identify 100 things that make me happy (besides money)

69. metromint’s spearmint water! too good!

57. spending an entire weekend with my sisters and their kids.
58. clear crisp starry nights in fall.
59. the smell of a fire in the fireplace.
60. meeting a friend for lunch.
61. praying for something and having it answered the way you wanted it answered.
62. looking back and seeing how far you’ve grown instead of how far you have yet to go to get to where you think you “should” be.
63. the smell of babies.
64. sleeping solidly and soundly.
65. the cleansing and release of tears shed, good and hard.
66. memories of the house my dad’s parents lived in when i was growing up: the attic tower where my sister and i waited for our princes; the pool in the backyard; riding around on grandpa’s lap on the tractor; the horses out beyond the fence; building forts in the rec room downstairs; christmases gathered in the living room.
67. seeing the faces of late relatives in the faces of children (nieces and nephews) and watching their expressions and mannerisms for similarities.
68. reminiscing with family about days of yesteryear.

50. that place under a tree where sunlight and shade meet and mingle and dance together.
51. visiting the small town I grew up in (Clinton, MO).
52. having all my windows open at my house for the fresh air.
53. a really good limeade on a hot day.
54. writing.
55. a good, strong, long hug.
56. hearing someone say, “I love you.”

12. grace.
13. forgiveness: giving and receiving.
14. when a knowing look from across the room tells me absolutely everything I need to know in life.
15. sunset silhouettes.
16. photography.
17. when my nieces and nephews, or kids I babysit, tell me they love me out of the blue and for no reason.
18. cowboys. sexy cowboys. sexy christian cowboys.
19. a sexy man in carpenter jeans, a baseball tee (white shirt with different color 3/4 sleeves), flip-flops, and a cap.
20. dogs. big ones.
21. human touch.
22. when everything that needs to be said, is said without words.
23. childrens’ laughter.
24. mountains.
25. the smell of a bookstore.
26. walking hand in hand.
27. memories of the 2 years I spent in Alaska.
28. when I hear that I am beautiful and I really feel it and believe it to be true.
29. a good beer.
30. maryjane crocs.
31. postsecret (http://postsecret.blogspot.com).
32. hot tubs.
33. scary movies when I have someone to cuddle with.
34. colored sharpies.
35. clamming in Clam Gulch, Alaska.
36. Chipotle.
37. being blessed enough to have a job that I actually forward to every single day.
38. feeling needed/wanted/loved.
39. the love letter left by the man in The Wine is in the Glass by Daniel Kolak.
40. getting hand-written letters in the mail.
41. blues and greens.
42. really good lyrics to a song that just fits the moment so perfectly or a song that takes you back to a specific time in your life.
43. Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Patty Griffin, John Ondrasik.
44. setting the curve in a 300-level philosophy class.
45. knowing that on the other side of the desert, there’s a promised land waiting.
46. playing hookey and spending all day with someone you love.
47. thunderstorms.
48. getting caught in the rain.
49. LOVE – pure & simple.

1. words! i love words!
2. discovering that a man will not make me happy but i have to be happy with myself.
3. when the weather starts to turn from summer to fall.
4. the colors of autumn.
5. everything autumn related: pumpkin and apple festivals, hay rides, hoodies and sweaters, hot cider, fireplaces ablaze, good wine…
6. holding hands.
7. making out.
8. really good music.
9. really good books.
10. really good movies.
11. writing something and then thinking, “wow! i wrote that! that is really good!”