Gratitude

The weight that lifts when you stop fighting things and just go with the flow.

The perfectness of a daylily...from my own backyard.  

The crockpot.

How Tanner patiently waits for his next bite of food by putting his foot in his mouth...only to find left overs on his toes a few moments later...and a huge smile on his face.

Watching Tanner pull all the books of the book shelf and how Kody follows around chewing on all of the bindings.

How Kody smiles at me with a full mouth and how the sweet potatoes gush through his two bottom teeth...and we both laugh.

Pepperjack Cheese.

How the boys are already fascinated with airplanes that fly over head  - future aviation majors? 

A conversation with my mom chatting about how we are never content and how that same conversation put a different perspective on the rest of my day.

The resiliency of babies - especially ones who rock themselves off their beanbag chair, fall three feet from the table to the floor, nearly bite through their tongue, need a visit to the ER to remove dead tissue, and how a few days later, you'd never know of the trauma.

The double-edged sword of a strong-willed child - the same constant persistence that causes disobedience also provides the strength to keep on keepin' on. 

A new picnic table to enjoy alfresco dining - made extra special by the hands of Ben and his dad.

Seeing Ben as a father, and how his boys light up when he walks into the room.

Kody & Tanner's smiles when Onyx sniffs their hands.

Our garden. Fresh rhubarb, raspberries, and herbs which have already been enjoyed in pies, desserts, and salads.

How a list like this brings clarity. How the small stuff really does matter, and how I could keep going.