Day 31

I am grateful for kindness.

How many of us have held a door for someone who never bothered to say Thank you? Who hasn't been allowed to go before a stranger in the grocery store who had a full cart when we had only two items? Who doesn't like it when a driver actually gives you the wave when you let him in your lane?

I often come back from a big trip to town tired and a little worn out. Yesterday's sunshine went a long way toward making my day pretty sweet already, but it was the simple kindnesses of strangers that refreshed and encouraged me. A woman apologized for bumping me. A receptionist was understanding when I didn't have my insurance card with me. A pharmacist was patient and caring when I had questions. A man made interesting small talk while we stood in line. A store clerk thanked me enthusiastically when I brought back something I accidentally hadn't paid for. A cashier took time to think of where something was that I needed.

Kindness is proactive. I can't show kindness if I don't do something. It should have its own verb form. She kinded me. They kind everywhere they go. He was kinding at the mall. I will kind whomever I meet.

Stephen Grellet wrote, "I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." I am inspired.

Thank You, Lord, for embodying Kindness.

Day 30

I am grateful for Leonardo.

I always wanted a gray tabby with sea green eyes, and when Kev came home with one almost 15 years ago, I held him up for examination, set him down on my lap, and said, "Thank you." I then swatted him off the kitchen counter when he jumped up, breaking his little kitty leg. I felt wretched that he had to wear a little kitty cast, so I walked around with him on my left shoulder all the time. To this day, it's his favorite place to hang out. He will even stare at it longingly as if it's cheesecake. It's kind of creepy.

He's not really good for anything but decoration and the occasional cuddle, but I think he's beautiful, and he's really tolerant, even of the little ones who visit once in a while. Just don't pet his tummy, or he'll make you bleed. (Sorry, Jamie...) I hope he lives forever.

Thank You, Lord, for my lovely cat.

Day 29

I am grateful for my Kathy.

We have been pen pals for about 16 years. She lives in California, and we've never met in person. We joked about meeting on Oprah, but she went and retired, so we have to think of some other novel venue.

It's a funny thing to feel like you know someone you've never laid eyes on. I don't know if this relationship would have worked with two people who aren't patient, caring, and kindred in some essential ways. God brought us together, and He has kept us close in heart and mind ever since.

Our hearts are knit together through years of sharing our greatest joys and our deepest hurts. We have prayed and encouraged each other through the vicissitudes of life and have come to depend on this sweet, sweet sisterhood. Her presence in my life inspires a desire to be strong, brave, long-suffering, compassionate, kind, intelligent, and fun.

If you had any idea what she's been through and how she chooses Love anyway, you would embrace her as I do. And you would thank God with me for the richness and life expanse she brings to this world, and our own little worlds.

Thank You, Lord, for my Kath.

Day 28

I am grateful for good transportation.

There are three of us, and we each have a reliable vehicle. I don't really have a dream car; I'm too practical for that. What I want is something dependable and decent looking, and that's exactly what we have. Kev has his big diesel truck, Jylle has the Silverado 4x4 in the winter, and I have the Saturn (when the roads are clear).

Pretty simple and straightforward, but I know people with dumb cars and bad car problems, and it can be like pouring money down a great, sucking vacuum. We are not those people.

Thank You, Lord, for Your thorough provision.

Day 27

I am grateful for Farkel.

This simple game of six dice is the one our whole family likes. There are few games that Kev likes, much less plays, and this is one of them. Last month when the power was out, we got out a lantern and played Farkel for an hour. It was fun!

We have a friend with a terminal condition called Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). His physical activity decreases in proportion to his muscle deterioration. One thing he likes to do everyday though is to play Farkel. Friends and family visit and play with him, and it makes his wife and him happy. His mind is still sharp, trapped in a body that refuses more and more to do less and less. Farkel allows him some joy, a fun distraction in an otherwise predictable day. We were privileged to play with them as a family this last summer, and it was a ton of fun. Because of what this pleasant pastime does for Pam and Keith Johnson, I have a special affinity for it.

Thank You, Lord, for simple joys.

Day 26

I am grateful for my horse.

Sahib will be 16 years old in April. I've had him since he was two years old, and we trained him ourselves. His gentle, playful manner makes him the default ride for children and newbies who want to ride.

