I Am Grateful

I believe I told you earlier this week that I started taking a course on Sunday, based on a book by Diane Harmony, called "5 Gifts of an Abundant Life". There are 11 of us in this class, including Rev. Sheila who is the facilitator of the class. It is a prosperity class. At the Centre, we have a 'Book of the Month" each month that one person reads to the congregation, a small excerpt from each Sunday. People buy tickets for the draw on the book. One month, more than a year ago, I chose this book as the Book of the Month, so had the opportunity to read a good part of the book in order to find the bits to share on Sundays. It is a really great book and it helped me to make a major shift in consciousness around finances. I highly recommend this book and am grateful to be taking this class. We have classes on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, and homework on a daily basis. The homework includes reading the book, doing affirmations for each of the people in class as well as our self, and 100 times each day the affirmation "I surrender to the power & the presence of God within". Also, write at least 5 things each day that we are grateful for (geee, I think I've got that covered right here on my blog already).


This evening was the first of 8 classes based on the book "Spiritual Fitness" by Caroline Reynolds. It is going to be a very powerful 8 weeks if tonight is any indication.... and I am sure it is. There are 5 of us in the class, counting the facilitator, Rev. Dale, and that is a perfect number of people. Thankfully, the homework for this class does somewhat overlap with the homework from the other class, but still will be a lot of work. Homework for this week: Read Chapter 1 and do the 3 exercises at the end of the chapter, Journal write at least 10 minutes each day, Meditate and prayer work minimum 30 minutes per day. I'm sure there is something else too, but would have to go get my notes to tell you what that is, and I'm not doing that just this minute.

I volunteered a few weeks ago, to do the Book of the Month for February. I am going to do it on "Jesus: The Story of Enlightenment" by Deepak Chopra. Sounds like a fabulous book. I am very much looking forward to reading this book, though I wish it wasn't right now. Suddenly I am swamped again, my plate runneth over.

So much for backing off on things I do, to make time for other things. These are important to me, so other things will just have to wait. As much as I want to spin and weave, I will have to wait with that for a couple months at least. What my life looks like just now:

Sunday:
- Sunday service at The Centre 11am-12pm
- I also like to go for the 10:30am meditation though I don't always make it
- Social time after the service
- Pot Luck lunch after the service on the 1st Sunday of each month
- Board meeting one Sunday of each month, after the service of course
- 5 Gifts of an Abundant Life class on 1st & 3rd Sundays

Monday:
- I want to start going to the pool to do water exercises 3 times a week, Monday being one of them
- I also want to start walking Reba at the Dog Park 3 times a week, Monday being one of them

Tuesday:
- Visit Mom: 30 minute (approximate) drive north of here
- Toastmasters: about half way between Mom's and my place, go there on way home. Some weeks there is no 'homework' and some weeks there is some. 'Homework' would include writing and practicing a speech, preparing to do an Educational presentation, finding an 'inspiration' or 'closing thought' or a joke to share at the next meeting.

Wednesday:
- This is one of the days I want to start going to the Pool and Dog Park for exercise
- Do the programs for Sunday service at The Centre
- 7-9:30pm "Spiritual Fitness" class at The Centre

Thursday:
- Drive 15 minutes to the town north of me where I go to Toastmasters, but this morning it is to go to TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly). About once a month I will join the other ladies for lunch before heading back homeward.
- In the afternoon, go to the Pool and Dog Park (this would be the 3rd time in a week)
- every 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month is my Camera Club meeting from 7 to 9:30pm

Friday:
- whatever comes up
- 2nd & 4th Friday evenings of the month, the Centre puts on Movie Night. I don't always go, but do fairly regularly.

Saturday:
- whatever comes up
- this week, I will be baking a cake to take to the Centre Sunday morning, then going to a big surprise birthday party about an hours drive from here. I will be taking my truck as far as town, then riding the rest of the way with Bev in her truck.

Every day:
- meditation & prayer work: minimum 30 mintues
- journal writing: minimum 10 minutes
- affirmation work mentioned above
- reading from 3 books for the homework of the 2 classes and the Book of the Month (BTW, all of these books are on order and have not yet arrived, so with the classes already started I am already behind on my reading. They should hopefully be here tomorrow or Friday)

On top of this is blogging, sleeping, eating, caring for my animals, moving furniture and cleaning the house to prepare for Dan to lay my laminate flooring, and all the other things that people have to do in a day. Almost forgot, I also have volunteer work I do at the Centre that takes time each week. I am looking for someone to take over at least a portion of that work load.

It's actually a good thing that I don't have a boyfriend as I can't quite see how I would fit in time with him in the next 8 weeks or so. Also, when the classes are over, that does not mean the work is over. With these particular classes, it's life changing stuff, so the journal writing, gratitude lists, meditation, prayer work, etc is on going for the rest of my life if I really want to make the changes in my life... and I do.

So, if you don't see too much of me in the next weeks, please understand. I will come post when I can, and I will come visit your blogs as often as possible. After all, I can't just cold turkey off my blogging and blog visiting.

I am grateful for the classes I am taking
I am grateful for the incredible things I am learning and the changes my life will make during this process
I am grateful for the role the Okanagan Centre for Spiritual Living plays in my life
I am grateful for my spiritual growth
I am grateful for the abundant prosperity and wealth in my life in all ways that they show up
I am grateful for the love in my heart and in my life