There is delight & joy all around us. Here’s a running list of things that delight me, that date back to 2010. These were found on my blog titled “Restore” (now private). I will continue adding to the list.
1. Flowers by my sink (From my house, about a block from downtown Joshua Tree, Ca)
2. Strawberry shortcake made with Bisquick.
3. The first sip of chilled chardonnay.
4. Being able to afford a printer, ink and paper. I love the sound the printer makes as the words are traced in black against the white.
5. The snoring puppy at my feet.
6. Weathered doors.
8. Fireworks
9. The sound (and scent) of coffee dripping into a pot in the morning.
10. The smell of old books.
11. Fresh flowers throughout the house.
12. The Eastern NC sun as it filters through the trees.
13. The smell of the desert on a cool morning.
14. A good book.
15. Light through my kitchen nook window, shining on my table.
16. A strong cup of coffee.
17. Grace.
18. Quail running through the yard.
19. Abby’s cold nose.
20. The bright green of spring (I’m remembering…as there isn’t much green in the desert).
21. The Neuse and its jagged shoreline.
22. Bright pink flowers on a prickly cactus.
23. A breeze through open windows, on a quiet afternoon.
24. Avocados
25. The pine tree in my back yard – it’s green such a contrast in all this brown.
26. Tiny, baby pine cones that fell from my tree in the spring.
27. The days when work is what it’s supposed to be.
28. The opportunities my Marine Corps life has given to me.
29. Rainstorms in the desert.
30. My dog falling asleep at my feet.
31. The people who take care of me.
32. Memories of salt and pine in the air.
33. God’s unending patience.
34. Lemons, fresh from my Grandma’s tree – and the scent they leave on my hands.
35. The little green plants on my counter. Giving me a little bit of green in a world so brown.
36. Golden sun on country roads
37. A cold glass of Coke.
38. Chilly, winter weather
39. Cooking for family
40. My Mom’s faith in me.
41. Second chances
42. Handwritten letters (from my boss & his right hand man)
43. The gift of creativity
44. The ability to be compassionate towards others
45. A sense of humor
46. Sun shining through dark clouds
47. My soft bed
48. Cheese & Crackers
49. The handmade books my Mom has made me
50. My Reading List by Pat Conroy
51. Making a life and home of my own
52. Memories of the sea.
55. Creating beauty & sanctuary in my home.
56. Reminders of the sea I love so much, all around me.
57. Spotify
58. Otis Redding singing
59. Abby barking in her sleep
60. Pink Tulips on my desk (given to me by a kindhearted person)
61. Microsoft Office Professional on my laptop
62. American Idol
63. Football season
64. The ability to buy a new coffee table (which my mom promptly broke but I could buy one…lol)
65. Days of rest
66. Health insurance
67. Having enough money to share
68. Freedom to make mistakes
69. Music – music that touches my heart
70. Feeling needed
71. Abby growing up (she’s losing her puppy!)
72. My mom coming to the desert to help me with some stuff…
73. Flowers & balloons on my birthday
74. Birthday cards
75. Birthday money
76. Knowing I have impacted people positively.
77. The prospect of being back in NC.
78. Being taken to lunch
79. For the privilege that is my job.
80. For families reunited.
81. Grace that overflows when a cold shoulder is deserved.
82. For old music that reminds me of my dreams
82. Forgiveness
84. New cell phone
85. Days off
86. Fernando Ortega singing
87. Fresh basil
88. The scent of jasmine filling the house.
89. Cards and letters from the people I serve.
90. For the peace of having to be nowhere.
91. Freedom from my work phone.
92. Reading two books in a couple of days
93. Pandora
94. Sedona, Arizona
95. Ferry route signs
96. Rain
97. Clouds
98. Toads that sound like lambs.
99. My river
100. The Neusiok Trail
101. Wireless
102. Interviews that go well
103. The joy I can acknowledge that I get from work.
104. A house of my own again
105. My job
