“Keeping score feels pretty empty if no one is around to share a cupcake.”

On way to school with a few minutes to spare, there had been no illness, fighting or bloodshed. A peace sat in the car. My daughter chirped, “I have a great life!”

I knew it. The harmony, joy, happiness – it was palpable. The children felt it. All my countless prayers, sacrifices and hours spent yelling at them to be kind to each other finally paying off.

 “Why is life so great?” What important revelation had my little sage experienced this morning to make her realize we are so blessed?

“Our class is getting cupcakes today as reward for raising the most Boxtops.”

Cupcakes. That’s it?

 This Thanksgiving, I’m savoring the wonderful “cupcake” moments that pass into my life every day.

A sign hanging in the window of Antique Sweets read “Caramel apples today.” My son and I opened that big wooden door and bought two. Biting into a buttery, sweet softball of an apple covered in caramel defines “I have a great life” and cupcakes.

One day racing back from Athens needing gas, I stopped at the busy RaceTrac in Watkinsville. On this day, all I could see was gray and trouble and no amount of listening to Tony Robbins talking into that silly headset he wears helped. I fumbled for my card to pay and felt the stares of the people lined behind me crawling up my back. The more I fumbled the more I thought…this is what happens when I stray too far from Madison.

Looking up at the attendant, he smiled and said something with so much kindness in his smile and tone, it didn’t matter a bit what he said. I got in a car and sat in a plate full of cupcakes. Thanking God for the kindness of a stranger who reached down into my soul, gave it a good strong ~ the world is really a great place ~ hug.

Moments when my 6 year-old boy smelling of earth and puppy dogs (though we have no dog) occasionally quiets down enough to snuggle in my lap. When my third grade daughter without a bit hesitation or self-consciousness still lets me grab her hand. When neighbors, Denise Peeples and Trish Jones come to my children’s sidewalk sale and buy my daughter’s leaf etching. And then each gives my son 50 cents for a just-plucked green leaf he decided to sell because he didn’t like his sister’s artwork turning a profit. Trish laughed remembering when she was a child a neighbor had bought a caterpillar from her.

I’m grateful that cats truly do have nine lives. That Mr. Rodriguez, Spanish teacher at the primary school, stopped and patiently tied my child’s shoe in carpool line after my son refused to let me tie them that morning. For the beauty of barren limbs outlined by a new crisp dawn. For coffee at Perk Avenue, Waffle House and from my well-worn coffee cups each morning.

Any coffee = cupcakes. 

Funny, of all the millions of happenings in a lifetime…selling caterpillars and someone standing at the finish line calling your name…those are the moments that never leave us. The pursuit of things, beauty and keeping score feels pretty empty if no one is around to share a cupcake to celebrate.

 “I have a great life.” Thanks be to God from whom all cupcakes flow.

Share your Thanksgiving cupcake moments on my blog www.jamiemiles.com/blog.