My husband emptying the dishwasher…unbidden.

My daughter telling me, “You look beautiful today,” even when I’m wearing sweats and I haven’t combed my hair.

A friend sending me a “good morning, sunshine!” e-mail on her way to take her kids to school.

A note from a stranger, saying sweet things about Eve.

The UPS guy walking up our long driveway because his truck couldn’t make it.

The joyful exclamations of everyone working at Liliana’s school–“Hi, Liliana.  How are you today?  Wow, aren’t you looking fabulous today?”

The guy who works at the grocery store who bought my book and kept it behind the counter until I came in to sign it–a birthday gift for his aunt.

The elderly (but sprightly) man who helped me load my groceries into my car this morning.

A younger sister reminding me not to analyze everything too much.

What librarians do everyday for me–shelving and reshelving all the books I need for research.

Liliana running to me, arms outstretched, at the end of the day, “Mama, I missed you, I missed you SO much!”

My husband’s physician’s assistant’s sweet mother sending home a pot of Solyanka, a Russian sweet and sour soup, to whisk us back to all things Russian.  Wow.  Did it ever!  It was delicious.

My husband doing the dishes and wiping off the counters and putting our little monkey to bed.

Watching the surprisingly good French movie (slash morality tale) Shall We Kiss? with my husband, in the still quiet of the evening, with the house cracking and shifting under refreezing ice.

Going to sleep with arms around me.

What seemingly “little” things can you embrace as love?