When Natia and I took a mid-morning walk around my office building, I was grateful for the sound of walking in a pile of autumn leaves.

When the ballgame is over and I-70 doesn’t have a lot to offer when it comes to radio programming on a Sunday late afternoon, I am grateful to have listened to a really good interview on Focus on the Family while I was driving.

When it makes me ill to my stomach to hear Christian leaders support and defend what I believe goes against Jesus’ teaching, I am grateful for a pastor who includes rather than excludes.

When it is hard to be here and not home one week post surgery, I am grateful for a dozen deep orange roses that my boss brought to my desk this morning because she feels bad that I am away from Sam this week.

Don’t think that the details of your day are too insignificant to bring before God. If He cares enough about the hairs on your head to number them, then surely He cares about the things that fill your day. – Stormie Omartian

When my eyes cannot stop gazing at the trees, I am grateful for the privilege of being in Kansas City this last week of October to enjoy the incredible beauty of fall here that is unlike any place I have ever lived.

When I feel insignificant in my job, I am grateful when CEOs of biotech companies agree to connect with me on Linkedin.

When there is a minor ostomy crisis on a Monday morning, I am grateful for tutorial videos and the people who are not too self-conscious to create them – videos that help us when we have no clue what we are doing in this new adventure.

When I stand underneath a great shower, I am grateful for water pressure.

When I have a fairly needy canine who doesn’t just go to anyone anymore in her old, slightly dementia-ed, hearing-impaired, seeing-impaired age, I am grateful for Dad, the rat-dog sitter.

When I am pretty dependent on the love of said canine, I am grateful that Natia the rat-dog is such a good dog and is allowed to come to the office with me every day.

When we feel isolated at times in this new adventure we are on and don’t know how to respond to “Let me know if there is anything I can do’s,” I am grateful for our stretcher-bearers who just do without asking or offering.

When my phone is about to die because I forgot my charger, I am grateful for the reminder that I do not need that phone in order to function.

When there is so much that needs to get done, I am grateful that Sam doesn’t just talk about doing things but acts on his talk. He always surprises me on these weeks away with projects happening at the house, so that when I come back home, things are much changed and much improved. This week, almost the entire interior is getting a paint job.