This past month has been punctuated by several big events. We celebrated the one year anniversary of our son's passing, my birthday, enjoyed a fun filled road trip to Jasper and Banff and were fortunate to go on a couple weekend getaways.

With all this down time spent together; there has been a lot of reflecting. I have realized turning our son's death into the biggest motivation for good has continued to be an important part of our everyday life. I have accepted being a forever changed person and realized how not only is this a good thing, but it would be unrealistic to have stayed same. We honored Asher by making another large hospital donation and spent a wonderful few days at our favorite spot in Washington. We also celebrated my birthday with a quick trip to Portland and then enjoyed a nice week long vacation in Alberta filled with hiking and photographing galore. All these distractions from everyday life have been both eagerly anticipated and much needed.

I have felt pretty out of touch with my routine, my friends and everyday life as time has continued to fly by. These past couple of months friends have lost spouses, children and parents. And whether or not we like it; time continues to march on without their presence. For those of you who have read my blog for awhile you have heard me make mention of my faith. I believe in a kind and loving God and I know these soul stirring trials are for our benefit. Each subsequent day since loosing our son I have prayed for a grateful heart. Oftentimes, we think of gratitude as a yearly occurrence to accompany overeating and tolerating distance relatives, but searching for gratitude in my everyday has been my saving grace.

A simple tradition we have made in our home for the month of November is to write on a paper leaves something we are grateful for each day. Right before Thanksgiving we have a "Give Thanks" dinner where we read our leaves and reflect on the past month. I find this simple tradition of writing down my gratitude truly centering. Adopting a daily ritual of gratitude makes my heart fuller and my life richer.

How about you, how do you establish time for gratitude in your own life?