11 Years ago I started a list because a lot of folks I encountered were having a hard time or shared that they did not see a lot they could be grateful for in this area. I had learned about writing gratitude lists to generate for myself the good around me and keep it first in my heart and mind and sent out a “gratitude” list of 100 things I was grateful for in Wilmington that year. It was met with great success!
I decided, and have kept up that each year, I would do the list but make it equivalent to the number of years I had been doing it!
This year, I am at 1100, and I am so glad to be able to have this exercise.
I have stopped including names in my list (singling people out that is) as I don’t want people to focus on the number, but instead have included groups, things, organizations, and places.
I have also brought it back to some of the things these lists started with; remembering to be grateful for some of the very basic things in my life…lest I never take it for granted the blessings in my life.
Regardless of what someone might think of this list, regardless of what my circumstances might be, regardless of what events may occur in my life, it is a tradition I will continue, because, I/we am/are blessed and it is worth remembering, offering thanksgiving, and sharing with each other! I hope it will spark a list of your own and feel free to steal mine!
I am grateful for….
1.) God
2.) A daily reprieve that is unfathomable
3.) The most amazing husband and an unconditional love I can only pray to earn
4.) Having my mother, step father, father still alive and with me…
5.) My family, both blood and chosen
6.) Having the unconditional love and support of a mother always
7.) The most amazing friends I could have ever dreamed of…and In fact, could never have imagined
8.) Having a home that we truly love and feel safe in
9.) Our amazing and nurturing cats
10.) Having a job and being employed, particularly today
11.) Having heat in the winter
12.) Food to eat and access to that food
13.) Fresh vegetables
14.) Fresh fruit
15.) Meat and poultry that is sanitary and ready for me to eat
16.) Dairy that I can just pick up and use
17.) Eggs that I can just eat
18.) Electricity always on
19.) Gas for our cars
20.) Having a vehicle
21.) Having air condition in the summer
22.) A bed to sleep in
23.) A dry place to be when it rains and stay dry
24.) Clothes to wear in all weather
25.) A car to drive
26.) Eyes to see
27.) Ears to hear
28.) Legs that can walk
29.) Arms that can hug
30.) Hands that can hold
31.) Mind that can process and think
32.) Soul that is in tact
33.) Spirit that still believes
34.) Spirit that is
35.) Lungs that can breathe
36.) Having health insurance
37.) Having some dental insurance
38.) Having glass to read with
39.) All of our books to read
40.) Meadowlark Lemon and the all stars coming to play this year for CFCC
41.) Hanging out with Mr. Lemon and enjoying stories with him
42.) Money for CFCC from McColl and Associates being raised from Meadowlark’s visit
43.) The new book by medowlark
44.) Learning about the vision board from meadowlark
45.) Learning about growing up in Wilmington from meadowlark and the “carnation milk can” that he used as his first basketball
46.) Seeing the gravely crew play the Harlem All Stars
47.) Taking pictures at the event
48.) My little girl cat curling up on my back when I sleep
49.) My little boy cat kissing my face
50.) The light through the stained glass in the den
51.) the cool breeze of the ceiling fans in the summer
52.) the sway of the hammock in the back yard
53.) the magnolia blossoms on my tree in the back yard
54.) my bird bath in the back yard
55.) turltle doves that come to visit us
56.) the cardinals that visit and spend time with us
57.) the egret that posed for me at Orton Plantation this summer so beautifully and majestically!
58.) A general health that is good and getting better every day
59.) The Gift of training this year
60.) The Gift of a new brother and friend through a life changing experience
61.) Adam Freeman Personal training
62.) The American Heart Association
63.) The intervention of two amazing friends I love so very much for loving me enough to bring me to opportunities that have transformed my life.
64.) The gift of the life of Kayleigh Anne Freeman….her spirit is in all I do today
65.) The balloon release at O2 for Kayleigh
66.) Bless Your Heart Productions
67.) The loss of over 100 pounds
68.) The logo “greater through love and support” by Donnie Wrights
69.) Bowilmington.blogspot.com
70.) Keeping a history of the changes and what has transpired along the journey so far
71.) Being able to climb stairs AND breathe at the same time
72.) Being stretched at the end of the workout
73.) Learning to stretch to not hurt my back and grow my muscles
74.) Seeing loose skin reattach as I do more cardio!
75.) Learning to trust what I am told and be patient! (kind of)
76.) Being able to share my journey into new health
77.) The gift of a nutritionist like Heidi Kaufman
78.) Having food I can eat and enjoy without killing myself
79.) Learning to cook without butter and oil
80.) Getting rid of fast food and pizza
81.) Getting rid of diet coke (for the most part)
82.) Changing the way I eat out
83.) Seeing the weight come off in a healthy way
84.) Being able to come off of my diabetes medicine
85.) Being able to come off my high blood pressure medicine
86.) Being able to come off my cholesterol medicine
87.) Epsom salt baths
88.) Tidal Creek!
89.) Emails form those sharing my journey and being inspired
90.) The little bird we rescued outside of the gym one morning and released
91.) Seeing the hawk fly by us at Orton Plantation
92.) Being able to tour orton before it closed
93.) The beauty of orton plantation
94.) Meeting and spending time with mr. Williamson and hearing his stories
95.) The stories of Nan graham
96.) The teaching of Nan graham
97.) The radio voice of Jemila Erickson and mid day café at WHQR
98.) The commentaries by Shane Fernando
99.) The commentaries by Nan graham
100.) The examples Andy set to inspire me on the journey
101.) The example Woody set to inspire me on the journey
102.) The example of Todd set to inspire me on the journey
103.) The example Sherman set for running that helped me set my running pace.
104.) The encouragement of my facebook family and friends!
105.) The love from so many, particularly strangers for my journey
106.) The life of Windell Daniels and his passing that opened my eyes to my own needs
107.) O2 fitness center in Mayfaire
108.) The infectious laugh of another trainer in the gym that helped me go on when I wanted to give up
109.) The support of others in the gym who would never let me give up
110.) The best next door neighbor in the world
111.) WECT for featuring the gifts of this training and the inspiration that is gave
112.) WECT in general for being the best most credible news in Wilmington
113.) New Balance of Wilmington
114.) Boseman Sporting Goods
115.) Bike Cycles in Mayfaire
116.) All the support and encouragement from the crew at Bike Cycles in Mayfaire
117.) Fixing my bike so quickly as I progressed to keep me on the road at Bike Cycles
118.) The Ann Street Bikeway
119.) The Cross City trail
120.) City Council naming the Cross City Trail the Shell Trail after the life and work of my friend Gary Shell.
