Things That Make Me Smile

A dog hanging his head out a car window, ears flapping in the wind, tongue hanging

Lantana blooming, changing colors, and when they survive the winter, begin to sprout anew

My little pup curled up on his blankets on the couch, snoring and dreaming, content as can be

Lilac, lavender, and daphne wafting in the spring breeze, tantalizing my olfactory senses

The sun shining on a hot summer day, blue sky blazing down on my back deck, and a good book to read in my comfy lounge chair

A hot cup of coffee with just the right amount of dark chocolate almond milk in my favorite Winnie-the-Pooh mug

A favorite Third Day or MercyMe song playing on the radio when I forget to take my iPod in the car

Finding the perfect coconut macaroon recipe that’s both delicious and easy to make, plus has no gluten or dairy

Lunch with a dear friend with time to spare and nowhere I have to get back to

Waterfalls misting over the trail on a hot summer hike

Seeing grizzly bears at Yellowstone National Park, close enough to see with binoculars, but far enough away to be safe

Settling on just the right words for a poem and knowing they came from the Lord

Spending time with my husband out shopping for flowers and plants to adorn the garden

Walking three blocks to my local farmers’ market and buying three kinds of berries, plus fresh green beans

Grace, mercy, and forgiveness, both received and given, and the peace they bestow

Rib eye steaks, potatoes, and fresh green beans cooked on the Traeger pellet stove

Reciting the Lord’s Prayer with the whole congregation in church and feeling a part of something bigger than me

Picking year-end gifts for my staff and finding the perfect one for each of them, then seeing the joy on their face when they open it

A juicy ripe red Bartlett pear big enough to share with my son

Hanging out with old friends for a weekend and feeling like no time has passed since the last time you all got together

When a new recipe I made up for dinner turns out to be a hit and my family wants me to make it a regular dish

Knowing Jesus loves me

I could write an epic poem of all the things that make me smile, but I think I’ll stop right there, save some for another day

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The NaPoWriMo.net prompt for today is to write a poem that is a list of “things,” whatever kind of things you might want to write about. I chose things that make me smile.