Gratitude

Without ever realizing I would one day be writing for magazines, I used to devour My Mom's women's magazines from cover to cover (along with My Dad's news magazines and my Sports Illustrated issues, but that's a story for another day).


In one of those women's magazines, I came across a story about keeping a gratitude journal. It seemed like a good thing to do, and so, for a few years while I was still in middle and high school, I wrote from time to time about things I was grateful for. I can't recall now what things I wrote, but I'm sure they were really important, like how grateful I was for good grades and good rounds of golf and good friends.

For some reason, that gratitude journal popped into my head. And so I thought I would share a few of the random things that have made me happy today.

The petite vase full of freshly cut flowers for my desk, which you saw above.

And another little vase of flowers—some from my garden, some from Conservative Mom's—for the living room (in a lovely little 99 cent vase, no less).


Finally hanging a piece of art in the kitchen.


Finding the one cookbook I've been searching for at used bookstores and second-hand stores (The Joy of Cooking). It's the tome that was missing from my little collection on the countertop.


A juicer—the exact same one I almost bought for $20 recently—for $2.99 at Mission Mart.


My faithful sidekick, who's always up for an adventure with me.


And you, friends and family. Of course I'm grateful for you too!