counting to 1000

Jan 25: a doll worked on, the time to do it, the encouragement from all family members when they tell me she is sooo cute!

Jan 26: a gift before dawn, at noon, after dark: prayers for the day ahead, watching my daughter dance, whispered "I love you's"

Jan 27:three gifts in the kitchen: a new way to brew coffee, the weigh scale that is ever so important, the dishwasher


Jan 28: three graces found in friends: patience, understanding, acceptance


Jan 29: a song heard, a soft word, a light seen: my son singing, "you're beautiful", the soft glow of the minilights in my living room

Jan 30: a new ipad for us all, new jammies for my littlest, kettlecorn  our new favorite" treat" snack

Jan 31: a gift on paper, in a person, in a picture: my daily doodle calendar, my children proclaiming it a jammie day, smiles from days gone by

late again..i must get better at this!

Jan 17: a gift bringing laughter, prayer, quiet: a secret trip planned,  prayers for no infection, watching the birds in the puddles

Jan 18: three gifts from God's word:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Mathew 6:34

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. 

Philippians 1:9-11
  
¹⁴ Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

Jan 19: three gifts that might never have been: my third, fourth and fifth children, daddy had only wanted two.....

Jan 20: three gifts only seen close up: new teeth, baby kicks, "navels" on oranges

Jan 21: a gift in sky, water, memory: a rainbow on my way home from the store yesterday, my morning shower, the births of my other 4 children as I get closer to the birth of this one

Jan 22: a gift wrinkled, smoothed, unfolded: laundry left in the dryer, prickled feelings, the blankets used every morning to snuggle on the couch

Jan 23: three gifts found in Christ:grace, forgiveness, love

Jan 24: three things blue: a blue sky after days of grey, my bath towel, the well worn comforter on my bed


 And here are some pictures from my week.

lego!

origami cats

my first chicken stock

favorite cars

roses from my hubby

he drew a person!

just keep counting

Jan 14 :  the ideas posted were hard for me today so here are my own : music, snowflakes on tongues, good attitudes from kids about their schoolwork

Jan 15 : a gift worn, given away, shared : my heart , prayers of thanksgiving for whatever lies ahead, kinds words from friends sent by God

here they are , late......

they are late but here they are..... and I really intend to write more, the days just seem to slip by and I have yet to make this space a habit in my day. As I am typing the kids are playing, there is a mouse outside on my step that is hungrily eating the sunflower seeds left for the birds, and I have just finished watching a sermon by John Piper that really spoke to my heart.  Today has been wonderful....

Jan 5 : Today was my birthday, so I have my own blessings....cinnamon buns for breakfast made by my favorite guy, gifts unexpected, lunch dates and friends who babysit.

Jan 6:  One thing in your bag, fridge, heart : chewing gum, grape tomatoes, anticipation.

Jan 7: Three graces from people you love :  coffee made for me in the morning, dishwasher emptied, rooms tidied without me asking

Jan 8: dusky light, surprising reflection, lovely shadow : breakfast made more special with candlelight, my growing belly, the shadow of my kids on the wall as they sneak into my room to wake me in the morning

Jan 9: a gift held, sat by, played with : my children! they bless me daily

Jan 10: a gift sour, sweet, just right : grapefruits, minieggs from my sweetie, dinnertime prayers

Jan 11: three yellow gifts :  lemons in water, my kitchen walls, new sponges

Jan 12: something above, below, beside :  stars, crunchy snow, new books waiting to be cracked open

Jan 13: three things about yourself that you are grateful for: creativity, caring, compassion

beginnings of gratitude....

This year I want to intentionally give thanks to God for all he provides, to make it a habit, a second skin. To teach my kids gratitude for everyday blessings, to teach my self. With words and photos I hope to document my 1000 gifts...

 Gifts for 2013....

January 1: Three gifts heard: "Mommy! Huggies!", coffee brewing, and the quiet at days end...

January 2 : A gift outside, inside, on a plate: birds at the feeder, new books to read aloud, crumbs from a meal devoured..

 January 3: Three graces overheard: pleases, thank you's, and admonitions to be kinder....

January 4: A gift old, new, blue: favorite games rediscovered, an I.D. bracelet for my girl, and always, always, my husbands eyes...