I’m wrapping up a great Thursday, May 19, 2016.  Because I want to practice gratitude (and rarely take the time to do so) here are 10 great Thursday Makers — 10 things I’m thankful for:

1. I woke up.  A great way to start the day.  Everyone else in the house was still asleep in their warm beds, the windows open and the cold morning air rushing in.  A bird sang a song about delicious worms and others joined.  I brewed a pot of fresh ground Gevalia coffee and headed downstairs to the cave.
2. We dressed Lexi in her large blue PuffyDress™, a perfect ensemble for the school dance coming later in the day.  The theme was Wizard of Oz, though I’m pushing for Enchantment Under the Sea for 2017.  I went and danced with my daughter with all her fellow students.  And oh, how we danced! Well… more like hung around against the wall.  Just like Junior High.
3. The boys and I worked on an a capella version of China Grove by the Doobie Brothers as we drove to the school.  That was really fun.  How does a song from the 70’s do that?
4. It was, speaking in terms of climatology, a perfect day.  The sun was warm but not overwhelming, the sky was the right shade of blue, and the clouds tried to organize but failed.  Snowblowers, windchills, and earmuffs are a distant memory, buried deep under the Michigan Spring.
5. The office was humming with Sunday preparation.  How to describe the hum?  Everything is happening with anticipation.  You can’t hear the hum, but you feel it deep inside, knowing that it’s just winding up for a great Sunday.  So many people do so many different things to make it all work.  I’m thankful for the people I serve with.
6. I texted my sister to remind her that her birthday is tomorrow, meaning that she is 29.997 years old, give or take.  I remember where I was 30.003 years ago.
7. I had lunch with Barry — a friend of mine who does the same job in a different parish.  We ate cheeseburgers at Choo Choo Grill in Grand Rapids.  Excellent and a little awkward because we were sitting at the counter shoulder to shoulder.  I spent a long time looking to my left.  No complaints.  Good encouragement and challenge both.
8. The boys and I went on a hike from the Portage District Library to Celery Flats.  Canada Geese watched us carefully as we intruded on their feeding grounds.  Those birds are remarkably territorial.  I call the big one bitey.
9. We had a great rehearsal for Sunday worships.  Lots of hymns and a few choruses.  Thick vocal harmonies, intricate musical accompaniment, and plenty of polishing up to try and make it shine.  A committed team.
10. Franco’s Pizza of Portage, MI is truly excellent and provided tonight’s Dinner — both part 1 and 2.
11. A friend of ours has the gift of Garage Sale and found a bunch of pajamas for Lexi to wear.  This is über-helpful and quite thoughtful.
12. I found a new band and have been listening closely all day.  They’re called The Temples and kinda remind me of what would happen if Google resurrected the Beatles and gave them a Mellotron.
13. I decided to add a few extra things I’m thankful for.  Seemed right.