100 Things That Make Me Happy Besides Money

Inspired by a 43Things.com thread. They are simply in the order I wrote them down.

44. Lightning bolts *

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

I already wrote about enjoying thunderstorms, but this subset of those window-rumbling displays of nature deserves its own place on my list.

Lightning just blows my mind. It’s one of those beautiful/destructive forces, just like ice storms.

43. Snow *

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

If you haven’t noticed already, I love precipitation, but I’m not preferential to the really wet kind. Snow is one of my all-time favorite weather conditions. It’s soft, beautiful, and romantic.
I don’t know that living in Missouri is good for my love of snow. We’ve already had two beautiful snow storms here this winter already! [...]

38. Gumball trees *

Friday, December 12th, 2008

I am starting to realize how many of the items on this list take me back to my childhood, because this is yet another thing that makes me happy from that time in my life. Item #37, dogwood trees, comes from when my family lived in Neosho, but the source of my gumball tree joy comes from before then, when we lived in Overland Park.

37. Dogwood trees *

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

Neosho is famous for its dogwood trees with their white and pink blooms floating like clouds down Oak Ridge Drive, starting in early spring and lasting for several beautiful weeks. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the dogwoods during the annual Dogwood Tour, and there’s even a 5k race [DOC file] to celebrate the event (who’s running it with me next time?!).

33. Enjoying Thunderstorms *

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

I absolutely love rain, and there is nothing better than getting to hear and see a majestic thunderstorm. I love the sound the rain makes on the roof and windows, combined with the sounds of it pelting the ground, trees, and other surfaces outside.

Thunder claps sound so powerful and sometimes they’re funny. When I was a girl, Mom always told me that thunder is just God and the angels bowling,

20. Getting to Watch a Beautiful Thunderstorm **

Sunday, May 18th, 2008

I grew up in Tornado Alley, so I got to see great storms every spring. Mom had the misfortune to have experienced a terrible storm and ensuing flood in Kansas City, so she would always retreat to the basement and encourage us to do the same. But I have always loved the light show.
I love [...]