Wow.

Where do I start?

It's 6 a.m.  I've been up for over two hours, awakened by my overflowing brain and heart.

Yesterday we had our first meeting of the board of directors on our way to incorporating.  For those outside the U.S., let me explain: when taxpayers here donate to non-profit corporations, they can deduct the money from their taxes.  This has become so normal that no one wants to give unless they can take it off their taxes.  So friends who are willing to give to us have been waiting for us to get this done.  The whole process takes over a year, but we started down the road yesterday.

But that's not the gift our board is giving.  We have a legal responsibility, but the real gift is their vision and commitment and community together.  We asked seven gifted people, and all said yes.  Yesterday we met for the first time, and started to share our passions and dreams.  We have an amazing future, being created right now.

This week brought so many other gifts.  We had two large (for us, huge) financial gifts.  One is dependent on the legal stuff, but it's coming.  And beyond the money is what it says, about people's hopes and dreams and plans for the world.  We had a great gathering of women in our living room.

Now, this week, our first "chapter" - the official gathering of the community, our plans and reflections of where we are and where we plan to go.  Then, on June 16, the first meeting for those who want to affiliate - whether as residential companions, or as oblates, or as prayer companions, or - we will see what you want and need!

Thank you, God, for this amazing life.  Thank you for friends, for coaches, for community.  Thank you for quiet rainy mornings.  Thank you for you.