His Grace Is Enough

3 gifts ugly-beautiful:
Reading
 ~"when God wants us to know answers, He wants us to know Him."
And
~"The secret to joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is"
And
~ "When we loudly question God’s culpability, God quietly questions our humility."
From Ann today. No, I have not lost my sweet child. But life is hard in many forms. Seeing your husband deal with illnesses for a year, some of which have no answer to them, is hard too.

A gift fixed: Our windshield wipers. Yay! Thank you my dear!

Folded: Laundry (one of my least favorite chores- yay, it's done!)

Freckled: The face of a little friend.

3 gifts in conversation: ~Watching my daughter's reaction to me telling her all kinds of things.
                                      ~Sharing the joy of new little things she is learning with others.
                                       ~ The comradeship of friendship.

3 gifts in salvation: ~Peace.
                                ~Joy.
                                 ~Comfort.

3 gifts in information:  Being able to share God's grace and love via:
                                      ~Facebook.
                                      ~Twitter.
                                      ~This blog.

A gift of reading: Truth in the book of Acts. Good stuff!
               receding: The end of one year. What a year!
               reclaiming: bad habits, ways of doing things admitted, repented of.

3 gifts quiet:
~The first moments of the morning.
~A quiet snuggle in the evening.
~A chance to nap as my mother in law (Baba) loves on the baby.

3 gifts funny:
~Laughing at how the girl wiggles straight out of being swaddled.
~Hearing a story of a prank pulled during my husband's college years.
~Hearing my husband sing silly songs to my daughter.


3 gifts finished:
~Delicious Italian leftovers.
~My last book.

~Old attitudes.

3 gifts flourishing:
My relationships with:
~The Lord.
~My husband.
~My daughter.
All by His abundant grace. No they are not perfect. But He brings growth.

3 gifts white:
~sparkling Christmas lights.
~A fresh bit of snow.
~White Christmas chocolate.

3 gifts bright:
~Red sparkling nail polish on my fingers and toes.
~ My in-laws beautiful Christmas tree.
~Camera flashes as we remember my girl's uncle meeting her for the first time.

3 gifts shining:
~The moon.
~ The sun, shining on this the shortest day of the year.
~Eyes that love their new little granddaughter.

A worth while tiredness

I apologize if my references to gifts in my daughter are getting repetitive. I am still constantly thankful and amazed at the gift(s) that is her.

Last night we  had an all-nighter with the youth. Always a good time :). My little bean was soooo good. She slept through some crazy levels of noise and even through being held while her holder played around the world ping-pong.


 A gift cool: home-made apple sauce, pulled up from the basement.
Warm: Sweet piggy toes, curled in her daddy's beard.
Sun-soaked: My little bean a little while after she came home, getting some sun for her skin.

3 gifts Autum (again, still catching up):
~Seeing God's Soverignty over the seasons.
~Watching the leaves quickly change color on the mountains around the city.
~A pumpkin spice latte.

3 gifts growing:
~My little girl, even though she is still a petite little thing.
~Our practice in basic parenting (i.e. changing, bathing).
~Our love for each other as we love our little girl.

3 gifts given:
~ Time to the youth at our all-nighter last night (what a joy).
~ A Christmas package sent to family.
~ Energy in washing the babies diapers on a regular basis. (what a privilege).

A gift made: Christmas cookies baked for the youth Christmas party.

A gift scrawled: notes on information to a gift sent in the mail.

A gift started: Beginning to teach our daughter the truth of the Gospel.

3 gifts drawn:
~ Names from a hat as the kids played 4 on a couch last night.
~ A Merry Christmas sign on my friend's door as we got to mom's group yesterday, drawn by her sweet girl.
~ A pattern I'm using (that I created) to make a new version of an older idea.

3 gifts paired:
~Green earrings, a fun festive detail to go with my Christmas necklace.
~Peppermint cookies with candycane coffee.
~Teams of two around the table to play some Dutch Blitz.

