Gratitude, what gratitude?

Considering the name of my blog is Acquiring Gratitude, I figured it was about time to mention some, well, gratitude. Webster.com defines gratitude as:

Main Entry: grat·i·tude

Pronunciation: \ˈgra-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin gratitudo, from Latin gratus grateful

Date: 1523

: the state of being grateful : thankfulness

I've always thought it quite ridiculous and ineffectual to define something using the same word (grateful?) so I clicked through the link to "thankfulness" to find this:

Main Entry: thank·ful

Pronunciation: \ˈthaŋk-fəl\

Function: adjective

Date: before 12th century
1 : conscious of benefit received thankful>
2 : expressive of thanks <thankful service>
3 : well pleased : glad thankful that it didn't rain>

That's more like it. I am seeking, being, accumulating, working towards, finding, and acquiring a consciousness of the benefits I have received. I am not innately grateful. In fact, I am wont to feel downright entitled. Maybe a function of being an only child? Maybe a function of innate temperament? Maybe a result of being born and raised in the US? No matter the underlying cause, it is a struggle for me to feel and articulate true gratitude towards God for the gifts I have been given (because, afterall, I'm often thinking I have these gifts through my own doing) and to others for the kindnesses they have bestowed upon me. Last year's "gratitude tree"? Pretty full. This year's? Nary a leaf. I haven't made the time to express the gratitude I feel in my heart. I haven't shown or acknolwedged those nouns that make my life more.

In an insanely inadequte attempt to express just how grateful I am for the people, things, and experiences I have been give, I offer this incomplete list:

I am grateful for family, home, health, my children, their smiles and hugs, my husband, backrubs, the (restored) health of my parents, my bed, Publix, our laid back lifestyle, my job, a frugal nature, friends (bloggy, list, and RL). I am thankful for my life, lived in freedom and democracy, clean water, washing maching, dishwasher, and CVS Extra Care Bucks. I am in gratitude to the people who lead our nation (even if I don't agree with their policies), my kids' teachers, my pastor, and the extra friendly clerks at the Post Office. I am well pleased with my neighbors, my reliable car, On the Border, and Lands' End cotton stretch cardigans.

It's too short a list but it's felt with great heart. I am indeed thankful for the many blessings I have received and enjoy.

Garland redeux

Is there a blogger who doesn't have a "Give Thanks" garland somewhere in their home? I made mine last year thinking I wanted something quick and easy. It was. Ovals cut from resume paper (thank goodness I haven't needed to use that lately) and taped to raffia strands with a few clip art leaves thrown in for good measure. I'm not sure what it is about raffia that woos me so but I always have it on hand for wrapping and crafting.

This year I wanted to fanficy the garland a bit. Scrapbook paper to the rescue. I don't scrap so I actually purchased these papers with this project in mind. I cut the triangles (math is not my favorite part of crafting, no sireebob) and clued the ovals on. I found my three hole punch made perfectly spaced holes for the ribbon to thread through. I used the leftover paper scraps to update my cheapo tealight candles. Now they blend with the walls and garland instead of focusing my attention with their glaring whiteness. Can I light them? No. But that's besides the point.

If I had more patience I'd likely antique the ovals a bit. As is, I am patience challenged and just threw the thing together. Maybe this will be an annual event. Pamplona has the running of the bulls, NYC their dropping of the ball, and Dublin, GA their Redneck Games. I'll have the foofiying of the garland.

Anyway, I was very proud of my efforts until I tried to reinstall the banner. Now it was twice as long and wouldn't fit over the fireplace. I live in a small home. I mean really small. I don't have many open and unfettered expanses of wall. There seemed to be only one place where it would fit so now it's taped (yes, that's the shiny stuff near the ribbon) to the "crown molding" (really more of a tiara than a full on crown) in the LR.

My 6yo is most vexed that it says "Give Thanks". She thinks it should be "Thanksgiving". I like the message of Give Thanks because it is more action oriented. It seems to be more a directive to identify, internalize, and express thanks for those aspects of our lives that are most precious and dear. Still, I couldn't begrudge her the opportunity to make her own banner. I am thankful to have a bright, creative child who is interested in using the gifts and time she has been given to create joy for those around her.

Fashionably Late Fall

We had an uncharacteristically beautiful fall. My arborist friends tell me it was the right mix of water (or lack thereof), night time temperatures and sunny days.

I don't know about the science but I do know I reveled in the larger than life colors that I cannot capture with my camera.

Halloween found us with a cow girl and a clone trooper. Clone trooper bought his costume with his own money - a first.

We ToT in our small downtown area (really a small portion of Main Street) then took a turn around the neighborhood. I keep trying to tell the kids that the kind of Small Town America they get to experience won't last forever. I don't ever remember ToTing like this. When I was a kid the "Columbus Strangler" was afoot and the only ToTing the be had was at the mall.


I'm thrilled that we get to visit our downtown merchants (mostly local restaurants and boutiques, it's a bedroom community afterall) and neighbors at least once a month for First Friday activities, the Christmas parade, or ToT. I don't wear boutique jeans, makeup, or have custom drapes but it's fun to window shop.

It was great weather - just enough cold to keep us from thinking it was late summer, but not so cold that costumes needed major alterations. Of course the kids had a major haul of candy that I have yet to take to the office candy bowl. Thank goodness for student workers who will rid me of temptation by downing every fun size twix bar I can pry from the hands of my kids. Eh, 9yo is in orthodontia. He knows he can't havve caramel. For him, it's the whoppers I have to hoard away.

We carve pumpkins every year, one pumpkin per person. I think the 6yo's turned out best (cat).

I was disappointed with how my Obama pumpkin turned out. It was really to small for the design and was half rotted besides. I was quite surprised that no one vandalized it.

One of the best things about fall is the end of soccer season. I love that the kids are involved in a fun, fast paced, team building physical activity but boy the sight of the soccer fields gets old by the time trophies are presented. Speaking of trophies, what's your opinion on every player on ever team getting a trophy? On the one hand it is a symbol of their ability to stick out the whole season. On the other hand - well, do the trophies mean anything if everyone gets one? I know we have a shelf full and they're pretty useless except for catching dust and cobwebs, both duties they more than fulfill.

We're not into building a future Becks or Pele, just having fun and meeting friends. We'll be right back out there when spring season rolls around.

Red State, Blue Heart

We live in a traditionally red state and an even redder county. I don't see many dissenting bumper stickers in my daily drive and most of the yard signs are red too. That's why I was ever so slightly giddy this morning when my 6yo's first words were "Who's our new President?" and I was was able to respond Obama!

That's a piece of history. I hope my kids will never know how special, how unparalleled these election results are. I hope they will live in a society where they never question the possibility that they, and their friends, can become anything they dare dream to be.

It will be a hard road ahead but let me extend my heartfelt congratulations to President Elect Barack Obama.