I am grateful that I still have some good memories left. It’s a memory kind of day.

I am grateful for a good pen, because when the pen is bad, I am frustrated.

I am grateful for the food in the refrigerator.

I am grateful for children’s books and for memories of reading those books to Shirley on the way back to Kansas from Dallas. Children’s books make me happy.

I am grateful for memories of Mom working her newspaper puzzles every day.

I am grateful for my devotion this morning:

It is impossible to praise or thank Me too much. As it is written, I inhabit the praises of My people. Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of Joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings. At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured – an act of your will. I dwell equally in both types of praise. Thankfulness, also, is a royal road to draw near Me. A thankful heart has plenty of room for Me.

 When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from Whom all blessings flow. When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece in invisible realms. Fill up the spare moments of our life with praise and thanksgiving. This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I am grateful for four beautiful Waterford glasses that sit on the table reminding me of the great people for whom I work and the wonderful career I now enjoy so much.

I am grateful for the beauty of an icicle, such a simple but unique piece of art from the Creator. A favorite memory of mine is sitting on the porch swing with Parker at one of the camp cabins and breaking off a huge icicle for her that was hanging from the roof. When I see an icicle, that is the image I remember…

I am grateful for Halos/Cuties/just the right size oranges, one of the best things about winter.

I am grateful for soft socks from Delores.

I am grateful for memories of snow days with Karissa and Katrina – for those days when Clare would fashion a rope and a sled behind the pickup and pull the girls down the street in town. Or the days when the dorm kids would come over because they were bored and needed to “escape” or Katrina’s friends would spend the day at the house playing board games and Keith Peters would make us all laugh until we cried.

I am grateful for a fun phone call with Dad last night.

I am grateful for memories of picking up Mom and Dad two years ago this morning and beginning our two day trip to Florida to see Charlie, Patsy and Steve. What a glorious time that was…

I am grateful for Tupperware and Rubbermaid and Ziploc and Glad containers.

And I am grateful for memories of a trip to Fort Worth one year ago today to babysit for three adorable grandchildren.

I was so excited to fly all by myself, to babysit all by myself, and to have so much dedicated time with the kids. I also remember being so worried that something would happen to Mom while I was out of the state. I knew that her time was limited and it was the beginning of a new chapter in this life…

I am grateful for three pairs of socks, two layers of pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a CBA hoodie, a warm coat with a hood, Mom’s gloves, and Sam’s running stocking cap. I was relatively warm this afternoon while shoveling the drive. All I needed was a soft pillow to land on when I fell. Tonight, I am grateful for a soft couch to sit on and a warm fire in the fireplace.

I am grateful for the absence of those anxiety-producing feelings of waiting for my school to scroll across the screen, not wanting to go to work tomorrow and hoping for a snow day… I love my job and don’t mind going to work tomorrow morning in the bone-chilling cold.

I am grateful for my church that doesn’t cancel services for any reason. It was great to bust through the snow in the driveway and make it there a few minutes late this morning.  Great message, and worth the effort.

I am grateful for a budget to work from this year. A good start to fiscal discipline.

I am grateful for a nice day with family yesterday. 

I am grateful for a crowded apartment last night with family all cheering on the Chiefs. 

I am grateful that I do not have a credit card. 

I am grateful to have seen my cardinal friend out the kitchen window again this morning. I’m anxious to get my bird feeder this week.

I am grateful for John and Delbert, Annika and Logan and Quincy. They provided music for us and it was a beautiful gift.

I am grateful to have finished my Jen Hatmaker book and am now moving on to my Max Lucado book.

I am grateful to have sat in the living room last night, seeing Mom’s picture on the computer screen, seeing her empty recliner, and just imagining her in the room with all of us. She would have enjoyed the day with her sister and Johnson family, and would have loved watching football with her husband, kids, and grandchildren.  

I am grateful to be the daughter of a Mom who showed me compassion and understanding. I never doubted her love and support.

I am grateful to be the daughter of the best Dad in the world who still buys roses for the apartment and makes sure we know how much he loves us.  

And I am grateful for the smell of clean sheets.

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.

My brother sent this a few days ago, and I have read and re-read it. It goes so well with my church devotions this morning which focused on Colossians 3:12-17:

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, church, or home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past – we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes!”

I am grateful for my brother, Dwight, who has the BEST attitude, pretty much always.

I am grateful for Valerie, my cousin, who has now started her own grateful blog. Yay, someone else who has discovered the impact of attitude on life, and to be grateful for even the smallest, seemingly insignificant things!

I am grateful for a quiet ending to the first day of the new year with snow falling outside, a warm fire inside, the sound of football on the TV, and the smell of no bake cookies on the counter.

I am grateful to have had time to iron yesterday.

I am grateful for waxed paper.

I am grateful for a “new” devotion book to read this year. Thank you, Dad.

I am grateful for huge year-end success at work resulting in three major placements in the last few days and a bonus today that will help immensely.

I am grateful for Reilly and Parker and the extra soft spot I have for their beautiful family. I am so proud of them all.

I am grateful to have received an email from Roman and for his wonderful news.

I am grateful that we made it a whole year without drinking soda or eating french fries. I miss you, Dr. Pepper and McDonalds/Burger King/Freddy’s/Braum’s fries. I should probably eliminate something else from my list for this year…

I am grateful that hymns play in my mind rather than music that does not benefit me or glorify God. Currently playing:

Bless That Wonderful Name

I am grateful for a car that started this morning in the extreme cold temperature.

I am grateful for time on the phone last night with Dad. He makes me so happy.

I am grateful for the cardinals that were outside the kitchen window yesterday.  Food is coming soon, guys, just hang on a few more days.

I am grateful for a renewed desire to get back in shape and lose some of this weight, but I’m also grateful that I’m okay with me how I am, and if I don’t lose the weight, it’s okay.

And I am grateful for these instructions that are perfect for living in 2014:

^12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

^15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. – Colossians 3:12-17, The Message