So Very Grateful

Today I am grateful for……

1. My daughter’s adorable hugs and kisses
2. My daughter loves being outside and so do I
3. A great long hot shower last night
4. A very productive day yesterday
5. Swinging in the springtime
6. God’s amazing peace that can be mine if I choose to embrace it
7. Hope
8. My cozy tie-dyed hooded sweatshirt (It makes me smile)
9. Good quality time with my hubby last night
10. The fun children’s books I get to read to my daughter
11. My dad and step-mom made it home safely from Florida
12. Clean sheets on a freshly made bed
13. The wise words of Joyce Meyer
14. The truth of the gospel, that while I was still a sinner Christ died for me!
15. And that now because of what Jesus did for me I no longer have to be a slave to sin and death but I get to live an abundant life with the Holy Spirit living in me!
16. Facebook, it keeps me connected to my friends
17. Quiet morning walks
18. God’s mercies are new every day
19. I can leave yesterdays yuckiness in the past and enjoy each new day
20. I get to go to Camp Newaygo with my mom and daughter in June
21. My amazing family
22. My amazing friends
23. Joyce, her joyfulness and kindness is contageious
24. Loretta, the most loving, caring nurse I have ever met. She is truly a blessing strait from God.
25. The moms in my mom group.  Not only have they been diligently praying for me but they have also been bring my family and I healthy and yummy meals three times a week. What and AMAZING blessing.

I was thinking earlier today (but after I made that grateful list) about my good friend from High School. When we were sad or stressed or feeling blah we would make Happy Lists. Those Happy Lists were really the same thing as a gratitude journal. We would list all the things that made us happy (things we were thankful for). It started with this one friend. We would pass them as notes back and forth between classes when we knew the other was struggling. And then the Happy List idea spread. We started giving them to other people and other people started giving them to others. They really did make me happy. Throughout the years that special friend has sent me many Happy Lists. I cherish them all.  I have kept most of them. A couple of months ago she posted one on my Facebook page. Thank you my wonderful lifelong friend. Thank you for all the joy and happiness you bring into my life. I have your back girlfriend and thanks for always having mine.

So…..I am transferring my gratitude journal over to the form of a Happy List. It will now be a List of things that make me happy and that I am grateful for.

Happy (Grateful) List #1 (the beginning of my very long list of things that make me happy, make me smile and that I am so very grateful for.)

1. My cherished friend Bean
2. Oreo cookies
3. Death by Chocolate ice cream
4. My sister
5. My Joyful friend who brings so much Joy to my heart
6. My faithful friend who did not give up on me even when I did not call her back for months
7. My Pastor and his amazing wife
8. My prayer warrior friend who I know lifts me up in prayer all the time
9. Mom, Dad, Step-Mom and Step-Dad
10. All of my extended family members who are loving and supportive
11. My most loyal friend who gives the best hugs ever, who likes to cuddle and who touches my heart with her many intentional acts of prioritizing me
12. My Sunshine friend (I always feel warm and fuzzy around her, she brightens my days)
13. Camp Newaygo memories
14. Camp Newaygo buddies, some of the most amazing women I have ever known. Women who helped me become great and women I will never forget
15. Newaygo Love
16. PI Dock
17. My daughter, her laughter, hugs, smiles, energy, kisses, passion and joy
18. God’s amazing unconditional love for me
19. Hope
20. Chick flicks
21. Victorious sports movies
22. Lake Michigan
23. Long walks on the beach
24. Sailing at Camp Newaygo
25. My hubby

Well that is enough Happy for tonight. I am getting really tired.

Today was a good day. I started the day with uplifting and encouraging time in prayer and reflection. And then I worked on my gratitude list. I went for a walk and did my new stretching DVD that is set to Praise music and Scripture. I loved it! I had my treatment and felt even better afterwards. Then my dad took me to lunch and we had a really nice time together. It was very enjoyable. When I am struggling with depression I am grateful for every enjoyable experience that I have because they can be few and far between.

Loretta, a delightful nurse who cares for me during my treatments gave the most sincere hug. We spoke about God’s blessings and she told me she would pray for me. It is wonderful when you get that kind of support from friends and family but you just don’t expect it in a busy hospital where most nurses are exhausted and overworked. She really touched my heart today. Her sincerity and kindness surprised me and made my day. Thanks Loretta.

My daughter and I took two of her baby dolls to the park and had a picnic. We then played on the slide and swings. She was so adorable. She is the most attentive and tender pretend mom to her babies. When we got home she insisted that her babies (twins named Jenna and Jenna) were given dinner on their own plates. She then fed the food to each baby before putting it into her mouth. After we all ate everyone got a bath. She carefully washed each baby’s face, head, and body avoiding getting soap in their eyes. Then the babies were lovingly tucked together into a pair of her pajamas. Normally I read her books sitting in our rocking chair with her on my lap but tonight she sat next to me in her rocking chair while she snuggled her baby dolls Jenna and Jenna. I started to lose patience when she had to place them perfectly into her bed (She sleeps on the floor, long story) each with their own pillow. She covered them with three blankets and declared that she needed to make the blankets look pretty. After declaring she needed to make them look pretty patience filled my heart as did true delight. She is adorable, delightful, stubborn and so full of unique personality. She brought me so much joy and laughter this evening. Thanks V.

Then I got to watch LOST. Great show!

I have good days and bad days. Some days are blah, some are sad, and others are miserable. I am extremely grateful for the good days. I can’t wait for the great days to return to me.

On Facebook I wrote that I was very grateful as my status update.

I am very grateful today.