1000 Gifts and Counting

1140. Read aloud time....seeing how Addi is getting into our routine, calling all the kids to come, sitting in "my chair" ready to listen

1141. Kisses from Katie.....and tears from Charli.......they usually come together, when I'm reading aloud I always end up all choked up and the kids just look at me and shake their heads.
1142. Jake's testimony in church yesterday. What a blessing to hear, knowing the growing never stops:)

1143. Getting to go out to my favorite restaurant and have Bravo's Pasta Yandalino!!! I was so happy.
1144. Hearing Sara's testimony in church yesterday too and how the Holy Spirit uses it to remind me that I am being used to grow people there, when lately I've been full of doubts.
1145. Unexpected hugs
1146. Hanging out with Bakers, it has been sooo long!
1147. Faithful friends who meet on Saturday mornings to love and disciple one another
1148. Email stating reimbursement period has ended for insurance claim, whew!
1149. Isaiah's heart that honors me as a mother in so many ways....now if he'd just be a cuddled too:)
1150. Hearing Maddie and Addi goof off together, cuter than anything and Addi loves her almost as much as me:)
1151. Surprise spa treatment and flowers from Rachelle and Scott.....the love behind the gift meant more than anything

1152. Relaxing time away with just our family at Great Wolf Lodge
1153.  Seeing 6 young men, growing together and growing in the Lord together, voices raised (I'm sure a bit of laughter as well), but praising His Holy name....brings smiles to my dear friend's face and mine as we watch them at BSF

1000 Gifts and Counting

1126. Hearing Nate's voice speaking the Word out loud...soaking it in and cherishing the moment, only to laugh out loud when he ends with, "What?? I don't get this!"
1127. Watching and hearing chickadees and nuthatches after I found some extra birdseed in the garage
1128. Yummy Venison Stew recipe given to my friend, Amy B....now I have another use for all the venison burger we have

1129. Feeling of a burden being lifted as one last painting job is done to complete the Home insurance claim....there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
1130. Paul Davis Restoration, Sunshine Bettelton and Farmers Insurance
1131. Wonderful night studying God's Word. Makes me wanna shout, GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!
1132. Free of baseball and soccer, allowing us to be home, had a family dinner, then sat together in living room, reading and doing our own things... So thankful
1133. So thankful for a Saturday cleaning family! Some day, my daughters-in-laws are gonna love me because their husbands will know how to sweep, mop, dust from top to bottom. Thankful for clean home and willing children.

1134. Thankful for family that came out to celebrate with us the official opening of our new church building and Dansville Christian Youth Center. Also thankful for seeing Allie this am and having her sit with our family! Thankful for time to bless God's name with song and friends! Thankful for warm house, good food, family, laughter and Hobbit riddles:)
1135. Thankful for joy on Maddie's face because she finally proved to her dad that she can consistently pull her bow, so he took her hunting. She was stoked! Also thankful for beautiful fall day, walking down Crocus trail to pick Allie up from the bus stop and her chatter the whole way back:)
1136. Thankful for kids on the mend, old trampoline that we bought do many years ago for $50 from the Hummels and have had to have it redeem three times because the kids love it so much, the lion flip that Ben showcased for me and made me laugh as he posed like Alex the Lion:)
1137. Thankful for co-op and friends we've made there. Also thankful for buddies down the road, the Dysarts. God has truly blessed us over the years with so many wonderful homeschooling families to learn and laugh and grow with.
1138. Thankful for Saturdays where we don't have sporting things to take us away all day....Saturday cleaning done, nap taken, games played, and time with good friends
1139. Thankful today for God's work within my kids....I can see his fingerprints all over them and it makes me wanna dance and give Him all the glory. Today as I led worship at our church, looked out and saw Maddie-belle lost in her own moment with her creator, eyes closed, hands lifted to honor Him, not caring what others would think of her but totally focused on HIM! Jake thanking me after worship for pushing him to take his eyes off self and give and serve for The Lord and for not giving up on him when he is being difficult. Zeke's heart to be faithful to God in the details, the little things if life...guarding his tongue in all matters, being kind to those that are ignored or avoided and teaching us all to speak in love. Benny's teasing, laughter and kindness when someone "needs a hug". He is the one to give it. Nater....today ready to apologize on his own, without me having to preach it to him after he lost it with his sister.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

1. 
   
   

   Struggling with yesterday's thankfulness....It's not because I don't see anything good....there are lots of things like watching Maddie and Ben and Ted prepare to go hunting together in the wee hours of the morning, having time to get some things completed and marked off my To Do list, time in Gods Word and how it sets my heart aflame and in awe.... I had these things I was so excited to share with pictures and word....

   BUT yesterday also had something happen that left me and our family feeling sick, angry, betrayed, confused and hurt. And as I watch my children struggle with these feelings, as do I, the Holy Spirit asks, "Will you be thankful in this? Will you be thankful for betrayal, for how evil has touched your children?" And as a believer and lover of Christ, how do I choose to respond?
   
   By will and out of love and devotion for the One who went through worse for me, I choose to respond with a resounding YES! I'm thankful this morning for the betrayal because in this situation I have an opportunity to open my children's eyes to what God is doing in it. He is growing each one of us to be more like Him, to love when others don't love, to forgive when others don't forgive, to let go of the things of this world that don't matter, for the things NOT of this world that do! Thank for Lord for bringing that person into our lives, who unknowingly was used by You and who would open our eyes and hearts up more and more to YOU.
   
