10 Things I'm Grateful For 2016

1. The year I started calling my dad daily
2. The year I started mindfulness and compassionate meditation facilitator training
3. The year I started therapy again
4. The year I started visiting my parents more   
5. The year Cheryl and I celebrated our 22nd year of marriage
6. The year we celebrated my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary
7. The year we went on a cruise with Cheryl's family (all 13 of us)
8. The year Cheryl and I biked around San Francisco for four days
9. The year I read a lot of books beyond comics again
10. The year I continued to be blessed with the work of helping students thrive

10 Reasons I'm Grateful For The Biking Trip To Carpinteria

1. Accomplishing a physical challenge
2. Affirming I have my boss' support.  I asked her if she was cool with me taking the afternoon to go on this bike ride with colleagues.  She gave her approval and acknowledged it was also networking, strengthening social connection, and a good timing to do it. 
3. Experiencing my friends' generosity (One friend provided tea and coffee on a break; the other friend paid for drinks at the end of the trip)
4. Savoring the spectacular ocean, islands, and sunset views 
5. Spending quality time with my atheist friend. People can have different values and still be great people who I respect and admire for their positive impact they have on others, including me.  
6. Riding my 26 years old bike without it breaking down
7. Taking the Amtrak train back to Goleta station
8. My bike light worked well
9. Watching my friends from three different time periods of my life get to know each other better
10. Being proud of my friend who had a heart attack a year ago bike 27 miles

10 Reasons This Is The Greatest Gift Ever

Video by Cami Takahara

1. STAR WARS wrapping paper
2. The Beatles are my favorite group
3. Yellow Submarine is an amazing movie and cartoon
4. It was a surprise gift from Mark and Tyler that delighted
5. Lego was my favorite childhood toy
6. Lego Beatles Figures (John, Paul, George, Ringo, Jeremy)
7. Awesome illustrated box
8. Awesome Lego instruction book 
9. Family time building Lego 
10. Cami / Daddy time - working with Cami to make this video 

10 Memories Of My Mom

1. Reading Genesis and 1 Samuel to me.
2. Playing Helen Reddy's Greatest Hits record to gently wake me up each morning
3. Taking me to see The Wiz musical
4. Asking me if I was okay with her going back to college to earn her BA because she didn't want me feel like "a latch key kid"
5. Always welcoming my friends and feeding them dinner
6. Taking me on the Japanese subway to visit a ninja museum I wanted to see (it was closed)
7. Teaching me how to cook shrimp tempura
8. Telling me that I was a good listener
9. Telling me that she told my dad that "Cheryl would make a good wife" the first time she met Cheryl (and Cheryl and I weren't dating yet)
10. Telling me she loves me the last time I visited her