-GameBoy’s holiday orchestra concert. His proud role as first chair of the cello section. His body swaying to the music and the dramatic flourish of his bow at the end of each song. What fervor! Yes, this is my little tap-dancing boy all grown up!
-Christmas cards from sorority sisters, college friends, new-this-year friends, and family. Seeing that we’re all getting just a bit older even though we’re still the same us
-listening to my new favorite podcast, the brief 5 min/day “Writer’s Almanac” by Garrison Keillor, as I wash the dishes by candlelight this morning because our power is out
-making gingerbread creations with Aunt Suz, Chris and Pete the dog yesterday evening. Wondering if there is any way that their masterpiece made it home to Riverside without a nibble from Pete or Chris
-the pumpkin scented candle burning in the kitchen right now. Yum!
-great-grandma’s toffee made by Uncle Dave and Aunt Autumn, sent all the way from North Carolina. Woohoo!
🙂

–Watching the kitties search for mice under the Christmas tree skirt [note: our cats have never yet found any mice anywhere, but they continually search for them anyways]

–Looking at each of the ornaments on our tree and remembering their stories (they are all gifts or handmade items). My favorite today: a little reindeer hand-carved out of upholstery foam. Made for us by a Chinese grandpa who was in a free English class that John & I taught at a local church many years ago.

–Listening to GameBoy practice his cello, especially his jaunty rendition of “Let it Snow”

–Seeing GameBoy eat a caramel-chocolate-pretzel confection. His first sticky treat since getting his braces on nearly 2 years ago (they come off in a few days so we aren’t worried about broken brackets now!)

–Swimming with the kiddoes on a weekend morning and discovering that I’ve got to swim pretty hard nowadays to keep ahead of them when we race (it was 80 degrees here, unseasonably warm for SoCal)

–Turning in the last long paper I need to write this quarter yesterday. Whew.

–Lighting a candle lantern with CatGirl in my room last night. Turning out the lights and laying on our backs in bed. Basking in the lovely cut-glass pattern that was reflected off of the ceiling and walls. Enjoying my daughter’s breathlessness at such beauty.

–coming home oh-so-late last night and finding a lone pearl earring perched on the nightstand. After losing it 2 days ago and thinking I would never see it again. (thank you, he-can-find-a-needle-in-a-haystack John!)
–mailing out a slew of Xmas gifts on Tuesday–before December has even begun. Woohoo!
–after my super-chilly-outdoor-pool swim yesterday morning (yes, the temps around here have finally dipped into the 60s), John warming up my shivery-cold body in his own particularly effective way.
–cooking CatGirl’s favorite bean soup all day today in the crockpot. anticipating her squeal of delight when she comes in the door from school.
–getting the garden bookkeeping caught up yesterday (I’m the treasurer for our community garden).
–GameBoy and GatGirl’s ebullience about the upcoming holiday season. the care with which they unpacked the Xmas tree and decorated our apartment with all of the traditional Christmas trimmings. their pride in having done it all themselves this year, with just a smidge of advice from me and John.

-wearing my pearl stud earrings. they make me feel classy even when I’m clothed in a t-shirt and sweatpants
-the satisfaction of all the laundry now being folded. and almost all of it put away, too.
-John telling me the secret words that are written in my eyes.
-making a wrong turn as I took GameBoy to school this morning, because I was tired and forgot where I was headed. but making it on time anyways.
-finding my favorite short-sleeved black sweater. in a dusty ball at the bottom of my closet. washing it last night and it is as good as new now.
-flossing regularly, for the first time in my life. a habit that I now enjoy.
-finding a note from the John and the kids on my steering wheel when I return to the car after class. a reminder that I am loved and cared for, even when I am in student mode.
-the deep peace that comes from a morning full of possibilities. the confidence that today will be a good one.

–returning my way-overdue-and-already-billed library books and finding Ned behind the counter. a nice chat, with a good book recommendation and the promise of yet another pumpkin slaughter party at Karen’s lovely condo.
–the first rainshower of fall this afternoon. rolling down the car windows, not minding as the drops fell on my arm.
–A family member (who shall not be named) calling to tell me that she enjoyed reading a post on my blog
–listening to John tell the highlights of his “Jesus Camp” viewing
–munching on a few ‘figments,’ courtesy of Dora-chan. Bitter black chocolate coating on ripe mission figs. yah.
–an email message from my little bro. letting us know that the ultrasound went well and boy #2 will soon join their family.
–it’s 9:30pm on Friday the 13th. and all is well…
🙂