Thankfulness . . . it changes everything

"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness.

It will change your life mightily." - Gerald Good

It is amazing how this gratitude thing works. 

I mean it's not like it's a secret or anything,

 and I might even dare to call myself a pretty grateful person,

BUT boy,

life sure has a way of showing up and saying . . . 

LOOK AT ME!

It can be so easy to become idle in our own problems

that we temporarily can't see the all the connections.

It's all too easy when things seem so hard,

to get caught up in attitude instead of gratitude, 

with the latter setting us free. 

And that's exactly what happened last Friday.

After an extremely stressful week I was in great need of

a change of scenery, a different perspective . . . 

...some gratitude instead of attitude.

(all with a little help from my friends)

We started out meeting at our sunrise spot, and then moved on to coffee, 

with a side of instagram, to the nearest Starbucks. It's quickly becoming

our "Friday" spot.

I brought along a little project, a random act of kindness project,

which all by itself was good for the soul.

(maybe more on that later?)

And then, we hear this deep rumbling noise and people are looking out the window

and when we ask what's going on they tell us that a military helicopter is landing

in the parking lot - for reals?

Without hesitation, the entire place leaves their belongings to check it out.

We find out that two more are on their way, arriving in 15 minutes. We dash back 

to our cars and fetch our cameras in record time and anxiously await their arrival.

By now, we have learned that this is part of a Veterans Day event over the next four days.

We were there among only a handful of people, right there, front row
while they landed the next two in the parking lot with precision.

{KK Pinit8}

This lovely woman was waiving to her husband who was flying in this Cobra (if I remember correctly) that was borrowed from the flight museum.

...and here he is setting 'er down.

 And when you practically have the entire place to yourself, you just might decide to lay down in the parking lot...why not, right?

And then you may ask if she could look your way . . . and you get a great big smile!

And while down low to the ground, with this new found perspective (because it's not very

often that I lay down in front of military helicopters I tell ya) you get this awestruck wave of

emotion, gratitude, because everything else seems a little bigger, and you feel a little smaller in

matters of the world. You have an immense appreciation for those willing to sacrifice everything

when the cards are put on the table . . . for you, and for me . . . for all of us.

A deep sense of gratitude for their service, both my own family members and strangers. I have relatives that fought in the Revolutionary and Civil wars, World War I and World War II, and one that has had 3 or 4 tours in Iraq. Some, never made it back home. I also have a strong Quaker heritage and although they were opposed to war, it didn't stop them from providing aid. In fact, the Battle of Brandywine was fought on and around our (Mendenhall) family farm and they used their teams to haul cannon and supplies to aid Generals Washington and LaFayette. And they often provided medical care for the wounded of the battles. 

After some camera talk, a hand shake of thanks and a hug, I noticed the reflection in his glasses and he was such a good sport letting me move him to just the right place to get the helicopter in his glasses. I got his email so that I could send him a copy.

...and when I wasn't looking, this little experience DID turn my week around,

mightily!!

I honor, and thank you for your service!

{My post from yesterday at FOL - Focus on Gratitude}

Love, Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Communal Global