I am grateful for heated seats and a sunroof that is open in the 45 degree air at the top of Cottonwood Pass and the Continental Divide this morning.

I am grateful for smooth interstate road after the washboard dirt roads of the Pass.

I am grateful that there are only three more hours of driving tonight after driving all day long.

I am grateful for the sound of rain on the windshield as we go down the road.

I am grateful for a beautiful trip, new friends, a river rafting experience that made me think of Mom and Dad, the privilege of staying in a hotel/condo that is probably the nicest place I’ve ever stayed, and the gift from God of waking up every morning to His beautiful creation of mountains just outside the window.

I am grateful for a washer and dryer in the room so that the suitcase is full of clean clothes to take home.

I am grateful for crispy bacon.

I am grateful to have finished my court report, my Jen Hatmaker book “Interrupted,” and relax in the hotel bathrobe in front of a fireplace while drinking hot cocoa.  Ahhhh.

I am grateful for a hotel towel to dry off after exiting the raft and very cold Taylor River.

I am grateful I didn’t fall out of the raft and grateful for an awesome guide and rafting friends who also wanted to do 360s through the rapids.

I am grateful to have seen deer, big horn sheep, hummingbirds, muskrats, hawks, a bald eagle, and these wild creatures on the trip:

I am grateful that we had internet access today for a little while so that I could read this email/blog post and reflect on how much I learn from others’ reflections. I loved this particular one and it needs to be shared:

God Loves Hamas

And finally, I am grateful for a husband who would rather have the radio off so that we can visit as we watch the miles go by.

Clicking my heels three times…