I'll take all of the little things, please

It was my first week back at the university.  Boy howdy, it's so good to be back.  I've missed my team.  A lot.  It's often really simple things that are the sweetest.  Like when a student is clearly engaged in the lecture you're giving, when a book club member says to you the next day, "It's so wonderful to have you back!", when a young friend comes running down the street to greet you with a huge hug, when dinner is waiting for you when you walk through the door, when someone you adore tells you that you're special, when you stare up into the night sky to find the Big Dipper staring right back at you.  These are the little things that make up the sweetest moments of my days this week.

Then there was also...

the orange pumpkin that Kirsti made;

 

the view of the lake that is a 90 second walk from the front door of our apt building;

enjoying a banana split with some dear friends;

enjoying the entertainment this squirrel provided us with as we enjoyed said banana split;

providing the squirrel with entertainment of his own as he enjoyed some mighty fine nuts;

did I mention the lake that's a stone's throw from where I'm living?

 Of all the incredible events that transpired this week, the ones that I'm most grateful for are the little, simple, everyday moments. Everyday this week a friend has said, "I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for creating such a beautiful earth, AND that I get to live here in Finland." That makes two of us.  

It's so good to be back.