It’s a pity that  I’m in a bit of a dull mood today.  I’m afraid it could be contagious and rather than bum you out, I thought it best for not just you, my readers, but also my family, that I sit down and make out a list of things I’m thankful for or things that make me smile.

We received an insurance settlement for the damage done to our ceiling due to the roof leak that will cover about 1/10 of the total cost of fixing the roof the way it should be done.  I admit, at first I got a little caught up in that figure there, 1/10 of the actual cost.  That 9/10 that we still need to cover can be a rather daunting thought.  Instead I am now choosing to be happy that we’ve already got the first 1/10 covered!  I bet in just a little bit we’ll be up to 2/10, then 3/10 and so on!

I’m doing laundry today.  I love that feeling you get when you get the last load into the washer, then into the dryer and finally when it’s all folded and put away.  I sigh as it goes into the dryer thankful that we had the ability to replace our old washer and dryer last year when we needed to.  I love my new washer and dryer, the front loader variety that we had the ability to stack and open up some room in our laundry room. 

I went out for grocery shopping this morning and now the cupboards and refrigerator and freezer are full again!  I love grocery shopping, and my kids tell me how much they appreciate a full cupboard.  I even starting picking up some of the food we’ll need for Mac’s graduation party.  That is a good feeling.

My Emma is getting over the cold she came down with over the weekend.  Too many late nights took their toll and the poor thing was on the couch asleep for most of the day yesterday.  She’s feeling much better today.  I feel so bad for my kids when they get sick like that.  When they get over it so quickly it’s a good feeling, like a sigh of relief.

Mac has a good job where he’s earned enough money to maybe buy his first car soon.  We’re waiting to find out if the car is available.  Mac works hard.  He’s earned the car.  It’ll be nice to have a second car in the family.  We do okay with just Bessie, but there are days when we have to schedule carefully to get us all where we need to go. 

Cliff is working hard at his job and has a long term contract that keeps getting longer with the addition of new projects.  He gets to work at home and be here with us day to day.  It’s a good way to live.

My mom is feeling so much better after her bout with pneumonia in February.  Pneumonia is not easy to get over, but she’s doing really well.

It’s Holy Week, Friday is Good Friday.  I am so thankful there was a Good Friday.  I can’t imagine my life without a Good Friday.  Sunday is Easter/Resurrection Sunday.  Jesus didn’t stay dead, He rose again on Sunday.  He lived again and conquered sin, death and Hell.  He did that for you and for me.

I’m sure my list can go on and on.  I know that when life seems to pile up it’s too easy to complain.  It even makes us feel good to complain to people, like somehow it makes us something special to be going through something.  It doesn’t, you know.  It makes us human.  Whatever I’m going through, there is sure to be someone who is going through something harder.  I could name names, people I know who are really dealing with hard things, much harder than the moldy roof over my head. 

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.  James 1:2-4