August 2016 Gratitude

1. Cinnamon dulce latte Starbucks for the road trip home (and warm slice of pumpkin bread -shhh)

2. A husband who will sell the old van on Craigslist for me

3. Being able to sub sometimes when someone is ill/ lend a helping hand; having enough margin to help without feeling guilty that I should be doing something else

4. Others' kind appreciation when we are able to host Bible Study here: "You make it seem effortless."

5. New school supplies at back-to-school sale prices

6. Feeling like my time with Brave Girls was a valuable endeavor- seeds of thought planted for the girls to mull over later as they make their life decisions- creating a safe place to be heard

7. Going to Terra on a date for steak frites and lemon vinaigrette salad, then to a tango lesson too- oh the freedom of summer!

8. Driving to Greenville to find Evangeline at the Bernhardt House of Violins, then celebrating with lunch at PF Changs

9. Another monthly gathering of soul sisters- sharing life with funny girlfriends

10.  Wrestling with my goofy man- occasionally finding it within myself to act loud and extroverted for him

11. Watching a good movie together on our laptop snuggled in our covers

12. Watching the Olympics on the couch with our family and allowing Della to stay with us on a blanket

13. Glimmers of a son's happy personality returning after a forced technology Sabbatical

14. A working the crowd to express appreciation to Biltrite employees at a company picnic

15. I have a shepherd who will carry me when I am down and lonely (Psalm 28:9)

16. A goodbye kiss in the morning

17. Knowing our pediatrician and being able to express health concerns and search again for solutions

18. A pilates member asking for my prayers in a cancer scare

19. Seeing L write again, even if only for school assignments; returning glimmers of confidence

20. The ability to buy school supplies and clothes without financial hardship; deep gratitude for a good job

21. Watching The Little Prince on Netflix with my kids and enjoying flashbacks of my francophilia

22. Taking a jet ski ride with Andy the way we used to when we were dating seventeen years ago; flying across the water, rhythmically soaring up and over the waves like riding on a galloping horse

23. Sleeping next to my husband the night before he leaves for a long work trip

24. Having air conditioning and the ability to plug in my phone and listen to my music on days when I need to drive 185 ridiculous miles around Columbia

25. Safety for my husband in a new business venture- no trips to the hospital as they learn how to use new machinery

26. The ability to lie on the couch and read on a day when I wasn't feeling well

27. A night to stay up reading until 1:00 am and a little afternoon nap the next day to recover from my foolishness

28.  Rays of sunlight filtering through a copse of trees (and how my vocabulary improves when I read more)

29. Kids happy to see friends at a high school football game

30. Girls who enjoy baking

31. Having our parents worship alongside us at L's church orchestra concert evening