Grateful for my Crocs

I remember the first time I saw a pair of crocs: they were a dull shade of yellow, much stained, and very large; they were on the feet of a fisherman, and I remember thinking how fun and practical they looked.

What I hadn't realized was their orthotic value: once I discovered that, I bought a pair, and eventually I had them in several colors.  In fact, back in the day when I was 20 pounds heavier and lived in jumpers, I also lived in my crocs.

But now I only have a pair or two, and I just use them as slippers around the house or to throw on my feet when I go out to walk the dog.  And this morning I am really grateful for my crocs.

...Because I had to take my daughter's boyfriend to the ferry around 6, and I'd forgotten to check the tide calendar before we left -- there didn't see any point as the tides have been half an hour later in the day the last few days -- so I just threw on my crocs and drove out.

OOPS!  When I returned from the ferry, around 6:20 or so, the water was already over the road, so I parked my car at a neighbor's house (something I'd planned to do anyway so I could get out later) and started to walk around the edges.  But the water was already deep (something I hadn't expected).  Fortunately my crocs are perfect waders, so I rolled up my jeans and waded through; it was already up over my ankles in places.  It was (as I'm sure you can imagine) REALLY COLD, but not too bad.

And now, safely back at my house, my crocs washed and my feet dry and toasty, I see that the tide won't be cresting for another 40 minutes or so but it's already up under the wheels of all the cars.  Good thing I moved them up next to the garage last night! 

So as we move into Christmas Eve, I find myself feeling grateful -- for crocs, for foresight, for our neighbors, for a warm house and dry toes, for the friends who will join us tomorrow and for the shrinking of my to-do list.  No time for meditation today, but there's always time to count our blessings and be grateful.  So what are YOU grateful for today?  As the old gospel hymn says --

Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God has done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God has done!