I am grateful for Panera mac & cheese. And Panera bread all warm and fresh. I love my Panera.

I am grateful for greeting cards and for people who still send them in the mail.

I am grateful for new pictures of Parker and Reilly and a beautiful picture of my daughter and her family.

I am grateful for this hymn today:

I am grateful for the smell of John Deere carpet cleaner.

I am grateful for turtlenecks. Who’s the wise guy who thought that would be a great name for this type of collar?

Okay, and on THAT note, who was the wise guy who thought it would be a great idea to call the above pictured item, a dickie? Mom used to wear these things, and I always thought they were the goofiest things in the world. I still do.

I am grateful that I don’t wear one, don’t own one, and don’t have any desire to, either.

Tuesday evening, Sam said something to me that went deep into my soul. “Your eyes don’t look good.” I did not feel well at all, and only one other person has ever said this to me when I was coming down with something. Mom used to be able to tell I was getting sick by looking at my eyes. She would tell me that they didn’t have their usual “sparkle.”  And I hadn’t heard those words in a very long time…until Tuesday evening.

I am grateful for a day of sleep, even though I missed the beautiful weather.

I am grateful that Sam knows me and knows my eyes.

I am grateful for clean counters.

I am grateful for music. Not so much the ugly kind, but very grateful for any music that takes me to a good place in my thinking.

I am grateful for a little boy who said, “Hi Sam! Hi Rhonda!” last night on our walk.

I am grateful for brilliant advertising, and I am anticipating some exceptional commercials on Sunday.

I am grateful for the little team that could. Go Seahawks.

I am grateful for empty trash cans and trash day and sanitation workers.

I am grateful for cardinals that sing outside the window early in the morning.

I am grateful for our friend, Dennis, and for his great advice this morning.

I am grateful for anticipation of a fun weekend with friends and family.

And I am grateful that God always gives me a song.

Whoever walks toward God one step,
God runs toward him two. – Jewish Proverb