3 gifts shared:~ Memories.
                        ~Laughs.
                         ~Prayer.

Getting there!

Yes, I have been forever catching up on this list! But I refuse to give up!
It's a reminder that I need to keep my priorities straight, and a good practice in counting God's constant blessings in my life.

Giving thanks has become such a part of my life now. I will be forever grateful for Ann's book!

3 gifts fragile:
~ Christmas tree balls.
~ Special ornament from a cousin.
~ Friendships, may I not take them for granted again.

A gift cut: homemade reusable baby wipes.
Sewn: Quilts made for my sweet girl.
Buttoned: Little dress worn for a short time by the girl on Sunday (guess she decided it wasn't her style ;) )

3 gifts new:
~ The outpouring of love on our family in so many gifts for our daughter. What a gift of grace!
~ A new haircut!
~ Perspectives.

3 gifts long awaited:
~Snuggles.
~Smiles.
~Cries in the night.

A gift one: Wonderful friend who lets me pop in on her.
Two: Sweet girls to visit with.
three: Cups of candy cane coffee.

3 gifts very small:
~ Sweet white chocolate peppermint kisses (a particular weakness of mine!)
~ Tiny toes.
~ Wee little diapers.

3 miracles:
~ That I get to be a mommy. I don't take this for granted, God kept me alive four years ago and allowed us to become parents, though it took a while (in our opinion ;) ).
~Salvation, come as a babe.
~ That God would create for me and prepare for me a husband and a daddy for my girl and that we would all fit together so perfectly.

3 gifts summer (memories now ;) Yes, I am forever catching up):
~ Watermelon.
~ Cool swims.
~ Warm sun kissing the skin.

3 gifts cut:
~ Paper cut on my tongue as I get thank you cards ready. How wonderful that we need to send thank you cards!
~ Slices of homemade bread.
~ Cheese to go in the bread for a sandwich.

3 gifts yellow:
~ My breakfast egg.
~bits of  yellow on tiny little socks.
~ post it notes used to keep track of things during this season of not being able to remember everything!

Mid December

A gift in a ring: Realizing what a treasure it is to wear my wedding rings when I have some trouble with them.
In a curve: My nursing pillow.
In a sphere: Fun toy for my little lady.

3 gifts ugly-beautiful:
~God showing me how I need to find joy in Him even if my husband is in pain or sick in some form for the rest of our lives.
~ Learning contentment.
~ Having God show me some things that need adjusting.

3 gifts of family:
~A new member for Christmas.
~Special times of bonding with my girl.
~Watching my husband daddy our girl.

3 gifts in the morning:
~Waking up early to feed our daughter.
~Quiet time in prayer.
~ A hot cup of coffee that tastes good again :).

A gift red: Christmas decorations.
Read: ^" When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.  And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.  Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.  They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”  But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
Written: Writing in my journal about trusting God when we ask for something in prayer." Acts 12: 12-16

 3 gifts in church:
~Christ centred worship.
~Family loving all of us, through joys and trials.
~Sharing in His Body and His blood.

3 gifts of serving:
~Joy in serving the older students as they packaged their baked goods for their fundraiser.
~Joy in serving my family in taking care of our home.
~Love in taking care of my daughter.

A gift straight: Thank you cards, for all the gifts poured on us. So much love.

Curve: Rim of my hot cup of tea on this cold snowy day.

Turn: My days changing from being about me, to about a little person.

3 gifts in light: ~Light from a sweet smelling candle.
                        ~Light in the hall as I trip to get my waking baby in the night.
                         ~ watching the light slip from sleepy eyes.
3 gifts old:
~ Scripture, and the Truth it holds.
~ A godly heritage passed on to me.
~ Christmas carols.

3 gifts moving:
 My daughters arms, feet and legs.
 

