I begin and end my day with the same prayer. Please bless them and keep them safe and well, and wrap Your arms around them so that they will feel loved.

I am grateful for memories of sitting at the kitchen table and reading all of the Valentines that the girls got, seeing who gave really good candy and extra fun cards. I am grateful for memories of my girls all “dolled up” in pink and red and big huge bows in their hair, excited to give their Valentines to their classmates.

I am grateful for tart candy hearts.

I am grateful for beautiful new clothes in a gift bag that was the beginning to my day.

I am also grateful for a big fat chocolate cupcake with pink frosting and a gift certificate for a night out at the movies from my bosses.

I am grateful that I no longer dread Valentine’s Day. I used to get all tied up in knots because it seemed that everyone but me was treated so special on this day. I would let my misery work on me until I was so bitter about not receiving a card filled with beautiful handwritten words professing love for me, bitter about only receiving the Valentine fundraiser balloon/roses/teddybear because of obligation, or bitter because there was no acknowledgment at all. And it was even harder to face the day when this question was posed: “So…what did he do for you for Valentine’s Day?!” I was a very selfish person inside and let this ridiculous day get to me.

Every day is Valentine’s Day now. I am very blessed and loved.

And I am grateful that the Holy Spirit spoke loudly to me this morning through this prayer and the story of Ezekiel from my church devotions:

God, so often I find myself chasing after other things to fill the needs I have instead of running to you. I make gods out of things which lead me away from you and your love. Have mercy on me and forgive me when I am going in the wrong direction. Please guide my thoughts and desires to long for the things that will draw me closer to you, through the help of your Holy Spirit.

Give me charity toward others and grace to be merciful when I am wronged. Help me to be a light who shares the hope I have found through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

There are days when I just don’t feel it. Today is one of those days. So, I have to dig deep and open my eyes to see things for which to be grateful.

I am grateful for happy memories with Mom and my girls.

I am grateful that I enjoy work.

I am grateful for a cell phone.

I am grateful that my box arrived in Oregon.

I am grateful to have received a picture of Parker last night.

I am grateful that my brother keeps me informed.

I am grateful for Sam, because he was concerned that the bird feeders were empty this morning.

I am grateful that it is going to be warmer than freezing for the next few days.

I am grateful that my teeth have not been hurting lately.

And I am grateful that I am not living in poverty.

I am grateful for temperatures above freezing today.

I have issues. For some reason, I have a hard time with anyone who pronounces words incorrectly, especially if the person is a fairly intelligent human being who is college-educated. It is my opinion that they most likely do not read very much. I don’t know why I think that.  But it made me grateful today that I read, like to read, and like to learn new things by reading a variety of subjects.

I am grateful that my Dad enjoys reading and we have that in common.

I am grateful for a wonderful night of Bingo with our assisted living friends. For the first time, Jim played Bingo. It only took nine months.

I am grateful for adults who laugh.

I am grateful for rock bottom. “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…”

I am also grateful today that I am in a new career. I spent my lunch hour with four 8^th grade girls in a middle school cafeteria, and the stressful feelings came pouring back in that I used to feel every day. Don’t get me wrong – I love being around the kids, but I do not miss the stress of the noise, the subtle misbehavior and smart remarks, the hormones raging, the judgmental glares and stares between students and teachers, and the chaos.

With all of that typed out, I am very grateful for my friend, Abbie. I am grateful that she has allowed me to have a teeny tiny part of her life. I am grateful that I will get to hear her sing tomorrow night at her school choir concert.

I am grateful for icicles.

I am grateful that in the midst of potential depression and despair, I can still put one foot in front of the other and find an abundance of reasons to smile and be grateful. From my Max Lucado book:  

“You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don’t be foolish or naïve. But don’t despair either. With God’s help you will get through this.”

I am grateful for this song today:

Happy

I am grateful for snippets of happiness throughout the day, like Olympian Kate Hansen’s warm-up before a race, or an exciting ending to a great basketball game last night, or the sound of frozen slush crunch, or a boss who was extremely disappointed in the ballgame’s conclusion but walked in happy and wearing a KState sweatshirt, just for me.

