Well, here we go!

After much peer pressure and encouragement, I've finally got my own blog! I've been wondering how to get started...what do I write about first? It reminds me of writing in school, how the first paragraph is always the hardest. I remember reading Angie's lists and how they made me smile, so here is my list of things that make me happy.
1. Being loved--by my Lord, my husband, my kids, my Mom, my friends...
2. Worshiping with other believers
3. My kids' chalk drawings on the driveway
4. Starbucks
5. Chocolate
6. Shopping
7. Drinking a mocha from Starbucks while shopping (is that a sin?)
8. Re-connecting with old friends
9. White snow against a blue sky (don't see that as much as I used to...)
10. When people get along (my kids, siblings, in-laws, etc.)
11. Good music
12. Funny things kids say
13. Watching my kids play at the pool or beach and getting that slightly-sunburned-but-don't-really-care-buzz from being outside all day (get that more than I used to!)
14. Inside jokes with my husband
15. Realizing God is in control, knows more than I do, is more powerful than I am, and loves me more than I can understand
16. Hugs
17. Participating in leading someone to faith in Christ
18. Watching them get baptized
19. Watching them grow in Him
20. Newborn baby feet

Notice I didn't say ahead of time how long my list would be. This is because of a recent #12. While in Branson for a family retreat with Mike's work, the wives & families of the campus ministers presented them with notebooks full of letters of encouragement from various people in their lives. The other thoughtful, loving wives got their children to write letters as well. I didn't think about this until we got there, so dragged mine out of the hotel pool for them to dictate to me dripping wet. Anyway, one little boy gave his mom a sheet of paper that said, "5 (scratched out) 3 things I love about my dad" because he ran out of ideas at 3. Ha!
Also because I just may add to the list as I think of more things. Thank God, no matter what's happening in my life, He always finds a way to give me a "happy!"