In response to my mood’s attempt to overwhelm me with a case of the Mondays I shall produce a list of things that I am grateful for!  Take THAT Mondays!

1. I have finally discovered a position with my pillows that allows me to sleep without waking up many times a night unable to breathe.  This is very good because breathing keeps me alive, and sleeping keeps me less cranky.
2. Yesterday being Easter Sunday my parents and I went to a church in our area for the first time.  It was really cool, and I think that we will go again at some point.  It’s nice to finally find a place that is welcoming, Jesus loving, and within 10 miles of our house.
3. I am super thankful to God for giving me at least one family member who knows how to handle my grouchy moods.  My little brother is the only one who can get me anywhere near snapping out of it, and that is such a blessing.
4. I got to do some alterations to my mom’s hair color this weekend, and the results are fabulous!  I will be posting about it soon I hope!
5. My free moments these days are spent playing Star Wars Angry Birds.  Blessing or curse?  I don’t know.  But I’ll take it.
6. I decided to have a “Treat Yo’ Self” moment and bought myself 3 tickets to the Goo Goo Dolls concert that will be happening in Portland this month.  Will I have friends to go with?  I don’t know.  But I already told my brother that if the people I want to bring bail he is coming with me, and he loves free stuff so he said okay.
7. The gel manicure that I got 2.5 weeks ago is still chip free!  I need another because my cuticles look ridiculous, but my hands have been so chic for so long! I think I’m in love.
8. New projects are in the works that I’m really looking forward to working on, completing, and blogging about!
9. Bachelorette is finally on Netflix.
10. I got to make the family breakfast on Saturday, and it was really nice to spend some time just cooking.  I’ll be posting about it, because I tried a new way to make eggs.
11. Today all of the Easter candy in all of the world has gone on sale.
12. Yesterday reminded me that Christ conquered death.  I should remember little things like this more often, but I don’t.  My flesh reminds me of whatever is inconsequential, not of what is essential.

Everything that could be bad seems to happen to the people around me.  It feels like all the tragedies in my life are felt through a disconnection; I’m a degree removed from it every time.  This could be considered a good thing, but of course I’m struggling with it as a signifier that I’m not close enough to anyone to be able to experience the tragedy of first hand loss.  Something is very much amiss in this heart of mine.  But I figure, since I’m so sad these days I may as well make a list of things I’m grateful for.

1. A job.  The job is all kinds of things that I could write about that are negative, but it’s also a source of money and really fracking easy.
2. Health Insurance.  I’m not sure when I get taken off my dad’s insurance, but that is a day that will produce extreme anxiety in me, as I don’t understand how I’m supposed to be an adult when I’m so obviously not.
3. Lana Del Rey’s Born To Die: The Paradise Edition.  It’s absolutely been on repeat this week.
4. Having my family around.  Dad has finally come home from an extended time working in NY, and working/living with my brother is pretty much the best.  Then there are the nights watching tv with Mom and the dogs.  Basically I watch TV and she falls asleep.
5. The very few friends I have are pretty boss.
6. First wedding I had to go to this year wasn’t absolute torture.  Score!
7. I have tried to follow my passions and dreams and have succeeded in completing goals, even though now I am not anywhere near where I thought I would be.
8. Fresh ink.
9. Getting to be with my little sister while she got her first tattoo.
10. Snuggs are nice.  In fact, Oxytocin is another feel good hormone often called the “cuddle hormone”.  Oxytocin is released when we feel love, trust and comfort.  It can be even more powerful than serotonin.  With this in mind, I will attempt to Snuggs whenever I can.
11. Maxwell is The Cutest.
12. God is biggest, with plans so incredible that we can still thank Him for life through the death of children.

1. Breakfast.
2. Water.
3. The shower.
4. Getting reacquainted with good friends after a few months.
5. My pastor’s teaching.
6. Honest conversation about the condition of my heart.
7. Role playing an interview in class and owning it.
8. The hope that is offered through grace.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. – 1 Corinthians 15:10

9. New mercies every day.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22&23

10. Thunderstorms.
11. Brooke Fraser and her music.
12. Finding a rabbit outside the mall.