Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.

Happiness is a warm puppy.

Aww.

Yes, there is much sadness in this broken world. Thankfully, the sadness is not the whole story. Despite all our efforts to destroy each other and our environment there remains, by the grace of God, a wealth of beauty and goodness, and even delight.

You pause for a moment while shoveling the snow and catch the sun glinting through the snow that still hangs in the air.

You stand by the pond in the wood with the fog dripping silence.

The sun finds a hole in the overcast and the Autumn forest comes to life.

A single purple flower breaks the gray expanse of glacial till as the valley walls tower above you. (We were on medevac standby and had plenty of time to walk around waiting for something not to happen.)

You bank the helicopter over the snow field and back down the glacial valley and the mountainside blazes red with the lichen clinging to the rock. (In case you hadn't guessed, I really like helicopters.)

You feel the baby kick.

It's a new day and you're alive.

She (or he) sees you across the room and breaks into a smile.

You make a really dumb mistake and your co-worker says don't worry I've got you covered.

You get to tell your co-worker don't worry I've got you covered and you both smile.

You walk out to your car after work and you just have to stop and pull out the camera.

Balm for the soul.