(okay, I'm just going to jump right back into bogging like I never left...)
1. The first cup of coffee in the morning. There will be others throughout the day, but they cannot compare to that first one. The smell. The anticipation. The look of the cream swirling through it... ahhhh!
2. My daughter crawling into bed and snuggling with me. She's six, and I wonder how long she will do this. At which point in her life will it not be "cool?" It used to be you could count on your kids liking you up to the teenage years, but kids grow up so fast now.
3. The smell of pine trees. There are two distinct pine tree smells, and they are both awesome: there is the newly rained on/dew in the morning pine tree smell, and the 'baked" pine tree smell. Both just make me want to stop and take huge breaths in.
4. Walking out your door one day and realizing, "Hey, it's spring!" It can be so subtle, especially here in the mountains, where we are always backsliding to an April snowstorm just when you think your fruit blossoms are safe. But that one morning when, through the brown and cold, you see a bulb popping up or smell that "spring" smell.... it's awesome!
5. Checking things off your list. Lists keep me on track. Prevent me from forgetting things. Give me a huge sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when everything is crossed off.
6. Cooking a great meal for my friends and family. Food is love. One of the ways that I show people that I love them is by cooking for them. It is so elemental and nurturing, yet can be such a technical and artistic feat. And my hubby usually does the dishes for me so I'm covered.
7. Seeing a rainbow. I know, we've all seen hundreds of them, but I can't help but stop and give a little gasp when I see one. Look to see where it stops and starts. I know it's an illusion, but it's real...like so many things in life, no?
8. Flying. I love being above the earth, looking down on things. I love being above a lightning storm and watching it flare through the clouds below you. I love watching the sun set in clouds thousands of feet above the earth. I love flying over mountains and seeing the trees and snow. I love the clear, crisp sky. Even bad flying is better than being grounded.
9. Reading a really good book. Notice I didn't say "finishing" a really good book, because I always want more! But it's that middle part, when you are fitting 3-5 minute periods in your day so you can get to that book because it's so great... that's the part I love.
10. Finding that perfect spot in the sun. Not too hot, a little breeze so you don't get hot but not so windy that the pages of your book blow around. A place to sit down comfortably, have a drink of water of coffee or whatever you are perusing at the moment. Some birds chirping or a stream bubbling is a fabulous extra. Depending where you are, the spot will only be perfect for 30 minutes or so until some shade moves in so enjoy it!