He behaves more like a dog than a horse sometimes. We sometimes refer to him as Houdini because he finds ways to get out of the pasture that stymie us. We put up planks in lieu of doors on the barn, and there's a horizontal one they're nailed to to make the whole thing more stable. It's about five feet high, but that didn't keep him from getting inside and helping himself to the grain and alfalfa hay. He even left us two piles of meadow muffins as a bonus. Yeah...

I love his sweet disposition and desire to do what I ask of him. We've developed a relationship based on trust and affirmed in confidence. I love his horsey smell, downy soft nose, eyes that seem to understand if I'm melancholy, and the meekness inside his powerhouse body. I'm pretty sure that he's a natural blood pressure medication for me. Just looking on him gladdens me.

Thank You, Lord, for my beautiful equine friend.

Day 25

I am grateful for Betsy.

We were neighbors first and then friends, who might call ten times a day. Our kids are close in age, and we'd ring once to tell the other when they made to our home safely. We shared goals, tips, recipes, crafts projects, secrets, hand-me-downs, and mostly, our hearts. She was my go-to girl for everything, someone who always had my back and trusted me with hers.

One of the things we have in common is a morbid way of thinking. Hers developed after a personal tragedy. I simply grew up with mine as a result of my mom informing me of all the terrors there are in the world in an effort to keep me safe. (If I knew about them, I could be prepared to protect myself.) What might come off as dreadful thoughts or dysfunctional future-tripping, we see as logical and precautionary. It's great to have a kindred mind when you have a mindset unlike anyone else's.

She's a breast cancer survivor and going strong. Although she lives in another state now and we seldom see each other more than once a year, our foundation is solid and present, and we just pick up where we left off whenever we connect. We're still prayer partners when trials come, and she's one of those friends who remembers well after my trouble fades from others' minds.

One of the things I love about her is her humility--not thinking of herself as less, but just thinking of herself less. She is so classy, in her sense of style and in how she conducts her life. She is intelligent, funny, wise, tender, and loving, and she makes my life a lovely place just by being in it.

Thank You, Lord, for my wonderful Betsy.

Day 24

I am grateful for Ryan.

First, I have to declare here that I'm prayerful about what or who I name on each day. I have no favorite child, and I don't love one more than another. Jyllea happened to be the Thing Du Jour a while ago, and it just happens to be Ryan today. I'm sure Brett will be named in the future, so I just don't want any misunderstanding here. That can be a potentially touchy subject, although I believe my family knows me better than that. Okay, 'nuff said.

This guy's been our entertainment center since he was a baby! His pouty face at only a couple of months old is on our fridge, and it was my mom's favorite thing to look at for a few years. He became Garth Brooks in his preschool years, sporting a black cowboy hat, boots, and a guitar as big as him. He would come to speak in movie quotes and would make us burst out laughing at random moments with his comic timing and skilled delivery.

Sometime in high school, he was gripped by the "Starbreather," as he calls Him, and he's never been the same. His passion for truth and God's best are only eclipsed by his desire for everyone to want those things as well. He has a heart to see women treated tenderly and with honor. He quotes Mark Driscoll, who said, "There are too many little boys running around doing man-sized damage." He sets his personal bar high for integrity and humility, because, well, why wouldn't you? Why settle for a lesser goal?

He calls when he can, but he's busier than ever in his senior year at Montana State, majoring in BioChem. Sometimes he can only talk for five minutes, but it "does my mama's heart good." It's enough that he thinks of me and tells me so. He remains one of my wise counselors and best friends, and someone I deeply admire.

Thank You, Lord, for my incredible Ryrie. xo

Day 23

I am grateful for leisure.

We're in the middle of snow season here, and while my natural reflex is to complain every time it snows because of the danger and inconvenience it presents, I do appreciate the lessened load of activity. We have less daylight, so we have less that can be done outdoors. There are more hours to kick back and just hang out together, more time to do more sedentary indoor things that we put off to attend the more pressing summer demands.

Mind you, I'm not terribly driven in the first place. I do what I need to do and more if it that's what it takes, but I'm an otter at heart, and I love to have fun, looking to take even the most mundane tasks to the level of Fun if I can. I'm a moderate in the work zone--not lazy, but not an overachiever. In keeping with my makeup, I'm productive enough, but I'll never be accused of being a workaholic. These winter days provide a welcome and necessary respite from the nearly constant requirements that warm weather brings. It is rest for my body and my soul.

Thank You, Lord, that there is value in leisure, as there is in work.

