I am grateful for a crockpot.

I am grateful for a new Max Lucado book to begin reading.

I am grateful for laughter last night at dinner.  I had just turned on Wheel of Fortune, because it is sometimes our routine to eat in the kitchen and watch it during dinner, challenging each other to solve the puzzle first. A commercial was on and it was time to pray. Sam said, “Hurry, we’re gonna miss the puzzle,” and we both cracked up at how ridiculous we are in our little routine. It was my turn to pray, but I couldn’t quit giggling at Sam with his eyes closed, playfully peeking out at the TV to make sure the show hadn’t returned yet. So, he took over and prayed for me. I’m so grateful that God accepts our silliness and loves us anyway.

I am grateful for my strawberry yogurt that I brought for lunch.

I am grateful to have had a little bit of time last night to browse at Mardel, looking for our Christmas gifts for the family reunion tomorrow. I found myself a little birthday present: a reunion necklace that has nothing to do with the family reunion, but everything to do with family reunions…

“Since Heaven has become your home, I sometimes feel I’m so alone;

And though we now are far apart, you hold a big piece of my heart.

 

I never knew how much I’d grieve when it was time for you to leave,

Or just how much my heart would ache from that one fragment you would take.

 

God lets this tender hole remain reminding me we’ll meet again,

And one day all the pain will cease when He restores this missing piece.

 

He’ll turn to joy my every tear and when I wear this necklace near,

It will become my simple way to treasure our Reunion Day.”

I will wear it and think of Mom and my girls and my grandchildren. 

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. – Desmond Tutu

I am grateful for an exciting football game to watch last night.

I am grateful for memories of family reunions at the Better Book Room with Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Naomi, out in Haviland in the pink house with Uncle Tommy and Aunt Arlene, memories of the gag gifts for Uncle Eugene and Delbert, going to Eilene’s house with all the stairs, Jane Koger, good times in Colorado and over in Branson during the summers, hearing Uncle Cecil’s laugh that Mark inherited, and all the years at Grandpa and Grandma Johnson’s… 

I am grateful for Jen Hatmaker’s wit and wisdom. I am on the “stress” chapter of her book “7,” and it makes me very grateful that I am in a new chapter of life and my life doesn’t look like hers any longer. 

I am grateful for the smell of green Palmolive dish soap.

I am grateful for the opportunity tomorrow to be with the Johnson family again. I’m not sure how many will be there, but even if it is just a few, I am so grateful for my Mom’s family who values the importance of continuing the annual Christmas reunions. It has become so easy in this day and age to let time pass by and not reconnect with relatives – I am grateful Mom influenced my sister and I to keep this tradition alive.

And I am grateful for the work Mom put into making her enormous family tree posters that she hauled to all of the family reunions. That information and those posters were so important to her.

She always wanted her children to make the effort to go to every reunion. I get it now.