121.) Riding the Shell trail to the beach
122.) Making that first ride to the beach and feeling that sense of accomplishment and freedom
123.) Riding to the loop at Wrightsville
124.) Riding downtown down the Ann Street Bikeway
125.) Riding from the River to the sea
126.) Feeling my speed increase on that bike and enjoying it!
127.) Having my first sports injury
128.) Recovering from my first sports injury and getting right back to it
129.) Not giving up
130.) Learning to push through…not to pain..but to my potential
131.) Wearing my first 2x shirt
132.) Wearing my first xl shirt
133.) Being able to wear xl t-shirts again
134.) Being able to wear the shirts daddy had done for me 13 years ago
135.) Going from a 54 waist to a 39 (and counting!)
136.) Not having my back hurt all the time
137.) Not having my knees hurt all the time
138.) Seeing the fat turn to some muscle
139.) Seeing my face come back out
140.) Being able to see myself for the first time in a long time!
141.) Running down the sidewalk at Mayfaire
142.) Running the loop the first time
143.) Running my first 5k
144.) For Colin Hackman posting that I was going to run my first 5k in the Historic Wilmington 5k..which, by outing me, got me to actually do it!
145.) Having my family and my husband at the 5 k there cheering me on.
146.) Having my brother/trainer run that race with me
147.) Making it up that hill in that race without stopping running
148.) Running the whole thing and never stopping and finishing in 41 minutes
149.) Wanting to do more after the 5k was over
150.) Running the flotilla 5 and shaving almost 10 minutes off my time
151.) the elliptical machine and how much it prepared me for other things
152.) applying principles that I learned in other areas to this change
153.) becoming excited about work out clothing
154.) becoming excited about sports equipment
155.) learning about the right shoes
156.) new balance of Wilmington
157.) new balance running shoes
158.) brooks running shoes
159.) RPI online athletic wear
160.) Under armour
161.) Russell athletics
162.) My IPOD!
163.) Learning how to download music from the app store
164.) All the apps on my iphone!
165.) All the amazing music that has helped motivate me when I have worked out!
166.) The map my run app and help with training
167.) The map my by ride app and help with my bike riding
168.) My IPHONE and being able to video Chronicle and share so much with others!
169.) Housing and Economic Development Corporation
170.) Heart Ball 2010!
171.) The amazing art that I got from the heart Ball
172.) The heart ball committee
173.) Frances MCing the Heart ball!
174.) The heart ball happening even with the snow!
175.) Ashley’s first heart ball
176.) Being on the 2011 heart ball committee
177.) Carole’s sugar free bread!
178.) Taking the students to Casey’s for a cultural dinner
179.) Collards at casey’s
180.) Yes…Casey’s fried chicken (everything in moderation!)
181.) Nan going with us to Casey’s for dinner
182.) Catlin getting a job in Wake county schools
183.) Caitlin’s Grandmother being able to come to her graduation before pasing
184.) Sarah getting her fellowship in Australia
185.) Russell getting married!
186.) Kim becoming a PA and having a wonderful boyfriend!
187.) Mike getting married to Mr. Finstrom!
188.) Kathleen getting into graduate school
189.) Tom getting a job at UNCW with admissions
190.) Donn Ansell’s Byline Wilmington featuring our story and the Heart Walk to hopefully inspire others
191.) Claire Simms and WECT featuring the story and sharing so much of this with others to inspire and promote good health and living.
192.) The librarians and their encouragement each day when I walked in to work.
193.) The amazing support on facebook!
194.) Discovering Martha Holmes Vegetables in the can!
195.) Sugar free polaner all fruit
196.) Arnold whole wheat bread at Costco
197.) Having Costco to cut expenses
198.) My yoqurt at Costco
199.) The free samples at Costco that are not cheating! LOL!
200.) Hummus!
201.) Eating more and more veggies all the time!
202.) Finding can fruit with no sugar added
203.) Eating apples!
204.) Fresh blueberries at Lewis Farms! LOVE BLUEBERRIES!
205.) Sugar free pops!
206.) Finding out the pit falls of sugar in energy drinks and flavored water
207.) Getting rid of diet coke and soft drinks in my life
208.) Brita filter for us!
209.) Fresh pears this fall
210.) Sugar free jelly beans
211.) Spinach and lots of it!
212.) Fat free feta cheese
213.) Fat free sharp cheddar cheese slices
214.) Sugar free no fat pudding
215.) Salsa
216.) Lower fat corn chips with yellow corn
217.) Turkey bacon sandwiches at starbucks
218.) Spinach and egg white wraps at starbucks
219.) My now famous grilled chicken with lemon, garlic, lemon pepper, and dill rub
220.) No fat chicken with spinach and tomato sauce
221.) Bag salad and low fat ranch!
222.) Using crackers instead of croutons!
223.) Drinking unsweetened ice tea instead of diet coke
224.) Learning what my triggers are and NOT doing them!
225.) Not eating pizza!
226.) Not eating fast food! At all!
227.) Not eating French fries
228.) Not eating breakfast biscuits from bojangles and hardees
229.) Not eating croissanwiches from burger king
230.) Not eating candy
231.) Subway subs
232.) Eating whole wheat bread! Love it!
233.) looking forward to working out
234.) enjoying food more because I am eating more now when I am actually hungry and not just out of habit
235.) making space in our home for yoga and stretching
236.) our new layout at home
237.) Drechel professional painting
238.) Our wood flooring at home
239.) The monastery story
240.) Our prayer cushions
241.) The sound of the piano when Michael plays
242.) Having time to sing with Michael when he plays
243.) Michael playing one of his recorders at home
244.) Our game area
245.) Playing games together
246.) Enjoying the cozy den together
247.) Being surrounded by family with portraits at home
248.) The art of Liz Hosier
249.) The art of Ivy Hayes
250.) The art of Karl Saliter
251.) The art of elino’haraslavick
252.) The sculpture of Dumay Gorham
253.) The art of John Sakel
254.) The art of Harold Hodges
255.) The art of Fritz Kapraun
256.) The art of Virginia Wright Frierson
257.) The art of aaron Wilcox
258.) The gift of pottery giveaway from Aaron Wilcox
259.) The art of Ann Boseman
260.) The art of Nancy Hodges
261.) The art of MJ Cunningham
262.) The art of Andrea Dingledein
263.) The art of Donnie Wrights
264.) The art of David Norris
265.) the loop for running in our neighborhood
266.) Good Student neighbors in our neighborhood
267.) the loop for running around UNCW and it being 3 miles!