Day 22

I am grateful for compassion.

Many caring hearts reached out to me at the anniversary of my mom's death. Some sent letters, emails, e-cards, and others phoned. Facebook friends and family rose up with their comments and messages, some of which I passed on to my dad. All were full of not just sympathy or even empathy, but a thorough compassion. I love you they said, meaning it.

All presented the Love that carries me, Whose power sustains me, and Whose grace gives meaning to my life. These lovely souls have been braces when I was crippled, breath when I was suffocating, wings when I had no feet. They are the Body here on earth, grieving with those who grieve and rejoicing with those who rejoice. Their compassion buoys me, and by the compassion I have received, I hope to offer the same to any broken heart who happens my way.

Thank You, Lord, for authoring Compassion.

Day 21

I am grateful for this hard day.

One year ago I lost my mom suddenly to a brain aneurysm. Just like *that* she was gone. It happened in the early morning. My dad was holding her, trying to offer comfort and compassion while she rocked herself gently on the bed in an effort to ease another stunning migraine. She suddenly went slack, and no one was ever able to revive her.

This year of firsts is one someone can relate to only by having gone through one. Each holiday, birthday, or anniversary was a reminder that there would be one less chair at the table, ,one less gift to give, one less voice to speak our names. It's hard to believe it's been a year already, but the fact that she is no longer in the intense pain she endured for years before gives us great relief and a large measure of gratitude. In an instant, she was healed...

I know I'm not unique in the sentiment that I miss my mom, my biggest fan, every single day, but to know that she is utterly at peace now in a place where there is no night is a huge counterweight. This day is hard, but it also overflowing with grace.

Thank You, Lord, for Your constant presence and faithful loving-kindness.

Day 20

I am grateful for a real letter in my real mailbox.

My dear friend, Mae, corresponds with me by snail mail, and we are each to the other, the only one who does that. Technology has replaced this form of keeping in touch, and we are both grateful for a kindred spirit in this withering recreation.

She is an older lady, widowed a year, with a large family who visits and cares. She has friends and relatives here and out of town, and she mentions them often. She would thank me for writing to her and say that I'm the only one who does that. For quite a few years I thought I was the only one of the Ya-Yas who writes to her since she has such a broad base of people who love her. It was only last year that I realized I was the only one who writes to her.

Her letters are filled with encouragement, inspiration, personal insights, the Word, and often her own poetry. Mine are not so meaty and wise, but she must enjoy them as she thanks me every time. With her ascension into her 80's and her energy declining, I know it will not always be like this, that I will not always have the gift of her presence and influence in my life. Every post from her gleans a bouquet of thanks, and I add it to my "Mae Box." It contains each year's worth of letters, bundled in satin ribbon.

Thank You, Lord for my Mae, for "I have no one like her, no one of so kindred a spirit" (Philippians 2:20 Amp).

Day 19

I am grateful for a good movie.

A Christmas break tradition for us these last six years or so is to go to a movie as a family. It started with some friends who used to be neighbors, and we enjoyed it so much that we kept it as part of the season.

Watching movies at home is great too, except for the interruptions. At a theatre, you're forced to stay there and watch the entire thing at once, no DVR, no answering the phone, no "Can you still pause it so I can put the clothes in the dryer?" I know I'm going to be sitting for a while, so I'm mentally and physically ready for that.

I've always liked watching movies, without or without company, and even the Lifetime ones when I was a young mom (I know, even Lifetime). What I like about movies are the same things I like about books--their ability to transport, encourage, entertain, etc. Books move my imagination, while movies engage more of my senses. If I read the book before seeing the movie, I am usually let down because I "met" these characters already and know their stories, and well, someone just wasn't paying attention.

Thank You, Lord, for this diverse and influential medium of entertainment.

Day 18

I am grateful for snowflakes.

I do mean the flakes, not snow itself. (I'm working on that as it comes down like mad as I write.) I love the big, fluffy ones that are large enough for me to see and appreciate the lovely, fragile design.

This site has some remarkable photos of snowflakes that reveal their intricate patterns and designs. They're absolutely brilliant.

We all know that every snowflake is completely unique, just like every human being. No two alike ever. Like people, they can touch and beautify our lives, stay for a season or only a moment, and they have a purpose in this world even if they don't know it.

Thank You, Lord, for the beauty of this creation.

