1. God giving us His very self in the Body and Blood of Christ and an example for us to follow!
2. The Eucharist!
3. My sister and her niece came to church with us! Hurray!
4. People at church coming up to me to ask about my health and to tell me that they are praying for me!
5. Had a very meaningful and thoughtful conversation with my new friend at church… mutual sharing of thoughts on God. He even shared with me what he wrote in his faith diary yesterday–“God, please tell me what belongs to me on earth.” We shared with each other our thoughts on this and it was clear to both of us that nothing belongs to us and that everything truly belongs  to God. Then we talked about how everything is left on earth when we die and how only the spirit remains, only love remains. “For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:7-12)” I am blessed to have him as my friend, because we are both unafraid to be completely honest and open with each other about our thoughts and feelings, even if we might disagree with the other. Our conversations are always held in truth, which I am grateful for.
6. Sandwiches, cole slaw, fries, quesadillas, salsa, chips, popcorn, and congee!
7. The grouper we got yesterday was so huge, we were able to enjoy 1/2 of the body yesterday, the other 1/2 of the body today for dinner, and use the gigantic fish head for soup! We were able to use every part of the fish and every application of it was absolutely delicious!
8. The very peaceful nap I took this afternoon and the dreams I had. I dreamt that I sold something on eBay. Then when I woke up and checked my email, I found out that I sold a bottle of mouthwash on eBay while I was napping! Yay!
9. Won a $15 gift card to a restaurant I love and walk by all the time!
10. Being able to tell my aunt “Thank You” for all of the goodies she made for us! It was so much that we were able to share them with 6 other families at church!
11. Work opportunities for my parents
12. A fully-stocked refrigerator and freezer!

1. I got to eat pound cake today! It’s a beloved childhood food that I haven’t eaten in over 5 years and it tasted just like how it did the last time I remembered it!
2. Fresh grouper from the fish market and it was very moist, tender, and flavorful! Delicious!!!
3. Got to go to work today! I am so blessed to be able to do what I love and have so much fun doing it! Saw an old friend at work and made two new ones! Got to enjoy 4 hours of wonderful, meaningful, real conversation about our families, friends, personal life, childhood, upbringing, interests, life decisions, God, faith, major life events, church, volunteering, donating to the poor, catalysts in our lives that changed the way we view and live life, hobbies, etc. with both of my new friends and discovering how much we have in common! What I loved about our conversations was that it was in the spirit of the true sense of mutual sharing and a genuine desire to get to know the other person as the entire person and all aspects of their life INSTEAD of having meaningless small-talk and conversations about work, how to get ahead at work and in life, what we can get out of talking to the other person, and how the other person can benefit us. It was about seeking to give rather than to take, truly wanting to understand the other person and letting them know that we understand them rather than wanting to be understood ourselves, a focus on others rather than on ourselves, seeking other’s interests and holding others as more important than ourselves, giving and not wanting anything in return, and using our God-given resources and talents to help people instead of seeing people as a means to an end. It was WONDERFUL, because that is what all of my relationships are like. So I made two new real friends!
4. I woke up this morning with a vision of what to make for my parents for breakfast–organic hash browns, two scrambled organic and free-range chicken eggs, organic avocado slices, two pieces of toast with Monterey Jack cheese and pan-fried ham on top, and sautéed organic mushroom medley. After asking them if I could make breakfast for them (and they said yes), I was able to prepare and present every component of my vision on a beautiful circular plate; one for each of them!
5. Being able to pray my morning prayer, make breakfast for parents and myself, eat breakfast with them, shower and wash my hair, get ready for work, and arrive to work early, and take my time doing everything, all in a state of calmness and peace instead of rushing and hurrying.
6. Sooooooo grateful that I get to work in a career that provides free, delicious, abundant, and nutritious lunch for all employees!
7. Received a gift card to Target!

1. Got to enjoy a wonderful brunch with 18 other family members!
2. Delicious and abundant leftovers!
3. God answered my prayer that my father and mother wouldn’t go to the casino today!
4. Finished participating in a 5-week pedometer/walking study!
5. Taught my mother how to toggle between a web browser and a Word document, what tabs are for, how to bookmark a webpage, and how to minimize a browser, and she actually listened. I felt like she truly comprehended what I was saying, which is rare but amazing when it happens.
6. The wonderful steamer I use to reheat the leftovers for dinner for my family and I instead of using the microwave
7. New cute things that my niece does
8. Chocolate ice cream :)
9. My one-size-fits-all dark red sweater and clothes that still fit me
10. Getting to go to work tomorrow!
11. My father eating an all-organic-and-local breakfast and him enjoying it immensely! Yay!
12. Free medicine!

