Oh So many

Well, I know it's been way too long. But I've been collecting my gifts on my phone and here I am at last.
I now find that even when I'm not writing gifts down I'm thanking Him for all the gifts around me. It's a great change.

3 things blue:
~My beading cloths, used on a regular basis.
~Comfy bright turquoise shirt I had on today.
~New comfy dress that fits the bump (for now) found on the clearance rack.

A gift before 9 am:
Getting to sleep in a bit.
A gift before noon:
A good job that I enjoy.
A gift after dark:
Fellowship with friends and their boys.

3 gifts that might never have been:
~The husband putting the satellite receiver up-time better spent.
~Evenings spent reading (because the receiver is away).
~A changed heart that sees this season as a gift (season of pain on the husbands part).

3 gifts found in your friends:
~The servant heart of T.
~Joy and laughter spent sharing stories.
~Shared joy in giving thanks for 1000 gifts and more.

A song heard:
"I'm singing" ~Kari Jobe

A soft word:
The husband telling me how he finds me more beautiful today than when we married.

Where you saw light:
Streaming through the living room window.

3 old things seen new:
~Old work shoes-still comfortable for running to the store.
~Rain.
~Pain-being reminded that everything is from our loving God for our good (Trip Lee, "for my good") 

A gift found on paper:
Quote on thankfulness and worry "It's impossible to give thanks and simultaneously feel fear." ~Ann Voskamp, 1000 gifts

A gift found in person:
A humble husband who truly loves me.

In a picture:
The husband being silly with two of my favorite girlies.

3 gifts spoken:
~"How long is intermission?" ~M
"Until they're done selling children."~N (yes it came out wrong ;). She was referring to sponsoring kids at the compassion international table at the concert we went to last weekend. Priceless!)

~"Why do all these pants have panels on them?" S asking me in a maternity store. Great memories!

~The privilege to sit under John Piper's preaching on Sunday.

A gift sung: The music at the Casting Crowns Concert. Matthew West's opening may have been my favorite part. Very refreshing.

A gift written:
A thank you note with the picture of a new blessing to put on my fridge. Love our church family.

A gift painted:\The sky painted pink first thing in the morning.

3 gifts almost gone:
~my nail : it protected my finger when I was clumsily shaving in the shower. It made me think about how something we take for granted does so much!
~ Trail mix: healthy snacking that helps me to get through my days at work with all this pregnancy hunger!

 ~My cup of coffee-a little treat in the middle of my day.

3 gifts redeemed:
~My heart.
~My future.
~My life.

3 gifts entwined:
~Time spent with the youth this past weekend.
~Girls singing silly in the van on the way home.
~Sweet white chocolate.
(all a part of our youth's road trip to see Casting Crowns).

3 gifts of His promises:
~1 Peter 5:7
 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
~2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
~Psalm 62:8
 "Trust in him at all times, O people;
   pour out your hearts to him,
   for God is our refuge.
                         Selah"

3 gifts uncovered:
~A box opened to reveal a new mug.

~My first baby (and mama) gift from my sweet friend.
~My birthday gift from my husband: artwork made by an artist friend (he remembered!)

A gift heard:
~The sound of geese echoing.
A gift held:
~My new French Press for the perfect amount of coffee right now.

 A gift hoped for: Rest. Naps are a beautiful thing right now!

Abundant joy

A hard gift we received today: My husband had his phone consult with the specialist he saw in Toronto. In a nut shell some severe things are wrong, it's going to cost a lot of money and he's going to have to travel a lot. We are praying for wisdom. I'm also praying for provision and rest. I know He has been faithful in the past. I know He will continue to be so.
I'm struggling with it right now though. Thinking about having a baby and money. Silly I know, but where I am right now.

Really trying to get back into building my habit of thankfulness:

One grace wrinkled: my cardigan.
One grace smoothed: The covers on our comfy bed.
One grace unfolded: Table clothes on Easter tables.

A gift sweet: Treats made by a manager at work for the staff.

A gift salty: Sub at lunch (chicken teriyaki mmm!).
A gift just right: Coming home to dinner made-and it was a treat!

3 gifts found in His Word:
1 Peter 3:9 : Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Psalm 57:2 :  I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

Psalm 56:8  You have kept count of my tossings;
     put my tears in your bottle.
     Are they not in your book?

3 gifts found in Women today:
A-- our assistant manager, always such a servant to both us and customers.
K-- such a hard worker and she helped a newer hire a LOT this afternoon. 
L--A supervisor, who was flexible with her work schedule in order to serve the store and help it run well. (I work with some good ones :) ) 


One grace borrowed:A book on how my baby is growing!
One grace found: My page in my books (getting back to reading).
One grace inherited: a heritage of faith.

Multiplied Blessings

Yay! Today we starting sharing our big (tiny) gift!
We are having a baby!
This is why I've been having such a hard time keeping up with my daily gifts. I have a hard enough time just getting through my work day most days and then collapse unable to move. But, I am NOT complaining!
It's amazing to see how our joy multiplied as we shared our joy with others.

3 gifts from God's Word:
~Psalm 37:5 "Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him, and he will act."
~Psalm 37:8 " Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
     Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."
~Psalm 39:4 " “O Lord, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!"

3 Gifts read:
~Psalm 139 (the whole thing) 
~Psalm 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears."
~Hebrews 7:25  "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

3 gifts red:
~Fresh raspberries mixed with yogurt.
~The necklace I am working up based on Isaiah 1:18 ( “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.)
~Tetra packs of broth from my in-laws (my husband still needs to eat everything pureed.)

3 gifts eaten:
~Toast with honey and cinnamon made by mom (I'm always starving!)
~ A meal with friends.
~Peaches in my oatmeal.

3 Gifts that made you laugh:
~The girls I work with throughout the day.
~My husband (always teasing).
~The youth :).

A grace in the kitchen:
Me to my husband one night (I thought I was funny): "Hey look! I'm barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen!"
A grace in the weather: The fresh clean smell of spring rain.
A grace that might never have been: Our baby bean.

3 gifts you saw only when you got close up:
~Scripture through  our Pastor's sermon on Sunday and our study on Monday night.
~My first ultra sound on Monday :).
~God working in Andrews heart.

One thing in the sky: Beauty a spring sky.
One thing from your memory: My husband asking me to marry him.
One thing that's ugly-beautiful: Exhaustion from baby :).

3 gifts found in Christ:
~Strength to get through my work days.
~My heart finding rest in His will for us.
~Peace in crazy times.