I am grateful for dental floss.

I am grateful for zippers that work.

I am grateful for running water.

I am grateful for cushioning in shoes.

I am grateful for time spent with Orlando and Jeanette last night.

I am grateful for homemade chocolate chip cookies.

I am grateful for the ability to learn, the ability that never ends, and I am grateful to have been humbled in my CASA class. I didn’t have an edge up. I have a lot to learn about teenagers in the foster care system…

I am grateful for unexpected answers to prayer.

I am grateful that everything this week makes me think of these four:

I am grateful for drive-through car washes that result in a clean car.

I am grateful for the beauty of a sparkling clean, filled, swimming pool that is ready for summer in the neighborhood.

I am grateful for the fact that we have an array of colorful birds to watch in the back yard.

I am grateful for band-aids.

I am grateful for a new purse for the choir trip and summer.

I am grateful for crackers.

I am grateful that I do not have a permanent scowl on my face and my mouth doesn’t have an obvious, natural frown. At least I hope it doesn’t. I’ve seen two women in the last few hours that need some serious laughter and joy injected into their face. 

I am grateful for a clean refrigerator.

I am grateful for a chair that swivels and has casters.

And I am grateful for “angels” in my life who have been sent by God to speak life, truth, grace, and peace, and who are right there when I need them most, when I had no idea I needed them…