Rickety ol' heaters

Browsing through my old blog, I came across a short post I wrote two years ago. It's a little cute but the sentiment is genuine and I think it illustrates well the reason behind gift-counting:

November 7, 2008

Simple pleasures

I’ve just taken a long, warm bath with lots of nice-smelling potions. I feel so refreshed and ready for my forty winks (following some apple crumble and custard, a deliciously comforting winter treat).

Our boiler has decided it cannot go on any longer, and so we have to rely on our immersion heater for hot water and a little fan heater to keep the bathroom warm. It’s a noisy, dusty thing but it is our lifesaver during the long, cold evenings. Without it our upkeep of good hygiene would be sorely compromised, I’m sure. Stepping into a freezing cold bathroom and flicking the switch is one of the loveliest experiences I’ve ever known. The comfort of heat whirring around the tiny room makes me want to sing praises to God.

Believe me, I have known far more wonderful, luxurious experiences. But simple pleasures such as that ol’ heater have a way of humbling your heart and making you thankful for everything, taking nothing for granted. After all, it is only by the grace and mercy of my heavenly Father that I do not have to endure the bitter cold in a sleeping bag on dark, crime-ridden streets. And thinking of that makes me so grateful for the gift of warmth, albeit via a rickety, sneeze-inducing heater. 

And on that note - giving thanks for simple pleasures:

#146 The feel of yarn running through my fingers as I knit it into love
#147 A bike workshop I feel comfortable going to - and a bicycle that rides better than it ever did
#148 Cycling through crunchy piles of autumnal goodness
#149 Tea and cake on a rainy afternoon
#150 Burrowing into a fluffy red dressing gown after a long day
#151 Moussaka
#152 Trees decked in yellow-gold fineries in a part of my hometown where you don't expect to be hit with such beauty
#153 Sunday lunch gals embracing the cold in vivid purples, pinks, blues and yellows
#154 'Now We Are Free', the hauntingly beautiful closing theme from Gladiator
#155 Sunshine on a frosty morning that makes the start of a working week that little bit easier to bear