I am grateful for salt – on my microwaved egg, on potato chips, and on the roads and sidewalks.

I am grateful for cats. I miss having one to sleep on my lap and purr happiness into my ear and fill the house with its meow and bat at toys and hide in paper sacks. I miss Sneakers and Topo and Panther. And Natia and Brandi and Sienna, although they are dogs. And Tweety, although he was a canary. But they all brought happiness into my world…

I am grateful for memories, although fading, of making Valentine boxes with the girls when they were little.

And I am grateful that my debt has been erased.

I am grateful for the opportunity to stay home for a little while this morning and wait on the HVAC guy to come and fix the furnace. It’s 53 degrees and that makes me grateful for a working furnace.

So, I’m also grateful for Lisa and her thoughtfulness, because while I am sitting here waiting, I opened my email to see that she had sent me this link to start my day. It’s definitely worth listening to or watching, especially this morning. What a perfect way to start Friday, or end Friday, or begin the weekend:

Every Praise

Now I’m ready for the day. Thank you Lisa, and thank you, God, for Lisa.

I am grateful for a washing machine, dryer and clean clothes.

I am grateful for a water heater that works.

I am grateful for two emails from Geri.

I am grateful for bonus mail from Shirley. She sent pictures of Katrina as a football homecoming candidate, of Karissa the summer after high school graduation, and of the CCHS girls’ ensemble singing at a contest. Wow. Such memories. Thank you, Shirley!

I am grateful for Zak’s newsletter and his story about learning to work as a team.

I am grateful for cardinals that sing even in sub-zero temperatures.

I am grateful that Sam tells me he loves me and shows me, many times every day.

I am grateful for a very enjoyable dinner last night with new friends, Gary and Rosie.

I am grateful to have been invited to Vangie’s baby shower!

I am grateful for sore muscles.

I am grateful for Marcia, because she posts these wonderful sayings:

I am grateful for memories of shoveling snow at Carmella’s house with my Dad while Clare scooped snow for other neighbors with his tractor. I am also grateful for memories of shoveling snow last February with Sam for three different homes, not our neighbors, because it was the right thing to do and we had a snow day. Sam did it again yesterday for a neighbor across the street. It feels good to be a good neighbor.

And I am grateful for two pairs of gloves to wear at the same time.

I am grateful for a snow day…I think. Yes, I am. My back is sore, my nose is running, and I can’t feel my toes, but the driveway is now cleared, and I can sit down and enjoy the sunny afternoon and the sparkle that is all over the back yard covered in white diamonds. I cleared a path to the bird feeder and it is filled so the chickadees and cardinals don’t have to sit on the branch wondering when lunch is coming. And, to top it all off, a stranger came and blessed me.

His name is Mark. He was hired by a neighbor to clear their driveway. While I was out shoveling, he was pushing his snowblower in the drive across the street. I am sure he saw me stop several times to catch my breath and rest. After about an hour, he finished up and had loaded his snowblower in the back of his company truck. And then he walked over with a shovel and asked if I would like some help. I had decided that if ANYONE walked or drove by and offered assistance, I wasn’t going to turn them down, but I wouldn’t seek out any help. Besides, it’s wonderful exercise and I had already cleared the drive twice yesterday afternoon. However, he offered, and I said, “I would LOVE some help.” He looked at the huge drift in the middle of the drive and saw that it was going to take a little more work, so he went and got his snowblower and finished the drive for me.  When I ran after him in the street to pay him, he said he couldn’t take any money. I pleaded with him, and his response was this: “I wake up every morning and thank God for another day. And then I ask Him to send someone my way to help. If I took your money, it would take away my gift. Use that money to help someone else.”

I asked him what church he attends, and he shrugged the question off, as if to say that the church had nothing to do with it, and then told me he is Catholic and attends Prince of Peace. And that is all I know of this man. 

