41st Thankful Thursday: Lights in the dark

The Sunday before Thanksgiving I hung a strand of Christmas lights in my apartment's main room.  The purple, pink, yellow, blue and green lights cast cheery glows on the walls and ceiling.  I love turning off the room's lights and basking in their sweet glistening.

I am thankful for the lights in my life that I can be thankful for in times of dreariness.

Some such "Christmas lights" from this week:

--happening upon the delightful flavor combination of fig newtons and gorgonzola cheese (a type of blue cheese)--think a Pixar Ratatouille moment of savoring--if only my ears could be so expressive... or maybe it's a good thing they aren't...  :)



--a wonderful email from my grandma, quote, "...I am happy for you. I think I am grateful that you showed me about the OED. I must use extreme discipline to avoid getting into it except when necessary. I think it is the most fun reading I know of. Can you imagine having all that information about one common word!"

--the young man in the library taking time to ask people to write Christmas cards to servicemen and servicewomen, even though he also has a busy last-two-weeks-of-school

--finding scripture that perfectly meets my present needs (Alma 38, especially verse 5)

--the blessed people who salted the university sidewalks early Monday morning (the heavy fog the night prior had covered all surfaces in black ice--it was near fatal just walking to the bus stop)

--stories such as this one from NPR.  :)

--LDS missionaries serving hot chocolate for free on campus (it tasted so good)

--sinking into bed at night, and waking up perfectly cozy

THIS WEEK:  What lights up dark times for you, that you are thankful for?