Early Signs of Spring - 1000 Gifts

My List Continues 611 ~ 619

Unseasonably warm weather.

Fresh air coming through the windows.

Early signs of Spring found in the back yard.

 

Listening to the kids recite scripture.

Spray paint on my hand.

Checking on the girls at night and finding them cuddled up together in the same bed and each holding the doll I gave them when they were one.

Family pictures in the mail.

Bouncing Basketballs.

That I found the pen BEFORE it made it in the dryer with the clothes!

1000 Gifts 598 ~ 610

Continuing to be thankful for the things around me:

chore charts

kids that like to do their chores

a day of service with a bunch of woman with hearts for the Lord and hearts for others

kids who find creative things to do

being called 'mommy'

wiping noses

boys that come snuggle with me at night when they don't feel good

fun night with our small group discussing generosity and playing games

Alex's giggle

a sunday afternoon lying on the couch

help with the dishes

big snowflakes

medicine for ear infections

1000 Gifts

587. A Successful new recipe and a not so successful recipe

588. Frozen food

589. A husband who puts the sheets on the bed for me

590. A fun night out filled with lots of laughs

591. A tearful little boy that needs hugs

592. An encouraging email.

593. The kids joy that they get a week of seeing their daddy at night.

594. The whole family sitting down at the table for supper.

595. The smell of shampoo.

596. A fun girls overnight.

597. Sunday naps.

 

A Conflicted Heart - 1000 Gifts

They are all sleeping. My husband. My kids. I ascend the stairs to head to bed.

My heart is full. Can't I just freeze time? Little kids.......little problems.

My mind quickly jumps and my heart is filled with sorrow. 

A friend. Sin has taken over and Satan has a strong hold.

How can my heart feel so full and so grieved at the same time? 

"giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father..." Ephesians 5:20

But how? How can I be thankful for this?

I fall asleep praying and trusting in a God who is greater than all of this. A Sovereign God.

Morning comes and it fills my mind again.

Finally, a phone call. The road to recovery begins.

Tears of Joy. Tears of Thankfulness. Praise the Lord.

Here are some of the things I have been thankful for this past week. 578 ~ 586

Isaac holding my hand as we walk through the parking lot.

Running into a friend and we chat as one goes up the escalator and one goes down.

Silly kids putting their stuffed animals on the ceiling fan and giving them rides.

Laughter from children as they run through the house playing tag.

Children that give a name to a fly.

Hot tea.

A toothless little boy.

That I can pray to my God at anytime and for anything and He hears me.

Answered Prayers.

* This was actually written last week and was to be my multitude monday post for last week but it never got posted.

Getting Back On Track.....1000 Gifts

On July 19, 2009 I started my list of 1000 gifts.

What is sad to me is that it is 2 1/2 years later and I only have 577 gifts written down.

Somewhere along the way I stopped. Usually it happens to me in the laziness of summer. But this year I never started up again.

Every once in a while I come across my Thankful journal and think, "I really need to start recording the things that I am grateful for."

It really helped me as I went through the day to be looking around at everything in a different light. As the new year started, this was one of my goals. To be more thankful. To continue to journal the things that I am thankful for and to remember to be thankful for the things that I normally would complain about.

Often when new people find my blog, a common comment from them is that they love my list of 1000 gifts. This has really encouraged me to start this up again.

I must confess though that sometimes recording it on my blog became a little stressful for me. I felt like I had to have pretty pictures to go along with my list. Sometimes I had them, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I had them but just didn't have the time to put them on my computer to document with my list. I don't want pictures to keep me from being grateful. So, this time around you may find pictures or you may find a list but I need to remember that this list is for me to find joy and not a list for you to find joy. If you enjoy reading it........ I am glad. If you find joy in it...... I am grateful for that as well, but the point of it is for myself. That I may find joy in the little blessings that God gives to me each day.

I do also hope it also encourages you to find joy in each and everything throughout your day.

564 ~ 577

Finding confetti throughout our house that was brought back from our trip to Iowa.

Catching up with friends while our boys play together.

Sweet Onion Salsa from Aldi.

Organizing.

My girls showing sisterly love to each other.

A good book that brings tears.

Meeting new people.

Snow.

Staying in my pjs all morning.

Pizza cutters.

Paper plates.

Norwex cleaning cloths.

Friends who brave a snow storm and come over to hang out.

The joy on Isaac's face when he came home from spending a night at the Bull's game with his dad.

Week of Thanksgiving Day 7

Today I am thankful that God not only supplies my needs but has given me so much more. He has not only provided my daily bread but I have cabinets, a fridge, and a freezer full of food. He has not only supplied shelter for me and my family but has blessed us with a nice home that keeps me warm in the winter and I have air conditioning that keeps me cool in the summer. He has not only supplied me with clothes but I have a closet and drawers full of them. We have a car that takes us where we need to go. We have furniture to sit on, comfy beds to sleep, modern appliances to cook, clean, and do the laundry. Thank you Lord for the material blessings that you have given to our family.