I am grateful that I have the ability, the desire, and the freedom to shovel a driveway.

I am grateful that there was a really nice man who saw a woman shoveling a big driveway and wanted to help, just because.

I am grateful for Mark today. God, please bless this man who blessed someone else in Your Name, and give me the opportunity to do the same for someone else today.

I am grateful for silly comedians – my favorite is John Pinette. Since I’m daydreaming Chinese food today, here’s my favorite bit he does:

Chinese Buffet

I am grateful for my former students who keep in touch with me.

I am grateful for a new wok. Thank you, Danny and Glenda. (It’s what we got with your gift card!) All you can eat stir fry tonight…but not fouw-evah!

I am grateful for Dwight. He calls his sister, and I like that.

I am grateful for McDonald’s employees who still go to work in the winter storm, so that I can get one large unsweet iced tea in a Styrofoam cup.

I am grateful for very nice blood center employees who make giving blood a not-so-stressful experience.

I am grateful for dreams about Anissa, Andrae, and Annistan.

I am grateful for dreams that include Katrina’s laughter.

I am grateful for two blankets and a really warm fire last night.

I am grateful for verenika. I can’t believe I just typed that.  I used to think it was AWFUL food, until I had verenika from CBA. Mmmmm. And that ham and onion gravy. Oh, how I miss it. That’s the kind of food that you can only get there. Just like the enchiladas from LaLa’s Café in Mirando City, Texas. Nothing else like it in the world. (Yep, it’s a fast day.)

I am grateful that I drive a vehicle that can handle snow.

I am grateful that Mom no longer has to get out in this winter mess. I can imagine my Dad did this morning, and I wish he could stay home and read a book.

I am grateful for the Joyce’s in my life. I work with a wonderful Joyce during the week and then get to work with another wonderful Joyce on the weekends. Both are teaching me so much about being assertive and confident and the inner strength of a woman, and for that, I am also grateful.

I am grateful that Valerie has a blog. I love her writing.

And I am grateful for Psalm 121 and the reassurance that I am not alone:

¹ I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
² My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

³ He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
⁴ Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.

⁵ The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.

⁷ The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
⁸ The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

People carry pictures of their children in their wallets but rarely carry pictures of their parents in their wallets.

I am grateful for my Dad today…and every day.

I am grateful for my health today.

I am grateful for a Valentine box ready to mail.

I am grateful to have heard what Maddie said in choir yesterday about wanting to be in my counselor group again. She made me feel very loved. I am grateful for Maddie.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend my first training session to become a CASA advocate.

I am grateful for a new week.

I am grateful for groceries.

I am grateful for this insight from Nancy Pauls yesterday in my church devotions:

Transformation means conversion, change, renovation, or makeover. To me, transformation means increasingly seeing the world through God’s eyes. Ideas that used to be hard for me to grasp were like trying to read the newspaper without my reading glasses. Now, though prayer and God’s grace, I can see more visibly from God’s perspective.

Transformation also means, to me, a gradual warming of the heart. My heart used to be like a frozen over pond, one that you could ice skate on. Now it is like a pond with such a thin layer of ice, you wouldn’t dare to walk on it. The water is bubbling up and pouring out through cracks on the surface.

A test to see if I am actually growing closer to Christ is to ask myself questions based on the fruit of the Spirit. Such as, am I more loving and less angry then I was five years ago? Am I more at peace and less anxious than I was five years ago? Am I more generous and less stingy than I was five years ago?

I am grateful that the squirrels and birds have discovered the seeds.

I am grateful for kitty litter on the driveway.

Because it is a topic on the radio right now, I am grateful that I am not offended by last night’s Coca-Cola commercial and love the fact that we are a diverse nation.

I am grateful for a little boy who wasn’t shy and sat down in our booth to watch the Duke game with us.

I am grateful for a cleaned-out pantry.

And I am grateful that I have a few pictures of my daughters in my wallet, even though they are faded, bent, and outdated, and I WILL print a picture of my parents before I leave work today and put it in my wallet to proudly carry.