Today, as I was sweeping outside, I noticed a returned visitor. During the summer, in June, my younger child adopted a little green tree frog that had come to rest on the kids' wading pool. It kept returning, day after day, from across the street. It seemed to like clinging to the side of the pool, and didn't mind being handled a fair amount. The kids took it in, did their research, fed it and watered it and gave it a home. A few weeks later, in July, the frog started to discolor a bit. It worried them, and they decided, reluctantly, that it should be free to be healthy. They set it free, and we didn't see it for some time.

The frog came home, apparently. It has now achieved a light-brown-and-green-spots look, and seems to have matured. It's still a tree frog, but of indeterminate type. After almost sweeping it into the leaves, I brought it inside. The shrieks of joy when the child found it were heartwarming. The amount of pleasure a child can take in something as simple as a frog is a wonderful little bit of perspective for me. At a time when there are unemployment issues, money worries, and endless details to deal with, the pure joy of a child is an antidote that is much appreciated.

What sort of grace notes have you encountered? Were they online or offline? Involving you or others? I hope you felt refreshed by them. I know I did!