Day 17

I am grateful for Pinterest.

I know, pretty shallow, but it makes me happy. For a few minutes a day, I peruse the countless images of food, fashion, humor, nature, quotes, photography, crafts, decor, vacation spots, books, movies, celebrities, and architecture. I probably left out a long list of other things, but you get the idea. There are a massive number of "pins," and a person could spend all day looking at only a fraction of them.

The image here is one that Ryan, Jylle, and I particularly like, a jest on LOTR. There's always something to make me smile or think, and want to cook, craft, find, buy, save, share, or remember.

I have recipe ideas to easily last the rest of my life. I'm baking one of them right now--apple pumpkin muffins. Tonight I'm trying a quick chicken dish. Tomorrow's menu I have yet to decide on, but all of these were inspired by this one addicting website!

Thank You, Lord, for this happy-making site.

Day 16

I am grateful for the sweet moments of ordinary life.

There are some moments that freeze themselves in my memory. What stands out is when they're the ordinary, often overlooked, just lived-out seconds. I "see" Jylle in profile putting her hair in a ponytail in front of the bathroom mirror. Kev is in the living room staring unblinkingly at the chopper he's operating by radio control. Ryan is playing his guitar on the basement couch, lips slightly parted, his eyes on the dancing pick. Dad sits at the dining room table, his head bowed in prayer, giving silent thanks over a bowl of cereal. My Ya-Yas eat and laugh around a beautifully set table, plates full of color and taste that is only surpassed in satisfaction by our soul-deep conversation. Moments suspended like tableaus, memories of the people I love and who love me back--they are a collage of the meaning of my life.

Someone once said, "Be grateful for the small things in life. One day you'll realize they were the big things." I realize...

And I am deeply grateful, Lord.

Day 15

I am grateful for soup.

There are SO many ways to make it! I love that it can be whipped up in minutes or simmered for hours in a slow cooker with a million different combinations of ingredients. Few things satisfy so thoroughly and quickly as soup. It's like a big hug in a bowl.

It's cold, we just got in from fixing a fence line, and I'm warming up inside and out just thinking about the Mulligan stew I'm creating.

YUM!

Thank You, Lord, for good eats.

Day 14

I am grateful for water.

We've had water problems from the first day we drilled. Two wells turn up dry, and the third is located across the road, like a quarter mile away from the house. Ever since having to pick up rocks that might damage the pipe, the kids and I hate ditch work. The water from that well contained so much silt that we couldn't drink it and had to fill jugs and do laundry at the home of friends. Silt played havoc on our appliances, accumulated in the toilet tanks, sprinklers turned the lawn tan, and the contents of the horse trough looked like troubled water. We couldn't find anyone or anything to help, and it was nearly crazy-making.

Help did come the following year when we found a business with a man who cared. We nearly cried when we saw that beautiful, clear water coming out of our faucets. We are thankful every single day for this gift, something most people probably don't think about nearly as often in the First World. I'm not exaggerating when I say that at least five times a day, I send up a Thank You for this life essential we no longer take for granted.

While I think the year+ that sad water flowed through the innards of my dishwasher made it kind of goofy, it still works, and I don't have to do dishes by hand. My amazingly sweet mother-in-law bought us a new washer and dryer right about the time we got the filter, and if they could speak, I'm sure they'd air some grand thanks of their own.

Thank You, Lord, for the great gift of water.

Day 13

I am grateful for my Cheryl.

On this Friday the thirteenth, superstitiously bad day for luck, it was my good fortune not only to get a phone call from, but have a super long conversation with, my "Ya-Ya Cheryl." The convo began with a bit of catching up and then blossomed into what turned out to be a great gift to both of us.

We both want a friendship with someone who is honest, forthcoming, and will call us on our junk. I think that's what most people want, but are too afraid to ask for it and/or offer it. There has to be a foundation of trust and respect, and I have that with her.

She has been through a lot and is still going through much, but I am blessed by the truths she shares with me. I realize anew that we must not neglect popping through the hedge to visit one another lest it grow together and hinder the gateway.

It was perfect timing for the call, a perfect present that we will unwrap and enjoy for the rest of this day. And maybe even the next few.

Thank You, Lord, for this precious soul.

Day 12

I'm grateful for a good book.

I've always loved reading, and from Ramona and Beezus to the book I'm reading now, I owe years of pleasure to their company. I like most electronic contraptions, but I don't believe I will ever find it as warm as cozy curling up with a Kindle as I do a good book.

