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.

A Plethora

I've been shamefully negligent. I have the hardest time staying focused, both on being watchful for His gifts and on updating when I am crazy busy: extra shifts, youth retreats, and exhaustion.
But, I've been keeping track of some gifts on my phone, so here goes!

3 gifts in Christ:
~Him molding my heart.
~Giving me joy.
~Building my faith, trust and confidence in Him.

One gift that made you laugh: My husband being silly, teasing me.

One gift that made you pray: walking outside and hearing the birds praise the Lord.

One gift that made you quiet: Seeing the moon in the early morning over the fir trees.

3 ways you witnessed happiness today:
~A mother cuddling her baby, so happy to have him.
~Little girl gleefully happy to be out with her father and sister.
~Little girl just bursting with joy.

A gift turned: Ice turned to mud.

A gift folded: homemade enchiladas

A gift hung: Jeans hanging on the rail to dry after much fun.

3 hard gifts:
~Learning that my husbands trip to the specialist was going to be over $1600. Trusting God on a new level. Peace.
~ Seeing my husband in daily pain. He knows what is best for us.
~ Having God reveal sins in my heart in order to make me who He wants me to be.

3 gifts given away:
~Time from the cooks who served our youth this past weekend.
~Time, energy and a heart poured out into the chapel sessions for the youth by our youth pastor this past weekend.
~ Comfort zones given away by the youth during their "walk 'n talk" talking about how to apply what they were learning with someone they did not know well.

3 gifts found in silence:
~Butterfly on the inside door of our cabin.

~The first early moments of a busy day at retreat: birds singing, cooks getting breakfast started.
~The peace of a frozen lake.

  3 gifts round:
~Big homemade chocolate chip cookies!
~Hot bowls of pumpkin soup.

~ The sun setting red as I get home from the weekend.

A gift in wind: wind singing in the trees.
A gift in water: toes squishing in mud.

In white: White board where the truth of the Gospel is shared.

Perspective

3 gifts in the kitchen:
~ A dinner of homemade soup in a friends kitchen.
~Dishwasher full of clean dishes.
~New hand soap that smells of raspberries.

3 ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God:
~Being greeted as I walked into work by a little girl's face lighting up and calling out my name.
~Seeing little girlfriend write her letters. Such glee and joy!
~Getting to have a longer visit than anticipated to enjoy friends, giggling, doll houses and crayon pillows with friends.

One thing you wore:
New warm scarf.

One thing you gave away:
My evening. It's always hard to get myself back out the door after a work day on Friday, but the teens always bless me more than I ever give away.

One thing you shared: laughter with my co-workers throughout the day.

3 gifts carved:
~My cedar chest, handed down through the generations, refinished by my father for my wedding!
~ God helping me carve out time with Him this morning despite being so tired.
~Snow carved into drifts

3 gifts loud: 
~The alarm clock, helping me wake up and start my day.
~ God's grace in the midst of hard times.
~ Our espresso machine being repaired.

Ups and Downs

 What a day. Having to struggle to give thanks for it all.
 ~A gift bent: The packaging on my Tribute Blend Coffee.
~A gift broken: my hair. Worst haircut I've ever gotten. I am feeling heartbroken that all my long locks are history. And it has to be fixed to boot. I'm not sure how short it will end up. I've been growing it out for quite a while.
~A gift beautiful: getting to hold a beautiful, precious new little girl at her shower. What a doll.

~Something above you: Warm sunshine. It felt like spring might be trying to peak through.
~Something below you: ice melting.
~Something beside you: a mentor. Having someone in my life who will hold me accountable, challenge me and listen to my heart is one of the greatest gifts.

~3 sounds you hear:
Potatoes boiling cheerfully on the stove.
Birds singing.
Sweet baby girl crying in the other room.

Times nine

A gift that's sour: a sour mint given to me yesterday (I learned I don't know how to eat them, pretty funny!)
A gift that's sweet: brownies tonight at grace group.
A gift that's just right: My new jeans! I put them on and never wanted to take them off. (Made even better by the fact that I bought them on clearance. The better the deal the more pumped I get: I get this from my father.)
3 Yellow things that strike you as a fresh mercy:
~A new comfy shirt.
~ I may have given in to a craving and bought some golden oreos this week. Not having them all the time made them all the sweeter.
~A new coffee (packaging is yellow) that I did not think I would enjoy (growth and change).
3 gifts found:
~New graces through Scripture.
~ Strength to get through my day despite my silliness of drinking coffee late last night (Silly! I have been so tired today.)
~Grace to move past myself and grow trusting my Savior and my husband.

This 'n that

~A shadow that fell lovely: Shadows of trees across snow clad roads.
~ A gift in your hand: the cups of my friend's drinks that I was marking to create something special for them.
~ A gift you walked by: Food at the store. I am blessed to live with plenty.
~A gift you sat with: my church family during worship.

Todays gifts were 3 hard gifts. Two will stay in my own journal.
~My husbands current "illness" with his jaw.

Tired, busy and blessed

I found the scrap of paper in the pocket of my work pants from yesterday!
3 gifts found at 3 pm:
~Sweet smell of steamed milk.
~Helping a customer find a new favorite drink.
~Mocha powder spilled all over the floor and my co-worker, accompanied by much laughter. 

~Light that caught you: I noticed the sun came out from the snow through our large windows at work; it made me feel more cheerful and awake.
~A reflection that surprised me: my littler French press reflected in my larger one. (Yes, I'm a coffee dork)

3 gifts wore:
~My comfy pajama pants, a gift from a couple Christmases ago (I love PJ pants!).
~A favorite cardigan sweater. I am always wearing one!
~My nose ring. A fun detail that makes me me.

So tired

I'm feeling pretty spent, but really wanted to do this!
                                                  ~A gift dull: My Norwex face clothes!
                             ~A gift shimmering: My wedding and engagement rings.
        ~A gift cleaned: My red fleece blanket. This thing has gone all over the place with me                           (road trips, moved a few times, airplanes). I just re-found and washed it!

3 gifts green: 

~Iced Green tea lemonade.  

~My jewelery today (all off etsy)

~My apron (that usually keeps me "mostly" clean)

3 Graces from people you love:

~A book from my mom at Christmas.

~A mug from my in-laws, one of many they have bought me for my collection.

~My Bible. From my husband. 

I also have 3 gifts from 3 'o clock. But I can't find the scrap of paper I wrote them on. I can clearly remember only two of them at the moment! I will find that paper and add them tomorrow :)