Simple Joys

A few weeks ago, I was talking to a friend and she was telling me a story. In the story she mentioned something about lightening bugs. As soon as she mentioned them, she paused and said, "Their one of my simple joys." Something about that phrase really struck me. I said, "I really like that." It started me to think. What are my simple joys? What are the little things in life that make me smile, whether they be, an object, action, or memory? Too often its easy to overlook the little things. I know that I get caught up in the big things and overlook the simple joys that surround me everyday. Somedays I just need a reminder, and somedays I just need something to make me smile. I've decided to start a list. This list is not complete, but just a starting point. Here are just a few of my simple joys:

1. family and friends of course!
2. laughing
3. quotes (the more random the better)
4. sunsets
5. post-it notes
6. my bathrobe
7. my iPod
8. monkey bread
9. new books
10. old books
11. a big comfy chair to curl up in
12. Aunt Maudie's play dough
13. garage sales
14. fall nights
15. L & L Superstore
16. flying
17. Subway systems
18. comfortable shoes
19. hugs
20. reading greeting cards in the store
21. hammocks
22. gingerbread cookies
23. McDonalds' 7 Rupee ice cream cone
24. a big glass of iced sweet tea
25. dinner on the ground at church
26. the camp
27. shopping at outdoor markets in foreign countries
28. using maps
29. girl scout cookies
30. being on the beach
31. black and white photography
32. the "college kids"
33. lamps
34. walking barefoot in grass (I got to do this the other day for the first time in forever. It was amazing!)
35. dancing
36. hearing little kids pray
37. emails (especially ones that are not just replys to ones I've sent - but I love those too)
38. voicemails
39. planning trips
40. shopping for others
41. t-shirts made from that cerain type of cotton that never wrinkles
42. inside jokes
43. holidays with family
44. Pork Momo's (a type of chinese that is my favorite)
45. Christmas lights
46. singing around a piano or guitar, or just listening to them
47. cold weather
48. wearing jackets
49. having someone play with my hair
50. fireplaces
51. porches with a swing
52. bookstores
53. rainbows
54. cinnamon toast in the middle of the night
55. logic puzzles
56. re-runs of shows from the 90's (Fresh Prince, Saved by the Bell, Boys Meets World)
57. Trivia games
58. terms of endearment (Sug, Sissy, Honey, Sweetie, etc.)
59. card games
60. a good Disney movie
61. getting the newest Time or Newsweek magazine (My link to the rest of the world)
62. flowers
63. home-made CD's
64. "ILUBB"
65. snail mail
66. when people comment on my blog

This is just the beginning of my list. If you start thinking about it, there really are simple joys around us or within us everyday. It is just up to us if we stop to see or think about them. So, now its your chance. What are some of your simple joys? This is a great time for you who are reading this to comment. (I want my blog to become a little more interactive). At the end of this post, there will be a word that says comments. Just click on it and you can leave your own comments. Comments are definately one of my simple joys, so please comment :)