I am home now at Our Treehouse. Today I have done simple things I enjoy. I sat on my kitchen deck wearing a light JACKET! and sipped on a hot cappuccino. Yummy. I listened to the prayer gong chiming as the wind gently turned it in circles. Then I took my prayer walk with Reddogg, and returned home to water all my flowers because it is so dry here in Louisville. The grass has grown back since I hacked it down a few weeks ago while unknowingly mowing the yard with a flat tire on my lawn mower. But half the yard is brown now as lots of the green grass is drying up. I washed some bed sheets and carried them down to the back of the property where my clothes line is located so they could dry in the sun. I could hear the dry grass crunching under my feet. But, no worries. The grass will grow back, and it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood here in Louisville; blue skies with a refreshing cool breeze and temperatures in the low 80’s. Besides, there is something so satisfying in hanging out sheets to dry on a clothes line, then anticipating that sweet outdoors smell on the fresh sheets when you lay your head down on your pillow to sleep. As I walked across the back yard I realized these simple things seem to build gratitude for the bigger things in my life. People!

Friday morning I drove to Knoxville, Tennessee to visit with my daughter Beth, son-in-law Chaise, and grand kids, Cason and Karys. I had a wonderful time as usual. On the drive home yesterday I was thinking what a lucky girl I am. I would be meeting up with two of my nieces at my neighbor’s pool to swim in the afternoon, along with five of my great-nephews. Tomorrow I will visit with my daughter Jano and her significant other Andrew. And I thought of so many dear friends. Wonderful people have been to visit Our Treehouse in the month of August. I have friends I talk to on the phone, friends that live out of state, and friends in my church community. And now it is September and more family and friends will be here at Our Treehouse to visit, or I will go out to see them.

Cason and Karys were showing me the new look in the play room in their home. They are older now so their toys have changed. They can play music from their iPad tablets and reflect colorful lights off the walls with a small, dome-like projector on the floor. It was quite magical. I liked it so much I took a picture of it. Then on the way home I was thinking about those lights, all different colors and shapes, yet all connected. It’s like my life and all the wonderful people in it.

So I was thinking about all this as I hung the clean sheets to dry. Now as I sit at my writing desk I occasionally get up and walk to the stove to stir the homemade vegetable soup that has slowly been cooking all day, and I realize I am still thinking about my gratitudes. What a lucky girl I am and so very grateful for all the people in my life, all the bright lights! I am thinking about YOU!

c   Love, Joan