A week ago today, I turned 65! I can’t even believe I’m saying that! Where did the time go? Being old enough to get a Medicare card has certainly caused me to reflect on my life! 

 

On the morning of my birthday I decided to start the day off by thinking of 65 things I’m thankful for. Writing a “gratitude list” is so good for the soul! I thought I’d share mine with you. Here it is, in no particular order:

 

  1. My 95 year old neighbor and friend who lives across the street
  2. My memory and my memories
  3. My drawer full of Hue socks
  4. The vases by our kitchen window that I restock regularly with cheery stems
  5. Branson, Missouri – the little town with a big heart for God, family and country
  6. The gentleman who mows our lawn
  7. My morning walks, and the fact that I CAN walk
  8. Flowers – especially the kind that have little flowers within flowers, like hydrangeas
  9. Muggy summer nights
  10. Silver Dollar City, particularly at Christmastime
  11. The smell of barbecue, and apple crisp, and fresh baked bread
  12. Family reunions – and every family member who gathers. A particular shoutout to my mother-in-law who is such a blessing in my life
  13. Three incredible sisters, two amazing brothers
  14. My mom and dad who are no longer here on earth, but are still with me every single day
  15. The song of the birds in the morning and the fireflies at night
  16. Airplanes and cars that get me where I want to go
  17. Soul-filling sunrises and sunsets
  18. Laughter with good friends and tears with good friends, too
  19. Freedom, and those who paid the price so I can have it
  20. The forest in our cul-de-sac
  21. The deer and squirrels and turkeys that are my neighbors
  22. The gift of music – the ability to write it, to play it, and to listen to it with deep appreciation
  23. The fact that my Father in Heaven is so mindful of me
  24. His daily miracles and tender mercies
  25. The US Postal Service and FedEx and UPS
  26. Being able to drive 5 minutes to the grocery store to buy beautiful fruits and vegetables 
  27. The “Family Food” recipe book my mom put together and how she is still with me in the kitchen
  28. Listening to books on Audible and reading them on Kindle and real books that have paper pages
  29. All the people who have written books that have shaped me and entertained me and opened my eyes and heart to new places and ideas
  30. The fragrance from our neighbor’s piney hedge
  31. Good walking shoes and soft socks to put on my feet
  32. Sunglasses and umbrellas
  33. The beauty of the Ozarks in every season
  34. Every single shade of green
  35. My cell phone with all of its wonders
  36. My good husband,Tom, and the family we love so much – Briahna, Brydon, Garon, Merrill, Mina, Ivan, Auggie, Wade, JoLeigh, Goldie, & Daven (and our little dog, Miles)
  37. The Father of the Bride movies, and Singing in the Rain, and Sound of Music, and Mission Impossible
  38. Germany at Christmastime
  39. Art museums and live concerts
  40. The apple fritters and maple bars at Hurts Donuts, pumpkin cake donuts at Krispy Kreme
  41. FaceTime and times with no screen time at all
  42. Front porch chats with good neighbors
  43. Scotch tape, staplers, scissors, and pens that feel good in my hand
  44. The big blue truck that picks up our trash every Monday morning
  45. AC in the summer, heat in the winter, and running water all year round
  46. The American flag and all that I feel when I look at it
  47. All of the amazing, creative people on The Creativity Course who have blessed my life
  48. Credit card miles that allow us to travel to see our family and friends
  49. My piano workstation where I spend so many early morning hours writing music
  50. The grand piano in our living room, and guitars and ukuleles
  51. Dish soap, wash cloths, fluffy towels that aren’t too soft or too rough, and crisp, white hotel sheets
  52. The Rose O’Neill Museum and its secret dining spot
  53. Red curry at Thai Thai, teriyaki steak and veggies at The Japanese Kitchen, and veggie chimichangas at Tequila’s 2
  54. Game nights, and puzzles, special occasions and no occasion at all – pretty much everything that goes on at our kitchen table
  55. Gatherings around the fire, roasting marshmallows for s’mores with melted Hershey’s chocolate bars with almonds
  56. Table Rock Lake
  57. The wonderful friend who takes care of our dog when we travel
  58. Dry roasted peanuts and candy corn
  59. Never running out of ideas and the people who help me get a few of them out into the world
  60. All my fellow songwriting friends
  61. Long, deep breaths
  62. All the people, past and present, who have influenced my life for good – if you’re reading this, that’s YOU
  63. My faith, my church, my spiritual roots, my hope 
  64. Jesus – my Healer, my Helper, my Friend through it all
  65. LOVE – just love

 

I guess I have to stop at 65…but, trust me, there are 65 more…and 65 more after that…and 6500 more after that… One of the gifts that comes with living longer is that you have more hours, days and years to accumulate things to be grateful for! 

 

Gratitude will always make for Happy Birthdays.

 

With so much love & GRATITUDE for YOU!

 

Andrea