#0101 - #0120 One Thousand Gifts

#0101 - BabyGirl (age 8) sliding her hand into mine as we walk down the sidewalk ♥

#0102 - the rain softly singing on the windows

#0103 - living in part of the world where the earth doesn't quake :'(

#0104 - head massages ...
even if they only last a couple minutes
>AHEM!<

#0105 - The Hubs wanting to share part of his late-dinner with me ...
even though he was famished ♥

#0106 - an American flag flapping in the breeze

#0107 - listening to my BabyDoll (age 10) warm up her vocals during her first voice lesson
(Think "fire sirens". :p)

#0108 - A new song added to my Songs Of Hope playlist, shared by a friend
(that will quietly play when I'm in pain.)



#0109 - pleasant conversations with strangers
LOVE IT!

#0110 - vehicle repairs that fall under warranty

#0111 - The Hubs rubbing my back as I burst into tears ...

#0112 - ... a cleansing cry :'(

#0113 - watching my BabyDoll shine during one of her choir concerts ♥

#0114 - being heard

#0115 - peace 'n quiet

#0116 - the return of birds chirping in the morning

#0117 - making someone laugh or smile

#0118 - finally receiving "the call"

#0119 - the anticipation of an overdue vacation

#0120 - my girls whispering secrets to each other ♥

#0061 - #0100 - One Thousand Gifts (a quadruple shot of gratitude!)

NOTE:
My apologies! When I first posted the link at Ann's place, the words of this entry were posted right on top of each other ... making it impossible to read!

Weird, huh?

UPDATE:
(3.15.10; 5:01 PM)

It appears to be acting up again! :(
Any idea on how to FIX IT?! *grr*


As my eyes drifted over my draft box this weekend, I discovered a stash of forgotten gifts!
So this week, I'm sharing a QUADRUPLE load of gratitude with y'all 'cause ... well, can one's heart be too full of gratitude??? I think not. ;o)

Do you think you can handle it?!
I sure can!
Sit back, relax, and ENJOY! :D




#0061 - warming up cold feet on the furnace vent
Ahhh ... ;o)

#0062 - stroking my daughters' hair as they fall asleep

#0063 - artwork created and presented by a child that spells out, "I'm sorry".
How could I not forgive that?!
>So sweet!<

#0064 - a glorious morning of sleeping in
owing to a snow day school cancellation
(yeah, this is a couple weeks old, but it still counts!)

#0065 - a text message from The Hubs informing me he'll pick up our girls from school so I can take a nap
XoXo

#0066 - heating pads for sore achy muscles

#0067 - Michael Buble's silky smooth voice singing my insomnia away
*sigh*
Sing to me, Michael ... LOL

#0068 - drying off with a warm towel plucked straight from the dryer

#0069 - feeling empowered after saying NO! to the cookies
"You're not the boss of me!" *giggle*

#0070 - Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips
(lip gloss)
Makes me feel purdy! ;o)




#0071 - remaining calm in a stressful situation
(I thought I should document that. LOL)

#0072 - a long cold drink of water after a strenuous workout

#0073 - sitting by the fireplace
eating a bowl of Broccoli Cheese Soup at Panera Bread
YUMO!

#0074 - time alone in a bookstore

#0075 - a good long stretch

#0076 - cozy flannel sheets
and the hum of the fan to help me relax and drift off to sleep

#0078 - headphones on, music up!
A sweet escape! ^.^

#0079 - just hearing my girls call me "Momma" ♥

#0080 - curling up in bed with my girls,
playing a game of Othello on my phone



#0081 - fresh fruit in the wintertime

#0082 - being told that you've been a blessing ♥

#0083 - a day-long pj day

#0084 - waking up multiple times during the night
[while recovering from a migraine]
with a flood of gifts in my mind ...
texting them to myself so I don't forget them
(HA! That's dedication! LOL)
Focusing on blessings among the pain ... LOVE IT!

#0085 - inspiring words from an inspiring person

#0086 - finally saving up that money to make a difference,
passing it on

#0087 - the sight of watching my girls read
(willingly is even BETTER!)

#0088 - watching my girls treat each other with respect
(please, thank you's, you're welcome's ...)

#0089 - a silly spontaneous "I Love You" song made up on the spot for a sick child,
receiving an embarrassed smile ♥

#0090 - soothing instrumental music quietly filling our home
Uncommon ... but a treat. ♫


WHY NOT?! Let's go all.the.way. to ONE HUNDRED!!!


#0091 - a flock of geese honking overhead in a dreary March morning sky

#0092 - restful naps
[that don't result in a bigger headache than when I first laid down]

#0093 - BabyGirl (age 8) pulling me close after being away at school
for "7 whole hours" and tenderly whispering,
"Ooo, I missed you today."
*melt* ♥

#0094 - Keith Urban's music. It just makes me HAPPY! ^.^

#0095 - the fresh smell of laundry directly from the dryer

#0096 - The Hubs giving me a break by taking the girls out of the house for a while

#0097 - watching I Love Lucy re-runs with The Fam ...