106. Feeling appreciated by my boss
107. Seagulls in my yard
108. Ocean breezes
109. Living in Beaufort!
110. Roses, hosta, and camellias in my yard.
111.. A boss that is open with praise
112. For Saturday naps
113. For football on a Sunday afternoon
114. For a cool ocean breeze through my house
115. For the salt and sea air
116. For weather
117. For Abby’s silly antics
118. Paying bills
119. Vacation
120. The sunset
121. Hope in the future
122. Dreams
123. The ocean/salt air
124. Lunch on the porch
125. Blooming daffodils
126. Cooking!
127. A nice glass of wine while cooking & enjoy my homemade meal.
128. Baking
129. Rain and rain and rain
130. Humidity (remind me I said this when we get to August)
131. New friends
132. New experiences…wine class on 17 April 2013
133. New opportunities
134. My beautiful adopted home state.
135. Jasmine blooming in the neighborhood – love this scent following me as I walk in the evening.
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136. Clover in bloom everywhere
137. Crap pots bobbing in the Neuse
138. Jumping mullet
139. People checking their crab pots
140. The constantly changing Neuse.
141. Concerts at Tryon Palace, under the stars.
142. The incredible beauty of the ocean.
143. The sound of the waves crashing.
144. The jade green of the sea.
145. The library
146. Good books
147. Amazing food
148. Great wine
149. Cruise on the Neuse & Trent
150. Fresh basil on my counter
151. Beautiful memories
152. Gorgeous days
153. Being made to feel beautiful
154. Having lived in an amazing place like DC (remembering).
155. My little home
156. Living in downtown New Bern
157. Changing weather
158. Good books
159. The changing light as autumn approaches
160. My tiny back deck
161. A cool breeze
162. The light at dusk
163. Turning leaves
164. Hugs
165. Sweet, refreshing words
166. Offers for walks with friends & lunch by the water
167. People who reach out to comfort when things are stressful
168. Autumn decorations
169. Being cold after a hot summer
170. Pulling out blankets & afghans
171. Pumpkin roll Scentsy
172. The sun shining on the river after a dreary day
173. French roast coffee
174. Michael Giacchino music
175. Watching snow fall
176. Catching tiny, intricate snow flakes as I walk the dog.
177. Being creative & crafty
178. Fresh, hot bread out of the oven
179. Crab pots reappearing on the river
180. Warm sun after a cold winter
181. New pens
182. A job that inspires me
183. Videos shared at just the right moment
184. Getting to return home to Cherry Branch
185. The gift of living on “my” river
186. The gift of being rent/utility free
187. My French Press
188. A glass of wine
189. Cherry trees in blossom
190. Seagulls
191. The sweet scent of warm pine
192. Being able to cook after three weeks of feeling horrid
193. Beautiful stories
194. Finding sea shells
195. Ocean sounds
196. Local strawberries
197. Hope and dreams of answered prayers
198. Anticipation – Dog being trained & moving
199. Living on my river again
200. Brunch on the deck
201. Cherry Branch
202. Hummingbirds buzzing around me
203. The stillness of the river
204. The peace, quiet, and rest
205. Hope when there should be none.
206. A book, a glass of wine, favorite music, the deck and my dog
207. When Abby listens
208. My trained dog
209. The cool breeze
210. A break from humidity
211. The sounds of home – the trees, the ferry, the waves in the wind, the seagulls
212. The amazing weather on a late summer day
213. Sunday morning with coffee and a view
243. School & school books
214. The hope of accomplishing goals
215. The way the clouds move in off the water
216. The hope of autumn
217. My lovely home
218. The hope of a New Year
219. Visiting places that mean a lot to me
220. Lunch at Moreno’s
221. A new pillow
222. A clean kitchen
223. A new day without mistakes
224. Starting fresh
225. Rest
226. Forgiveness
227. Freedom
228. Knowing God wants me to dream
229. Encouragement to keep the adoption dream alive.