Smile List - July 8th Edition!

Because I need it a little bit this morning, these are the things I'm thankful for - the things that are currently making me smile:

• the Paul Brandt song "Risk"
• the toe ring that I'm wearing on my pinky finger today, with three tiny silver butterflies on it
• the prospect that by the weekend I will have an assembled bed, and will no longer be sleeping on my mattress on the floor
• a very special gift that my baby brother brought from England for me
• nine sleeps until hugs from a dear friend
• that the only good thing about Stampede is that instead of one casual day a week, you get to wear jeans to work every day.
• a handshake from a very attractive musician yesterday
• remembering moments in a meadow on Sunday
• the prospect that by the end of the weekend we will likely be mostly settled into our new home (and mostly unpacked, and mostly without the chaos in which we've been living for the last week and a bit)
• hanging out with my best friend, M. tonight - she got engaged a week ago today, and we haven't managed to see each other since then, so I'm still waiting on the details and I'm excited to see her ring and hear her plans.
• a cross sitting on my desk as a reminder
• bottled water
• couscous
• sharing the cooking with one of my roommates for the summer - it's nice to cook together, and to feed more than one person
• a friend who routinely reminds me that I am deeply loved - by her, and by God
• that I'm alive and breathing - there have been a lot of deaths around me lately - people I know, or people connected to people I know - and they have served as a reminder that each breath is a gift
• internet and phone service that are now functional in our new house
• a lavender plant sitting on my deck, waiting to be planted
• a digital camera for capturing moments that are important
• the High Valley song "Been Through the Water"
• days that have been a bit more peaceful the last while
• a friend who pushes me to pray, and do some hard things, even while sympathizing that they are difficult