1. God waking me up at the perfect time every morning!
2. God’s providence and abundant generosity!
3. Cheese curds from Wisconsin!
4. My cousin’s 3 children are warming up to me!
5. Sold a hair care product on eBay today!
6. Had an AMAZING time at dinner with 17 other relatives and friends and I got to eat my favorite foods!
7. Was doing laundry and I randomly grabbed just the right number of hangers– not one too many, not one too few!
8. The generosity of my relatives

1. God’s providence and goodness to us!
2. Finding out my relative is pregnant with her first child! Yay! Praise the Lord!
3. Hours of peace and quiet, and naptime!
4. Leftovers from last night’s incredible dinner lasted me all day today!
5. Sold another hairbrush on eBay!
6. Watching God change my mother from waking up every morning with stress and anger and being cranky in her heart and all of it showing on her face to JOY and a face full of sunshine and light! This is something I’ve been praying for and watching God answer my prayer is exciting!
7. Having a 1-year old child in my father’s life is healing his loneliness and depression and bringing a whole lot more joy, laughter, and purpose into his life. This is also something I’ve been praying for and watching God answer my prayer is great!
8. My father being grateful for the lunch I prepared for him
9. A cleaner dining table and living room
10. Frozen organic vegetables to eat when fresh organic vegetables are not yet in season. I am grateful for the refrigerator and freezer!
11. Parents are on a getaway tonight and God has blessed them with a free and wonderful, comfortable hotel room!
12. My mother’s tablet, so that I was able to make videos with it to capture the memories of last night’s karaoke dinner (especially of my parents singing together) and enjoy the videos today!
13. God helping me to remember to be in a perpetual state of gratitude, to be grateful both for the little blessings and the big blessings, and to know that everything good comes from Him.
14. The thoughtfulness of my visiting relatives and us being the recipient of their kindness and generosity! They made us our favorite foods and brought them all the way from California to us!

1. Lunch and an unforgettable 16-course dinner (including my favorite food!) with karaoke with my visiting relatives!
2. So much leftovers–enough for breakfast, lunch, and dinner tomorrow!
3. Seeing relatives I haven’t seen in years and seeing everyone have fun, sing, laugh, and play together!
4. My sister letting me help her carry her coat, purse, and bags instead of her refusing to accept my help.
5. My niece suddenly coming up to me during dinner and giving me a hug–twice!
6. Hearing guidance from God
7. A much cleaner and more organized basement!
8. Went to see the eye doctor to test for glaucoma, diabetes in the eye, and cataracts, and the results turned out GREAT! I have none of those! I have healthy eye pressure and healthy blood vessels! Wonderful eye health!!! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
9. Being on God’s timeline and how everything that God wanted to get done did get done in God’s perfect timing, all in a state of complete peace and joy! The errands I needed to run ended up being on the same block as the restaurant where we had lunch! It was incredible to see how every event started and ended perfectly to coincide with the next event, and I made it early to everything!
10. Having the energy, health, strength, and alertness to pour tea for my family throughout dinner and the after-party and them accepting my service!
11. The set of 6 colorful teacups I received from my church friend for Christmas 6 months ago! They have been just right every time we have visitors over at our house and we serve tea to them!
12. The festivity of family!

1. I was able to have enough money to buy bread, milk, and mayo for my relatives  who are visiting from California!
2. Sold another hairbrush on eBay!
3. God’s filling peace carried over from yesterday and sustained me throughout today!
4. Sushi, pizza, and mushroom risotto!
5. Every moment of peace, quiet, and rest!
6. God’s providence and constant companionship <3
7. Witnessing my parents behaving more tenderly and being kinder toward each other

WOW! What a day of overflowing blessings! Where do I start?!

