Ordinary Gratitude

Winter Olympics: Opening Ceremony

I love the Olympics! Every two years we get to see elite athletes from countries across the globe compete, not just for gold, silver or bronze medals, but also for the honor of representing their country on the world stage.

I especially love the pomp and circumstance of the Opening Ceremony. As I watched the parade of athletes, my throat tightened and tears welled up in my eyes. All these people have come together to celebrate the human body and its ability to rise to new heights, to accomplish new goals, to overcome new obstacles.

I'm excited to watch the events, hear the stories of challenge and perseverance, and celebrate the competitors whether they win or not. I'm so grateful for these two very special weeks.

Haiti Children's Choir

You have to see this. What a beautiful group of children singing Neil Young's "When God Made Me." A tribute to the resilient spirit of a people who have witnessed so much tragedy.

Brees: Star On and Off Football Field

Every professional athlete owes a debt of gratitude to the fans and management, and pays an installment every time he plays. He should never miss a payment. ~~Bobby Hull

The story of Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints is so inspiring. When I saw this in the pre-Super Bowl coverage, it brought me to tears. Again, here's someone who is grateful for what others might see as a detriment. Brees and his wife saw it as an opportunity -- and did something about it. They express their gratitude by being part of and giving back to the community that has embraced them.

Drew Brees is a star quarterback both on the field and off. He has become the savior of New Orleans Saints fans for taking his team to the Super Bowl, and he is equally loved for his charity work in the community after Hurricane Katrina.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Joy, Hope and Soul from Haiti

These people deserve to be seen and heard. Enjoy!

"Despite the difficulties of life in the aftershock of Haiti's 7.0 earthquake, joy, hope, and soul flow from Haiti like rivers of life cascading down a mountain stream." Fireside International

Katie Couric interviews Drew Brees

I'm grateful to be sitting in my family room, warm and dry, watching the best Super Bowl game I've seen in years! Who Dat!

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees speaks with Katie Couric about his thoughts going into the Super Bowl, what the city of New Orleans has meant to him and his family, the possibility of a political future, and explains "who dat?"

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Doing Laundry in Iraq

I may not like doing laundry much, but I am grateful to have the convenience of a washer and dryer at home, especially after reading the article below:

A shower, laundry and clothing repair team provides daily laundry operations for the roughly 500 Soldiers and civilian contractors stationed at Contingency Operating Location Poliwoda, Iraq.

The laundry point processes roughly 250 bundles a day, said Spc. Winston Ryan, a textile service specialist with the 263rd QM Company.

Bundles can consist of as little as one set of ACUs or a set of sheets, said Ryan, a North Platt, Neb., native. The SLCR team puts 25 to 30 bundles into the LADS, roughly 200 pounds of laundry, to make up each load, he said.

The gratitude of patrons is obvious when they receive their clean laundry, said Sgt. Jake Rademacher. "One of the best things about this job is the level of appreciation that you get from the Soldiers you support," he said.

The SLCR team provides clean uniforms and socks, which alone should earn them high praise, said Capt. Ronald Opperman, the personnel officer with 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment and an Oklahoma City native.

"They keep us clean and we love what they do for us," he said.

Rademacher said the importance of clean laundry is essential to the day to day mission of the personnel they support. Without a laundry facility, service members would have to find their own means to wash clothes, he said, which could lead to substandard hygiene.

via waronterrornews.typepad.com

I didn't think much about laundry in Iraq. In fact, I really haven't thought much about how they handle the day-to-day activities we take for granted here at home. Please read more about the laundry service for our soldiers in Iraq at War on Terror News.

I am so thankful to be able to throw my dirty laundry in a big pile until I'm ready to wash it. My electric washer shares space with my electric dryer, conveniently located in its own room next to the family room. When it comes right down to it, laundry isn't a terribly difficult job, but it's not one I enjoy much. However, from this point forward, when I think of this story I might just put the clothes into the wash tub with a bit more care or take more time to get the wrinkles out when folding the t-shirts and jeans. And with a little extra gratitude, I may learn to like doing laundry.

