Life's Simple Pleasures

I love being busy during the day. Working, planning, scheduling, things to do, places to go, people to see. But the evenings are mine. I like to end my day by 5:30. I like to take a nice long bubble bath while Allen starts on supper. He has spoiled me so much over the years. I love that man of mine. As I soak, I read whatever novel is holding my interest at the moment. It is a wonderful way to wash away the stress of the day. With such a busy life, I need those moments to relax and unwind. I was thinking this morning of the simple little things that can take us out of our routine and give us that extra lift we need. For each woman, the simple things that she loves are different than everybody else. So I thought I would make a list of my simple pleasures that make me smile and bring me joy. You should make your own. We know that God and church play a major role in our happiness. We all know our families, children and grandchildren bring us joy. But I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the things you do that excite you for that brief moment in time, allowing you to drift away from the cares of the world. Here is my list:

1. Sitting on the patio in the swing with Allen in the evenings
2. Polishing my toes and fingernails to match
3. Shopping for yarn.
4. My daily bubble bath
5. A new hair style
6. Coloring my hair
7. Rubbing a new lotion on my arms and legs
8. Smelling jasmine and honeysuckle
9. Walking down to the river
10. Sitting under the weeping willow tree
11. Watching Country Music videos
12. Buying silk panties (too much info?)
13. Putting on warm fuzzy socks on cold winter evenings
14. Sitting in the sun with my eyes closed
15. Sitting at the edge of the ocean with the waves licking at my feet
16. Driving through Cades Cove
17. Planting flowers and smelling their sweet fragrance
18. Going for a Sunday drive
19. Eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, and corn on the cob
20. Drinking an ice cold Pepsi on a hot summer day

Those are my top 20 things that make me smile. What are yours? I'd love to know what makes you relaxed and happy. Send me your list to brendakeefer@comcast.net and I'll post a list of the ones we all have in common.