Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

• Last night was breakfast for dinner. My daughter took a couple bites and said, "This dinner is glorious." Of course, she didn't eat much for lunch. I packed a peanut butter sandwich in her lunch yesterday and my girl doesn't do sandwiches. She doesn't like bread unless it's smothered in butter and garlic. I convinced her she had to try it, but she told me she didn't end up eating it because she thought it was rotten. Nice try! Today she is happy with Wheat Thins and pepperoni.
  
• I'm leaving work early today so I can go listen to my brother speak at a conference and then get a birthday present for my friend's big day, which just happens to be today. She's coming over for a little cheer tonight.
  
• My kids are having fun at camp. My daughter had the quivering lip when I left her Monday morning, but when my hubby picked her up that afternoon, she cried because she didn't want to leave. My son has no problem at all walking up to a complete stranger who has a ball and making fast friends.
  
• Summer means relaxed schedules for every one. Next week I only have to go into the office one day.
  
• Air conditioning.
• I talked to one of my Mom's friends the other day. Well, she's my friend too, but I know her through my Mom. She called just to ask how I was doing and to tell me that she talks to my Mom every day. It means so much to know that my Mom's memory lives on with others too.
• Big, fat peonies. The color is breathtaking...not pink, but not quite purple either. A perfect combination.
• The way that I sometimes surprise myself. I came home from work yesterday and I felt like dog meat. I had a 10 minute cat nap (with my cats) and then I woke up and went for a run. A 4 mile run made me feel human again. This morning, I got up and went for an early morning walk. I have greatly missed this weekly tradition.
• That I have my priorities straight enough to know that I should be more concerned with the state of our country and the slippery slope towards socialism we are on than Wacko Jacko. This morning I had to turn the news off because the droves of people flocking to LA to pay him homage was making me angry. Why don't people care that much about other more important things? I know he was the King of Pop and I even like his music, but I can't say I have much respect for the man.
• Fresh and cheap berries.
• I'm not afraid to get dirty and I was able to get the grass stain out of my skirt. Yes...on Father's Day we were playing a serious game of wiffle and I slid into first base (or halfway across my yard) in my skirt and I wasn't even safe.