Most of what I read for spiritual study are penned by authors long gone. My favorites are T. Austin Sparks, Watchman Nee, Mary W. Tileston (Joy & Strength), Brennan Manning, and Oswald Chambers. I've enjoyed the little I've read from G. K. Chesterton as well, and I hope to read his Orthodoxy this year.

Most of the fiction I like are by people still living, but I've loved the works of Jane Austen, Harold Bell Wright, the Elsie Dinsmore series, LOTR, and classics from C. S. Lewis. Just thinking about these books fills my veins with tea and scones.

Isn't it a sad feeling when you've grown to love the characters in a story, and you know the book is coming to an end? I felt that with several Jan Karon books in the Mitford series. I was thrilled when she announced that the protagonist would star in a brand new series called Father Tim. And she delivered again--and again in the second one.

My sweet, older friend Mae calls cherished books her "dear friends," and I like that. I've come to think of them the same way. Be they deep and full of truth, meaty in adventure, entertaining, or simply cheering, each has a personality and great value to me, just like my human friends.

Thank You, Lord, for good words in a binding.

Day 11

I am grateful for music.

Music is as varied as plant life and as full of purpose. There is something for every one of my multiplied moods, and I love how it can inspire, soothe, encourage, motivate, entertain, and simply please. There's something playing almost all the time in my house. When Jylle's home, it's pretty much nonstop, and we'll often have two computers streaming music in two different rooms. It is a necessity to my soul, and I'd wither without it.

As an aside, have you ever turned the sound off when you're watching the nerve-wracking part of a movie? Not so tense anymore! That's how I watched more than half of one movie. I can't remember the name of it, just that it had Harrison Ford in it, but without that creepy orchestra, that bad guy wasn't so scary anymore.

I know this is a pretty general thing to name, but with 354 more posts to go, I can see how I might narrow in on one song in particular someday. Right now, my current fave is "Freedom Is Here," by Esterlyn. It gives me hope and makes me dance. It's been hard to sit and type this with it looping in the background!

Thank, Lord, for this remarkable gift of music!

Day 10

I am grateful for dreams of my mom.

One of the tragic surprises about losing someone you love suddenly is the abrupt and utter silence. I no longer heard her voice in her own house. She was no longer calling out to someone from her chair in the dining room. My phone no longer showed her caller ID name.

My friend Betsy told me that I would have dreams of her and that she hoped I would find joy in them the same way she did after losing her mom. Oh, how I do! In most of them, makeup is perfect, her complexion flawless, and she is so happy. In some of them, she doesn't speak, but always I am staring at her, drinking in the vision of her and reveling in the fact that she's right here. When I wake up, I am flooded with the joy of having spent time with her. It might sound like I would relive afresh that sense of loss after realizing it was only a dream, that she really is gone forever from this world, but that's not how it is for me. I am relieved, as if given a short break from the daily, sometimes hourly, pressing knowledge of her absence.

I have had nine dreams of her so far. That's about one every five weeks or so. I write about them afterward so I can remember. As time passes, they will probably subside, as Betsy said she really doesn't dream about her mother anymore (it's been about 15 years). I'll have this written record of my short little reprieves with her, not to mention all the colorful memories of real times that I'll keep to hearten me.

Thank You, Lord, for these dreams and the joy they give me.

Day 9

I am grateful for good health.

Walking is great exercise, and when the fields are snowy and the sun is out, it's an even better thing for me to get out there and work my dogs and me. Of course, they trot the entire time without the slightest sign of wear, so I'm envious, but I know they love it.

While my BP is high, requiring medication, my knees seem a little wonky, and I have trouble remembering things sometimes, I can move, climb, see, hear, taste, touch, and think. In a world with wheelchair ramps, sign language, Braille, prosthetics, braces, surgery, and painkillers, I am blessed. And not only am I, but everyone I love is too.

Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of good health--for me and for all my loved ones.

Day 8

I am grateful for Kev's mom.

Even though we don't see her more than three times a year max, and I don't talk to her often, I love that she's in our lives. Just knowing she's here is comforting. The beauty of her inner life is a light and balm amid the pain and sadness in this world. Having her in this world makes it a safer and saner place for me. I know that wherever she goes, she reveals Your love, Your nature, Your presence. She's a walking, talking, living testament to Your grace, generosity, and loving-kindness. She's the humblest, sweetest woman I have ever known, and she thoroughly blesses our lives. After I lost my mom, I told her I'd need her more than ever. Ever since then, she signs her emails to me, "Your mom." See? She's so wonderful!