Eucharisteo means "to give thanks," and give is a verb, something that we do. God calls me to do thanks. To give the thanks away. That thanks-giving might literally become thanks-living. That our lives become the very blessings we have received.

Ann Voskamp

Week of Thanksgiving Day 6

Today I am thankful for friendships. Friends that I've known since I was little and friends that I've known for a short time. Those that have helped shaped me into the person I am today. Those who have challenged me, laughed with me, cried with me, put up with me. Friendships that have encouraged me, friends that have taught me and given me advice. Friends that have listened to me and friends that I lent a listening ear.  Those who have been there in good times and those who have been there in difficult times. Thank you Lord for all the different friends that You have brought into my life.


Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, "What! You to? I thought I was the only one."

C.S. Lewis

Week of Thanksgiving Day 5

Today I am thankful for a great day spent with family and friends.

I am thankful for the sword fighting pilgrim and Indian that came to dinner today.

I am thankful for the traditional meal that we had of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and rolls.

I am thankful that my first attempt at making Thanksgiving dinner was not a failure.

I am thankful for a fun time bowling with 6 adults and 9 kids. I am thankful for being able to take our kids bowling for the first time today.

I am thankful for a fun evening at our house with both of my sisters and their families and new friends.

Although it wasn't a typical Thanksgiving for us, it was a great day with great food and surrounded by great people. I feel very blessed.

Thank you Lord for the food, relaxation, family, and friends.

Psalm 100

 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 
 Worship the LORD with gladness; 
 come before him with joyful songs. 
 Know that the LORD is God. 
 It is he who made us, and we are his; 
 we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving 
 and his courts with praise; 
 give thanks to him and praise his name. 
 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 
 his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Week of Thanksgiving Day 4

Today I am thankful for the beauty of the world that surrounds me. I am thankful for the beautiful snow that blankets the earth in the winter, new life that comes in the spring, the warmth of the sun in the summer, and the beauty of the colorful leaves in the fall. I am thankful for colorful flowers, green grass, blue skies, white clouds, animals that I see in my back yard, the chirping of the birds. Rain that waters the earth, thunder and lightning that remind me of His power. Thank you Lord for your creation, for the changing of the seasons, for the weather.


Every time you feel in God's creatures something pleasing and attractive, do not let your attention be arrested by them alone, but, passing them by, transfer your though to God and say: "O my God, if Thy creations are so full of beauty, delight and joy, how infinitely more full of beauty, delight and joy art Thou Thyself, Creator of all!"

Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

Week of Thanksgiving Day 3

Today I am thankful for the 4 children that God blessed me with. I am thankful for all the joy they bring to my life, the smiles and the laughter. I am thankful that I get the opportunity to teach them about the love of Christ and the opportunity to watch them grow both physically and spiritually. They are constantly teaching me things as well. I am thankful for the frustrations that they sometimes bring, for the messes they leave behind, the things they break, and all the dirty laundry that I wash. I am thankful for each of their different personalities. Thank you Lord for the blessing of children.


Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. 

William Arthur Ward

Joshua, Alex, and Amanda's class had to write their turkey recipes for Thanksgiving. These brought a smile to my face and just another reason I am thankful for my children. Here are their recipes in case you need to know how to make a turkey this week.

Joshua's Recipe

Get a medium turkey from the grocery store. I know they cook it in the oven and my oven beeps when things are done so take it out then. While it's cooking get all the other stuff on the table. Then sit down and pray. Cut the turkey with a knife and use a fork to eat it.

Alex's Recipe

Go to Jewel's or Walt's and buy a big turkey. 

Put it on the big long pan.

Put it in the oven for 15 hours.

Cut it up and set the table.

Put the meat on your plate and cut it up smaller and then you can eat it.

Amanda's Recipe

Have your aunt go to a store and find a turkey.

Put salt on it and put it in the oven.

Then play with Grandpa and Grandma and Avery.

When they call you go and eat.

I don't really like the turkey. I like it when they make hamburgers.

Week of Thanksgiving Day 2

I am thankful for my husband. I am thankful that he is willing to work odd and long hours to provide for our family and am thankful that he is such a hard worker. He loves the Lord and even though he has to be at work many days at 3 or 4 in the morning, he still gets up early to spend time with God. I am thankful for the father he is to our children. That he is a great dad, loves his children and takes the time to run around in the back yard with them and faithfully teaches them about God. He has a generous heart, loves to serve others, and is a man that is devoted to me, to his family and to his friends. He has taught me so much by his example. Thank you Lord for blessing me with him.

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.

