100 REASONS TO BE THANKFUL:
(in no particular order)
#1. Library cards
#2. Ice cream
#3. Sunday mornings
#4. Waking up to sunshine
#5. Giggly grand-girls
#6. Hymns
#7. 37 years with a husband I love
#8. 3rd graders
#9. Sharpie pens
#10. My old recovered Bible
#11. Kindnesses of friends
#12. Snuggable quilts
#13. Diet Coke
#14. Prayers answered
#15. Our Micah & Jodi
#16. Our AA & Jessica
#17. Our Ani & Brian
#18. Our Lovable Laurel
#19. Dark chocolate with almonds & sea salt
#20. Talking with Monday night ladies
#21. Shelves of childrens’ books
#22. Travels far & wide
#23. Family weddings
#24. My yellow kitchen
#25. The best parents a girl could have
(I love and admire them so)
#26. NPR
#27. Parks
#28. Kids coming home to stay a bit
#29. Christmas shopping with my sis
#30. Tapas with Tinto de Verano
#29. Laughing (or crying) with my MOPS moms
#30. Birthday cakes
#31. Bedtime stories
#32. Handel & Bach
#33. Picnics
#34. The dearest in-laws, Helen & Stu
#35. Sweet peas each spring
#36. Crescent Meadow at Sequoia
#37. The Utrera (Spain) church
#38. Bright friends
#39. A God I can trust
#40. Letters in the mail box
#41. DK Top Ten travel guides
#42. Talk with friend around our table
#43. Sitting by the hot fireplace
#44. Maple trees in the yard
#45. Tuesdays praying with J & D
#46. Babies–all that new life hope
#47. Advent wreaths & telling the story
#48. Thanksgiving Day
#49. Larry’s plot of veggies growing
#50. JH – life shared with friends
#51. Sevillana dancing
#52. Tuesday night lit group
#53. Psalm 86
#54. Art Museums
#55. Thrift Stores
#56. Sitting in Sunday night chapel with my mom and in-laws
#57. The Messiah
#58. A 60th birthday trip to Spain
#59. Skyping to China
#60. Vivaldi’s “Gloria”
#61. Hope of Heaven
#62. My little camera
#63. Reading weekends in Big Bear
#64. Being a mom
#65. 314 Juniper
#66. Boysenberries in the side yard
#67. Baking cookies with the grand girls
#68. Churros y Chocolate
#69. Rainy days reading on the couch
#70. Advice from real friends
#71. Bread and sweet butter
#72. Bird nests under our eves
#73. 10 weeks of summer vacation
#74. The Reason for God by Tim Keller
#75. Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell
#76. Material World by Peter Menzel
#77. Hidden Art by Edith Schaeffer
#78. Walks with Jenny or with Shawna
#79. Friday night dinners with Larry
#80. Season of Lent
#81. Baby & Wedding showers (lots of hope there)
#82. Vacation Bible School
#82. Grandma Muggie who took me grocery shopping
#83. Grandma Rose who stitched up most of my clothes
#84. Dinner under the maple trees in summer
#85. Phone calls from my girls commuting home
#86. “Time is Ticking Away” & “Lean on Me”–D.C.Talk
#87. Hot chocolate pudding
#88. Brothers I admire–Mark & Brad
#89. Lessons learned
#90. Persistent, fragrant yellow freesias
#91. Tim Keller Sermons
#92. Long distance friends from Spain
#93. Fresh peaches
#94. Journeys to Shanghai to hug grand girls & their parents
#95. Stays with the kids in San Francisco
#96. My aunt Maryann, my mentor, my friend
#97. Forgiveness
#98. Friends who care, who pray
#99. Abundance
#100. The kindness & mercy of God
The Thankful Heart 
…..and I remember your Aunt MaryAnn….a lovely lady. Brenda and I flew to L.A. once and went to the opera. It was Brenda’s first, Puccini’s “La Boheme”. It was magical; she was mesmerized. A great weekend with all of MaryAnn’s lovely touches…..
Thanks Anne for that little memory– I loved Mary Ann more than just about anyone. We could sit for hours and talk about every important thing. I miss her so… (I took Larry to “La Boheme” for his Christmas gift this past year–beautiful)
How lovely! Yes, lots to be thankful for here too 🙂
Rhonda, I just “ran across” your blog and I love it! I’m especially fond of all the yummy looking recipes and have already taken down some “grocery needs” notes 🙂 I loved reading about where your children are and what they are doing now. We have 10 grandchildren (4 girls, 6 boys) plus one foster/to adopt baby boy 4 months old and another “as yet to be determined sex” baby due next June. So we are BUSY grandparents. Our oldest son & family live in London so we know all about grand-parenting via iChat. You remember Jason probably….he & his family live in Seal Beach. Sarah & her family live in Laguna Hills so those families are close. Anyway, I’m excited to find and read your blog. Thanks for sharing your good recipes, too!!!
Hi Judy– Sure I remember all your kids– Jason was always so friendly to Micah. We’re definitely behind you on the grandchildren! But Aaron and Jessica are expecting in May. We’re so happy for them. Thanks for your lovely note.
Thank you for sharing. For me I’m so THANKFUL for GOD’S Grace, Forgiveness, Love, Mercy, Kindness, and that God continues to share whatever diligently, regardless. God is good, and God is Love. Be BLESSED, Mtetar
And I am so thankful for YOU in my life.
Thank you Lord for dear Rhonda.
Had some quiet moments this morning and spent them perusing your blog! I now am inspired to make a lovely salad served with the crostini with chard and burrata cheese for dinner…yum! I finished my perusing with a review of your 100 reasons to be thankful. You can’t imagine how my heart leapt when I saw my mom on your list! Quite a lady! I miss her daily, but am so thankful for her life and legacy. Your blog is so lovely…you have created something of great beauty and inspiration. Love you lots! Stephanie
Hi Stephanie– It’s true. You mother was a treasure. She was the best at caring for people, so open and generous with all she had, the most wonderful listener, devoted to God and to the people she loved. I miss her so much too.
I love #46,#55 and #89. Great list overall 🙂
#19, #39 and #48 = perfection! Love your blog.
Lisa– fun to find your friendly blog– your Mothers Day post was SO cute!
And at this moment, I am thankful for stumbling upon your generous and kind heart.
Thanks so much Tom– Poured over your blog– beautiful photos– those pies!!!!
What a beautiful post! As they say it’s not money that makes one happy…but the other beautiful things that matter to us that make us happy 🙂
You right SN– family and friends and my faith are what are dear to me.
A lovely list to keep.
#9, #21, #29, #31, #32, #60, #64, #70, #93, #97 are my favourite! Grazie, Rhonda, for making me think of the many blessings of life. We should recite your list every day, lika a mantra, not to forget how blessed we are!
Simon– you are such an encouragement. I agree– remembering to be thankful changes everything. hope all’s well with you and your dear family… xo
Library cards…love it! I use Overdrive…amazing gift to the world!
Hmmm… I’m off to google Overdrive– new to me! thanks!
Oh yes…it’s wonderful! It’s an app. It gives me free ebooks and audiobooks at my fingertips. All you have to do is put in your library card. If you try it and it works, let me know. I’m curious to know if it’s an app for just my area or library or if it’s an app for several libraries across the country and/or world. I really don’t know. Hope it works for you though! 💖
This sounds promising!! I am a faithful library patron– always have my name on new book lists! So this might be a big help! And– just read your Grammarly post– also sounds like something I could well use! xo
Neat! I’m glad you’ve discovered a couple new things to explore! 😉💖