Sunday Gratitude – 28.IX.2025

The Touchstone Magazine Conference took place this past Thursday through Saturday, and I am grateful to have been able to attend. This was my third conference, and the line-up of speakers was amazing. The time just flew by, much more than in other years. One of the nicest things about the conference is the receptions, where people get to mingle both with each other and with the conference speakers. I got to meet up with old friends, I got to meet some new people, and I also got to talk to multiple conference speakers. I still sometimes tend to be very shy and awkward, but it’s still a good time. 🙂

I also want to mention that I am grateful to the saint who prays for me, that on Thursday afternoon, even before setting out, I was fried. I was so fried that I ended up falling asleep after lunch and not getting out as good season as I would have liked. I then couldn’t find something that I had had on Wednesday and decided to stop at Wal-Mart on the way down. By this time, it was also very warm, and I was frustrated enough that I was questioning what the purpose was even to going. As these thoughts were taking over my brain, I stopped at the gas station for a drink. As I was pulling out of my parking space, I saw a license plate of a car just to the left of me, and it started with this saint’s initials. Coincidence? This has happened a couple times recently, where the thoughts start getting to be too much, and there’s a license plate with those initials. And… it’s happened coming down to Touchstone before as well. The plates were issued in Wisconsin sometime around 2019 or 2020 (they’re part of a series) and while there are times when I simply see them and remember this saint, there are other times – like on Thursday – where the timing is more than a little uncanny. So take it as you will, but I know he’s praying for me.

I’m also grateful to the people at Touchstone for allowing me to purchase a discounted ticket.

I am grateful also for the things that are very hard. I met up with a friend after Touchstone, and, in the course of the afternoon, ended up talking about some very difficult things. I’m still feeling somewhat shaken, and a goodly amount of grief came to the surface, but I’m thankful to be able to be there for it, as weird as that may sound.

I am grateful for the nice weather as of late, and the opportunity to spend time outdoors. I’m grateful for the long walk with a neighbor, and Bible study and quiet friendships. I’m grateful that my youngest seems to be acclimating to kindergarten quite well.

I’m grateful to know the people I’m praying for (well, there are a few exceptions of people I don’t know) and knowing that some are praying for me as well. I’m grateful to have been in contact with a couple of people with whom I had not had contact for years. And I am thankful for all of you reading this, from the bottom of my heart.

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