Saturday Smile List

It's been a rough few days, and I find myself rather desperately in need of a pause, and a list of things I'm thankful for - things that are making me smile. So, without further ado, here is the Saturday, March 15, 2008 edition of my smile list:

• clean house
• fresh sheets on my bed to crawl into tonight
• chickpeas - I actually quite enjoy chickpeas once in a while
• green grapes from the farmer's market - particularly sweet and tangy today
• friends who share hearts with me - spread across the country, and even the globe
• the story of Lazarus
• David Crowder Band - particularly their "A Collision" album and "Remedy" album, which I've been listening to nearly constantly this week
• finances that have finally stabilized after travelling
• 45 dollars worth of fresh fruit and veggies from the farmer's market sitting in my fridge and waiting to be consumed
• that there was at least one night this week where I slept relatively peacefully for at least 4 hours.
• plans to go to mass this evening
• flip flops, yoga capris and a comfy t-shirt for hanging around the house and cleaning.
• a favorite teddy bear
• a comfy corner in my bedroom in which to curl up, or prop my feet up and settle in with a book
• Rocky Mountain Soap Company's "Sore Muscle Therapy" and "Green Apple" lip balm
• running into my aunt and uncle at the market, enjoying a quick coffee with them, and being offered an unexpected ride home
• a quiet, empty house since my roommate and our house guest are out for most of the day
• water
• mandarin oranges
• the ability to read and write
• photos of Paris on my living room wall
• soft pillows
• lemon mango fruit infusion loose tea from Oolong Tea House
• emails from friends
• itunes
• days when you really can just kick back for even a little while, and escape the intensity of life

And with that, I think I'm off to read a book. Or eat some grapes. Or an orange. Drink a bit of tea or water, maybe soak in a bath. Mass later. Maybe some writing. The cleaning is done. I like it when the cleaning is done. I like that sense of accomplishment.