gratitude, #804-825.

804. the patter of raindrops on my parents’ deck

805. thick, creamy slices of avocado . . . on salads, on sandwiches, on toast

806. salads and sandwiches and toast

807. an armload of clothes, warm and soft from the dryer

808. humidity and sprinklers and wet grassy feet

809. afternoon nap on a friend’s carpeted living room floor

810. the smell of the library stacks, the luxury of choosing a pile of books I don’t have to finish

811. being in the same time zone

812. Dr. Beaver, who’s been my family doctor since I was fourteen years old and hasn’t changed a bit

813. Josh’s chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven

814. sneaking over to Shari’s for a cup of coffee during naptime

815. blending in

816. a date with my brother, who understands

817. discovering with a start that the cough in my chest I had for a whole year, is gone

818. sitting in morning worship today and the first surge of joy stealing over me

819. realizing that being sick really affects every part of one’s life

820. Amie: “Mommy, thanks for letting us go to church!”

821. Judah: “Mommy, at church I talked to my teachers about God.”

822. the ache of missing our South Asia life

823. the relief of being away from it

824. my husband loves me more than I ever thought possible

825. hope