100 things that give me joy

Too often we focus on the negative. This past summer, while on vacation, I was awestruck by the ni-Vans in my daughter's village. They have so little yet they are so happy! Makes me wonder what makes us happy. Is it a TV in every room? A new car in the driveway? A boat?

I realize those material things really don't matter if we don't appreciate the little things God gives us. Then, the other day I signed on to one of my favorite sites, swap-bot.com. One of the new swaps is titled "100 Things That Give Me Joy", it is a letter swap. All I have to do is compile a list of things that give me joy, print it and send it to two swap partners. I sat down and started to compile my list, here is a sample, in no particular order:

1. the sound of a cat's purr
2. the dog's tail thumping on the floor
3. watching a sunset
4. watching the sunrise
5 & 6. early morning coffee outside, listening to birds sing
7. a clean house
8. friends
9. family
10. autumn
11. smiles
12. random acts of kindness
13. e-mail
14. fresh veggies
15. fresh fruit
16. riding in the jeep with the top down
17. clean sheets
18. the sound of pages being softly turned
19. the smell of a new book
20. quiet moments
21. baking (but not cleaning up)
22. walking the Mackinac Bridge on Labor day
23. wandering through Arts/Crafts festivals
24. volunteering
25. participating in swaps on Zaar & Swap-bot
26. sewing
27. quilting
28. crocheting
29. reading
30.1st day of school
31. 1st day of summer vacation
32. learning new things
33. vu.org web site
34. drinking fresh coffee
35. chocolate
36. thoughts about my vacation
37. a pedicure
38 a manicure
39. a new hair cut/color
40. watching a sit-com on TV
41. knowing the answers on Jeopardy
42. knowing the answers on Wheel of Fortune
43. spending time on the internet
44. honesty
45. looking at photos
46. going out to eat (not fast food)
47. Barack Obama & Joe Biden as running mates!
48. the smell of freshly mowed lawn (thanks Cheri for the idea!)
49. watching a hummingbird
50. looking at flowers
51. looking at pictures of my vacation
52. walking barefoot through the grass
53. getting surprises in the mail
54. the smell of cookies baking
55. bookstores
56. libraries
57. the giggle of a child
58. the coo of a baby
59. hugs
60. having people read my blog
61. the farmer's market
62. watching the Olympics
63. when justice prevails
64. petting a dog
64. feeding kangaroos
65. holding a koala
66. hearing children say the Pledge of Allegiance
67. wrapping presents
68. butterflies
69. fresh air
70. continental breakfasts
71. fudge
72. friends




To be continued - anything you want to add to the list, please leave comments.