268.) The amazing UNCW campus and the care that is taken there
269.) The last piece of the cross city trail being dedicated through UNCW
270.) Beauty of autumn hall and riding through there to the trail
271.) Discovering so much of our area on foot and bicycle
272.) the spot on the trail on eastwood that makes me feel like I am back in chapel hill
273.) being able to enjoy outside for the first time since we lived here
274.) city county weight loss challenge
275.) the trail ride with the Mayor
276.) doing this work out with friends
277.) McColl and Associates
278.) Buddy!
279.) The life of Silas!
280.) The life of Yoda!
281.) The pet food collection of Melissa Gallison and adoption efforts
282.) The meals on wheels out of the senior center on college road
283.) The senior center on college road
284.) The programs at the senior center on college road
285.) The Hannah Block center downtown
286.) The life of Hannah Block
287.) Sammy the SeaHawk
288.) The SeaDawgs
289.) SeaDawg Atheletics
290.) SeaDawg Basketball
291.) The Sharks Baseball
292.) The Hammerheads coming back to wilmington
293.) Boseman field
294.) Brooks field
295.) The track at UNCW
296.) The best athletic director ever at UNCW
297.) The life the Coach Brooks
298.) The life of Coach Murphy
299.) Intracoastal Realty
300.) SeaCoast Realty
301.) The 2010 Heart Walk
302.) The 2010 Heart Walk Leadership Committee
303.) The 2010 Heart Walk Chair
304.) Having the Heart Walk at UNCW
305.) The lives of all who have survived with heart disease
306.) New Hanover Regional
307.) Coastal Cardiology
308.) Coastal Cardiology’s Fundraiser for the Hearth Walk
309.) All the fundraisers for the Heart Walk
310.) Janet Gaino’s Birthday Fundraiser for the Heartwalk
311.) My Birthday Fundraiser for the heartwalk
312.) Having my birthday at Julia and Chrystal’s house!
313.) The best birthday ever because it was a new life celebration!
314.) The best birthday present, outside of the donations, having the picture taken of all of us together! More than anything that means the world!
315.) Surf’s restaurant fundraiser for the heartwalk
316.) The Shark’s fundraiser for the heartwalk
317.) Intracoastal’s Scoop Off for the Heart Walk
318.) Pita Delite’s Day of Sales for the Heart Walk
319.) The customer service and friends at Pita Delite
320.) The quality of the business at Pita Delite
321.) Pita Delite and healthy food
322.) Hibachi Grille on college road and healthy food
323.) Selling my clothes and donating the money for the sponsorship for the heartwalk
324.) Zoe’s fundraiser for the Heartwalk
325.) Zoe’s Kitchen and good healthy food! And healthy food choices
326.) Central Rotary of Wilmington
327.) Being at McCallister’s for Rotary
328.) Our Rotary Raffle and fundraiser
329.) Giving away money to charity from Rotary
330.) All the Rotary’s in Wilmington
331.) The Paul Harris Fellow’s honor surprise this year
332.) Being treasurer in rotary and learning about that responsibility
333.) Our Rotary leadership
334.) Singing in Rotary
335.) The Fellowship of Rotary
336.) New members coming in to our rotary
337.) The rotary member minute!
338.) The Rotary Wheel at Greenfield lake
339.) Greenfield lake
340.) The paddleboats at Greenfield lake
341.) The Cyprus knees at Greenfield lake
342.) The walking trails at Greenfield lake
343.) Halyburton park
344.) The wild birds of Prey show at Halyburton
345.) The walking trails at Halyburton
346.) Wade park
347.) The dedication and opening of Olson Park!
348.) The first softball game played at Olson Park
349.) Empie being almost competed
350.) The tennis complex being named for Althea Gibson
351.) Cameo 1900
352.) The wedding of Kristy and Christian
353.) The artistry of Jimmy Hopkins
354.) The wedding of Aaron and Jessica
355.) St. Thomas Preservation Hall
356.) Pine Valley Market
357.) Pine Valley Market Catering
358.) Hooks alarm company
359.) The safety I feel with our alarm
360.) The laugh I still get from being trapped in the house when I forgot my alarm pass code!
361.) Going to work just around the corner from home
362.) Being able to flex my schedule to train in the morning mwf
363.) Being able to get up in the morning to train!
364.) Showing up for training on days when Adam is out!
365.) Showing up for cardio on non-training days!
366.) taking this weight loss journey one day at a time
367.) having the support even at work for this!
368.) Honors Students
369.) Honors Student Alumni!
370.) Honors Student accomplishments
371.) UNCW honors students service to the community
372.) Honors Student Annual Beach sweep at Kure Beach
373.) Honor Students fundraiser for Partners’ in Health
374.) Honors student ambassadors
375.) Honors Student mentors
376.) Honors student leadership
377.) Honors student faculty teas
378.) Honors student recruitment volunteers
379.) UNCW move-in day
380.) Our chancellor and provost
381.) LGBTQIA office
382.) The LGBTQIA office response to Gay teen suicide
383.) LGBTQIA awards
384.) LGBTQIA programming
385.) Multicultural office
386.) Marketing and communications
387.) Campus Catering
388.) Winning some catering at the catering open house!
389.) Saving some silver at surplus for the Honors teas
390.) The ponds on campus commons with the turtles
391.) The fountains in the ponds
392.) The view from the seminar room
393.) Having an office
394.) Office of campus diversity
395.) Boseman Gallery
396.) Public Sociology students
397.) Public Sociology faculty
398.) Psychology faculty
399.) Psychology students
400.) Undergraduate research
401.) UNCW/WHA community campus in its third year
402.) The coordinator for the Community campus
403.) The student volunteers at the community campus
404.) The faculty oversight and interest at the community campus
405.) The obesity prevention program at Rankin Terrace
406.) Healthy Carolinans
407.) The Parks and Recreation Board for the City of Wilmington
408.) Judging the Christmas Parade for the City
409.) The Christmas Parade for the City of Wilmington
410.) The rescue greyhounds all decorated in the Christmas Parade!