#0098 - ... uncontrollable laughter :p

#0099 - the Mwangaza Children's Choir from Uganda
What a blessing ... *tears*

and *drum roll*, please!

#0100 - having conversations with my girls about giving back ...
not just with your money ... but with your TIME.

(Disclaimer:
Be smart with your money,
but hang on LOOSELY ...
you can't take it with you when you go!
Make a difference with it while you can! :D)

#0041 - # 0050 One Thousand Gifts

#0041 - my BabyGirl (age 8) singing patriotic songs
that she learned through music class
in the shower
HA!

She started off singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee", then moved on to "The Star Spangled Banner, before closing with "You're a Grand Old Flag."
I 'bout bust a gut! LMBO Yet, so proud! ♥
Let freedom ring!!
BABYGIRL FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!! :p

#0042 - good hair days ... like, F-I-N-E fine good hair days ;o)

#0043 - a note of encouragement

(future blog entry)

#0044 - a z-pack

We take antibiotics for granted in our country. :-/

#0045 - a bowl full of Neapolitan ice cream

I am convinced a bowl full of ice cream has the same healing properties as chicken noodle soup. ;o)

#0046 - a friend asking if there is anything she could bring to my virus-infested household

#0047 - silly texts sent between The Hubs and I

He can be so funny. But I'm funnier! tee hee :p

#0048 - massaging lotion onto thirsty skin

#0049 - little hands that itch those places on your back you can't reach

#0050 - that first invigorating splash of cold water you take to the face to jump-start your day

#0031 - #0040 One Thousand Gifts

#0031 - When I call My Hub's name and he replies, "yeah, Babe" ... still
♥
xoxo

#0042 - the rhythmic sound of her chest raising and falling as she sleeps ...

#0033 - ... her soft little hands intertwined with mine

#0034 - my oldest daughter praising our Lord as she sings in the shower

#0035 - same daughter coming to me and asking me to explain a
Bible verse to her
LOVE that!

#0036 - eavesdropping as my BabyGirl sings 'n dances around the house (in her own lil' world!) ... the giggle and expression on her face when she catches me LOL

#0037 - hitting every green light you approach in traffic all day long
(come on! you know you love it too! ^.^)

#0038 - learning to listen to That Still Small Voice

#0039 - watching The Hubs spent one on one time with our girls

#0040 - the fun of doing something spontaneous
(peak-a-boo pink hair flare!)

#0021 - #0030 One Thousand Gifts

#0021 - how my BabyGirl (age 8) MUST have several hugs 'n kisses
before she heads off to school.
And how that look she gives me as she looks over her shoulder walking away,
blowing me yet another kiss, catches my breath. ♥♥♥
*sigh*

#0022 - medical tests revealing NO pre-cancerous activity
Woot Woot!

"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live ... Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you."
*tears of joy*
~Psalm 116:1-2, 7~

#0023 - the anticipation of a summer concert with friends

#0024 - that first hug your blankets give you as you turn in for the night

#0025 - long hot showers

#0026 - spring-like temperatures in February

#0027 - relaxed lounge pants, oversized sweatshirts, and fuzzy socks once the spring-like temperatures in February POOF! disappear.
*pouty face*

#0028 - my BabyDoll (age 10) beaming with pride after learning a new song on her GEtair
(yes, I know, "guitar" :D )

#0029 - When God goes out of his way to make sure I "get it"
(sure beats being disciplined! LOL)

#0030 - the satisfaction of throwing things away

#0011 - #0020 One Thousand Gifts

#0011 - the ability to laugh with myself
(or is it AT myself?!)
What a gift! ^.^

#0012 - a blanket of sparkling undisturbed snow

#0013 - *sniffffffff* Ahhh ... that glorious "new book" smell

#0014 - the sound the pages make as I turn them

#0015 - sharing a sincere smile with a stranger

#0016 - giggling my way through a new workout with a friend :p

#0017 - taking that first deep inhalation of the crisp winter air in the morning
Even at a bitter -11 degrees, it's still divine

#0018 - God revealing himself to me in a new way

#0019 - my unruly dog, Bandit, howling every time the church bell rings
Perhaps he's making a joyful noise unto the Lord ... ???
(Unlikely. Naughty dog! LOL)

#0020 - how I can't listen to this song without sobbing uncontrollably ...
oh, how He loves us ... how He loves us all. ♥

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If his grace is an ocean, were all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

~David Crowder Band~

I refuse ...

Last spring, a online friend of mine began posting various quotes from a book called Crazy Love. At the time, I wasn't much of a reader. Oh, I wanted to be, but rarely made time for it outside of Facebook status updates and blog rolls. I think I averaged a book or two a year, maybe three. Sad, but true.*weak smile*

But I found myself drawn to that little red book. In hindsight, I now understand it was the promoting of the Holy Spirit. I was a believer who had abandoned organized religion and was doing very little to make a difference in the world. As Ann Voskamp writes in One Thousand Gifts,

"If I'm ruthlessly honest, I may have said yes to God, yes to Christianity, but really, I have lived the no."

