He Has Been Good to Me

Cheers to my first full day of summer break! There aren't many things I love more.

Today, Julie Andrews-style, I'm sharing a few of my favorite things. This is a list I made back in October, during a bus ride through Greece where I was so miserable I had to find something to do to keep myself from crying. That story can come later, maybe. For now I want to rest in my gratitude. Even in my darkest days, I can trust in Jesus' UNFAILING love, rejoice in His salvation. He has been good to me.

"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me" (Psalm 13, NIV, emphasis added).

So here they are, in no particular order. A few of my favorite things...

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The first day of summer break.      The smell of an old book.      Laughing til your stomach hurts. 

Waking up thinking it’s time to get up and realizing it isn’t.      Sunsets over water.      ENO hammocks. 

Homemade salsa.      Being barefoot in lush grass.      Family around the dinner table. 

Little ones falling asleep on you.      Road trips.      A kiss on the forehead.      Old people holding hands. 

Brick and ivy.      A hot drink after a cold walk.      Nerf gun fights.     Laundry right out of the dryer. 

Homemade spring rolls.      Purchasing a plane ticket.      Unexpected hugs from people you love. 

Giving the perfect gift.      Absolute silence.      Exploring a new city with no agenda.      Lake life. 

Pajama days.      Your dog falling asleep on your feet.      Pumpkin bread.      Camping. 

Reading late at night.      The smell little kids get when they've been playing outside.      Front porch swings. 

Reading classics.      Late night breakfast burrito runs.      Sleepovers.      The cool side of the pillow. 

Rooftops on summer nights.      Sledding on a snow day.      The first egg nog of Christmas season.    

Finding the exact word you’ve been looking for.      Sunlight through trees.      Watching the Olympics. 

Shadow puppets.      Rosemary and Olive Oil Pringles.      Ultimate Frisbee with friends. 

Hearing your favorite song on the radio.      Good hair days.      Italian being spoken.      Tubing. 

Warm blankets and movie nights.      Sidewalk chalk.      Swinging.      Friends that feel like family. 

Climbing trees.      Puppies.      Walking in your front door after a long trip.      Fresh food. 

Black shutters and green doors.      Giant backyards.      Cello music.      Small town friendly waves. 

Life stories.      Rainy afternoons.      Inky hands.      Mysterious keys.      A full tank of gas.     

Kindred spirits.      Rugby on TV.      Doner kebabs.      Roller coasters and water slides.      Jet skis. 

Horseradish/Wasabi competitions.      Your favorite jeans.      Finding money in a random coat pocket. 

Turning a bend and seeing the ocean.      Welcome to Colorful Colorado.      Giant scarves. 

Yogurt, granola and fresh berries.      Italian food in Italy.      Sunday afternoon naps.     Popsicles.

Walking in a crowd of strangers all speaking a language you don’t understand.      Merry-go-rounds. 

Card games.      Holding hands.      Building and playing in forts.      Boys cooking/cleaning up in the kitchen.

Singing at the top of your lungs while driving.      Down comforters.      Sonic Cherry Limeades. 

Watching The Office.      Stones made perfectly smooth by water.      Green Machine Naked juice. 

Tears of joy.      Spotting the first green buds on trees and bushes.      The smell and sound of rain. 

Moonlight.      Hand-written notes.      Reading at a coffee shop.      Chipotle burritos. 

Christmas morning squeals.      Power naps.      The first juicy watermelon of the summer.

Being best friends with your siblings.     Baby name books.      The Beatles.      A full journal. 

Money on a gift card you thought was empty.      Inside jokes.      Pasta carbonara. 

Finding your bed already made after washing the sheets.      Thrift shop “steals.”      White Christmases. 

Burt’s Bees lip balm.      Chai tea.      Wedding invitations.      Extra-thick oatmeal.      Australian accents. 

Papa’s laugh.      Full bookshelves.      Finishing a paint job.      Putting on sweatpants after a long day. 

A familiar face in a crowd of strangers.      Grapefruit juice.      The ocean.      Armchairs that swallow you. 

Using all the ink in a pen.      Flowered window terraces.      Big dogs.