counting gifts

{36} Seeing His goodness in the wake of tragedy.

{37} Hearts going out to others, help given, prayers said.

{38} Growing love among the oldest of friends.

{39} Busy husband fixing my lunch.

{40} Singing.

{41} Sunday lunch, new place, not crowded, kids eat free.

{42} Help for infected ears.

• {43} A serious boy can sometimes be silly.

See what others are listing this week at A Holy Experience:

{once again}

it has been a long Monday here. Why are Mondays that way sometimes? Honestly, I've had a {quite} yucky attitude. I feel stressed, worried, frustrated, tired. And I remember oh, yes...time to continue listing my graciously given {though not always graciously received} gifts. Let's see if we {make that He} can turn my frown upside down:

• {20} Marker-drawn beards on little faces, even her's.
• {21} Little baby with a toe in her mouth.
• {22} Oldest coming in just to say he loves me, then hug baby sister.
• {23} Sweet smelling jasmine blooming.
• {24} The littlest figuring out how to eat {and enjoy} a cracker, smiling with pride.
• {25} Unexpectedly coming across a card Dad gave me years and years ago signed, 

 

• {26} Knowing I'll see him again One Day.
• {27} The cup wasn't taken away and He has overcome! 

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  {Matthew 26:39}

Now I'm smiling. See what others are smiling about.

counting gifts

I'm slowly getting better at remembering to notice the gifts that He gives, all around me, every single day. It's so easy to get caught up in the way the world would have you view life; counting up all that you want but don't have instead of all that you do have, all that has been graciously given. So, continuing the list: {#s 13-19}

How all three big ones were giddy over Miles' discovery of Elijah's long-lost DS. Want to know where he       found it? Where it's been since Christmas? Deep in the sofa cushion.

Mils in these cute things called baby legs.

Streams of morning sun weaving in through the slats of the blinds, bringing light to the darkness.
A question answered in the perfect timing of my Father.
Waiting that leads to stronger faith.
A lunch date with my first born.

How he looks like his Poppa.


See Ann's blog and other gifts in lists.

giving thanks

"...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

I remember well the first time this scripture really sprang from the page and was written all over my heart. And really, it kind of got all over me, and I wasn't sure why. Just weeks earlier Dad had died, and I just could not wrap my mind around "always giving thanks...for everything" in a season of why's and deep hurt and the intense missing. But the verse just keep after me.

Soon, I discovered I was pregnant with my Ella, and Miles was yet to turn one. After the calling to my mom, crying and in shock, and after some days, I realized that this is why the verse spun around in my head like it had. It began a work in my heart. It began the long process of teaching me to "always give thanks...for everything." {A process that continues today.} I quickly became thankful for my unexpected gift {being pregnant}, because of life growing inside, and life to look forward to. I saw, not unlike Job although with much less catastrophe, that He gives and takes away. And finally, finally, after a long time, learned to be thankful even for my dad's death. How? Thankful that his suffering ended by the most wonderful healing possible, healing at Home. Thankful that his striving could cease. Thankful to have had him in the first place. Thankful because God makes good come from bad and turns ashes into beauty and turns sorrow into joy. Yes, thanks be to God.

It's not easy, this "always giving thanks...for everything," and so I am reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts to find some encouragement in the trying. I was planning to read the entire book and then start writing my own list of gifts. Enter the sewing of the Easter dresses, the schooling, the decisions, the every day whatever and I have not finished the book. I'm determined to pick it up again, actually in just a few minutes, but I no longer want to wait to begin my list. I have no reason to wait to be thankful. If I learn to look for them, there are gifts all around, every day.

So as I keep reading, I'll start writing:

1. Freckles reemerging on little cheeks and noses.
2. The hard-working man, sitting at this moment working. He'll be up late tonight {again}. 
3. Sunday afternoon nap with my baby girl, after watching her sleepy eyes finally give in.
 
4. Blurry but sweet picture taken by Miles as Milla played with my hand and I talked to my mom.

5. Laughter with friends.
6. Reading a book to Miles {and thinking of the thinks we can think if only we try}.

I'm linking up with others making lists, counting His gifts: