Sunday Gratitude – 6.VII.2025

This is probably going to sound corny, but I’m grateful for the ancestry work that the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) do. We, as Orthodox, talk about “memory eternal”, but at least these days, we don’t do a whole lot to even remember our own families. I’ve been interested in genealogy since I was a kid, and today I’ve been making some headway on FamilySearch.org, which is fun. These days, a person can even post photos and stories and such to go along with people, and it’s really neat to see relatives of mine post pictures of people. Some of these photos are well over a century old! In doing this sort of research, I’ve come across bits and pieces of stories, and it’s really interesting – and humbling.

I am grateful that the weather has cooled a bit. I think the high humidity has been messing with my head a bit; I just haven’t felt quite right for the last few days, but I think the high humidity has had something to do with that.

I’m thankful that my younger kids convinced me to take them out to see fireworks. As much as I was getting very frustrated with some of the behavior, it was nice, and it’s probably very good that there are some *traditions* to hold on to. I’m thankful that the trip was uneventful, and that I got some time to just chat about things with younger son in the car.

I’m grateful that one of my youngest’s pairs of glasses was found and was not destroyed. I’m also grateful that I found one of my two pairs, a pair which apparently fell off my desk, before that was destroyed either.

I’m grateful for friendships that inspire, and touching base with someone who I don’t talk with very often, but whose friendship means a lot over all these years.

And I am thankful that this week marked the birthday of another friend whose struggles have been enormous, simply knowing he’s still here, fighting for another day. There’s been twice in my life, many years apart, when I didn’t know that he’d make it to his next birthday and, well, there’s that gratitude for life now each time that that day comes rolling around.

I’m very glad to have been able to slow down quite a bit this week, and that a fairly large tangle has been resolved, at least for now.

Thank you so much, again, for the part you play in this – I am incredibly grateful for you all.

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