I AM GRATEFUL ~ Happy Spring Day to you all!

​~ Written, 1 September 2017 ~
 
My busy is busy getting busier, but I feel I am coping better right now thankfully.  I still feel somewhat traumatised by the loss of so much of my poetry in the hard drive crash, as well as all the updating work I’d already done on my book (and a lot of my work-related forms, data, etc. also), but I’m adjusting to the fact that there’s nothing much I can do about it, but, to just to do my best at catching up again and to continue writing poetry and get back to working on my book as soon as I can find time again for that.  I will never be able to recapture all of my lost poems, but I am so touched by the love of friends and family, who without even being asked, sent me all the copies of the poems that I must have sent them once that they still had.  So, when I have time eventually to get to my own precious stuff, I will start to piece together what I can of my lost collections and hope that it will be enough, for me to one day, still be able to write my poetry book that I have so longed dreamed of doing… “A Poetic Journal of my Life”.
 
The gout has been giving me a break thankfully… only the usual little arthritis kind of aches and pains there and there.  I think that as I have been adjusting to the devastation of the hard drive crash, so the threat of gout has lessened too. 
 
What has also been wonderful, is that a garden helper has been a few times last month and this month and has built a little wall and drainage furrow out of bricks and concrete, to protect my little garden when the storms hit.  He is such a good, hard worker and I am so grateful for all he has done to make our lives that much better with his help.  Our yard looks clean and tidy and just beautiful now!  I’m very happy about that!
 
Yesterday I went to Unisa for the day to attend the Logotherapy Advanced course and Diplomate students workshop and in the evening to our students’ graduation which was wonderfully inspiring. 
 
During the two hours or so in-between Unisa and the graduation I visited with a very special logo-friend who so kindly gave me some of her beautiful clothes and did a makeover on me for the evening... I looked and felt beautiful and feel so excited about the lovely clothes I can now add to my sparse… thinner body wardrobe.  I have been very short of clothes since I lost so much weight.  There are such lovely people in this world.  I can't wait for more opportunities to wear my new clothes.  I love this special friend a lot... she is such a character of note and that's what makes her truly unique and quite refreshing to spend time with.  There are no airs or graces about her… she is a genuine human being… what you see is what you get and that makes me feel a safe-trust in her presence… a rare and beautiful friend indeed.  I wish all my most-loveliest friends lived closer <3
 
After the graduation evening, one of the students came to stay for the night with my son and I.  This morning, when I wanted to give something to him to help him with the taxi and bus fees to get back to his home in Durban, he gave to me instead in such a humble manner and refused to take from me.  It was truly a surprise which I absolutely never expected.  He's one of those people who is so quiet… always in the background, that you would probably miss what a special man he actually is.  He could be easily overlooked and even become as though he were invisible in a crowd.  But, he truly is very special and I'm so grateful we could share in his presence last night and that there are others who are doing their best to assist him in his progression... it seems to be his deepest desire to improve himself through learning and gaining in experience for the sake of others in his care and he puts every effort into making that happen… and it seems that Heaven is opening doors of opportunity to him to make his dreams come true because he is a man of integrity... a most humble and decent human being who humbles me in just knowing him <3
 
FOR DONATIONS
On Wednesday 30th a plumber came to look at our bathroom… I have asked him to give me a quote on a bathroom renovation and converting the bath into a shower.  He convinced me that to do so, the toilet would need to be moved and all the bathroom tiles replaced, because so many are already missing on the walls.  A non-slip floor would need to be put down to help me when I’m on crutches during gout attacks.  If the toilet is moved, the basin would also need to be moved and replaced, because we’ve had a problem with those taps since we moved into this house in 2012.  I am still waiting for a quote from him.  He is going to give me two quotes.  One for if he does the whole job, and buys everything that is needed, and another quote for just his labour once we have brought everything (if we choose that option).  I would still need to raise funds for the full amount though, because I just don’t have the money to get the job done.  He said it could cost as much as R35 000 for all that needed to be done… I never expected that at all.  I honestly thought it would be no more than R10 000.  As soon as the plumbers quote comes in, I will share.  I pray someone can help us please.
 
My second son has also quoted me on a Dell computer that would fit my needs for work and personal use which is on special at this time at R6000. 
 
If anyone is able to help please:​

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SPRING DAY!
Last night at around 1am (the start of Spring Day), I woke to the most beautiful sound of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning.  It didn’t last long, but I thought to myself…
 
“What a wonderful way to herald in the first day of Spring.” 
 
Surely it was a sign I felt… that the struggles I have had to face of late are now lifting.  That things are going to come right and be good again.
 
Well… that’s how I feel right now… that the most recent string of struggles (blow after blow) is now finally over. 
 
Another lovely surprise happened the day before yesterday… one of the people I have been counselling surprised me by depositing R200 into my account as her ‘thank you’ for my time with her and our chats.  She was shocked to hear that hers was only the 2nd payment I have ever received for my time and work in helping others. 
 
It amazed me that literally 2 days after receiving her payment this popped up on Facebook this morning as a memory…
 
September 1, 2015
I just have to share the good news with you all... I just received news on my cell phone that my very first payment for work done as a Logotherapist (yesterday) has arrived in my bank! I DID IT! In my heart, I am now officially a Logotherapist... a lifelong dream come true... one I NEVER believed could come true... "Who me?"... YEEEEEES... ME... WOW!!! OH, HAPPY DAY!!! Standing tall... head held high... feeling very... VERY grateful!!!
 
I find myself pushing through the anger and the pain of the hard drive crash, and making a point of thanking my Father in Heaven every morning for giving me another day.  I learned this short prayer that a friend’s daughter wrote on Facebook once and try to say it every day when I wake… it is beautiful to me to start the day off with this prayer and it gives me a sense of reassuring peace and comfort.  I hope that many of you will also adopt this prayer for yourselves…
 
Penina Taylor ~ August 12, 2015
מודה אני
I AM GRATEFUL
Thank you, G-d, that you have woken me up to serve you another day. Thank you that you have reconfirmed your faith in me that you want me to exist in this world, which means that I have a job to do today. Thank you
 
I am also very grateful to those of you who share my blog with me.  Thank you. 
 
~ Panayiota