Whirlwind

The last month has been, to say the least, a little insane.
First, my husband was admitted to the hospital (he had some kind of virus behind his eyes that was affecting his site and giving him headaches). The same day I woke up with a sore neck. I thought I had just slept funny, but I'm still getting over it. That made me  feel lousy and gave me some headaches. All while 37 weeks pregnant!

So, I was wrestling with resting in God and not stressing, all the while only wanting my husband to be okay and be with me in delivery.

He was able to be there.
The day after I was to be induced, I was and after a wild ride, my little lady joined our family. I really don't prefer being induced, but that is my life as I have to be one blood thinner while pregnant and it's safer to do things this way for both of us so we can make sure the thinner is out of my system.
So, this is God's will for me.

As I waited all day in the hospital the day I was scheduled to be induced and my body was waiting for those horrible gels to work, I remembered something my husband's cousin told me about God teaching her something about surrender to Him with each of her births. This was a huge encouragement and reminder to me.

Life is now completely changed, and completely amazing. My little girl is such a treasure to me.

She is my little petite princess.
I get less sleep. I laugh at ridiculous things from being over-tired. I need naps. I forget what day it is. And it's all amazing.
The funny moments when newborn poo comes sailing out onto my couch. The amazing moments of awe as I feed my girl and she grabs my hand and I look at her toes. The sweet moments when she just wants me and needs to snuggle on my shoulder.
I'm learning more about God as our Father and trusting Him to be just that at the same time, as I need so much wisdom to be her Mom.
Her Dad is completely smitten with his peanut and I love seeing this. This also is a huge treasure to me.
On the phone earlier this week he told someone it was all very natural. This is true. It was the same when we got married. Life together was all very natural.
This is God's plan for us, and it's an amazing treasure.

 3 Gifts difficult:
~Being induced.
~Pre-labor
~Labor.

3 gifts white:
~Tiny little newborn diapers.
~Wipes to clean her tiny little bum.
~ Alcohol wipes for keeping her cord/belly button clean.

3 gifts sitting:
~My little honey, sitting in her chair, happily awake, at my feet.
~Getting to relax and heal.
~My new glider rocking chair, a gift from friends.

A gift outside: The first snow of the season.

A gift inside: A cozy day indoors.

A gift upside down: Our whole lives! What a sweet blessing having a baby is.

3 gifts in water:
~My constant glass of water, used to stay hydrated as I start to feed my baby.
~Hot, healing epsom salt baths.
~Water used to make coffee, that I can now enjoy.

A gift at 10 am: Getting ready to bring our girly to church for the first time.
A gift at 1 pm: Lunch for mommy and then little girl.
A gift at 10 pm: Fellowship with friends.


3 gifts in His Word:
 Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows... Isaiah 53:4

 For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

A gift hole: A new wee little belly button in our house.
A gift whole: God's grace in labour, teaching me the beauty in pain.
A gift half: Pain decreased as I saw her sweet little face.

3 hard gifts: 
~Learning how to have different sleep patterns in order to properly feed my daughter.
~Learning to be patient with her as I teach her to stay awake and eat.
~Learning to trust the Lord as my husband was in the hospital the days leading up to the day of my induction, knowing God would take care of me in the way that He saw best, whether that meant he would be with me or not.

3 gits of metal:
~My watch, now with a new battery so I can keep track of feeding my girl (among other things ;) )
~My engagement and 
~My wedding rings, which mean so much more now with a new little one around.

3 gifts half-hidden:
~ Life under the freezing ground. 
~piggy toes peaking out from under her nursing cover.
~Sweetness bundled up in blanket, hands freeing themselves every time.

3 gifts in green:
~ My girl's bouncy seat, she has been using it so much!
~Mom's team as we watch Sunday afternoon football.
~Healthy salads brought to me with meal ministry.

Sun Shining Through

A gift high: Sun shining through after a rainy day.

A gift low: My feet-they are not so swollen and feel a lot better!

A gift far away: My mother working out details to come and visit after our little lady arrives.

