Thankful Thursday (two days late)

I am late for everything, so this post can just go right along with the rest of my life....and if you're waiting, don't get impatient - simply know that the anticipation makes the end result even better!

1.  My garden.  There's something so rewarding and fulfilling about growing something.  It is the epitome of love as you carefully imagine it, make it happen, foster the growth, and then celebrate the success.  Some people have children - I have plum-colored petunias.

2.  Medical technology and skilled healthcare professionals.  A woman that I care about had a hole in her heart closed through incredible medical technology this week.  She was operated on by a wonderful surgeon who used the daVinci robotic platform, so she literally only has a few small holes in her body; a surgery like this without a surgeon with these tools and skills would have resulted in a full chest-cracked-open type surgery, but instead my friend was up and walking within 24 hours.  Amazing! (even if I am a little grumpy that it was performed at a competing healthcare facility)

3.  Generous community members.  I am working on raising money for the Salt Lake Hydrocephalus WALK again (if you're reading my blog, please donate - I'll post more soon) - and I am amazed at how generous some of the local community members have been in donating.  I am impressed.

4.  My family.  I know I say this every time, but it's always true.

5.  My position at Intermountain Healthcare.  It's testing me to my breaking point right now, so it's a good time remind myself that I am grateful to be at a company I like with a team I adore and a responsibility I enjoy.

6.  My lawnmower.  This is actually reverse psychology.  I hate that thing - or more correctly, I hate using it, but I haven't found a new lawn-boy and in the absence, I am doing it myself - a task I despise - so it makes me grumpy.  So I am hoping by claiming to be grateful, I will be.  You know, like one of those 'fake it until you make it' kind of emotions.

7.  Simple things that delight me.  It's little things that make my whole day, even though that seems silly.  Colored paperclips.  The perfect pen.  Strangers that smile instead of frowning.  I love when little things catch you off guard with joy - and I'm grateful for them.

8.  My new darling black peep toe heels.  Yep, I'm that shallow.

9.  Genuine friends.  The world is full of disingenuous people.  Thank God for the ones that say they love you and mean it.

10.  Google.  How did anyone solve problems before Google existed?  It's my catch-all for everything.  How do I find this?  How do I make this?  Is this product sold somewhere else cheaper?  What does the industry say about this product?  What's this person's phone number?  Honestly, did life exist before Google?  Wow.

Be grateful for today.