- Today I am thankful for laundry. This big, bad pile of laundry. The first thing I woke up to this morning was this, and it did not do my heart good. I felt like I had already started the day behind. I felt tired, irritable, and just plain wanted to snuggle back into bed. (My friend, Sara can be a witness. She saw me not long after this moment when I was really struggling to bring on the positive spirit! She commented on how I was having a good hair day and suddenly the world seemed so much better. Thanks, Sara! Community. Connection. Anyway, I digress.) I began to realize as the day moved forward what this pile represented: Giggling girls playing all kinds of imaginary games and singing at the top of their lungs to Taylor Swift. My son and I having a really boring game of Speed Solitaire. (Speed Solitaire is not supposed to be boring, by the way.) My husband and son creating amazing, rock star sounds with their drums and electric guitar. Me rolling up three cheesy-filled pepperoni rolls in the midst of salivating onlookers. And, me starting my first three rows of a new afghan, crocheting till my heart’s content. After all this fun, we were so tired that we just left this pile for the morning. So I am here to say: Thank you God for laundry!
- The sweet sound of four part harmony. I was so blessed this morning to be next to a beautiful alto, tenor, and bass. I just squeezed my voice right in next to theirs, and it was like magic. It gives me chills to sing with others. Always has.
- Granola. This is a recipe I have been making for years and it does the heart good (literally). It is filled with all kinds of good things that bring your cholesterol down… AND it tastes yummy.
Granola
4 cups Old Fashioned Oats
1 cup shaved almonds
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup flax seed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup canola oil (I like to substitute Olive Oil)
4 T honey (12 squirts)
1/2 cup water
1 c. raisins or dried cranberries
Optional (alternative favorite nuts or dried fruit)In large bowl, combine oats, almonds, flax seed, oat bran, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Mix well. In a small bowl, combine oil, honey, and water. Pour liquid over dry ingredients. Spread over greased jelly-roll pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 60 min, stirring every 20 min. The granola will brown as it cooks. Cool completely and add raisins. Store in airtight container.
1 cup shaved almonds
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup flax seed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup canola oil (I like to substitute Olive Oil)
4 T honey (12 squirts)
1/2 cup water
1 c. raisins or dried cranberries
Optional (alternative favorite nuts or dried fruit)In large bowl, combine oats, almonds, flax seed, oat bran, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Mix well. In a small bowl, combine oil, honey, and water. Pour liquid over dry ingredients. Spread over greased jelly-roll pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 60 min, stirring every 20 min. The granola will brown as it cooks. Cool completely and add raisins. Store in airtight container.
What are you thankful for today?
Gratitude 
You delight me!
Ha … I have been trying to decide whether or not to write a post about how I almost killed you and am thankful you are still alive (remember the bunk bed incident?). Soooo thankful we lived through our crazy times!!!
Well, you are having a good hair day! Glad I could help with the attitude adjustment!!
That’s what friends are for. Thankful for you!
I have 3 favorite creature comforts that I *never* take for granted. I am grateful for: 1) Owning a washer/dryer 2) Hot water coming out of the wall onto my face every morning, a 3) Having an attached garage on a rainy day.
What a beautiful reminder that the simple things are what makes life good!