Give generously

Times of humanitarian disaster, such as the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, remind us of all that we have so much to be thankful for. Don't just say you're grateful, show your gratitude by contributing to the relief and recovery efforts in Haiti. Please, put your money where your mouth is and give generously.

Hope for Haiti Now

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

Yele Haiti

American Red Cross

Catholic Relief Services

UNICEF

CARE

A remarkably good day

"On January 15, 2009, we had a remarkably good day," remarked Capt. Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger.

"We're so happy to have so much to celebrate," he said. "We have so much to be grateful for."  

Reunions

The other evening my husband and I met some friends at our favorite restaurant, the Yak and Yeti in Westminster, Colorado. We've been going to that restaurant for years and are good friends with the owner, Dol Battarai, who immigrated from Nepal. We've seen him through some really difficult times during the early years of his business. Now he's living the American dream with two successful restaurants, a wife (also from Nepal), three kids, a couple of houses and two cars in the garage.

We hadn't seen Dol is several months because he's been so busy running three locations (he recently sold one). So when we headed to the restaurant we didn't expect to see him there. I was so surprised when the our dear friend greeted us at the door with a big smile and "Namaste." We briefly chatted with him before sitting down with our friends for dinner. Before we left, we promised to stop by the other location for lunch on Friday (today).

Although we keep up with him on Facebook, it had been a year or so since we'd seen Andy, one of the people we were meeting for dinner that night. We had a great time catching up, discussing all sorts of topics, and laughing! We laughed about his "rebellious attitude" when he first came to work for us, and tried to count the number of nights he spent on the couch of our old shop. It was wonderful to see how happy and mature he is now.

As planned, we went to the Yak and Yeti in Arvada for lunch today. Dol greeted us at the door with a big smile and hugs. Before we could sit down, Susan, our favorite waitress, walked around the corner. We both squealed and rushed to hug one another. We all had a wonderful time getting reacquainted and catching up.

This was a week of cherished reunions. I am so grateful for the opportunity to reunite with my friends, and renew our bonds. How wonderful it was to spend time with old friends.

In the midst of my joy, I am profoundly sad to think about the many people in Haiti will not have the chance to reunite with their friends and loved ones.

"My heart bleeds and tears pour like a waterfall. May you all keep hope alive and remember there is a God who cares." comment by Jean at Boston.com

Technology connects the world

Occasionally, I'm dramatically reminded of the true power of the Internet to bring people together, the reason why I've been involved in online communications for so long. In 2004 I wrote about the story of a father and son reunited after the tsunami when a relative spotted the child's photo posted on the Web by a Thai hospital. That event has stood as a glowing example of what useful information the Internet can provide.

When the devastating earthquake in Haiti knocked out major forms of communication, word got out via the Internet primarily through social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Tweets and email messages from survivors, some simply saying "I'm ok," have been passed on to friends and relatives. Photos and videos of damage have been uploaded to sites like YouTube and various news outlets. Personal experiences by people on the ground were delivered via Skype and satellite phones. The American Red Cross has raised over $3 million using cell phone text messaging. (To donate $10 text "Haiti" to 90999.)

Now as we all grieve for the victims and families of this most recent disaster in Haiti, I find some comfort, however small, knowing that the Internet is helping to reunite loved ones, providing an outlet to express thoughts and feelings, soliciting donations to relief efforts, communicatiing stories of sorrow and heroism, and offering hope in the global recovery effort.

For news about Haiti & social media, view Mashable's coverage here: http://mashable.com/tag/haiti/.

CNN has developed a special area of their web site to help consolidate information about people in Haiti at http://www.cnn.com/haitimissing.

If you're interested in up-to-the-minute twitter reports from Haiti, follow Richard Morse, hotel manager at the Oloffson Hotel, or follow Haitian singer Wyclef Jean. 

You can survey the wreckage via satellite imagery using Google Earth. For details and instructions, visit Mashable's excellent post.

As most of us know, technology can be a blessing or a curse. Right now it is a blessing for which I am grateful.