Sarah  Ban Breathnach

Week of Thanksgiving

It's been a while since I posted to my Gratitude list. In honor of Thanksgiving this week, I thought I would add to it every day.

Today and every day I am so thankful for my heavenly Father that has given me life. He has given me everything that I will be thanking Him for the rest of the week and all the blessings that I am thankful for each and every day. He gives me each and every breath that I take. He has sent trials into my life that have taught me lessons and have brought me closer to Him. He sent His Son to pay the ultimate sacrifice that I might have eternal life.  I live my life in gratitude to the great God that we serve.

All gratitude is ultimately gratitude for Christ, all remembering a remembrance of Him. For in Him all things were created, are sustained, have their being. Thus Christ is all there is to give thanks for; Christ is all there is to remember. To know how we can count on God, we count graces, but ultimately there is really only One.      

Ann Voskamp

The Crumbs on the Floor

If all the beds in my house are made every morning.....

that means there is no one here to sleep in them.

If there are no toys left on the floor at the end of the day.....

that means there is no one here to play with them.

If all my dishes are done...........

that means there is no one in my house to cook for.

If there are not piles of laundry......

that means there is no one here to dirty clothes.

If I don't have crumbs stuck to my feet as I walk across my kitchen floor.....

that means there is no one in my kitchen eating.

Today I am thankful for the all the dirt, grime, crumbs, laundry, dishes around my house each day because that means I am surrounded by family to love and to love me. Family to enjoy.

My list of Gratitude continues. 550 ~ 558

piles of laundry to wash and fold

crumbs stuck to my feet

tripping over toys

beds to make

long lists of things to do

soft, warm socks on my tired feet after a long day 

a nice rain so I don't have to water my new grass

a phone call from a friend and a listening ear

the excitement of a one year old at the little things in life



May you find joy in the little things today!

My Gratitude Continues......535-549

Eucharist [thanksgiving] is the only full and real response of man to God's creation, redemption, and gift of heaven.

Alexander Schmemann

The Cross

The Resurrection

Death is swallowed up in victory! (I Corinthians 15:55)

New Dresses for Easter

Curls in the girls hair Easter morning

Weeds Picked

Flowering trees

Helping my kids spell words to write in their gratitude journals

Freshly cut grass

A filthy, dirty little boy after hours of playing outside

Cleaning the house, yard, and garage & getting rid of stuff

Van full of stuff to the thrift store

Garbage cans full of things cleaned out

Growing plants and some not growing so well

Seeing on a receipt that Brad use a coupon

A Servant's Heart

The last couple weeks for me have been very busy and long days. I get frustrated, I become weary in my work, I get down on my family. I am then reminded of one of my favorite parts in Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts.

When service is done unto people, the bones can grow weary, the frustration deep. Because, agrees Dorothy Sayers, "whenever man is made the centre of things, he becomes the storm-centre of trouble. The moment you think of serving people, you begin to have a notion that other people owe you something for your pains.... You will begin to bargain for reward, to angle for applause."

When the laundry is for the dozen arms of children or the dozen legs, it's true, I think I'm due some appreciation. So comes a storm of trouble and lightning strikes joy. But when Christ is at the center, when dishes, laundry, work, is my song of thanks to Him, joy rains. Passionately serving Christ alone makes us the loving servant to all.

"The work we do is only our love for Jesus in action," writes Mother Teresa. "If we pray the work....if we do it to Jesus, if we do it for Jesus, if we do it with Jesus......that's what makes us content."

As a wife and a mom, I need to be reminded daily that my work is to be done to Him. Not for me, not for my husband, not for my kids, not for my friends. FOR HIM! When my focus is on Jesus I will not become weary or frustrated, I will be reminded of what He did for me and I will be filled with Joy and Contentment as I am a servant of Jesus.

My List of Gratitude Continues:

517. kids who break out in random songs

518. questions asked about the things we have just prayed about

519. memorizing scripture with my children

520. snuggling on the chair with Isaac

521. communion with God

522. Christ is risen from the dead - He's alive! Music, scripture, sermons that all remind of this.

523. big Sunday dinner shared with friends

524. giggles

525. in-laws willing to take care of a sick child

526. reading our gratitude lists with the family

527. putting on my comfy pants at the end of the day

528. beef buns

529. root beer floats

530. a good sermon about the seeing the Glory of God through suffering

531. scrubbing pans

532. folding mounds of laundry

533. a to do list that never seems to end

534. a spontaneous coffee time with my sister this morning

One Thousand Gifts 500-516

My list continues:

women who encourage me and hold me accountable

stackable coupons

a leather couch when a you have a sick kid

the smell of French Vanilla Coffee

a husband who gets home really late but still brings the garbage to the street

a kiss goodbye as he leaves for work

a 1st tooth lost and a visit from the tooth fairy

organizing

the smell of Vicks

empty laundry baskets

a not so great phone call from the accountant

great conversation at breakfast with my friend Dori that included laughter and tears

ridding our house of stuff!

things the kids say that make me laugh

the Harvest Thrift Center

reading books with the kids

singing 'on top of spaghetti" really loud with the kids!

