One Thousand Gifts

You can read about my decision to begin to count my blessings, at least intentionally and purposefully, here. And by all means, please join in the fun! Leave a comment about the gifts, however large or small, you have received this week.

#1-17 here, #18-39 here, #40-55 here. #56-76 here, #77-86 here.

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I am grateful...

87. for school secretaries who take care of everything for you when you're running late because you forgot to fill the car with gas. And forgot your credit card. And had zero cash.

88. for the same school secretary (that's you, Lori!!) who drops everything to find a sub for you when your husband calls as soon as you get to work to inform you that two of your kids woke up puking.

89. for most of the ingredients of the lasagnas I made this weekend being on sale at the grocery store. Yay for cheaper groceries!

90. for Kyler. Seriously, I have an amazing husband. He is 100% hands-on with the boys, whether it's playing or cleaning up puke. I take him for granted far too often.

91. for fevers gone and boys that feel better.

92. for having to pump in my car every day at work. I actually find myself looking forward to the peace and quiet. It makes me sit still, and it's perfect for a little midday quiet time in the Bible.

93. for three day weekends and sleeping in. Oh, how I've needed to sleep in.

94. for Craig Groeschel and Andy Stanley podcasts. Good stuff.

95. for solo road trips to upstate New York, and for a baby who cooperated on the six-hour drive. It really wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be.

96. for the chance to visit with my lovely cousin Lauren, and attending her bridal shower. We had such a great time doing girlie wedding stuff!

97. for a baby who is suddenly sleeping in six-hour plus chunks. It makes all the difference!

98. for new shoes. Goodness knows I have needed them.

99. for Jergens shea butter lotion.

100. for a sense of humor when trying on bridesmaid's dresses for Erin's wedding this summer. The one that looked the color of watered-down ketchup was particularly hilarious.

101. for the opportunity to long-term sub. Once again, it has been a tremendous personal challenge to juggle it all. Kyler and I agree that his job presents very specific challenges in just the areas that make my working a difficult obstacle, but it is still rewarding. I've enjoyed the change of pace, even if I'm not getting enough sleep and it is kicking my butt.

102. for one last bottle of generic chewable Children's Tylenol being left at the grocery store when we needed it most.

103. for Callan's hold-out in the crawling department. I'm not ready for that carnival just yet.

104. for a husband with a job that affords us much flexibility when the boys are sick.

105. for a free copy of Love & War, the new book by John and Stasi Eldredge, and the chance to blog about it (coming soon!)

106. for faith in Jesus.

107. for leftover mini-cheesecake bites. Yum.

108. for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes this weekend! I always enjoy getting to see folks I only see once or twice a year, and I love that we can all show our support in such a visible way. Riley, you are an amazing example of courage and determination. Thanks for what you have taught me. I am so blessed to know you!

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Head on over to Ann's blog, Holy Experience, to read how her gift counting began and visit her Gratitude Community. 

One Thousand Gifts

You can read about my decision to begin to count my blessings, at least intentionally and purposefully, here. And by all means, please join in the fun! Leave a comment about the gifts, however large or small, you have received this week.

#1-17 here, #18-39 here, #40-55 here. #56-76 here.

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I am grateful...

77. for the train at park where I was walking the other day, which provided just the right motivation for me to get running just a little faster (past the portion of the trail which parallels the railroad track) so the sleeping babe in the double stroller wouldn't jolt awake when the train passed.

78. for exercise. It is so important to my emotional health. The physical benefits aren't too shabby, either.

79. for hot showers. As I've said, this will be a recurring topic in my gratitude blogging. So relaxing.

80. for working out our complicated child care issues as I return to long-term subbing next week.

81. for tax refunds. I honestly am amazed at God's provision. Time and time again, He had provided just what we have needed financially to get us through the next season of life. Several times, we haven't even known we were in trouble. He is so good.

82. for my husband's selflessness. He sent me to bed early last night, got up when Kayden had a nightmare, changed Callan's diaper before one of his nighttime feedings, and got up with the boys early this morning. I am such a lucky wife.

83. for blogging. I've missed it a lot. Here's hoping we can strike the proper time balance so I can continue to have this outlet.

84. for my incredible in-laws. We've been living here three months now, and our house is still in shambles. It's exceedingly frustrating. And yet, although our family is loud, messy, and constantly hungry, we have suffered not a single complaint. They are remarkable people.

85. for my aunt Kathleen, who is mentally retarded. Without the experience of growing up with her in my life, I'm certain I wouldn't be who I am now. I'll blog about her someday.

86. for the children in the autism program where I will soon be teaching. Long-term subbing has offered me unparalleled opportunities to gain experience in so many grade levels and in widely varied educational settings. This is no doubt part of the plan God has for me. I can't wait to see how all of this experience is woven together in my future.

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Head on over to Ann's blog, Holy Experience, to read how her gift counting began and visit her Gratitude Community.

One Thousand Gifts

You can read about my decision to begin to count my blessings, at least intentionally and purposefully, here. And by all means, please join in the fun! Leave a comment about the gifts, however large or small, you have received this week.

