when things get rough.  It creates a pattern that is not easily changed even in difficult situations.   I send out a giant thank you to all of you who have posted over the past month and who have read; you have all encouraged me in this practice.  Tomorrow is our last day of the challenge but definitely not the last day of this powerful practice of gratitude.

I love this picture as it captures the sweetness and delight of this day. It was
 taken while waiting in line to get our Christmas tree.  So many layers of gratitude in our hearts!



Well there are many things that make my life happy – love and food are on the top of the list. When they get together that is heaven. I am thankful to the turkey who was fed good organic food, and allowed to run around up until he was sacrificed for our rituals and our well being. I am mindful that the amount of food we have exceeds what many have in a week and some not at all. I am concerned that we do not lose our sense of responsibility to the rest of the world that is not eating and we will continue to beg for their relief too. Our strength comes from this communion we have with family, friends, food, and fraternity .
Grateful this morning for a new coffee brought by our international guests last night:  coffee roasted by the Saudi grandmother of a newly met friend and spiced by the friend.

Grateful that we could share last night with long time friends and with our children and meet a new couple. Grateful that we can look forward to Frank's Godson's return from college and make plans with his parents.  Grateful for Rebecca's friends wanting to drop over and Sarah's friend wanting to chat by Skype with the girls.

Grateful for pie for breakfast, apple made by my husband and pumpkin by my daughter. 

Grateful for music on the Ipad, from my youth and from our children.  Kenny Loggins this morning and House at Pooh Corner:  back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh.  Watching the River Run.  Grateful I can skip the Miley Cyrus songs, but loving Taylor the Latte Boy.

Grateful for no urgencies anywhere in this day.

Grateful for the beauty of this day.

Grateful for leftovers in the fridge:  three kinds of sweet potatoes, two kinds of green beans, multicolor cauliflower, stuffing made by husband and son,  Susan Stamburg's cranberry horseradish sauce, lots of apples and pears. 

Grateful for this life.  

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Enjoying a cool breeze and some coffee before continuing with preparations for tonight's dinner. A moment of pure bliss. Nothing to do but pure surrender.