Back to the Basics

This month in Reader's Digest, they gave several reasons why happy people are happy. One of those reasons—listing daily why you are thankful. I thought to myself, "Self, you were really happy when you remembered to have a thankful heart." So, tonight I am returning to the basics. Here are five more reasons why I am thankful:

1.) New foods—inspired by a friends grandma, who likes to try new recipes on me, my mom and I tried to two new recipes for dinner. They were both delicious! I love variety! It is the spice of life! Mom cooked a whole chicken which we turned into a chicken/broccili/cheese/rice dish, and I made what looked like chicken dumplings.

2.) That my taxes are done—I know, it's early, but welcome to my world! :)

3.) Saturdays staying in—today I woke up leisurly, watched a movie, ate breakfast, cleaned and organized my room, played games with the fam, cooked dinner, and am about to do some homework. It's been a good day.

4.) John Mayer—I have been wanting some John Mayer music, and a few nights ago at Wal-Mart my friend urged me to splurge on some new tunes. I am thoroughly enjoying his sweet guitar skills and rugged voice! (bonus thankfulness - other new music of late: The Beatles 1967–1970, Amos Lee, Supply and Demand, The Temptations, The Ultimate Collection, The Best of Cat Stevens, Shane and Shane, Pages, Colbie Caillat, Coco, Amos Lee, (Self-Titled).

5.) The Confidence I Have That One Day I Will Be With Jesus—this past week I have been distraught about Heath Ledger's passing. He was incredibly talented, not that I always agreed with the roles he chose to pursue or the way he lived his life, but I was always very impressed by how he refused to take roles for the sake of money. His death has made me think a lot about how our lives are but a vapor. We only dance on this earth for such a short time. Now is the time to seek out the truth of the Father. I wouldn't survive without the peace of Jesus.