Glorious – having a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.

I am grateful for joy.

I am grateful for hunger pains and cravings and the ability to work through them and not indulge.

I am grateful for a new opportunity to become a CASA advocate here in Kansas City. I have wanted to do this for such a long time, and now it seems the door may be opening.

CASA for Children

I am grateful that God has brought me to this place in life – a place where I am living what I profess. As I was listening to the music on KLOVE this morning on my way to work, it hit me that the words to the song, “Your grace is enough…” used to be just words to a song, and I might have professed those truths, but I was not living them. I was such a Pharisee. I had such bitterness inside and treated some people “nicely” but talked about them in a negative light when they weren’t around.  If God shows me enough grace to cover my multitude of sins/failures/shortcomings, I MUST do the same for others in order to be a living testimony.

I am grateful for a handful of Sam’s Club gluten-free multi grain crackers, since I forgot my leftover burrito for lunch.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have dinner with Ian and Abbie last night. Those two kids are so enjoyable to be around. It was especially noticeable to Sam and I that Ian said “thank you” several times – you just don’t find that trait in kids these days, and we were impressed. Mom always used to say, “It makes you want to do something nice for them AGAIN.” Yes, it sure does. And when kids DON’T say “thank you,” it has the opposite effect.

I am grateful for the best hot chocolate. Thanks, Angela, for reminding me of Mom’s recipe. I remember her huge Tupperware container that she used to mix that stuff up. Now I want to make it this weekend, because I am craving the best hot chocolate. I need a huge Tupperware container. Will a small trash can work?

I am grateful for Dove chocolate messages:

Chocolate DOES bring a little bit of joy.

Joy really IS contagious.

And finally, I am grateful for this song and the joy and hope it gives to me. It’s been playing on my internal jukebox all morning:

What a Day, GLORIOUS Day That Will Be

There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, GLORIOUS day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, GLORIOUS day that will be.

There’ll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, GLORIOUS day that will be.