the start of nothing great (1 to 36)

1. sylvie's smile
2. moonlight on the live oaks
3. henry's gentle hands caressing me (so affectionate)
4. david's beautiful and expressive brown eyes and thick lashes
5. anticipation of something warm from the oven
6. the peacefulness of clean wiped countertops
7. the ability to change nail colors
8.  irony of feeling better after having babies
9. climbing into fresh sheets
10. legs that can run
11. david's familiar smell
12. blemishes heal
13. having children that enjoy playing together
14. friendly familiar faces of small-town life
15. sylvie's increasing ability to communicate (today: "henny funny, mama." and
       "SNAKE! betty [better] run.")
16. people who care enough to give bad advice
17. the power God has given certain plants to heal (herbs)
18. the pitter patter of little feet as my alarm clock
19. "you're the best mommy i ever did have"- henry
20. sylvie throwing up in a bowl instead of all over the house (obedience even while ill...
       GOOD GIRL!)
21. friends who love my kids and are always so willing to keep them for me
22. rebekah's classical beauty
23. melissa's shared visual aesthetics
24. cuddles in the night
25. the magic of food to nourish
26. calming my husband's night terrors/funny nightmares
27. hand picked pears from a friend (mkat!)
28. a counselor whom i trust
29. a beautiful home
30. the modern conveniences (think: dishwasher and washer machine)
31. henry, so brave, picking up and flushing a dead cockroach so i "wouldn't even
       have to see it."
32. how even cracking eggs while helping me cook shows the different personalities of my kids:
       henry, so careful; sylvie, so eager (what a mess!)
33. seeing my husband growing more witty and clever every day
34. sylvie asking "why?" for the first time when told no
35. sylvie's adeptness at searching netflix on my iphone (technological genius?)
36. a cloudy day; a break from the sun