Blessings 178 to 181

178. A steeple rising up through the morning mist
179. The season's first frost across a great green field, like the breath of God upon a mirror
180. Leftover snow cradled amongst the tree roots
181. This day

Blessings 171 to 177

171. An early snow
172. Hope
173. Every hour that brings me closer to holding my baby boy
174. A new friend
175. The tree that has burst into glory outside my patio
176. The endearing absurdity of pumpkins
177. Firemen taking the fire truck to buy pumpkins for their carving party

Blessings 160 to 170

160. Unmerited favor
161. A sermon delivered with a British accent
162. A truth unsoftened
163. The patience of trees reaching for the sun
164. A mum the color of Christmas
165. Hunter-green gourds
166. Bags and bags of ripe apples
167. The soft voice of an old acquaintance
168. Permission not to worry
169. A hug when most needed
170. A skilled hair stylist

Blessings 156 to 159

156. Itsy-bitsy socks
157. Teeny-tiny shoes
158. Wee little T-shirts
159. Dying of cuteness

Blessing 151 to 155

151. A nested nest
152. Smell of fresh sheets
153. Trees with leaves like a low-burning flame
154. New friends
155. His growing spiritual leadership

Blessing 150

150. Helping him writet his declaration of independence

Blessings 143 to 149

143. Helpful, courteous technician visiting my home twice
144. Panang chichen leftovers
145. Finding just the right answer at just the right time to stave off complete frustration
146. The heat-absorption properties of silicon
147. A husband who understands when it's just the (raging) hormones talking
148. A full-sized washing machine!
149. A full-sized clothes dryer!!

Blessings 140 to 142

140. Soothing sound of rain on asphalt
141. A dish lost and a temper kept
142. Waking to a thunderclap

Blessings 132 to 139

132. Praying to a God who knows my needs before I ask
133. The cleansing that the rain brings
134. Stories worth the telling, stories worth the hearing
135. Restoration of power
136. A diner that's open late
137. Galoshes
138. A poncho the color of Barbie's convertible
139. My small group, the apartment-cleaning/box-moving brigade

Blessings 128 to 131

128. Bursts of "nesting" energy
129. Storm-tossed evergreen tree
130. Spider's architectural flair
131. Rabbit fleeing across the lawn by moonlight

Blessings 124 to 127

124. Being the only customers in the Thai restaurant on Columbus Day evening
125. A pond positioned just right to reflect the blushing trees
126. Pre-dawn waking
127. The memory of monarch butterflies raised on the kitchen counter

Blessings 118 to 123

118. Crutches
119. Chicken shwarma sandwiches
120. Waking up to silence
121. Friends armed with packing tape and cardboard boxes
122. Elevators
123. Fountain in the courtyard

Blessings 114 to 117

114. Warm chocolate chip cookies
115. Breeze playing with my skirt on the escalator
116. Golden majesty of sunset and clouds
117. The "pregnancy discount" at the auto service station

Blessings 112 and 113

112. Crisp, cool autumn air
113. French landladies

Blessing 111

111. The gliding descent of leaves from trees, like boats down an easy river