3 gifts of endings:
~Ending of our season of our family being made of two.
~End of the summer, start of autumn.
~End of one book (start of a new one).

3 gifts fresh:
~The cleaness that follows rain.
~Refreshment of tea with a friend, leading to a fresh prespective.
~Also fresh perspective from time alone with Him (of far greater importance than the first).

A gift on vacation: The treat of a Jimmy Johns sub ;).

A gift home: A good sleep in my own bed (there is just nothing like your own bed).

A gift in relaxation: Refreshment in reading.

3 gifts of beginings:
~Finishing getting little girl's room ready.
~Reading to learn how to care for baby girl.
~Learning to more fully embrace the gift of contentment.

3 gifts together:
~Bright beads;
~New pattern;
~New addiction to a new beadwork stitch.

3 gifts heard:
~God's faithfulness spoken through His Word to my heart.
~Words of love and care from my husband.
~Words from a friend that lift up.

And it's October

Wow, it's already October!
That is crazy! I have less than six weeks left until my due date. That is hard to believe.
It's both exciting and scary!

For those who may not realize why I am listing gifts:
I read "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp  earlier this year and I'm following her Joy dare to find one thousand gifts throughout my year. Gifts are all around, and not just during the Thanksgiving season (as it is for us in Canada right now). Having a heart of thanksgiving puts our hearts in the right place of worshiping Him for all things.

Some gifts:

3 gifts curled:
~Falling leaves.
~ Curly pasta that filled my empty stomach at lunch.
~The bracelet I am  currently making that curls and bends as it goes.

 3 gifts yellow:
~Bright yellow beads made into a new necklace.
~My little beading scissors (couldn't do a thing without them).
~Yellow highlighter used as I read God's Word.

3 gifts learned:
~It's ok to not be strong enough to do everything all the time.
~I don't always have to defend myself, humbleness and trust in the Lord is of far more importance.
~Sanctification is a combination of my obedience and His power.

3 gifts musical:
~Andrew Peterson concert this past weekend.

~Worship at the desiring God conference.
~Peaceful music in the car on our trip.

3 gifts baked:
~Chocolate chip cookies to take to the family who put us up this past weekend.
~Banana bread frozen for after baby girl is born.
~Cookies made for the youth for our first event.

A gift in light: bright sunny days on our trip.
A gift in dark: Seeing His truth in what appears to be darkness.
A gift in shadow: Finding Him as our refuge.

3 gifts of story:
~Hearing Andrew Peterson share how God has given him lyrics for many of his songs.
~Listening to  Sally Lloyd-Jones share God's grace in her life and how she followed His will for her in writing children's books.
~Enjoying reading fiction in the back seat this weekend while driving.

3 gifts understated.
~My husband's faithfulness to work through pain each and every day in order to take care of us. His faithfulness to take care of us as he desires to be doing full-time ministry is no small thing.
~ My husband's taking care of us by helping to find baby furniture on our busy trip this past weekend.
~My husband thinking of me and buying little things he knows I will enjoy.

 

Crisp Fall Air

Many more gifts.

3 gifts you gave today:
~Frugality.
~Thankfulness.
~Friendliness.

3 gifts loved:
~Time spend (by my mother-in-law) teaching me how to make beet borscht.
~My husband working so hard though this busy season to provide for us.
~The youth that God has given me to work with and serve.

3 gifts read:
~"Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'” Luke 10:20
~ "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs." Luke 11:8

~“Behold, God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 

3 gifts of persistence:
~God's unending grace.
~God's mercies, new every morning.
~God's love for me, always pursuing. 

3 gift's of enthusiam:
~Excitement as we look forward to attending the national Desiring God conference along with seeing Andrew Peterson in concert.
~Anticipation of my baby shower and getting to celebrate our little miracle with so many.
~Looking forward to actually meeting this little one and learning what she will be like.

A gift of challenge: 
God challenging me to change and to move out of my comfort zone.