And that's what I was doing ... living the no. Exactly why is another entry entirely.

______________________________

Cut to one day at the bookstore and I'm picking up some chapter books for my girls and the title of the book my friend had urged me to read, promising it would "change my life", came to mind. Well, I was down for some of that change! :p So I bought it, took it home, and began reading it immediately. Boy, I had NO IDEA what I was in for, especially when I arrived at Chapter 4 "The Profile of the Lukewarm." Every page convicted me. No ... actually, every page greeted me with a spiritual slap in the face! But we all need that every now and then, don't we? ;o) I remember wondering just how many individuals thought who does this Francis Chan character think he is?! and decided they were done with that book right then and there! There were many times I myself had to put the book down and allow myself time to digest it, so every word could penetrate my heart.

Here I thought I was doing enough praying for those suffering and praying for folks to step up and help them. Nope! I sure wasn't! I think I knew that deep inside.

" ... I realized after a while that I was using my own prayers as a defense against having to do anything myself. I had forgotten that, as a follower of Christ, I'm called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And had forgotten that God might want to use MY hands, and MY feet, and MY own resources to help those in need and to show God's glory and His love. And so the song ["I Refuse"] essentially says, "I can't do everything, but I refuse to do nothing."

- Josh Wilson -

______________________________

Was my friend ever right. Reading Crazy Love DID change my life. I walked away wanting to be a better Christ follower. I asked God to reveal to me ways I could make a difference in the world. And he did not hold back. See, I had bought into the lie that God only works through amazing individuals ... the Rev. Billy Graham's, Mother Teresa's, Joyce Meyer's, Beth Moore's, and missionaries of the world. Not people like ... me.

I had forgotten the story in Numbers 22 where God used a donkey to save Balaam. A donkey, of all things! Is it possible that God might want to use me too? A person with my past, a person who's made all the mistakes I've made??? Might he want to use all of us? Yes. It's true. 1 Corinthians 1:27 tells us God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, that he choose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Wow. I think that pretty much covers ME.

______________________________

I want to encourage you not to be deceived into thinking that you need to have deep pockets to make an impact on the world. You truly don't. (Read The Widow's Offering in Mark12:41-44) A little can go a very long way. Shoot, A SMILE can change the world! ^.^

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.
- Edmund Burke -

God sees our hearts and our intentions. I don't believe he favors one who is able to give greatly over one who is only able to give a little. Not at all.

______________________________

At first, I wasn't sure where to start, but over the past several months God has open my eyes to many great causes and organizations. I even have a few things in the works that will allow me to give something even more precious than money ... my time. That is something that is important to me. I'm not comfortable with going into detail right now about what I am waiting to hear back on. But I will say one completely takes me out of my comfort zone and two others involve doing something that if asked to do a few years ago, I would have kindly replied, no! thank you very much!

So ... join me, won't cha? What are you waitin' for? :D

______________________________

I refuse ... to stand and watch the weary and lost cry out for help.
I refuse ... to turn my back and try and act like all is well.
I refuse ... to stay unchanged, to wait another day, to die to myself.
I refuse to make one more excuse.

‘Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care.
I don’t want to say another empty prayer.
Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
Oh, I could choose not to move, but I refuse.

- Josh Wilson -

Rebirth

Ordinarily, the first entry of a blog should be reserved to introduce oneself and purpose of entering, or in my case, re-entering the blogosphere.
(I've been a long time gone.)
However, fragmented thoughts are all I'm currently capable of since coming down with the flu yesterday afternoon, not well composed sentences expressing my uncertainty about my ability to keep this place up or my reservations about becoming vulnerable once again but taking the plunge anyhow.

Therefore, no better time than now to begin chronicling my one thousand gifts as inspired by the brilliant author, Ann Koskamp, author of the blog A Holy Experience and "One Thousand Gifts", a book that is speaking to me in ways only she could describe properly. Although, I will try.

#0001 - being warmly welcomed by a congregation of believers

#0002 - spreading creamy peanut butter over two pieces of warm toast and sharing it with my BabyGirl, who's not feeling so hot herself :o/

#0003 - little girls noses that crinkle when they laugh - truly laugh - and soaking it all in as time, simply, stands still

#0004 - discovering {new to me} scriptures

#0005 - the wonderful conversations that come when sharing an episode of "Little House On The Prairie" with my girls

#0006 - When God brings new friends into your life who inspire and challenge you to be your best self

#0007 - the sweet aroma of blueberry muffins filling my home

#0008 - undeniable signs from God ("Okay! Okay! I get the point!" LOL)

#0009 - the anticipation of beginning a new chapter in life

#0010 - cheesy predicable movies on The Hallmark Channel ;o)