I am grateful for good advice…BEFORE I need it, not after.

I am grateful for paper towels.

I am grateful when the electricity finally comes back on, which makes me grateful for those guys who do that job.

I am grateful for howling wind because it makes me grateful I am inside and warm.

In order for this to happen, I would like a winning lottery ticket or a genie in a bottle.

I am grateful for good friends who don’t just offer but actually drive 3-5 hours to come and help us with our new addition, and I am grateful for the anticipation of a very fun and productive weekend.

I am grateful for wonderful news via two different text messages today from a former student and friend, and from Sam’s former nurse and friend. The first message, this morning:

“I’m pregnant!!”  

And then, this afternoon:

“I’m getting married!!”

I am grateful for letters mailed.

I am grateful for the smell of Lysol.

I am grateful for heartbreaking news that is a constant reminder of our need to be Jesus to others through ACTION instead of saying “Let me know if there is anything I can do.”

I am grateful for suppertime.

I am grateful for this song and the words that have been going through my internal jukebox all day:

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

I am grateful that I found an envelope this week that my sister sent a few years ago with Five Wishes, a document I need to fill out for my end-of-life wishes. I’m working on it, Angela.

I am grateful for a clean phone screen.

I am grateful for fresh breath, once again. I know I have used this one before, but people, come on. Fresh breath attracts instead of repels. Listerine. Minty fresh Crest. Scope. Certs. SOMETHING, for cryin’ out loud.

And finally this evening, I am grateful for just one more reason to work on convincing Sam that I need a nursing home finch aviary in our home, without the nursing home, but with the finches.