Today’s Gratitude List

Today I am grateful for:

• Snow.  Let me clarify this since I live on the East coast of the U.S.  I am grateful for new snow that falls in big pretty flakes at night & sparkles in the moonlight when I am home in my pajamas and don’t have to drive anywhere.  I am grateful for snow shovelers– like the amazing kid whom I met two days ago (see the next item on my list)– who become part of my village when they knock on the door and offer to take care of our home’s big corner sidewalks.  And I am grateful for all the snow-plowers, road-salters & transportation… um… “specialists” let’s call them, who help us get “back to the schedule.”
• I am grateful for Adam, who helped to clear out the driveway & shared a cup of hot cocoa.  Adam, a neighborhood kid, knocked on the door & introduced himself.  We negotiated a price, he went to work.  The next day he was back to help again.  He mentioned he also babysits.  When I asked “Do you know anything about autism?” he replied, “I’ve got two disabilities myself” and went on to share some of his story.  Turns out his mom is one of my favorite special needs advocates, a woman with an amazing outlook on life who has encouraged me through some of my toughest challenges.  The world became smaller– and much more “walkable” — yesterday because of that encounter.  Thank you Adam!
• I am grateful for the bit of flexibility my son is able to muster on days when his entire schedule is thrown off by closed schools, rearranged routines & upside-down family situations.
• And last but not least, I am grateful for my new favorite piece of jewelry:  A homemade paperclip necklace that Hannah presented to me two days ago.  I bet if I made a whole line of these things, I could fund her college education.  But for now, I’m the proud owner of the one and only piece in this original “Paperclip Jewelry” collection.

What are you grateful for today?  Write it down & share it!