411.) Santa on the big fire truck at the end of the Christmas parade!
412.) All the entries in the Christmas parade that decorate and are brightly lit and festive and about the holidays!
413.) The Chef’s cooking classes at the community campus
414.) Basic skills classes at the community campus
415.) Folks getting their GED”s at the community campus
416.) Job training and preparation at the community campus
417.) Human resources office at the Wilmington Housing Authority
418.) Partnership with DREAMS of Wilmington
419.) Partnership with Communities in Schools
420.) Partnership withKids Making it
421.) Partnership with Cape Fear Community College
422.) The Community Gardens Programming through the community campus
423.) The community outreach and development of the Wilmington Housing Authority Staff
424.) The children of our public Housing properties
425.) The elderly of our public housing properties
426.) The families of our public housing properties
427.) The Wilmington Housing Authority Staff
428.) The Wilmington Housing Authority Leadership
429.) The National award for the UNCW/WHA Campus from NAHRO
430.) The dedication of the second phase of Taylor homes and more affordable housing
431.) The Youth Build Grant
432.) The graduation of the Youth Build Students
433.) The fiscal oversight and correction for our residents and our community at the housing authority
434.) The integrity and heart of our section eight program
435.) The new appointees the Mayor made to our board at WHA
436.) Resident organizations up and running at WHA
437.) Resident involvement at WHA
438.) Wilmington Interfaith Hospitality Network
439.) The 13 churches that house homeless families and use the house of God for the purpose of service to His people
440.) The 26 support churches that make way to aid those families
441.) St. Mark Church for being the first to in the Mission Mortgage campaign to provide supportive housing
442.) The transitional housing units at Willow pond
443.) The dedication of the transitional housing units at Willow pong
444.) The Wilmington Celebration Choir
445.) The families who are housed at Willow pond to sustainable housing
446.) The city of Wilmington and the Home Funds that helped with the renovations for the units at Willow pond
447.) The Leadership of WIHN
448.) The Board of WIHN
449.) The life and cancer free recovery of Scott Whisnant of WIHN
450.) The life and cancer free of Mama Weller (again!)
451.) The life and cancer free for Mary Barto
452.) Gary surving his cancer one day at a time!
453.) Surviving his cancer one day at a time, My daddy!
454.) The zimmer cancer center at NHRMC
455.) The WIHN gala
456.) The money from the WIHN gala going to provide more service to the families in need in our community
457.) The sponsors of the WIHN gala
458.) Lease motors giving a CAR for the live auction
459.) So many for giving so much to help those homeless families in need
460.) The gifts of Clyde Edgerton being given so freely as the speaker for this year’s gala
461.) The gifts of the magician at that gala wowing the audience and making it a magical evening!
462.) The WIHN gala committee..what heart and soul!
463.) All those who stay up at night in the churches and stay with the families in the churches when they are housed there
464.) All those who make and prepare meals for the families when they are in the churches
465.) All those who help with transportation for the families when they are in the churches
466.) All those who see to it that those in need have what they need to get back to a sustainable life.
467.) The unconditional love and service that is given through WIHN…regardless of any status
468.) Coastal Horizons
469.) The leadership of Coastal Horizons
470.) The youth shelter at coastal horizons
471.) The secretary coming for Coastal’s annual dinner
472.) The 40th anniversary for Coastal Horizon’s
473.) The methadone dispensary and the relief for the addicts that it provides
474.) The way into sobriety for so so many
475.) The Crisis Hotline and the voice of comfort at the end of the line
476.) The dinners the board is making for the youth in the shelter
477.) The gifts at the holidays in the shelter
478.) The needs that are met and the love that is dispenses all time
479.) Tasc treatment center at Coastal Horizons
480.) Meeting the state requirements to become CAHBA certified to be a primary provider at coastal AND be NON-PROFIT
481.) to work so closely with the judicial
482.) system and help so many addicts in recovery
483.) HIV/AIDS testing in the region
484.) HIV/AIDS support groups
485.) Substance abuse support groups at Coastal horizons
486.) Being an integral part of the Cape fear Health net
487.) The Cape Fear Health Net
488.) The board of coastal horizons
489.) The Rape Crisis Center
490.) Walk a Mile in her shoes for Rape Crisis
491.) Rock against rape
492.) All the volunteers who are trained to be rape crisis responders
493.) All those who meet victims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
494.) The new Brunswick county rape crisis outreach through coastal
495.) The new Brunswick facility for mental health and substance abuse treatment
496.) The Pender county treatment facility for coastal
497.) The first annual Coastal Horizon’s breakfast!
498.) The sponsors for the coastal Horizons’ breakfast
499.) UNCW women’s resource office and minor being our sponsor
500.) ARA catering for the breakfast
501.) The amazing staff of ARA
502.) 25 years of service from our Executive Director
503.) the best marketing director ever (and go to for all things good!)!
504.) The district Attorney for speaking at the Coastal Horizon’s breakfast
505.) The witness of a former Rape Crisis services recipient and youth shelter ward, both doing so well now!
506.) Prevention services and outreach from Coastal
507.) New Hanover County Health Department
508.) The annual Golf Tournament for the Public Health Foundation
509.) The micro/mini grants to organizations from the Public Health Foundation
510.) PPD and the foundation there for all their support for the Public Health Foundation and its good works
511.) The board of the public health foundation
512.) The help from First Citizen’s Bank to The Public Health Foundation for fundraising
513.) The help from First Citizen’s bank to Coastal Horizons for fundraising
514.) First Citizen’s bank in general
515.) The Men’s Health Initiative at the Public health Department of NHC
516.) The Mobile Dental Clinic from the Public Health Department of NHC
517.) Rabies Clinics and treatment from the Public Health Department of NHC
518.) HIV/AIDS Screening in low income areas through collaborations and the mini grants in the public health department foundation
519.) The Tileston Clinic
520.) The leadership of the Tileston Clinic
521.) The at home fundraiser for the tileston clinic
522.) The service to ALL people through tileson clinic
523.) The HIV Consortium in New Hanover County and the region
524.) New Hanover Regional Medical Center
525.) The leadership of NHRMC
526.) The quality of care at NHRMC
527.) The ceo and leadership of NHRMC
528.) The cape fear memorial foundation
529.) The landfall foundation
530.) The hospital foundation
531.) The North Carolina Community Foundation
532.) Phi Theta Kappa at CFCC
533.) The boat building classes at CFCC
534.) IKA
535.) The cobalt bowl they gave me at the breakfast for coastal
536.) The cobalt bowl they gave me for AFP
537.) My God Jar!
