Inspired by three amazing bloggers (Jenny, Dawn and Jennifer), I carved out a few minutes this rainy morning to look back over 2015 and write a list of 50 things for which I am grateful. In ten minutes. Which is really hard to do because I’m a very sloooooow writer.

But, I did it! And I encourage you to do it as well (instructions at the end of this post).

50 happy things from my little corner of the world:

1. Older Son graduating high school in what was one of the most special ceremonies I’ve ever been a part of,
2. starting college at the beloved university where his father and I met (also his grandparents),
3. flinging himself into life there with joy and enthusiasm and learning to balance it all.
4. But mostly, recovering from an intense surgery earlier this year
5. and facing a lifelong diagnosis with grace and strength.
6. His quiet calm and strong spirit nourish me every day.
7. Younger Son thriving at school
8. and doing well in all that he takes on: school, sports, music.
9. The honor of his being chosen as a select group of students to play at Carnegie Hall in February.
10. Being a music mom, which has filled me with tremendous joy.
11. Daughter and all the funny things she says in the course of a year,
12. like: “sometimes, I just need a little extra time in the morning to rejubilate…”
13. Still having all of her years to look forward to as my nest starts to empty.
14. Husband for working so hard every single day
15. so I can continue to stay home,
16. and be a part of all that I choose to with the kids
17. and be available to drive Older Son to his
18. amazing doctors who care about families and know what they are doing.
19. Rain in Southern California.
20. Hot coffee in the morning
21. and good red wine at night (slightly chilled).
22. Travel to places like
23. Buenos Aires,
24. Cafe con leche at La Biela
25. and a whole weekend at a hacienda in the Argentinian countryside
26. with students whom I adore.
27. Montana, where I’m sure God goes to recharge and rest. And probably rejubilate.
28. The Blackfoot river, where eagles soar overhead.
29. Washington, D.C.
30. and discovering Thomas Jefferson’s book collection there.
31. The written word in all forms.
32. The spoken word, especially in Italian.
33. My continued love of learning Italian,
34. my Italian cousins, and a special cousin here who is my personal prayer warrior (and makes my hair look fabulous every 5 weeks!).
35. Friends near and far;
36. two special blogging friends in Northern California
37. and one particular treasure in Florence.
38. All the Light We Cannot See
39. WordPress
40. Mamalode!
41. Memrise
42. Amazon Prime
43. A dishwasher
44. Having all 5 of us together
45. to laugh, joke and tease;
46. but mostly to gaze upon my kids as they share their love for each other in different ways.
47. Grateful to live where we do,
48. to have my own car,
49. and markets filled with the things we need (and want).
50. Independence.

There you have it, in pretty close to the 10 minute limit. (After coffee and before making the baked potato Daughter has requested for breakfast).

Blessings to you all.

Want to join the party? Here’s how:

Please note that only blog posts that include a list of 50 (or an attempt to write 50) things that made you feel Happy or 50 things that you are Grateful for, will be included. Please don’t add a link to a post that isn’t part of this exercise.

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