85

Finding over 1,000 forgotten "gifts" I'd listed in the back of this devotional in 2014.

84

Thought I would miss out on the best Friday work files due to an early morning appointment that would keep me away from my computer for several hours.

Couldn't stop praising the Lord when I got home and saw this e-mail.

Due to some glitch, the files hadn't even been downloaded yet.

83

A friend willing to go to the doctor with me and hold my hand if it involved anything painful.

No pain involved. Just have to wear this brace for four weeks.

82

Another awesome birthday gift--a new cell phone from my daughter and son-in-law. It takes even better pictures than my camera.

81

Good thing I was wearing long pants when one of my favorite grand-doggies bit me. It could have been a lot worse.

80

Phone ringing as I was about to leave was a call from my friend to let me know the commitment that would have kept us from connecting on this trip had unexpectedly been cancelled and we would be able to meet after all.

79

A birthday road trip planned by my daughter so I could watch two grandsons' football games, as well as visit a good friend I've been friends with for many, many years.

78

A good friend who keeps coming to my rescue.

77

Making it to the big 8-0, and having a very fun celebration surrounded by three generations. Feeling very blessed.

76

Heard two loud thuds as I was getting out of my car, but when I went to pick up what had fallen, I only saw a book.  Puzzled, I looked some more, and caught sight of my camera under the car.  Fortunately, it's still working. This was a test picture I took.

75

A caring daughter and son-in-law who gave me a ride to meet my new great-granddoggie, Riley.

74

Finishing my errands, and making it back home and up to my apartment with all the shopping bags right before the storm.

73

Grateful for my grandson who vacuumed out my car, set my mind at ease by inspecting for mice and/or nests (finding no evidence of), and who alerted me to start running when the noise of the vacuum aroused a nest of bees and caused them to swarm around the car door.

72

Perfect  weather for an outdoor party.

71

A very unexpected gift.

70

Was able to watch TBN's Tribute to Michael W. Smith concert on my computer.

69

A break from the hot, muggy days we've been having, and time for a short walk between appointments.

These beautiful sunflowers gave my spirits an instant boost.

68

A daughter willing to help me get started on a project I've been putting off for at least ten years--sorting through boxes of old photos and putting them in albums.

67

Two sets of helping hands.

A friend who dropped what she was doing to drive over and help me drain the fat off of three pounds of chopped meat sautéing in my cast iron pan, that was too heavy for me to lift off the stove.

A second friend who  helped me deliver the meal by carrying it down to the car, and then into the home of the family I had prepared it for.

66

Pizza and Yahtzee with my favorite daughter (and grand-doggie).

65

Being encouraged and lifted up by long forgotten comments on an old blog I revisited.

64

Getting to celebrate my youngest great-grandchild's first birthday.

63

That little bag of take-out condiments I can't bear to throw out came in very handy today when I was in the middle of cooking supper and realized I had no soy sauce (a key ingredient).

62

Two angels in disguise--the bagger at Giant who noticed a tear in one of my frozen food items and got me a replacement; and the lady who approached me as I staggered into the courtyard weighed down by more grocery bags than I could comfortably handle, and asked if I could use some help.

61

Friends who share the abundance of their veggie gardens.

Home grown produce tastes so much better than anything you can purchase at the store.

60

Dreaded visit to a new GYN for a tricky procedure (due to some really bad reviews about her I'd read on Google) turned out to be amazing. Not only was she personable, but she accomplished the task in the least amount of time, and with the least discomfort than I've ever experienced.

59

Spending time with old childhood friends who drove almost three hours to take me out to lunch

58

Topping a goal I never thought I would reach.

57

Being able to open my car door with the remote once again.

56

Feeling very grateful for the branch manager's mercy and grace regarding a book I lost on my way to return it. I'd put it on the hood of my car and forgotten it was there. When I went back to look for it, it was gone.

55

The many friendly, kind, helpful, genuinely caring people I met while out and about today.

54

Perfect weather, and a safe trip to my brother-in-law's wedding in Manhattan and back.

53

Finding these two beautiful prints I salvaged from our dumpster a home...













...and seeing the excitement of the neighbor who recognized their worth, despite water damage to the mattes.

52

An unexpected phone call from a granddaughter far away.

51

Perfect timing for this memory to pop up on Facebook. Sometimes you just need a word of encouragement.

50

My camera fell out of my bag while I was running errands, and I thought I'd lost it. Was much relieved to find it wedged next to the driver's seat in my car.

49

A beautiful peony from a friend's garden. It smells wonderful too.

48

Spending time with my daughter and great-granddaughter (whose picture I'm not allowed to post). Their shoes are in that pile.

47

A strong young man who came to my rescue, and helped carry several heavy bags up to my apartment. It would have taken me at least three trips up and down the stairs, but he did it in one.

46

Meeting a friend for lunch at Chick-fil-A. Their signs always make me smile.

45

A Mothers Day gerbera.

44

Being able to attend my grandson's graduation from Shepherd yesterday.

43

Can't believe it's been a whole year since the open heart surgery to replace my mitral valve. I'm feeling very grateful for my full recovery.

42

Brand new pair of pants that fit perfectly, even though the label says Large, and I'm a Medium. One of the volunteers spotted it at the bottom of a pile of remnants being bundled for redistribution after yesterday's clothing giveaway at church. I am so happy she thought of me when she saw it.

41

Took apple dumplings out of the freezer to serve for lunch today, and was concerned that there might not be enough to go around. There were three of us at the table, but only four dumplings in the container, so it seemed. What a relief to find out there were actually eight of them squeezed in there.

40

 No cavities.

39

A grandson who came for dinner and helped tackle some overwhelming chores.

38

Over 20 years ago I attended a church where we sang a very upbeat medley, one song seguing into the next. For the longest time I've been trying to remember the sequence. Tonight it all came back to me, thanks to this post on Facebook. Coincidence? I think not.

37

Good news waiting for me when I got home from my echocardiogram. The valve is excellent, and everything looks great.