538.) The bubbles that the new librarian gave me when she got hired!
539.) New friends joining the city club!
540.) The new Stargell clinic upfit for patients receiving kidney dialysis
541.) The Willie Stargell Annual Golf Tournament for Kidney Disease
542.) The amazing committee that puts on the tournament
543.) The celebrities and sports legends that come each year for the tournament
544.) The Leadership of the tournament and all the good it does.
545.) The warmth and love of the committee
546.) The special year being Mr. Stargell’s number 8!
547.) The talents and tricks of Dave Mobley on the golf course
548.) Having Adam and Diana driving and volunteering with me
549.) The Wellership being fully endowed this year at CFCC
550.) WECT on facebook
551.) The best anchors in the business at WECT
552.) The best news director;
553.) The best reporters on TV!
554.) The Star News (most days! LOL)
555.) The Wilmington Business Journal
556.) Wilma Magazine
557.) Wima Nights
558.) Being sold at Wilma nights for Girls Inc (and making more than a dollar!)
559.) The camaraderie of all of us in the show for Wilma nights. VERY SPECIAL!
560.) Girl’s Inc. of Wilmington
561.) Jake Hunt’s amazing outreach to at risk youth, Junior Golf Academy
562.) Being in the Carousel Center Show
563.) Living out Loud magazine
564.) Nancy hall publications
565.) The publisher of Nancy hall getting involved and stepping up when so many others do not!
566.) The launch of Living out loud on the Battleship North Carolina
567.) The Battle Ship North Carolina
568.) The fireworks from battleship park at fourth of July
569.) Time with family on the pier at CFCC watching the fireworks
570.) The Captain Moffitt Research Vessell getting its funding in the NC State budget
571.) The research for the care of our water and coast from the marine tech program at CFCC
572.) CFCC Foundation
573.) The board of the CFCC Foundation
574.) The Gift of Education Luncheon at the Schwartz Center
575.) The youth who went to the CFCC early college, was born to immigrant parents who picked blueberries and is now off to Harvard!
576.) Louise being made a Board of trustee of CFCC
577.) CFCC Foundation Leadership
578.) CFCC Merit Scholars
579.) The CFCC Merit Scholar reception
580.) The CFCC Alumni Association
581.) The SeaDawgs to SeaHawks at UNCW group
582.) The Donor Appreciation part at the North Campus
583.) The Lunch with an Author fundraiser for CFCC
584.) The cultivation dinner at our place
585.) The pineapple guild
586.) The amazing group at the culinary program at CFCC
587.) The wood turners group and silent auction at the dinner
588.) The amazing programs for getting folks back to work at CFCC
589.) Cosmetology program building now open on north campus at Cfcc
590.) My table from UNCW at the cultivation dinner
591.) the Carousel Center and all they do for Children!
592.) The Parenting Place and all they do for abused children
593.) The leadership and board of the CAPP
594.) The convention center being open
595.) The first event at the convention center going perfectly
596.) More events going on at the convention center
597.) The chamber helping to ensure the best for our superintendent pick
598.) Our Chamber of Commerce
599.) Our Chamber of Commerce Leadership
600.) Wilmington Business Journal Power Breakfasts’
601.) Wilmington Business Journal Entrepreneur Awards
602.) The leadership of the Wilmington Business Journal
603.) Conscience Online
604.) Celia Rivenbark’s Columns!
605.) The heart and soul of celia and standing up for so many good things with her talents
606.) Clyde edgerton writing in the paper about education and speaking out for all children
607.) Having so many authors in our community!
608.) The work and writing of Dana Sachs
609.) Clove Marketing
610.) The law offices of Shipman and Associates
611.) The organizing efforts of Lynn Shoemaker and the day in the park for Candidates
612.) Sunny 104
613.) Foz in the morning on 107
614.) Fox basically doing a “it gets better” with Amy and me
615.) Foz and I having a spiritual moment!
616.) WHQR
617.) WHQR new leadership
618.) WHQR gallery
619.) WHQR
620.) The greek festival
621.) The inside of the greek church on college road
622.) Church of the Servant Episcopal
623.) The great Easter Vigil with COS on Wrightsville beach
624.) Christmas a COS
625.) The Lobster fest at COS
626.) The outreach of COS
627.) The clergy of COS
628.) The family of COS
629.) The Labyrinth at COS
630.) Having COS just down the street from our house
631.) The Episcoal Campus Ministry still going strong!
632.) The Library sale at New Hanover County Library
633.) Michael’s delight at the library sale!
634.) Seeing Michael Smile
635.) Hearing Michael Laugh
636.) Seeing so many people hungry for books!
637.) Jimmy Pierce getting the Schweitzer award for 2010
638.) Kid’s Making it
639.) All the volunteer craftmen at Kid’s Making it
640.) The successful graduates of the kid’s making it program
641.) Cape Fear Association of Fundraising Professionals Chapter
642.) The AFP breakfast and awards
643.) Philanthropist of the year going to Louise Coggins
644.) Ashley Miller being nominated for professional fundraiser of the year
645.) The leadership of AFP and their amazing hearts!
646.) The new firm of Leigh Muscle Events
647.) Lower Cape Fear Hospice
648.) The amazing new facilty that the Lower Cape Fear Hospice has opened
649.) Lower Cape Fear Hospice remaining non-profit
650.) Wilmington Health Access for Teens
651.) The Leadership of WHAT
652.) The WHAT Picnic
653.) The new providers in all the area high schools from WHAT to all Teenagers for good health and wellness!
654.) Cucalorus being as successful as ever!
655.) The Film Commission doing more this year than ever!
656.) The film studio being at 80 percent capacity
657.) Screen Gems working and doing more than ever!
658.) For the leadership of Screen Gems
659.) One of my honors student workers getting a job with screen gems
660.) All that screen gems does for so many in the area!
