Bedtime Stories

I have many memories of my dad sharing improvised, hilarious bedtime stories with me and my siblings. I also remember staying up late to read books like the Narnia series and A Wrinkle in Time. I look forward to reading and telling stories to my own children.

My wife recently had the brilliant idea of reading books to each other before we go to sleep. I like that. This will get us in that great habit when kids start to arrive. Besides, I like reading books out loud. I think I would have a lot of fun being an audio book narrator or a participant in a radio drama. I like acting, especially voice acting.

I am grateful for bedtime stories, past, present, and future.

Happy (Work) Anniversary!

Yep, I have an anniversary, my workplace and I. I have been working at my job for one full year. Only a few dozen more of these until retirement! Really though, I am grateful for the job I have, for the opportunities it has presented me, and for all the positive changes I've seen among my co-workers in this past year.

I am grateful for a work anniversary today.

In-Laws

I spent part of Mother's Day at church, worshiping God and then looking after kids in nursery during Sunday School classes. I spent the next part of the day in a group video call with my siblings, and we all wished my mother a happy Mother's Day. Then, I spent the rest of the day visiting my in-laws, enjoying dinner and company until evening came.

I have, on this blog, given well-deserved praise to members of my own family. I don't think I've as yet expressed my gratitude for my in-laws. I am grateful to have more wonderful family in my life than ever before. I am grateful for more loving, hilarious siblings and more supportive parents. Even while I was dating my wife, I only felt welcome in her family's home. I always felt I could be comfortable with myself. I am grateful for that. I know that's not what everyone experiences, but I think we can all see that a larger family can be a blessing. Additionally, I try to be just as good an in-law to others as well (that is, family members related to the spouses of siblings).

I am grateful for my in-laws. :)

Two Friends Marry Each Other (Finally)

Today, I got to attend the wedding and reception of two good friends. These were two friends that I and many others have been shipping (shipping: verb, wishing and hoping that two people, real or fictional, will end up together as a romantic couple) for several years. In fact, these friends were instrumental in getting me and my wife to meet each other for the first time.

The wedding was a lovely and modestly extravagant affair. I love everything a good wedding stands for. I am grateful for the joyous occasion of the wedding of two best friends to each other.

The Shirt Fits Again!

I have been working hard on my nutrition these past few months. My goal is to reach a certain weight (and of course to gain lots of other health benefits, such as more energy and less sickness). For more than a year (maybe two, maybe more), I've had a bunch of clothes that I really liked but didn't fit me very well. Since I've lost weight in the past few months, I tried one of the shirts and...it fit very well! This is an accomplishment I've been trying to reach for quite some time.

I still have a ways to go with my health, but I'm certainly on the right track. :)

I'm grateful a good shirt fits again.

In the Mood for an Apple

Here's gratitude for another very small thing. Most of my dinners at home emphasize cheese and meat, or otherwise high fat/low carb dishes. Today, my stomach wasn't feeling the best (I think from sugar earlier in the day), so I didn't feel like meat or cheese of any kind. Instead, I had an appetite for an apple. It was perfect: not too strong, not too sweet, just right.

I am grateful for the apples we bought from the grocery store today. They were just what I needed for dinner tonight.

On the S-pot Cooking

Sometimes, I like to follow recipes. Sometimes, I like to make up my meal as I go along. What I really like about this second type of cooking is the fact that I've noticed my meals made this way more often end up being quite tasty.

You might say this is on-the-spot cooking, or on the s-pot (get it? on the s-pot because I'm using cooking pots...oh never mind.)

I am grateful for experiences that involve spontaneous cooking.