I am grateful for this spot I sit in every day with a glass front to see everyone walk by in the hallway. I love to see who the Royals fans are with their blue shirts and jackets and ball caps. I love to see the funny men rushing to make it to the restroom just outside the office door. I love to see the unique personalities of each person that comes through in the way they walk, the way they hold their head high or look down at their shoes as they walk, the way they express themselves through their shoes and their lunch bags and their briefcases/duffels/purses/fanny packs/rolling briefs, the way they choose to style their hair, the way they are helpful by holding a door or completely in their own world and ignore those who could use a hand. It’s funny. Every once in a while, I notice that someone looks like a particular animal. Today, I am fairly certain I saw a human Pinky Poo. Or she could have been a very active sloth. No, I’m pretty sure she was Pinky Poo. And then a flood of memories came washing in. Linus the Lion and Lamkins and Wonder “I was jus’ a’wonderin'” Dog and Grandpa who sang “Grace Loved to Tell the Story” at Mom’s service… Ahhhhh, Ginger Ingram Brown, I am so grateful for you. And for the tears you cause. Anyway, back to human Pinky Poo who reminded me of all of this:  As soon as I saw her, I began playing Lamkin’s, “His little lamb I am” on my internal jukebox. Now it’s stuck. And I don’t mind.

 Lamkins and Linus the “I Ain’t Lyin!” Lion“Me too Tired” Pinky Poo

Ginger and her Little Folks team

If you EVER get a chance to see this wonderful lady do her thing, DON’T MISS IT. If you EVER need someone to come to your church to do special services, LOOK HER UP. She has puppets who love to serve God. And you won’t be sorry.

I am grateful for the feelings of thrilling anticipation. It’s game day, 1^st game of the World Series, the game I have never in my life cared about until now. And I’m internally giddy excited to sit on the couch tonight and watch the boys play ball! We agreed last night – watching in a restaurant, a sports bar, with a crowd of people…no thanks. We like hearing the commentators talk about the players and the strategy, and there’s almost nothing better than being at home in our own peace and quiet with our Royals. I said, ALMOST nothing better. I’d pretty much love it if my Dad and a brother or two or three and my sister were watching with us.

I am grateful for a second chance to learn to love this baseball team.

I am grateful for these silly inconsequential experiences in life that don’t matter when it comes to eternity, but I love how God allows us these happy times, just because.

I am grateful for the darlings of baseball, the Cinderella team, this David squad in the world of Goliath gangs, this club that could, my favorite players Cain and Davis, and my new favorite players Gordon and Dyson and Infante and Escobar and Butler and Mooooooooose and Hoz and Salvi and Aoki and Shields and Gore and Herrera and Willingham and Finnegan and Holland!! I’m even grateful for the old guys who look ridiculous in baseball uniforms and hard hats!

Goooooooooo, ROYALS!

Yes, it looks this beautiful outside today.

I am grateful for the Mi Ranchito delivery girl who made my heart skip a beat with sacks of Mexican lunches…and then we both realized I was not the intended recipient.

I am grateful for the best kind of apple in the entire world. Honey crisp. Tartness perfection, just the right sweet, and crisp it is.

And I am grateful that I will get to spend the hour before the game with my fellow Royals fans who love to play Bingo. Can’t wait to see them all decked out in their blue.