661.) Acme Art studios
662.) Projecte
663.) The art community in Wilmington
664.) Thalian Hall
665.) Thalian Hall’s remodel
666.) Level 5, City Stage
667.) The Red Barn Theater
668.) Opera House
669.) Big Dawg Productions
670.) The New theater on Castle Street
671.) The Castle Street Antique District
672.) Jester’s Java
673.) The talent and service of Joe Gallison to not only theater but also agencies in the area that need him!
674.) The amazing production of Fiddler on the roof!
675.) Chris’ Cosmic Kitchen
676.) Sweet and Savory
677.) The greekomlet at Chri’s Kitchen!
678.) The starbucks on College Road
679.) The best manager of any starbucks anywhere on college road
680.) India Mahal
681.) Tandori Bites
682.) Boca Bay
683.) Brasserie
684.) Mother’s day at brasserie
685.) Time on the north end of Carolina beach roasting sausages and marsh mellows with friends
686.) Lunch at Judy’s
687.) Looking out over the intracoastal at dockside
688.) The cucumber and tomato salad at dockside
689.) The cottage at airlie and special meetings
690.) My airlie chair
691.) my little space in the garage for creating and working
692.) the ivy cottage selling some excess stuff
693.) the ivy cottage
694.) my cousin jane and her daughter and my favorite aunt nell coming to visit UNCW
695.) the pedestrian art that became permanent downtown on the riverwalk
696.) my wonderful cousin elaine coming to visit wilmington and spend time with me!
697.) Sitting on the river at elijahs
698.) The pilot house river seating
699.) The christening of Lucas Boseman-Medlin at first Presbyterian on a Sunday!
700.) The birth and life of Lucas Boseman-Medlin
701.) The leadership fo the NHC County Commissioners
702.) The City Council of Wilmington
703.) The service of Senator Boseman
704.) The win for now Representative Susie Hamilton
705.) The win for Rick Catlin for County Commissioners
706.) The win for Mike McIntyre against Pantano
707.) The win for Becky Blackmore
708.) The win for Jan for Clerk of Court
709.) The win for the Sheriff
710.) The well run race for Julia for Judge
711.) The well run race of Sid Causey
712.) The well run race of Jim Leutze
713.) Cape Fear Center for Inquiry
714.) Being 5 minutes from the beach and 7 minutes from downtown
715.) 40 right around the corner and ready to run up the road to RDU!
716.) The plant place
717.) The poinsettias we do for the elderly at Christmas
718.) The geraniums for the elderly in the Spring
719.) The stone garden
720.) CM’s Catering and that spinach and strawberry salad
721.) CM’s Pork Chops (sorry..like I said..moderation! LOL!)
722.) Seeing my other friends happy and LaMaine’d! LOL!
723.) The leadership team for Jim Leutze for Senate and their integrity
724.) Leadership of Phoenix Ministries
725.) The hard decisions to stop the greek wedding this year, but one of great integrity
726.) The work of Phoenix ministries to bring people back to a place of employment
727.) The Harrelson Center
728.) The WIHN day center
729.) Communities in Schools
730.) Dreams of Wilmington
731.) Dreams having their facility on the northside
732.) Leading into new Communities (LINC)
733.) Opening of the new facility for LINC
734.) The ambassador program for WDI
735.) WDI luncheon
736.) Wilmington Downtown Inc
737.) The riverwalk
738.) The sunsets downtown
739.) The brick streets downtown
740.) The beauty of downtown
741.) The azaleas in the area in full bloom
742.) The azalea featival
743.) The garden party
744.) The azalea festival parade
745.) The amazing hats at the garden party
746.) The trees along market street
747.) The history of the escape of slaves at the foot of Dock street
748.) Tom’s drugs being bought and turned into a market
749.) The City Club at De Rossett
750.) The amazing food at the city club
751.) The amazing staff at the city club
752.) Great dinners with friends at the city club
753.) The beauty of the house of the club
754.) The gardens at the city club
755.) The art of Chappy Valente on the walls of the City Club
756.) The Art of Robert West
757.) The music of Paco Strickland
758.) The music of Renaldo Frasier
759.) The photography of Jaime Moncrief
760.) The photography of Logan Wallace
761.) The photography of Mr. Davis
762.) Intracoastal New Homes
763.) Wilmington Yoga Center
764.) Sammy stickers
765.) Seahawk Saturdays
766.) Cameron Executive Network
767.) The Razor Walker Awards
768.) Masonoboro island
769.) Masonboro preservation group
770.) Bald head island
771.) Bald Head conservation center
772.) Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital (ok..it is up the road..but it is a special daggone place!)
773.) The little baby turtle at the aquarium at fort fisher
774.) The expansion that is coming the aquarium at fort fisher
775.) Not having to pay to park at Kure beach! (we already pay taxes..right?)
776.) UNCW beach sweeps
777.) Costello’s
778.) the music of Donna Merritt
779.) having had a youngin’ with us for a while! So proud of him!
780.) The blockade runner
781.) The blockade runner giving so much for events to the community
782.) The gardens at the blockade runner
783.) The pier at the oceanic
784.) Hands across the sands protest against off shore drilling!
785.) ECO at UNCW
786.) Amnesty International at UNCW
787.) The Bellamy Mansion Fundraiser for the Heart Walk by Port City Young Professionals.
788.) Port City Young Professionals
789.) Press 102
790.) The village market
791.) The view of the smith creek from MLK parkway
792.) The new kayak launch at dram tree park
793.) The new kayak and boat launch at the end of trails end
794.) The new kayak and boat launch on the north side of Wilmington to get to smith creek
795.) Cape Fear Literacy Council
796.) All the philanthropy at UNCW
797.) All the service of UNCW Athletes
798.) All the service of CFCC athletes
799.) All the service of CFCC students
800.) The UNCW Ambassadors
801.) The CFCC ambassadors
802.) The UNCW Scholarship appreciation dinner
803.) The music of Dr. Hickman
804.) The choir at Church of the Servant
805.) The musical direction of Jennifer Sugerik at COS
806.) The Musical direction of Jennifer Sugerik at Ashley
807.) The amazing performance at pentacost
808.) Weller’s Wheels
809.) Frans Fans
810.) The Holiday Helper’s Campaign at CFCC
811.) The Good Friend’s Luncheon!
