Day 60

It's a leap year, I am grateful for them!

Without the addition of one day every four years, our seasons would eventually drift into months that would throw off life as we know and celebrate it. It's not something we throw a party over, but it's a good thing someone thought of it, or some of us would get a little cranky about it being 102 degrees on Christmas Day or standing in snowbanks on the Fourth of July.

Jylle has a classmate who was born on February 29. That would make her a leapling, or a leaper. (Doesn't have a very sweet tone to it, does it... :/) I think most people list March 1 as their legal birthday. (Mental note: Have Jylle ask her.) I recently read that a woman has the right to propose to a man on February 29, based on a tradition dating back to 1288 and first practiced in Scotland.

Thank You, Lord, for taking care to give us 366 days this year to be grateful.

Day 59

I am grateful for corrective lenses.

I was 19 when I needed help for my vision. I still remember with fresh wonder the shock of seeing everything so perfectly clearly when the optometrist held two round lenses in front of my eyes and told me to look out the window. Everything in range was razor sharp. The trees had leaves! The buildings had ornate cornices! I felt like I had never really seen until this moment.

He prescribed contacts from the very beginning, and now that I'm older, there are ten pairs of reading glasses peppered throughout the house as well as a handy set in my purse. Without these trusty tools, my world would be a whole lot more restrictive and unsettling.

Thank You, Lord, for letting me see.

Day 58

I am grateful for ringtones.

When you call me, your ringtone lets me know that it's you. I love that.

I have a program that lets me upload custom ringtones to my cell phone. I don't have texting, so I can't send or receive them that way, and this saves the day.

Most of the tunes are a statement about the person I assign them to, although some are just simply fun. "Danger Zone" is for my Brett, the pilot. The theme from Star Wars is his darling Lydia's. Ryan's is an East Indian dude that always makes us laugh. Kev's is the sweet "By Your Side." Jylle's changes the most often, but my favorites for her are a baby's belly laugh and the chorus of "Coming Home," which she sings in her head on her way home from school.

Thank You, Lord, for the simple pleasure of these short bits of song.

Day 57

I am grateful for miniatures.

All my life I have loved the tiny. Miniatures of life-sized things. I went to the Philippines for my graduation/18th birthday present, and I brought back an array of furniture, none more than 2" high, all hand-fashioned of silver filigree.

A friend has a set of dinky spoons that I adore. Each has a different label like Dash, Pinch, or Smidge. Just too cute.

Thank You, Lord, for tiny delights.

Day 56

I am grateful for hummingbirds.

So small, so brilliant, so quick, delightful, and welcome, they are my favorite birds. With the weather warming ever so slightly, days lengthening by increments, spring's dawning rays hint, and it will soon be time to put the bright red feeder back out for my tiny visitors.

My mom had one light on her finger once. I know a family where that happens a lot, but this was once in a lifetime for her. She was utterly captivated, willing herself invisible, not even breathing for fear any motion would end the magic. Every time she spoke of it, it was as if she was relating it for the first time, and the same joy would dance in her eyes.

I can't remember the name of the tale, but the book Moral Compass contains the story of a family of sisters, and each takes after a certain type of bird. The youngest of the sisters is lovely inside and out and is the hummingbird, the most welcome bird of all.

I found the most petite nest on the ground today, utterly dwarfed by the humongous pine it rested under. My sweet friends will be back soon, and I can't wait.

Thank You, Lord, for these beautiful little creatures.

Day 55

I am grateful for this song called "My Dear."

It's by Bethel Music from their album "Loft Sessions." I saw it day before yesterday on Amy's Facebook wall, and one listen was all it took. So glad for the vast availability of music on YouTube. I listened to the whole album on Grooveshark, then checked out the price on Amazon. Oh, the wonders of the Internet!

The whole album is great, and another song called "Come to Me" is a new worship favorite. These are contemporary, intimate, novel songs with a lean all their own. I like it. A lot.

Thank You, Lord, for this creation river of life notes, strung together in song pearl.

Day 54

I am grateful for unexpected love from unexpected places.

This was a big, sweet hug of a surprise this morning. Ryan wrote a paragraph of some really nice things about me on Facebook, posted with a picture of the two of us. I couldn't believe it. Not because he's not thoughtful and generous in spirit, but because it says he posted it on Tuesday, and this is Thursday and I just got the notification. Mostly though, I know he's super busy in this, his senior collegiate year. He has one full schedule, each year outgrowing the previous--and yet he took time out to do this for me. A-mazed, I was.

My love language is gifts, and that doesn't mean just things tangible. Any time someone shows me that I've been thought of, cared about, prayed for, or otherwise blessed upon, it's a gift to me, and I am loved on. We of the gift language fawn over our gift for a while. First, we take time to simply admire and appreciate it. We gently unwrap it and marvel as we examine it, gratitude mingling with the knowledge of being loved, creating a kind of joy stew that warms to my deeps.

I marinate in these moments of quiet joy, letting its oils penetrate and soften. The satisfaction of it all radiates to other parts of me that I didn't even know needed soothing. I am comforted, held, and smiled on--and I am blessed.

Thank You, Lord, for this brand of grace.