Each Night Before I Go To Sleep ...

I modify the old children's prayer and thank God for at least one thing.  Years ago, when going through an especially hard time, I could only come up with oddities, like peas and the color orange.  Thank God, I'm in a much better place these days.

With one caveat.  It's summer and summer is my least favorite season (give me a cold, crisp day and a good sweater and socks and I'm in heaven).  So last night, before I drifted off to sleep, I offered up to God some summer-time blessings.  So in no particular order:

• fully ripened peaches
• blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries
• sweet, crisp corn
• all purchased at my local farmer's market, from folks I've come to know and admire
• the sounds of cicadas
• interesting and beautiful bugs of all sorts on my front porch
• fireworks
• lush sounds of birds
• the smell of warm lavendar
• going barefoot
• having bare shoulders
• children playing in sprinklers and water fountains
• summer dresses
• summer breezes, no matter how hot
• the refreshment of cold water sliding down my throat

Last night, I slid into sleep, full of gratitude and wonder and awe.  God is good.  I am blessed.