A gratitude list from the memories of last week.

1. Hot dogs skewered on stretched-out hangers over an open fire in the middle of the front yard on a Thursday night in small town America.
2. A bigger-than-Dallas moon to watch on the drive back to the city.
3. A new book, several new books.
4. Happy Natia, tail wagging, excited to be “home again.”
5. Hundreds of iris bulbs and the anticipation of next spring.
6. Dead box elder bugs and a new broom to sweep them away.
7. Spending a Saturday morning in a run down laundromat with machines humming, Natia on the floor sleeping, and nothing but a new book to occupy my time.
8. Tears that can’t be helped when I hear acapella music at church.
9. Happy husband.
10. Listening to my daughter’s stories of the day with noisy children in the background.
11. Baking banana bread.
12. Bills paid.
13. Mid-afternoon walk with my dog, releasing her from the leash, and letting her run fast across an empty lot.
14. Feeling productive in my work.
15. My piano and my butterfly quilt…the missing is no longer.
16. Hearing my husband singing “Amazing Grace” while he gets ready in the morning.
17. The sounds of little girls splashing in the creek water and squealing when they find frogs, across the street at the park.
18. Being welcomed in our new small town America.
19. Fried chicken at the Triple C with a bunch of farmer types in overalls and coveralls.
20. An evening with Paul and MJ and two great kids.
21. Extra mayo.
22. A new TV series to watch. Current can’t miss: This is Us.
23. Lunch at Panera with Cosmo, Jimena, and Paul.
24. Learning to be content with what we have and not needing new.
25. The sound of mourning doves in the still of the day.
26. Creaky floors that remind me I can walk, and I can hear.
27. Anticipation in the wait to see dear friends: Elaine, Julie and Dave, John and Linda, Shirley…and waiting to see family: Dad, Dwight, and Katrina and her family…and to feel little hands in mine once again when I finally get to see Parker and Reilly after two years of absence.
28. Loving going to church, loving my church.
29. Knowing that God is speaking, not just thinking that maybe God is speaking.
30. Bendy straws.