It was raining when I went to bed and raining even harder when I got up. I was warm and dry inside a comfortable home, a pot of coffee gurgling good morning and homemade stew in the crock pot set on low, waiting for lunch time.

It reminded me of a similar Sunday a few years ago when my business partner phoned me and asked if I wanted to go counting eagles. She suggested there might be some good photo opportunities. After all, we were supposed to be creative people, always looking for inspiration.

I declined saying I was going to stay home and count things inside, where it was warm. 鈥淲hat will you count?鈥� she queried. 鈥淢aybe I鈥檒l count my blessings,鈥� I replied.

We don鈥檛 do that enough; we spend too much time counting the rain drops and not the things that really count. I have been to three memorial services already this year and at each one, the value of family and friends is front and centre, the people that come through in the tough times.

Determine who the people are in your life who have the positive influences on you and stay in close personal touch with them. The people that are still there in your corner during the tough times, they鈥檙e the ones you can count on. At least that鈥檚 what McGregor says.

Counting Eagles

I was invited today to go counting eagles,

Rewarding, exciting, they say!

But this is not quite the weather

To number each feather,

I鈥檓 not counting eagles to-day.

I realize they鈥檙e an endangered species,

But then, my God, aren鈥檛 we all!

It makes no sense to go

Out in four feet of snow,

To endanger myself with a fall!

I think that today, I鈥檒l do other counting,

Go places I haven鈥檛 been for awhile;

Like where each day we live

With much thanks to give,

And thanks never goes out of style!

My first thanks today, will be for my blessings,

So many, just where do I start?

For the talent God gave me

To see what others don鈥檛 see,

To search with my soul and my heart!

My family today, count them and count on them,

They鈥檙e there if I want them or not;

Imagine those on their own

Solving problems alone,

Start counting the shoulders I鈥檝e got!

Count my friends up today, how rich I鈥檝e become,

Some are new, some I鈥檝e had quite awhile;

I don鈥檛 need any wealth

If I鈥檝e got hugs and health,

Someone close to share tears or a smile!

My troubles today, flew off like the eagles,

It seems counting has scared them away;

Bad times I think,

Are soon made extinct,

By counting your blessings each day!