The Good Things/Blessings List

So I've posted this on other places, but thought I'd post and expand here. It goes like this, I was chatting with a friend one night as she tapped away on her keyboard. Upon inquiring what she was do it, she expressed the desire to want to read it to me. She then read off a number of things she titled, her "Good Things List." The purpose of this list is to really thing about the good things in life. While in Orlando, one of the speakers I heard mentioned something about counting blessings. Really examining the reasons you have in your life to praise God. And I got to thinking, that's is a really good idea, I should make a list of those things. And then I realized I had. So this is my good things/blessings list. This list compiles a number, but not close to all, the things that are good in life, and that I am truly thankful for:

1. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit
2. Speaking in an accent and convincing others that I'm from the country that I'm imitating.
3. A cup of coffee... especially in the morning.
4. Waking up to find that someone has texted or called while you was sleeping.
5. A good conversation.
6. Staying up way late and then realizing that going to bed just doesn't seem worth it.
7. Climbing Trees
8. When you come in from the cold and your glasses fog up so you cannot see a thing. I get the same phenomenon when scooping popcorn out of the popper at work when a fresh batch is popping.
9. The smell of a fresh batch of popcorn
10. Random adventures with the best of friends
11. Kristen Basore's acceptance of individuals for who they are
12. Hearing Cameron Davis's laugh from 3 miles away
13. Dancing
14. Finding the right chords to the lyrics that have been written for months
15. The smile of a stranger as you pass by one another
16. Christmas carolers
17. Laying in the sun in the grass after getting out of a pool. Or doing the same thing in the sand on a beach
18. Ice covered trees on the campus of Bowling Green after a big ice storm
19. Days off
20. Leaving my phone behind and going off for a while
21. A random letter or note found in my mailbox or hidden somewhere to find
22. Music
23. Rading over old cards, letters and notes from friends
24. Having a good hole of golf
25. Watching the sunrise
26. Watching the sunset
27. The brief moment before you fall asleep at night where there's just a complete feeling of peace.
28. Skipping stones
29. When someone says thank you
30. Helping others
31. The first sip of hot chocolate after playing in the snow
32. Jumping into a freshly raked pile of leags
33. Mispronouncing words just for funsies
34. Using improper plural forms of words such as gooses instead of geese or meeces instead of mice
35. Elf
36. When a song you love randomly plays on your iPod while shuffling
37. Hearing a song for the first time that touches your soul
38. Finding a passage in the Bible that speaks so clearly to the state in life you're in at the moment
39. Realizing God's forgiveness
40. Deep theological conversations late at night at Diana's Deli with Kallie Holzhauser
41. Dinner with the entire family
42. Seeing a child's face when they're smiling
43. Wishing someone a Merry Christmas
44. The anticipation of hiding and waiting in close spaces right before the guest of honor shows up at a surprise party
45. Doing absolutely nothing
46. Star gazing
47. Laying on a rooftop on a warm night and starring into space
48. Carrots
49. Enjoying a beer with a close friend
50. Talking things out with God
51. Palm trees
52. Listening to the rain fall
53. The feeling you get right after you accomplished something
54. The first look of a clean room
55. Lighthouses
56. Sitting on the rocks by the lake and letting time pass slowly
57. Realizing all the little signs that have pointed you in the direction you've been going
58. Being able to give up a bad habit
59. Playing sports with friends for fun
60. The wind in your hair, especially on a sailboat
61. The taste of cold water on a hot day
62. Making a connection with someone
63. Being completely absorbed by a play, musical, dance recital or concert that everything and everyone else in the world completely dissolves
64. Bailey's in coffee
65. Bathing in a river
66. Having mass outside
67. Reading a good book
68. Reading stories and singing lullabys to Gina Bauer and Sarah Acker
69. Catching up with an old friend
70. Carrying a child on your shoulders
71. Realizing the immensity of the statement "One Holy and Apostolic Church"
72. Riding a horse
73. Going on a good run
74. Playing with puppies and kittens
75. Long walks
76. Laughing until you cry
77. Being so exhausted you fall asleep agaisnt your will
78. Someone asking you how your day is going and honestly caring
79. Sunday morning mass followed by breakfast with the entire family
80. Christmas tree farms
81. Bonfires
82. Rollerblading
83. Awesome hats
84. Awkward moments that make days
85. Underwear taped to my door from my Secret Santa
86. Faith being rewarded
87.The easing of uneasiness
88. The moment when you out somebody you're worried about is okay
89. Weddings
90. My dad telling me he's proud of me
91. Playing guitar until my fingers can't take anymore
92. Someone enjoying a song that they have no idea I wrote
93. Jazz nights at 149
94. Spending time in coffee shops
95. Breakfast foods
96. Getting excited for something that is going to happen soon
97. Having a fuse blown in your car requiring you to yell "HONK!" out the window as you travel through tunnels
98. Picking up a conversation with a friend whom you haven't talked to in a while and feeling like nothing has changed
99. Feeling so comforatable with someone that you can sit in silence and still feel like you've spent some good, quality time together
100. Hugs
101. Someone calling out an awkward moment
102. QT with Cuties!
103. Conversations with Mary Alice Newnam
104. Ryan Arnold parodies
105. The way a guitar sounds after it has new strings put on it
106. Ben Folds
107. Listening to someone talk about something they're passionate about
108. Being introduced to a new band that is simply amazing
109. Hearing other peoples' stories
110. Trusting God enough to let go of having to know what comes next
111. Waking up feeling better after being sick
112. Giving to others
113. Facing a fear and coming out the other end
114. People asking you for your opinion and/or advice
115. Jon Schmidt crossovers played on piano and cello
116. Classical music
117. Jason Mraz
118. Praise and Worship music
119. Praying well with others
120. Writing
121. Palindromes :)
122. Soaking in a hot tub after a run
123. Odd painting or pictures that you have in your house that you don't really know why
124. Being completely blown away by a movie
125. Getting messages from Tegan Gahan
126. Sitting around with friends and laughing
127. JonMarc Grodi recording sessions
128. Random Emily McFadden comments made out of the blue
129. Realizing how much your friends truly care about you and your well being
130. Sitting down and actually realizing how many blessings and reasons to be thankful you have in your life

Again, this is only the beginning of the list. Only a small number of reasons why I am thankful to God. He has blessed me abundantly, as you can see, and I haven't even scratched the tip of the iceberg. I would encourage everyone to make something like this and really let this be the beginning of you searching for joy in life.

God bless you all.