A gift of conflict: 
God using one to show ME MY flaws and teaching me I don't have to give in to my feelings regardless of pregnancy hormones.

A gift of change:
Trusting Him and His Sanctifying work to make me more like Him.

3 gifts water:
~Watching fall rain drops gently land on the lake.
~Hot water for the many cups of tea I've had this week.
~Having plenty of water to wash laundry and bedding with.

A gift of Rhythm:
New Andrew Peterson Album.

A gift of Rhyme:
The new LeCrae album (just a little different from each other ;) )

A gift of Reason:
Such a rest and trust in the Lord when we cannot see our future because He is our loving Father who does all things for His glory and our good.

3 gifts in weakness:
 ~Truth from the Gospel to lead.
~Friends who lift up tired arms.
~Family who wrap around us.

3 gifts in jars:
~New fall candles.
~Cold medicine to help us both heal.
~Honey from a friend's wedding for my tea.

A gift of life:
The changing of the seasons.

A gift of growth:
God's growing my husband and I in trust of Him.

A gift of decline:
Nights of less sleep, getting me ready for our new wee one.


 

Welcome Fall

It seems like someone flipped a button on us here, but I for one sure am not complaining! The cool weather feels wonderful to this warm, pregnant lady.

3 gifts in someone older than you:
~Wisdom
~Joy
~and Love that a certain woman of God (Mrs T) brings into my life.

3 gifts in fabric:
~The many blankets in our living room that bring a cozy atmosphere, comfort and warmth.
~Sweater brought out to keep off the new chill in the air.
~My handmade, reliable wallet.

3 gifts framed by a frame:
~A wedding picture.
~Pictures of our dear friends.
~Pictures of the youth.

3 gifts eaten:
~My breakfast of egg in the eye.
~Crab apple jelly that I got to help make.
~Candy corn (how I always celebrate the fall).

A gift small: Little bag of new pumpkin chai tea.

A gift big: God's provision in our lives.

A gift just right: New pumpkin lotion.

Broken Open

3 gifts that are difficult:
My heart, God showing me how
~Selfish and me focused in tired pregnancy and hard times;
~Ignoring others and their needs;
And yet
~How justified I felt in feeling hurt and defensive in how others responded.

His grace is so huge.

I am so grateful that God has the grace and mercy to reveal this to me, to break me open and heal me again.

It's been coming together how I've been living in this way, and God just finished opening my eyes as I read Ann's blog today, with tears.

It's funny how God uses things in multiples in our lives sometimes. The song Ann talks about in her blog "Oh how He loves" has been brought up a couple of times over the last few days in various ways.

It has such truth from the Gospel in it. And it's something that I need to be reminded of often, especially when I feel as if I've failed others.

Please forgive me friends.

A few more gifts:
3 gifts from your dad:
~A belief that the right thing is always the right thing.
~My belief in the value of modesty.
~The importance of doing things well.

3 gifts from your Heavenly Father:
~His Soverignty over every detail of my life.
~His enabling strength over every detail of my life.
~His enabling me through past pain to better love.

3 gifts you became today in serving:
~Support.
~A prayer covering.
~Love (as I make baby girl's quilt).

3 gifts growing:
~My belly.
~Sections of the baby quilt.
~Food items in the freezer for after the baby is born.

A gift bent:
Finding out a friend has a serious illness and being able to have great compassion and love.

A gift beautiful:
Ultrasound of our beauty.

A gift loved: beign able to help a friend raise money to attend YWAM.

3 gifts found in light:
~Light shed on my beading board so I can bead.
~Light reflecting the beginning of the change of season off the lake.
~Light of the Gospel shared in the service yesterday.

3 gifts around a table:
~Tea to sooth my cold.
~Water to keep me hydrated and hopefully kill this cold.
~My little calandar to help me keep track of my abundant life.

A gift in water:
Fall rain, providing water for plants and for us.

A gift in words: Ann's blog today, sharing God's grace.

A gift in white:
My sturdy mug.