Small and simple things for which I am really grateful, part II.

As motivated by Joseph B. Wirthlin's sound advice

Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don’t have to be grand or glorious. Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe, or the sound of a loved one’s voice. Thinking of things we are grateful for is a healing balm. It helps us get outside ourselves. It changes our focus from our pains and our trials to the abundance of this beautiful world we live in.

• H & P's hospitality (i.e., that I have a place to lay my head and a Volvo to drive, among other things).
• Mint brownies that come in the mailbox. (Thank you, Kaci.)
• Acceptance letters that come in the mailbox. (Thank you, Claremont.)
• Discovering my town possesses a serve yourself frozen yogurt place.
• Blue skies/sunny days.
• Strolls with and without strollers.
• The fall air.
• Community.
• Glee.
• The length of my hair.
• Cartoons and/or children's books while Henry cuddles on my lap.
• Holding Jags as she falls asleep.
• Soup season.
• Tea season (particularly blueberry and raspberry).
• Blankets.
• A visit from my mama. 
• Persian feasts.
• Neko Case, Rilo Kiley, Morgan Handley, The Glendale Rabashaw, etc.
• Occasional skype chats with my favorite Baratta sisters.
• Getting into a sun warmed car.
• That 50 degrees feels cold.
• Mosiah 26:30.
• Barnes & Noble.

(Part I: the 2009 version)

Small and simple things for which I am really grateful.

• Kindnesses upon kindnesses, from professors, from classmates, from family, from friends.
• A line from a book, "Everything is possible again."
• Another line from the same book, "If nothing matters, there's nothing to save."
• That God speaks to us in ways that we understand.
• Skype, and a 3 year old girl on the other end who knows my name and calls me aunt.
• Facebook and gmail and blogs.
• That it is not yet a terrible prospect to go outside/that it is not yet unbearably cold out.
• Scarves and hats and sweaters.
• My bicycle.
• Pizza.
• Having school classes I don't hate.
• Living in a city I am learning to love more all of the time.
• The (actual) color purple.
• The book The Little Prince.
• Priesthood blessings.
• Music shows.
• Trader Joe's.
• Maps.