Who’s gonna win, gonna win, gonna win?
We’re gonna win, gonna win, gonna win!!

Oh. My. Goodness.

I used to think watching baseball was about as exciting as watching C-Span.  I used to think that watching the Royals was nothing more than a royal pain in the butt and a huge waste of perfectly good reality TV time. But over the past two years, (unfortunately after my Mom is now in Heaven and can’t witness history-in-the-making and her youngest enjoy the team like she did) this former MLB-eye-roller has become a loyal Royal fan. I’m gonna have to break the bank one of these days and go get us some Royals blue like Mom had…

Llama, llama, I miss my Mama.

I am grateful for a granddaughter who is so brave and conquered the wall last night! She’s only FOUR YEARS OLD. This Ama is so proud:

I am grateful that wasps are not like flies and generally stay outside.

I am grateful for Lindor Truffles.

I am grateful for the pure pleasure of sniffing fresh coffee from the jar/can/plastic container/K-cup.

I am grateful for the smells of:

• a steak on the grill
• a fire ready for a hot dog
• that same hot dog beading hot and juicy with burnt spots
• popcorn in a movie theater
• alfalfa in the mill
• the tire department at Sam’s Club
• a turkey baking in the oven
• sautéed onions and green peppers

I’m a hungry, hungry hippo, can ya tell.

I am grateful for Children’s Church songs that for some reason keep playing in my head today.

Behold, behold, I stand at the door and knock, knock, knock…
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder…
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, heavenly breezes blow…
Satan is a sly, old fox, if I could catch him I’d put him in a box…
He’s able, He’s able, I know He’s able, I know my Lord is able to carry me through…

I am grateful for flannel board stories with Violet Emery. Winkie the Bear was my favorite. Oh, I wish I still had access to him. My grandchildren would love Winkie.

Sam and I are trying to start a new small group. We need friends. We need friends who are like us, friends who go to our church, friends who are in a similar stage of life. We have had dinner with a couple who is interested, as well. We shared with them our favorite book, “Love Does,” by Bob Goff, and told the story of Bob’s children writing letters to all of the world leaders, inviting them over for dinner.  This theme keeps showing up these days, and I am beginning to believe it is not a coincidence. From our dinner at Tortilla Ranch with this couple, to the message on Sunday, and now, in my current read, “Speak” by Nish Weiseth:

We spent the next hour or two around the table over glasses of wine, discussing women in ministry. We all had differing opinions – some of us more passionate than others, to be sure. We pushed and pulled, we poked and prodded, but at the end of the night we all looked at each other and said, “We really need to hang out more.” It was a beautiful sign of graceful disagreement.

I think the world needs a little bit more of this – good discussion over shared meals. There’s something to be said for looking a person in the eye when you’re talking about sensitive issues. Unlike the anonymity of the Internet, when you share a table with someone, it’s impossible to forget you’re speaking to an actual human with real feelings. You’re forced to treat others as though they’re the real people they are. I think the world could do with a lot less Internet and a lot more shared meals.

I am grateful for this conviction to DO something in order to start a small group among church members who are not associated with one already.

I am grateful for this “table” message in my head and heart that will not go away.

And I am grateful for friends who feel the same way.