I Am Grateful

Not much to tell about today, though it was a long, full day. It started with me getting up around 9am, after hitting the snooze button several times (I do need to find a way to put the clock where I can see it without my glasses on, and not be able to reach it without getting out of bed). I did all the usual things, including let the parrots out of their cages, give Paco a ride on my shoulder to the kitchen where I got them some fresh bits of banana, feb Paco some of his by finger as I gave him a ride back to his cage in the living room, gave him the rest of his in his dish and gave DW hers in her dish. Gave Reba her meds (this is the last week she'll be on them) and put her out, gave Mewsic her treats, showered, had something to eat, got dressed and ready to go. This morning I also took several pictures of DW and Paco together on one cage (progress, but likely only because DW was on her 'hanger'. (Oh ya, her 'hanger' had fallen awhile ago, so last night I rehung it with a much bigger hook, and put the hook through a plant pot so she can't get to the ceiling to chew on it and do more damage). Right now I can't think of a better name to call it than a hanger, it hangs from the ceiling for her to climb on. I hope Paco will get to climb on it too, good exercise to keep them from being bored.

I went to the Centre for the usual Sunday service.

After the service was our usual monthly Pot Luck Lunch, deliscious as always.

After lunch was our AGM (Annual General Meeting). Being a Board Member, I have to be there, but am sure I would be anyway, even if I wasn't on the Board. Today we had a very impressive turn out of members, way way more than we usually have. This is a very positive thing, shows that people are becoming more interested in the running of our Centre. Two of our Board Members stepped down, and we took on 2 new members. The man is someone I know well as we have been in several classes together and it is rare he misses a Sunday Service. The woman is someone I don't really know well, though she is there fairly often on Sundays and largely runs the Book Store. I must admit that I don't feel very comfortable around her. I hope this will pass as we get to know each other more, and as we work together over the coming years. When we join the Board, we commit to a three year term. I've been on the board for very nearly 3 years now, though when I joined it was a month or so after an AGM, so I was 'unofficial' for nearly a year before I could be officially voted onto the Board, so I now, officially, have only been on the Board for 2 years... silly, but that's how it works, and that's okay. Even when my term is up I can't see me walking away from the Board, unless my life changes an incredible amount in the coming year. Well, I think it will change that much, but still not sure it would take me away from the Board. I am very committed to helping our Centre grow and prosper... and through that, myself grow and prosper, so I'll be there a long time, I'm sure.

For many years, our Centre has been called the Okanagan Centre for Positive Living (OK-CPL). Awhile ago, the Board decided to change the name, due to all the other Centres changing thier names, the purpose being Unification. We now will all have the same name instead of various different names, so when someone wants to find one, this will make it much easier. We decided we'd be the Okanagan Centre for Spiritual Living (all others took the Centre for Positive Living and the name of their city). Today we went to make it official, have the vote on it from the members, and we also put forward Centre for Spiritual Living, Vernon. The majority vote was to adopt the new name Centre for Spiritual Living, Vernon. I guess it will also be know as CSL-V. We will also be very much know as simply The Centre!!

After the AGM, everyone left except the 6 current Board Members, and we had a Board Meeting. It was very nearly 4pm when we got out of there. A long yet very productive day.

I went and paid some money on my credit card, and went to a grocery store where I picked up a few things for here, and mostly got prices for ingredients for Sweet Potato Lasagna, a recipe I found on the Readers Digest site, and would like to use for my upcoming Pasta Productions where we will sit 50 - 60 people for dinner and a concert. More on that soon. At the Centre today, I gave the recipe to a couple that loves Sweet Potatoes and they will try this out and let me know how it works out, if it will be good for Pasta Productions (a fund raiser I created for our Centre, this will be the second one I put on).

By the time I got home, I had to go lay down awhile. This is normal when I go shopping as it really kills my back to walk on those concrete floors. By the time I'm done I can barely walk back to my truck and getting into it becomes a major, painful job. Walking on dirt is nowhere near so painful as on concrete floors.

My friend, Mike, from further down the valley called and chatted for awhile. He's the friend I go to Omak Stampede with every August, and plan to go to Chesaw WA this July for another rodeo.

- I am grateful for the wonderful talk Rev. Sheila gave this morning
- I am grateful for the awesome Pot Luck Lunch, and all the people that sat to eat today.
- I am grateful for the great turnout at the Board Meeting, and the support they gave.
- I am grateful for the snow we got overnight, even if I don't want any more of it.
- I am grateful for the warmer temperatures we had today... finally.
- I am grateful for the groceries I purchased today, and the food I eat every day.
- I am grateful to be part of the Centre for Spiritual Living
- I am grateful to be on an awesome spiritual path.
- I am grateful for the money I was able to put on my credit card today
- I am grateful I have a credit card that I was able to use for vet bills... even though now I have to get it paid off again.
- I am grateful for my two wonderful parrots
- I am grateful for all my animals
- I am grateful for Mewsic laying here with me as I sit in my chair and work on my computer
- I am grateful for the success of the first Pasta Productions, and look forward to a bigger success with the second one.
- I am grateful to be able to travel to the rodeos in Washington state each summer.
- I am grateful for the bed I will occupy as soon as I finish my nightly posting here, feed the animals, and brush my teeth, etc.