1. My sister and her daughter came to church with my parents and I today!!!
2. Before Mass, God allowed me to witness an act of love. There was a teacher’s aide who had spent numerous hours last night baking a chocolate cake and a vanilla cake for the students graduating this afternoon. The graduation was going to be held at the church. On the vanilla cake, I watched her lovingly place bobbleheads she made, each with a photo of a graduate on the face of the bobblehead! She even made one of the teacher! I loved this idea because the bobbleheads have the actual faces of the graduates and it’s a great souvenir/graduation gift for the graduates! On the chocolate cake, she placed edible photos of the graduating class (actual faces again!) so it looked like the class photo! It was so creative and thoughtful of her!
3. After Mass, I met a fun guy visiting from Croatia!
4. After Mass, one of our church friends generously gave my mother and sister sandwiches and pastries to eat while my dad was at choir rehearsal and I was in a meeting.
5. After Mass, a new friend to whom I had given a book (The Catechism of the Catholic Church) last week unexpectedly gave me a “Thank You” card!
6. I got to take my family out to a Gospel Brunch for the first time ever and it was at a restaurant we haven’t been to in 10 years! The food was incredible, we easily got a great parking space, and we thoroughly enjoyed singing along with all of the Gospel songs played & sang by the organist. Then we met the owner/chef, who came out and sang along with us! What a joyful time we had! I ate an amazing seafood omelet and I got to take home leftovers for lunch tomorrow! My sister was very happy with the chicken and waffles and my parents LOVED the food! All of the servers were fun and funny! A GREAT Gospel Brunch!
7. We all got to enjoy the delicious slow-cooked pork & yucca soup that my parents and I made together yesterday!
8. 4 dozen organic free-range chicken eggs!
9. God sending us rain so that my mother would not have to water her vegetable and flower gardens and the birds get to enjoy a nice shower!
10. Sold a hairbrush on eBay today!
11. Got to visit my cousin at his new house for the first time ever and I am very grateful that they are letting my relatives from California stay with them!
12. My mother did not prevent me from giving apples, oranges, and pears to our relatives.
13. My mother decided to take us out to dinner. We initially went to a restaurant that’s a family favorite, but decided to leave after waiting 40 minutes for seats. I asked God to guide us to where He wants us to go. It was clear in our hearts then that we would go to a nearby restaurant two blocks away so that we would be able to leave the car where it was already parked. As soon as we got to this restaurant, we ran into our church friends with whom we have been friends for 30 years! We got to chat with them while we were both waiting for our food to arrive. We also got seats immediately even though the restaurant was super busy! The food was fantastic, every dish was cooked exceptionally well, we got leftovers to eat tomorrow, and the service was extraordinary!
14. Soft-shell crabs are in season and we got to eat them for dinner!!! (Thanks Mom!)
15. Our waiter gave us free dessert to eat there and another order of free dessert to take home!
16. After dinner, my friend (the one who gave me the “Thank You” card at church today) called me right after I arrived home (perfect timing!) to tell me that he had finished reading the first 25% of the book I gave him and that he absolutely LOVES it! He loves that it’s logical, philosophical, non-imposing, written in a way that is easy to understand, simple, and he is now recommending it to everyone he knows! Quite honestly, this phone call was the peak of my day, because he initially refused to accept my gift of this book The Catechism of the Catholic Church when I gave it to him last Sunday (but then he changed his mind and accepted it) and this left me wondering whether or not I was doing God’s will. By my friend calling me to tell me how much he loves the book and that he can’t stop reading it reassures me that giving him the book was a good decision.
17. My niece was incredibly well-behaved at church, at Gospel Brunch, while we were waiting at the first restaurant, during dinner, in the car on the way home, everywhere we went!
18. All day long, God has been reassuring me that He is taking care of my every need, because He knows how much anxiety I have. First, He gave me His steadfast and deeeeeeeep peace during prayer while I was at Mass this morning. Second, when the priest was holding up the Eucharist in the middle of Mass, God gave me a vision of a heart (perhaps to remind me how much He loves me?). Then after receiving the Eucharist and praying on my knees, I pushed the pew kneeler back up and right there on the floor appeared a leaf in the shape of a perfect heart. Third, one of the Gospel songs sung at the Gospel Brunch was called “God Is Taking Care of Me” and the lyrics, especially the chorus, just really allowed me to let go, relax, and enjoy the moment of having brunch with my family. Fourth, I took the “Thank You” card out to read after talking on the phone with my friend and on the cover was this quote “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. ~2 Corinthians 9:8” and inside the card was a beautiful, heartfelt poem he had composed!

1. Sold a mug on eBay!
2. Waking up to the delightfulness and coolness of the rain!
3. Seeing the birds fly onto our garage roof and happily enjoying the rain!
4. Took a very nice 3-hour nap!
5. That I can consume salt and cheese now!
6. Sandwiches!
7. Farmer’s markets!
8. Relatives from California will be coming to visit and they will be bringing goodies, including organic raw honey and homemade pastries!
9. Organic lemons!
10. All of the fresh organic fruits and vegetables that are coming into season now! Hurray!
11. Got to enjoy a really nice peaceful and quiet Saturday cooking for family and eating with them at home :)

1. I finally found a good online gratitude journal- We Love Gratitude!
2. Made dinner just in time for parents’ return home from the grocery store!
3. My sister ate the corn I made!
4. Delicious curry dinner with lots of veggies, plus green beans, duck, and chicken sausage!
5. Slow-cooked herbal soup!
6. Sold a necklace on eBay!
7. God’s providence!
8. Clear urine and normal, healthy legs!
9. Free medicine!
10. Got some great peace-and-quiet time today and naptime!
11. It looks like I’ll have enough money left in food stamps to buy bread on Monday! Yay!
12. I love how beautiful, sunny, and warm it is outside, and then there’s the coolness of the basement as a haven!