I am grateful for the quick thumping of a Natia tail on the leather loveseat. 

I am grateful for memories that came to mind yesterday as we were shopping for shoes for grandchildren – memories of shoe shopping days as children when the shoe salesman would ask if we wanted to wear them out of store, and how quick we were to put the old shoes in the new shoebox and proudly stomp out of the store with shiny new favorites on our feet.

I am grateful for the way one word brings Mom into the room. This weekend, the word was “sweeper.”  

I am grateful for pretty flowers now planted in the flower beds – a little late for summer, but ready for the fall. 

I am grateful to hear the words “I love you, Rhonda,” every single day.

I am grateful for a very busy day at work and more than I could get done in a day.

I am grateful for my paycheck and fewer gifts to purchase this month. 

I am grateful for scents of autumn that are now filling the air when I walk into stores – pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, spice, woodsy, mmmmmm. My favorite time of year is here.

I am grateful for a friend who isn’t afraid to trim dog nails and does so at a text message’s notice/request.

I am grateful for this Dave Barry quote from Sunday’s message:

“People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.”

I am grateful for piroulines, even though I cannot have them right now. There is a canister waiting with my name on it. These were my Bingo prizes tonight, and Katherine looked SO FUNNY with one in her mouth, like a cigar hanging out. I told my Bingo friends to imagine they were cookies in the shape of a Royals bat. 

I am grateful for cobwebs gone.

I am grateful for a drive in the truck for no reason other than just to drive around in the truck.

I am grateful for the sound of locusts but not so grateful for the sound of locusts when they do a surprise fly-by.

I am grateful for this, from my devotion this morning:

“When you depend on Me continually, your whole perspective changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only natural occurrences and ‘coincidences.’ You begin your day with joyful expectation, watching to see what I will do. You accept weakness as a gift from Me, knowing that My Power plugs in most readily to consecrated weakness…” – from Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

And I am grateful for funny pictures that make me smile and make me silently say, “I resemble that:”

…or in my case: handful of chips, ice cream spoonful, cupcake, helping of mac & cheese, piece of fried chicken, Cheezit…