I am grateful for a husband who loves his painting crew so much, he came over to my desk this morning and asked me to find some good Latino music to put on the house speakers for them while they work. As I work from home today, I am listening to Danny Ocean and have no idea what the words are, but it does sound very nice.

I am grateful for a surprise last night as I was calling Bingo at my Dad’s apartment complex. “O72, I28, B4…”

“BINGO!”

And my sister-in-law poked her head around the corner! I had completely forgotten that she and my brother were coming to KC this weekend! What a nice way to end my day.

I am grateful for a 59 degree home as I sleep every night, for a Nest system that lets me schedule the temperature, for a bed that has the ability to heat our feet, and for the luxuries of this home God has blessed us. We are so undeserving, and the responsibility to bless others and pay it all forward to those who are in need is that much heavier.

I am grateful for a boss friend who takes the best pre-dawn pictures and sends them to me.

I am grateful for a do-er husband and not a talk about doing it husband.

I am grateful for Diana and Fran and Jeannine and Beth and Christy and Daisy and Pedro and Cynthia and Cheryl and Susan and Evelina and Dave and Mark and Karen and Claudette. They are Dad’s friends, and now they are my friends, too. All of them make my Thursday evenings rich and my heart full and they give me so much joy.

I am grateful for the smell of homemade Chex Mix in the oven wafting through the house and into my nose.

I am grateful for the anticipation of fingerprints on glass doors, a house full of chaotic chatter, game playing, contstant “Ama-ing,” and a fun Thanksgiving weekend.

I am not good with last minute surprises, I will admit. But I am grateful for every opportunity to do better and a husband who holds my hand through it, hugs the panic out of me, and helps me work through it.

I am grateful for a clean microwave.

I am grateful for the sound of drilling and sawing, well not really, but I am grateful that WHILE those sounds are happening, a cat sleeps peacefully.

I am grateful to have had a Facetime call with 12-year-old granddaughter last night, so she could show me her new braces.

I am grateful for a brother who helped our friend Fran with her car in the 20 degrees this morning.

Finally, I am grateful that my life is filled with people who give and give and give and give. I am blessed as the receiver and inspired to be more like the givers.

And…the painting crew nixed Danny Ocean. They requested Christian Nodal instead, for those of you in the know. Who knew. Not I.