#1-17 here, and #18-39 here.

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I am grateful...

40. for answered prayer and peace that passes understanding.

41. for husbands who, without saying a word in protest, immediately put off leaving for work to help with vomiting children.

42. rubber gloves, washing machines, bathtubs, and handheld shower heads (see above)

43. Lysol. The spray, the bathroom cleaner, the wipes...

44. extra sets of sheets and pillowcases

45. digital cameras - not in any way related to #41-44, just to be clear. :)

46. my in-laws. goodness knows I'd be completely lost right now without them!

47. blogging. I haven't had nearly the opportunity since our house flooded, and I miss it.

48. two-and-a-half feet of snow! 

49. snow days with my husband and children

50. shoveling snow - the exercise was very much needed and appreciated 

51. triple naps. Ummm...make that quadruple naps.

52. finding extra cell phone charger in the guest bedroom at my in-laws (after the only one I owned was damaged in the flood, and my cell phone died)

53. clean towels

54. extra sleep

55. hot showers. this will likely be a regular on these lists. So therapeutic!

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Head on over to Ann's blog, Holy Experience, to read how her gift counting began and visit her Gratitude Community.

One Thousand Gifts

Yes, I know it isn't Monday. But does it really matter? I can count my blessings - and blog about them - on any day of the week. Head on over to Ann's blog, Holy Experience, to read how her gift counting began and visit her Gratitude Community. You can read about my decision to begin to count my blessings, at least intentionally and purposefully, here. And by all means, please join in the fun! Leave a comment about the gifts, however large or small, you have received this week.

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1. The Holy Experience blog.

2. three little boys sleeping long enough for me to run on the treadmill this afternoon. exercise feels so good!

3. Disney's "Peter Pan" - so good for the imagination. And the "Following the Leader" song that gets my boys up the stairs for naps or bed every time.

4. my incredible husband getting up with the boys so I could sleep-in this morning.

5. the treadmill we "inherited" for free. It's old, makes odd sounds, and smells funny, but it's just what I needed to jump start my exercise regimen.

6. working heat on cold days

7. blogging - such a good outlet for me

8. two loads of clean laundry. unfolded, in a pile on the bed, but clean.

9. a babe sweetly sleeping in my arms, so i can blog.

10. a trip to Texas in the works...

11. frequent flier miles

12. chocolate chips

13. a contented baby, who allowed me to achieve a reasonably clean kitchen this morning.

14. after three weeks of "missing us," the trash men collected our trash this morning. hallelujah!

15. mending friendships

16. orange bell peppers. yum.

17. hot tea and honey. ahhh....

Whispers

This week has been tough for me. All good reasons for moping about, crying my eyes out, and counting my worries. None of them reasons I need to - or should - go into here. Suffice to say I am grateful my God knows my heart so well, and hears my every cry. He whispers His love to me - His unfathomably deep, incomprehensibly merciful, unshakable Love for me - into and over and throughout my every day. It's just that sometimes I allow my own selfish cries to drown Him out. What a shame, that I allow such pithy, temporal, fleeting circumstances to steal my joy.

I often need reminders. Actually, it probably wouldn't be a bad thing to go back and read my own words from "And if the Devil Doesn't Like It," a post I wrote about choosing to be more joyful.

Yesterday was particularly hard. After an emotional day, I managed to get the boys to bed early, but the baby wouldn't sleep. Wednesdays are our longest days. Kyler leaves early for morning meetings and has teen and college gatherings that night, often not returning home until 2am. Quality time is my primary love language. I often struggle and am at my most vulnerable to frustration, lack of patience, and pitying myself on these days.

But my Father knows this. As I cried out to Him in the darkness of the nursery, where I sat rocking Callan to sleep for what seemed like the fortieth time, He whispered His love to me. I didn't hear Him until I gave up on rocking and returned downstairs, babe in my arms. I sat down in front of the computer, resigned to watch something online. But instead I got sidetracked reading a blog, which led me to another blog, which led to another, where I finally heard that whisper.

Ann at Holy Experience hosts a blog "carnival" every Monday called "One Thousand Gifts." She blogs about the things she is grateful for, the gifts bestowed upon her, down to the tiniest details of her everyday experience. I read this paragraph from her blog and knew instantly this was something I wanted, something I needed, something He was calling me to do:

Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me.

I'm in. I know some days I'll be more successful than others, but I aim to make this a discipline, just like I intend to be more joyful. And I know that it will be a journey, ebbing and flowing on good days and bad alike.

I want to be more grateful.

Joy and gratitude go hand-in-hand, don't you think? Recognizing the gifts you have, being grateful for them, and responding with joy. I'm so excited about this! It may not be a regular weekly posting, though I hope it is. And it's likely not going to be a Monday posting, but whatever. I just can't wait to share my joys with you, whoever you are. Look for my first post very soon!

In the past five months, I have never been more grateful that Callan would not sleep. Oh, but the whispers I would have missed had I not been through that valley last night. This is why we are to count our trials as joy.

And starting today, I begin counting whispers: His gifts to me.