812.) Flash Promotions
813.) Action Printing
814.) Always Printing
815.) Schaeffer BMW and the Schaeffer family
816.) our grocery store
817.) our amazing pharmacists who take such good care of us at Mayfaire Harris teeter
818.) the best doctors anywhere at Wrightsville Family practice
819.) our amazing dentist, Sandra Miles DDS and her whole staff!
820.) The big shot being able to go in my mouth without drugs at Miles Dentistry!
821.) The best dry cleaners at Hangers on college road and Ms. Gloria who always takes such good care of us!
822.) Community Solutions Southeast, our HOA managers…talk about a blessing!
823.) State employees Credit Union
824.) BB@T
825.) Our back yard and the little fountain in the Spring
826.) Our crepe myrtle from Raleigh that keeps thriving
827.) The crepe myrtles on College Road
828.) The crepe myrtle in front of our house and the amazing canopy it provides in the summer
829.) The azaleas and lush gardens all throughout our neighborhood in the spring
830.) The palm sale at Church of the servant
831.) The palms on palm Sunday
832.) The processional with the palms at palm Sunday and the tied crosses made of palm fronds
833.) Christmas eve mass
834.) Christmas Cantata’s anywhere in town!
835.) The pond on the municipal golf course
836.) The nesting duck this year at the course and her eggs
837.) The turtles at the pond all sunning
838.) The municipal golf course and its professional look and play!
839.) The chickens in the back yard of someone’s house off the back 9 of the municipal golf course! Love it!
840.) The firehouse at 5th and Castle
841.) The Kenan Fountain
842.) The sanitary fountain at the foot of Market
843.) The woman on cardinal drive that year after year takes such good care of her yard.
844.) The Christmas Dolphins on the entry to Wrigthsville Beach during the season
845.) The little water feature for dogs by Bryant real estate on lumina avenue
846.) The trail on Summer’ rest for bike/hike
847.) Airlie Gardens
848.) The Save Airlie Gardens Facebook Group
849.) The passing of the sales tax that helped to keep us solvent in this county for the common good!
850.) The Foundation at Airlie Gardens
851.) The Annual Airlie Oyster Roast
852.) The Oyster roast committee
853.) The Airlie Foundation board
854.) The easement that has been placed on Airlie for the future!
855.) The Butterfly house at Airlie
856.) The educational programs at Airlie
857.) The leadership and caretakers at Airlie
858.) Enchanted Airlie
859.) The bottlehouse at Airlie
860.) The concerts at Airlie
861.) Time with mom and Harold at airlie concerts
862.) Time with Michael and friends and airlie concerts
863.) Watching the children explore and play at airlie
864.) Seeing families enjoy time at airlie.
865.) The pier at airlie
866.) The airlie oak
867.) The amazing flowers in the spring at Airlie
868.) The chapel at airlie
869.) The butterfly art at airlie
870.) The boat ride and “rafting” for the CFCC foundation
871.) The boat ride and meeting for WIHN board on the intracoastal
872.) The intracoastal waterway
873.) Spending time on the water
874.) Being so close to the ocean
875.) Being so close to the river
876.) Old books of front street finding a new home
877.) The full belly project being here in Wilmington
878.) United National Tours
879.) Daniels Management
880.) The William Hooper Apartments
881.) Elderhaus
882.) The new amphitheater at Greenfield lake being in full swing this year!
883.) The BRAC property now being in the hands of non-profits
884.) Eating fresh fish for the first time and really enjoying it!
885.) Motts seafood
886.) Lunch at Judy’s down in calabash
887.) North Carolina Flotilla
888.) Watching the boats with Michael and friends all decorated!
889.) The flotilla party
890.) The flotilla 5k
891.) The best t-shirt ever from the flotilla five 5k!
892.) Making my first run on the beach
893.) Lying on the beach with Michael
894.) Enjoying time together anytime
895.) UNCW Pride
896.) UNCW College Democrats
897.) Honors Scholars Association
898.) SGA proclamation regarding the suicide of gay teen
899.) Association of Nursing Students
900.) Alpha Phi’s and their service to the heart walk
901.) The Honors Student volunteering with the Heart Walk
902.) The SeaHawk Club
903.) The Athletic Department
904.) Health and Applied Human Sciences
905.) UNCW Advancement
906.) EL White Society
907.) Chancellor’s Club
908.) Bruce Levy Scholarship
909.) The Ada Dean Nursing Scholarship
910.) The BosemanTenHuisen Scholarship
911.) The Dankel Scholarship
912.) The Louise McColl Scholarship
913.) The Stargell Nursing Scholarship
914.) The Dean Scholarship
915.) The Myers Scholarship
916.) The Betsy Ervin Scholarship
917.) Randall Library’s new Learning Commons
918.) The Sherman Hayes Gallery
919.) The Annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research
920.) The annual dinner of honors Office workers at our house
921.) The honors office workers
922.) New leadership in randall library this year
923.) The opening of the new Nursing building this year
924.) Pride Participating in the ENC Conference again
925.) The SGA “breaking down the hate” efforts
926.) Center for Leadership , Education and Services
927.) ODK
928.) Phi Kappa Phi
929.) the BOG visit to UNCW and the student presentations
930.) Wilmington Police Department
931.) The leadership in WPD
932.) The service in our neighborhood of WPD
933.) The Public Information Office at WPD
934.) The Sherriff’s office in New Hanover County
935.) The District Attorney’s office in New Hanover and Pender County
936.) The law office of Julia Boseman
937.) The men who take care of our lawn and neighborhood maintenance
938.) The workers who maintain our sewer and water, particularly in storms
939.) 911 operators
940.) New Hanover County 911 Center
941.) Ambulance Drivers and EMTS (particularly those who helped my family this year)
942.) Those who inspect out restaurants and keep them clean and sanitary for us
943.) Those who serve us in our restaurants
944.) The housekeepers at UNCW
945.) The fire folks in town who are the first responders
946.) Our mail person and service
947.) Our news paper deliverer
948.) The garbage collectors
949.) The collection of our recyclables
950.) The cable in our house
951.) The power in our house
952.) The water we get, not so much the authority
953.) The holiday decoration on the streets of Wilmington
954.) The Christmas tree on the water front downtown
955.) The hanging of the greens at Church of the Servant
956.) Christmas music at different churches in the area
957.) Christmas Lights in the neighborhood
958.) Decorating our house for Christmas
959.) Having a full compliment of decorations to decorate our home
960.) Our annual Christmas gathering
961.) Our annual Christmas CD
962.) Our annual Christmas Crystal
963.) Christmas Cards! (love them!!)
