I am a chronic list maker. I make lists for
everything. Sometimes I even write what I already did, just so I can check it
off. When my kids were babies, I would often have 2-3 days in a row where I
didn’t get out of my jammies. On these days, just so I would feel productive,
my list would say things like, “take a shower” or, “do the dishes”.
I’ve recently discovered the “notes”
application on my phone. For a list maker, it is the greatest thing invented
since the magnetic fridge whiteboard. Currently I have 10 lists going in my
“notes” section. Some are shopping lists, while others are things like
“Birthday Gift Ideas for Kids”. It is so handy because now all my lists are in
one place.
On a quest to pull my silent thought life out
of a yucky pit, I decided to start a list of the little things I’m thankful
for. I titled the list, “Simple Pleasures”. I started the list about a week
ago, and I’ve been adding to it a little everyday. Whether I’m in line at the
border or cutting veggies for dinner, my thoughts have been drifting to the simple pleasures in my life:
Waking up to the smell of coffee
Walking out in the early morning and finding
one or more of the kids
snuggled on the couch reading
Hearing my husband say to me, "So what do
you think about...?"
God's Word open on the kitchen table next to my
coffee
Walks on the beach
Writing on pretty stationary
Empty laundry baskets
Listening to my children pray in faith
Solitude and a good book
Making lists and checking things off
Fresh cut sweet peas in a posy vase on my nightstand
Long love letters or short kinky text messages
from my husband
Panera French baguette with butter
Displaying my kids art as if it were a Yadro or
a Michael Angelo
Rainy days
Listening to my family quote lines from Nacho
Libre while I try not to
wet my pants
Seeing old wrinkly skin next to newborn skin
Hearing the sound of Legos clinking together
down the hall
Praying with other women
Being pursued by my husband of 16 years as if
we've just met
Watching my kids play in the waves together
A clean house (doesn't happen often, but I love
it when it does)
Sitting down to an amazing salad made by
someone other than myself
Laughing with my family so hard we cry
Hot baths
Getting a letter in the mail, or better yet,
watching my kids when
they get a letter in the mail
Hearing the words, "thanks for dinner,
Mom, it was great!"
Lunch with girlfriends
Clean sheets
Pedicures
Making eye contact with my husband from across
the room and knowing he
knows what I'm thinking
Sunsets over the ocean
When my boys who are 10 and 12 reach over to
hold my hand in a public place
James Taylor on the radio
Chocolate chip cookies
When my husband reaches his foot over to touch
mine just before he falls asleep
Waking up to the rooster's crow
PB&J on the beach
Goodnight kisses from my kids