Thank You, Lord, for Mom. xo

Day 7

I am so thankful for Your Word.

I can be dry of soul and spent months out of communion, but when I go to Your Word and ask You to meet me there, You are Faithfulness to speak to my need. "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercy and loving-kindness and all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant," (Gen. 32:10). It's not just a book, not just paper and ink and words translated into the English language. It's You, Your truth, Your heart for us. And You loved us to death to tell us.

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word. I worship You........

Day 6

I am grateful for Jamara.

Today is her 25th birthday. I've known her for 21 years when both she and Brett were still preschoolers. She has been the most faithful, supportive friend to him, then to both Ryan and Jylle as well. The Adult Stills disease that plagues her and literally threatens to overcome her makes every birthday of hers truly a celebration. Her outer beauty is surpassed only by her inner, and that's saying a lot because this girl's gorgeous!

I love her:

• tremendous capacity to lavish love
• wit--wherever she is, there is laughter
• outlook on life
• positive attitude
• honesty
• mad cooking skills
  
• coping skills
• to da moon and back!

Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful, spirited girl. Please bless her. xo

Day 5

I'm grateful for my Jylle.

From the day she was born, she has filled my life with wonder, joy, fun, and "preciousness." As the youngest, she'll be the one to launch us into an empty nest. I'm savoring this senior year, and I find myself appreciating so many moments. Most are ordinary, but I am present to them. They will become rarer next school year, as I am keenly aware. There are hundreds of things I will miss, the sound of her voice everyday at the top--"Mommy!" for one.

I heard it said once that your favorite child is the one who needs you at the moment. I don't know about the favorite part, but as a daughter, I know that I needed my mom until the unexpected day that I lost her. Jylle and I have the friendship I always hoped to have with my grown daughter, and I cherish it. She is quite the loveliest creature I have ever known, and the Lord has given her His own sweet Spirit.

Thank You, Lord, for my Jambeanie.

Day 4

I'm grateful for my Kevin.

My Kevvie works so hard, and not just for himself, but for us. He's always about team effort and will always take your help rather than do something by himself.

This morning he was running just a bit late, and shortly after he got up and went to the computer, I heard this, "Aaaarrrggghhhhh!!!" I shushed him because I didn't want him to wake up little Beansie, who was staying the night and was still asleep. He came tromping back to our room and announced that there were two piles of poop in the washroom. I heard him gagging after a while, and I knew that if it wasn't for him, I'd be the one barfing.

I could create an entire blog just singing his praises, but I'll keep all my wonder to myself for now and ponder it in my heart. I will simply declare my profound and sincere gratitude for the one man in my life who has always--and I mean always--been there for me and remains my biggest cheerleader.

Thank You, Lord, for my Kevvie.

Day 3

I am grateful for my doggies.

To people who don't love dogs, this post will rate somewhere below zero. But like millions of other like-minded people, my doggy buddies mean a lot to me. There are country songs that sing homage to them (e.g., "I Want You to Love Me Like My Dog Does"), odes to their faithfulness and devotion, and clubs ad infinitum devoted to their preservation and honor.

I believe I am experiencing a certain era, a Doolie-and-Guido era we'll most like come to call it, and I am thoroughly grateful. I appreciate the devoted companionship of my two big, black, unconditionally loving bodyguards.

I like how "dog" is "God" spelled backwards. Thank You, Lord, for their company.

Day 2

I'm grateful for fresh starts.

His mercies are new every morning. He will not throw my sins in my face, but cast them as far as the east is from the west. Every single day I am given about 16 hours to practice taking of His grace and power, the totality of which, if successful, will tally up to a life well-lived.

Thank You, Lord, for Your generosity.

Day 1

I'm grateful for my dad.

Got to go to church with him today, which is always lovely, and I'm just so terribly thankful to have him in my life. He's become one of my best friends, and I love that we can talk about all kinds of things and miss flights because of it. (Mom never let us live that one down.) Since losing my mom, having him in my life is more precious than I could have imagined. He'll be 82 next month, and his presence in my world makes it a saner, safer place.

Thank You, Lord, for my daddy.