964.) Good Sheppard Ministries
965.) Good Sheppard Shelter
966.) Good Sheppard Soup Kitchen
967.) Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministries (WARM)
968.) WARM leadership
969.) WSFX Fox
970.) Habitat for humanity turkey trot
971.) All of the projects helping people stay in their homes that WARM does
972.) Habitat for Humanity
973.) All the new homes from Habitat
974.) The Golden Hammer Breakfast
975.) All the groups doing builds for Habitat
976.) The Pink Build
977.) The Bargain box of Wilmington
978.) All of the voucher for those in need of clothing from the bargain box
979.) The proceeds from the bargain box going to area charities
980.) Vintage values
981.) The Domestic Violence center of Wilmington
982.) Tuesday morning
983.) Belks
984.) All the new clothes that I have gotten
985.) The sales on all the new clothes!
986.) Steinmart
987.) Being able to shop in places where there are not big and tall clothes
988.) Being able to wear clothes that are “off the rack”.
989.) Not having to pay more for my clothing because of my size
990.) Not having to buy clothes anticipating being bigger
991.) Scaling back my closet because I no longer have the “I wanna get in those some day” clothes
992.) Being able to sit in my chair or on my sofa and feel at ease and breathe easily
993.) Not feel so overwieghted or that someone is standing on my chest all the time
994.) No more acid reflux AT ALL!
995.) No more heartburn AT ALL!
996.) No more sense of not being able to swallow!
997.) Taking pictures of others
998.) Sharing pictures with others
999.) Enjoying events and not feeling so self conscience
1000.) The letters from the students each semester
1001.) Every thank you from a student
1002.) Every moment of trust that is imparted to me by a student
1003.) Every time I get to be of help to a student
1004.) Every time I get to witness growth in a student
1005.) Each victory and success that the students around me make!
1006.) Each hurdle or difficulty these students overcome or uncover and make sense of for themselves.
1007.) The obstacles I overcome
1008.) The knowledge that I am never alone in overcoming obstacles
1009.) That each day I am given exactly what I can handle, no more, no less
1010.) That acceptance is the key
1011.) Wilmington Symphony
1012.) Seeing Jessye Norman with Mother in Wilmington
1013.) Ogden Optical
1014.) Holt Oil
1015.) Michael Moore Antiques
1016.) Working Films
1017.) Beuna Space
1018.) The Property Shop
1019.) Adams on Castle
1020.) Kingoff’s Jewelry
1021.) Perry’s Emporium
1022.) Pawn USA
1023.) Just for Buyers Real Estate
1024.) ILM Airport
1025.) The Airport Authority
1026.) Air Wilmington
1027.) Verizon
1028.) Verizon’s team at the heartwalk
1029.) Progress Energy
1030.) Corning
1031.) GE
1032.) Horton Metals
1033.) Wilmington in Black and White
1034.) The journalism of Catherine Welch before she left
1035.) The city manager’s office
1036.) The city planning office
1037.) Kure Beach Pier
1038.) Kure beach boardwalk
1039.) Bowman’s seafood
1040.) The life of Mr. McDuffie
1041.) Naming the community Garden at Hillcrest for Mr. McDuffie
1042.) The Life of Herb McKim
1043.) McKim and Creed
1044.) The life of Beverly Devonne
1045.) The three on the school board who work to ensure the best for all students
1046.) The campaign for Nick Rhodes, may its legacy resonate!
1047.) The service to ALL students by Nick Rhodes
1048.) The campaign for school board of Phil Stine for ALL students
1049.) The campaign for school board of Clancy and Joyce
1050.) The NAACP of New Hanover County
1051.) Greater Diversity
1052.) The Wilmington Black Chamber of Commerce
1053.) WDI
1054.) Cape Fear Homebuilders
1055.) Cape Fear Future
1056.) Sponsorships and community support of Carolina cement
1057.) Coastal Carolina tomorrow
1058.) JS Clark
1059.) Lumina Station
1060.) The aquariums in my office
1061.) The aquarium in the new Hanover county govt. complex
1062.) The aquarium in Randall library
1063.) The NC Aquarium at fort fisher
1064.) The eel room
1065.) The large tank at the aquarium
1066.) The bird area that aquarium
1067.) The public art and graphics at the aquarium
1068.) The Surfhouse restaurant in Carolina Beach!
1069.) The quiet space that arboretum with the Japanese bridge and pond
1070.) Andy’s sculptures of the Buddhist frog at the arboretum
1071.) The arboretum annual plant sale
1072.) The arboretum ability gardens and classes with the extension program
1073.) The azalea festival garden tours
1074.) The candlelight downtown holiday tours
1075.) The windows in first Presbyterian
1076.) The spires on the temple downtown
1077.) The windows of the Lutheran church on market street
1078.) Sister Isaacs’ outreach at St. mary’s
1079.) The back to school bookbag giveaway at creekwood
1080.) The lodge’s support of the bookbag giveway
1081.) New Bridge Bank
1082.) Carolina First and their successful merge
1083.) The loan closing from RBC for Taylor Homes
1084.) The savannah salad at McCallisters
1085.) 19 years of perfect attendance at rotary for Colonel Anderson!
1086.) Being able to give the prayers at Rotary
1087.) Being asked to officiate at a wedding in the spring for two former students
1088.) The Outdoor adventure programs at UNCW
1089.) The guidance for health and wellness from my associate director
1090.) The confidence of my director and my promotion this year
1091.) The relationships we share in my office
1092.) Being happy to go to work every daggone day!
1093.) Knowing that it is about what I do, not what I have
1094.) Knowing I still have more to learn
1095.) Knowing it is one day at a time!
1096.) Just to be alive
1097.) For the very ability to love and be loved.
1098.) To be grateful..to know that NOTHING can be taken for granted. It is all a blessing.
1099.) The peace of my God that comes to me when I allow it each day and the opportunities that are available if I show up.
1100.) For anyone who made it to the end of this list and hopefully..you will make your own..it is, well, powerful, overwhelming, and all that….thanks be!
