Dear Reader:

Yesterday was “perfect” in so many ways…I literally had to pinch myself and keep silently repeating in my head….“It’s a good day to be alive.”

The sun was out…and for the first time…in a long time…I got to see the sun’s early morning rays light up the Happy Room…creating some beautiful scenes from mother nature.

I was wide awake….and got dressed faster than I have in a long time…I wanted to enjoy every minute of this spectacular day…which climbed into the low sixties…happiness is…bright and warm!

My first check-off item of the day… was to go pick up my tax returns…the office had called Monday to tell me they were ready. So off to Goose Creek I drove (with the windows down)…holding my breath that I wouldn’t owe any federal money to Uncle Sam.

My happy attitude about the gorgeous sunny day morphed into pure sheer joy of gratitude because I ended up getting refunds from both the federal and state. Thank you God!

I treated myself to a pick-up lunch from a restaurant over there that I never go to since it is in Goose Creek and not Summerville…but I was feeling so happy I called and picked up some lunch to take home… that would be enough for supper too. Another check.

I didn’t think things could go any better but God winked…letting me know He thought life could squeeze in one more lesson.

As I pulled up to a  red light coming back into town from the interstate…a license plate on the car in front of me…made me pause and glance again.

“Serv(e) God!” Unbelievable! When we serve God happy and sad days will come our way…but the important difference is…the tough days make days like yesterday so much more special that it is like floating on white puffy clouds in the vast sunny skies of forever land.

Not only must we nurture an “attitude of gratitude” but we must teach our children and grandchildren how to do the same. Serving God is our way of letting Him know that despite the ups and downs of life…we have faith in Him that we will never face the good times and/or bad times alone. He is our Wisest Counselor and our Loudest Cheerleader!

Don’t you get it? God is crazy in love with us…and when we return that crazy love back…the result is the most delicious dessert… a little piece of heaven for our mortal eyes on earth!

So until tomorrow….

Nothing could keep me away from the garden yesterday…adding color back to it and watching it grow.

Tommy and Kaitlyn are still in the process of getting settled back in their newly repaired home again….the little dogs know where their beds are lined up….apparently Atticus was really ready to turn in last night.