Friday night grateful list

ow does Friday roll around again so quickly? Just amazing, the speed of a week lately (meaning, the past 15-20 years, I guess)...

This week my grateful list includes, but is not limited to:

My husband, who took the afternoon off to play with me (run errands, eat lunch out). Lovely.

My son, who made me so proud last night at his jazz band performance. He had his first trumpet solo in this band, which was a big deal, and when he looked up and smiled at me after he was done, I was a pretty happy momma smiling back.

My family, near and far. The photo above is of me (second from left) and my brother (beside me) and my cousins on my mother's side of the family, at Disneyland, 1976. Cute little ragamuffins, aren't we? I posted this picture three years ago on Facebook, and for some reason today (I think my mother started it, but I'm not sure), it started getting liked and commented on... brought back a lot of memories. Cousins are special relationships. Even though I'm not in regular touch with all the cousins in the picture above, I would do anything I could, for any of them, any time. Family is so dear.

Work. It's humming along, some days more productive/better than others. But I'm still enjoying the challenge and love the plotting/planning/scheming aspect most of all.

green

Green. The world is GREEN right now. The lawn, the fields, even the peas we've got planted on our 15 acres this year are popping up, finally. I love the lushness of spring!

rain

Rain. We have had some real surprise rainstorms lately. Think it's finished? Wait another five minutes, it's bound to sprinkle again... Lovely, but its helpful to have a raincoat/umbrella handy!

sunshine

Sunshine. In between those rainshowers, there have been lovely sunny moments. I've actually gotten too warm in the sun a few times this week. I'm not complaining, by any means... just noting.

Lists. I've been thinking about lists a lot lately, and how much they help my life. I am grateful for the energy that putting something down on paper can bring to things I need to accomplish. I think I'm especially happy when crossing things off the list!

health

Good health. I was noting today that I haven't had the flu in many years (if anything's bound to bring it around, it's gloating about that! I was NOT gloating. Just noting.), and also it's been quite a while since a cold has caught me. I credit the Vitamin D I've been taking on top of my usual Vitamin Cs... but who knows. I'm just glad about it, and grateful.

grace

Faith, that I'm a part of a bigger plan, that my spot in the universe matters and that He's got my back. I'm also grateful, so so grateful for grace; living with the power of grace being extended to me, daily, and working hard to pay that grace forward, into the world.

laugh

Humor. I love to laugh, I really do, even if it does on occasion end in a decidedly unladylike snort. Sigh. I don't love the snort, and I'm pretty sure no one else is a big fan either, but it can definitely be a surprise and reason for MORE laughter. Snort!

weekend

The weekend! Oh boy I'm glad to be at the weekend. Ready for rest, ready for yard work, ready for naps and Saturday morning breakfasts. All the good stuff. Sunshine, too, that would be nice.

I hope your weekend is everything you want it to be, and that, too, your grateful list is full to overflowing.

Peace.