A Family of Eucharisteo

Church, God, Jesus, Mom and Dad, Brothers and Sisters, cousins, that the weather is warm, our house, my bed, putting covers on the kids at night.

These are a few things that you will find on the lists of Eucharisteo (Thanksgiving) on the wall in our kitchen.

This past week, we became of a family of Joy Seekers as my husband and children started their list of 1000 Gifts.

Together we share our gratitude and seek joy. I love to see the joy on every one's faces as they read what the others wrote. I love to see their excitement each day to write on their list. I love that together we find joy in God and how He has blessed us.

488 ~ 2 boys that sneak out of their room to give their mom one more hug and kiss before bed

489 ~ Family game of Mario Kart

490 ~ chicken on the grill

491 ~ flowers

492 ~ time at McDonald's with Amanda

493 ~ cleaning up the basement with Brad

494 ~ praying with the kids before they head off to school

495 ~ sun shining and snow melting

496 ~ a good helper at the store while running errands

497 ~ the smell of fresh air on kids after playing outside

498 ~ dinner and Mario Kart with Brad

499 ~ A family counting blessings together and being joy seekers

A Giveaway!

On July 15, 2009 I started my list of 1000 gifts and have had 35 posts with 487 items of gratitude and my list continues to grow. I can truly say that through doing this I see the world around me in a different light. I notice the little moments in life that just seem to pass us by, I notice the little gifts that we forget to thank God for and I feel joy in those moments.

Ann Voskamp over at A Holy Experience has encouraged hundreds, maybe even thousands to begin their list of 1000 gifts.

She has also written a book entitled One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. As soon as it came out I was so excited to buy it. Last week I received my copy in the mail, along with a couple extra copies, and I would love to share one with one of you!

I am about half-way through Ann's book and I can tell you it is definitely life changing! Her words encourage to seek God in everything and through thanksgiving you will find joy.

If you would like to be a joy seeker, I invite you to leave a comment below telling me one thing you are thankful for. And to give you more chances to win, I will let you leave up to 3 comments with items of gratitude. If you want to share more than 3 items, please do, just leave it in 3 comments.

I will leave the giveaway open through Friday and will then pick a winner using random.org. So come back on Saturday to see if you have won.

If you would like to learn more about Ann's book you can go to her blog over at A Holy Experience or you can head over to incourage and join the book club that is currently discussing her book.

* If you are leaving a comment Anonymously - please sign your name. Thank you!

I Will Praise You In This Storm

Tuesday morning I hopped into the car to run a couple quick errands before the big storm hit. As we took off down the street, Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns began playing on the radio, a favorite song of mine with a lot of meaning.

I laughed to myself that they were playing this right before the biggest snow storm in years was to hit.

Although this song is not referring to a snow storm but the storms of life, in the sense of snow storms.....this was a biggy. In the sense of storms of life, this is a small one.

As I was shoveling on Wednesday morning for what seemed like hours, I wanted to be complaining about my sore arms, my sore back and the fact that it felt like we were getting no where. As these thoughts came to my head, I was once again reminded of hearing this song the day before.

My attitude of complaining began to change to an attitude of gratitude.

"Yes, Lord. I WILL PRAISE YOU in this storm!"

I will praise You for the beauty of the snow.

I will praise You for the ability to be out there shoveling.

I will praise You for a husband that can be out there shoveling too.

I will praise You for the warm house I have to go into after I'm done.

478~ Thank You notes in the mail.

479~ snow boots

480~ homemade hot cocoa

481~ how mini marshmallows get all frothy in hot cocoa

482~ snow tunnels

483~ mounds of snow to sled down

484~ kind neighbors

485~ sore muscles after tons of shoveling

486~ piles of boots, coats, snow pants, hats, scarves, and mittens

487~ feet of snow

Gratitude 462-477

My list goes on...................

hot tea on a cold day

gloves to keep my hands warm

bacon - Mmmmmmmm, I love bacon!

slippers to keep my feet warm from a cold floor

warm cozy fireplace

kisses goodnight

each breath that I take is a gift from God

watching a movie with my husband

steamy bathroom after a hot shower

how Alex always hops and skips everywhere

children shoveling

watching Brad and the kids shovel together

helping others

trim in my bathroom after 7 years without it

door handles on my pantry closet (it has also been a couple years without those)

a new chair

What about you? What are you thankful for as you look around you. May you be thankful today for every good gift that you have received from your heavenly Father.