Originally published in 2011, I ran across this list in my files and it made me smile. Four years have passed since it was written, but it’s funny how there’s very little on this list that I would change. My kids are older, I’m older, and time is marching on, but the things that make me happy are pretty much the same. The Best Male Cook asked me this morning what I wanted for Christmas. I think I’ll show him this list. It pretty much sums up the way I feel about all the good things life has to offer.

  • A blank page
  • A clean bill of health
  • A dad and son headed to the mall
  • A drive through Kentucky back roads
  • A dusting of snow that won’t melt
  • A few priorities for the week
  • A fresh notebook
  • A freshly bathed dog
  • A freshly vacuumed rug
  • A good tear jerker
  • A hard day’s work
  • A hilarious movie
  • A hot shower
  • A job well done
  • A juicy homemade burger
  • A love note
  • A Midnight train to Georgia
  • A new pen
  • A new recipe
  • A new white shirt
  • A nice, wide, smile
  • A note from a friend
  • A photograph that catches a sideways glance
  • A pizza party
  • A pleasant-scented candle
  • A quiet house on Christmas eve
  • A roaring fire in the fireplace
  • A sleeping child
  • A warm pair of socks
  • A young boy with a new watch
  • Accomplishing a task long overdue
  • Aged gouda cheese
  • An a ha moment
  • An Aeropress coffee maker
  • An awake child
  • An emergency fund
  • An emphatic yes or no from a child
  • An evening wine and cheese party
  • An organized book bag
  • An unexpected hug
  • Another writer’s perspective
  • Automatic coffee pots
  • Baking Spritz cookies
  • Baking while snow falls
  • Bing and David singing “Little Drummer Boy”
  • Bourbon-barrel ale
  • Ceramic Santas my Aunt Eileen painted
  • Chap-Stick
  • Checking something off my list
  • Chili Con Carne
  • Christmas Spirit candles
  • Clementine tangerines
  • Constant Comment tea
  • Dave Bruebeck
  • Dinner with my sisters and my mother
  • Doing a little bit at a time
  • Dreams
  • Driving the back roads
  • Dusted tabletops
  • Eighty’s music
  • Energy
  • Fingerprint-less kitchen cabinets
  • Freedom to live with intention
  • Fresh Christmas tree
  • Fresh laundry
  • Fresh smelling shower gel
  • Fresh, whole ingredients
  • Frost on the rooftops
  • Getting up early
  • Good health
  • Gratitude and humility
  • Hair falling softly around my daughters face
  • Hand lotion
  • Happy school-age, high-school-age, and college-age kids
  • Having a plan
  • Having the pots and pans cleaned up before dinner is ready
  • Hearing a first grader read
  • Honey bell oranges
  • Hot chai tea with milk and a dash of sugar
  • Hot green tea to warm my hands
  • Hot tea and shortbread
  • Hot, hot water to wash dishes
  • Ice on the trees
  • King Rat nutcracker
  • Knowing I can accomplish a task
  • Krohn Conservatory Winter flower show
  • Lazy mornings at home
  • Leaving a secret note for someone
  • Lentil soup in the slow cooker
  • Less is more
  • Limestone walls in Central Kentucky
  • Lip balm
  • Listening to a good radio interview
  • Listening to children in the kitchen with their father
  • Listening to children play the piano
  • Listening to my kids jump out of a dark place to scare their siblings
  • Living in the present so as not to regret the past nor fear the future
  • Love and compassion
  • Making plans for a summer vacation
  • Morning quiet time
  • Music filling the air
  • Music in the house
  • Music on the Sonos
  • My prayer group – 4 faith-filled women
  • New stamp designs
  • Not wanting more
  • Old Saturday Night Live reruns
  • Oven-fries dusted with fine sea salt
  • Packing delicate Christmas ornaments in tissue paper
  • Peppery red wine
  • Planning home-cooked meals before the 5:00 what’s-for-dinner emergency
  • Playing pick-up-sticks
  • Potstickers and sauce
  • Powdered-sugar-dusted doughnuts
  • Putting up the Christmas tree
  • Reading a book that makes me ponder
  • Reading cookbook manuscripts
  • Reading in the morning
  • Reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond
  • Roasting a leg of lamb with mustard, garlic and herbs
  • Routine
  • Shopping for the perfect gift
  • Silent time to pray
  • Snow boots
  • Snow days
  • Snow falling gently
  • Snuggling on the couch and watching a movie
  • Soft Pashmina scarf
  • Soft, clean hair
  • Sour Cream Coffee Cake
  • Spicy red wine and lamb chops
  • Sports “letter” jackets
  • Staycations
  • Staying up late
  • Stepping out for a breath of fresh air
  • Stockings hung by the chimney with care
  • Stone coasters
  • Sun shining through the snow
  • Sunday afternoons
  • Surprise gifts
  • Taking down the Christmas tree
  • Taking the kids out to the local coffee house for a treat
  • The best male cook I know
  • The Boss
  • The first cup of coffee in the morning
  • The longest night of the year
  • The love from a dog
  • The quiet of a snowfall
  • The realization I have everything I need
  • The realization there’s very little I want
  • The smell of a fresh Christmas tree
  • The smell of fresh baked ginger cookies
  • The sounds of children sledding
  • The way Warren folds the laundry
  • The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
  • The writing of Thomas Merton
  • Thinking about a new book to read
  • Time to read
  • Time to write
  • Twinkling white lights
  • Vacuumed corners
  • Vaseline on chapped lips (the air must be dry)
  • Visiting with high school friends
  • Washing dishes while looking out the window
  • Watching a movie as a family
  • Watching children build Legos
  • Watching the kids shake the wrapped gifts under the tree
  • Watching my son make pancakes
  • When enough is enough
  • Whole-grain toast and marmalade
  • Winter clothing sales
  • Wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree
  • Writing cookbook proposals
  • Writing letters and cards

If you made it this far I wish you a wonderful holiday season. Take time to slow down, sip some tea, and enjoy your family and friends.