   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
   16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1000 Gifts and Counting

1120. Feeling that Spring is coming, spied beautiful crocuses

1121. A gift in water...Rainy Monday...I can choose to focus on the dark, dreary day or on the gift that the rain will usher in growth and life soon
1122. a gift in wind....Listening to Nater read Ephesians 3:14-21
1123. A gift in white....White Internet page...lecrae quote.... Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
1124. days warm enough for kids to play outside

1125. Sound of downpour while in BSF speaking of Gods awesome power

1000 Gifts and Counting

We thank you, O God!!  We give thanks because You are near.

Psalm 75:1

I am so thankful for the big and little things as I clean and box up our belongings.  Here are just a few....

1094.  Large paper drawings that kids have drawn for me over the years that have served as the decoration in my bedroom.  Now they have to be preserved in a photo because the original is in bad condition.

1095.  Reminders on white shirts in my closet that this is real - it's not all in my mind or that all this work is for nothing.

1096. Seeing the boxes begin to stack up....

1097.  Friends who come over to help and work with us....that is a blessing as well...that we can work in the same room instead of working seperately throughout the house.....any time together is a blessing

1098. Pizza & slush to reward hard work!
1099. Blackboard where I can write the reminder for our family that we are bringing shalom into this chaos with our hearts and actions and words

 1100.  More friends!  They played the whole time, but that was a blessing too!

1101.  Handmade gifts that are treasured by us, covered in soot, but we are able to get mostly clean. (this head garland was made by Amy Cooper)

1102.  This rainbow silk was made by Amy Cooper and myself when we lived next to one another on Ash Street.

1103.  Risk frenzy in the midst of chaos....kids having game after game....all precipitated by Nater's constant requests of one and all, "Wanna play Risk with me?"

1104.  Seeing Nater decked out in knight/mosquito protection as he shoots bow.

1105.  Lessons God whispers into our situation as I begin in another room and uncover more soot.  How often we want to deny that there is any sin issue we need to address in our life (similar to Ted's insistance that there was nothing out of the ordinary going on in our house when I would complain of the dirty house or carpets) and also how when we start peeling back and taking spiritual stock of our heart - we begin to see how insidious sin really is and how prevealent it is (just like here in the classroom after I took down our 13 colony timeline).  Only then can we do the work to remove it - first we have to see it!

1106.  Amy B. & KC both supporting, praying, listening to me before I had shalom in this chaos
1107.  Yummy meal that Amy brought that we spread out for days!!
1108.  Sunshine - name and the person behind the name who guides me thru this process

 1109.  Jake's music echoing through the house as I work....makes me smile now! His song about time.

1110.  Natalie letting me borrow more Ray Vander Laan to listen to as I work!  Kids are also listening to him in other rooms.
1111.  Changing my focus off self and onto thankfulness and the reminder that in every circumstance I'm building His church and to be bringing shalom into chaos.

1112.  hearing things like "it's like the sky or heaven", "it's white like us after Jesus washed our sins away", "it's like the color of honey because remember Taste and See that the Lord is good!" coming out of my kid's mouths as they try to convince each other what color they should go with for their rooms

1113.  Time in the Word to refresh my soul....helping me to go to Him for all my needs

Hebrews 4:16 

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  

There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

1114.  Boys - amazing helpers anytime I ask!

1115.  Farmers Insurance - each time I start working in a new area of the house and see all the soot, I whisper how thankful I am for the insurance company covering this - without their help we'd be stuck living in it.  Which in turn - spurns me on to thank Christ each time as well, for the price He paid to wash my sins aways.....Where would I be without Him????

1116.  Washer, dryer and dishwasher  to clean things - each day all are loaded many times with sooty items to clean - every time I pull out something I'm blown away with thankfulness.

1117.  Chemical sponges - lifesaving tool to clean pictures!

1118.  Exhaustion at the end of the day

1119.  Soot.....I am thankful for it, for how it has reminded me once again of what truly is important in this life - what is lasting - what I want to focus on - not on things but on those He has put in my life to love and care for and for His Word!!

Blessings

These past couple of days have held some really sad and scary events for our family and those we love.  A kind and giving man, who we had the privilege to know for a short time, gave into the enemy's lies, leaving behind so many who miss him and one of our dearest friend's was in a serious accident while on the job and could've died, but instead lives!!  Tonight I couldn't sleep, so I'm praying for our friend, Jeff, and his family and I'm praying for the Bailers and for all those whose lives have been touched by these tragedies and wonder where God is in these circumstances.  My heart is heavy for our church body as well.

I find myself drawn, compelled, to bless God...to bless Him for everything...each day...whether it holds joy or tragedy...He does love us.  This song has been on constant repeat in our home.  Blessings by Laura Story.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

1000 Gifts and Counting.....

Isaiah 44:5

Some will proudly claim, "I belong to the Lord"

Others will say, "I am a descendant of Jacob"

Some will write the Lord's name on their hands

and will take the name of Israel as their own.

1026.  facebook....I know, I know...I've struggled to find anything good about facebook and have been a lurker just to see what friends are doing because I'm too busy to see them, but as of today that attitude has changed.....my beautiful friend, Amy Cooper, who lived next to us on Ash Street "friended" me.....it was wonderful to see what their family is up to, to see current pictures and to be able to "talk" to her
1027.  time Jake & I get to "teach" our neighbors, Steve and Jake, guitar.  It is so much fun and brings back so many memories for me.  It is so fun too to see how they've improved from week one - I wish I could video each week they play so they could see their progress!  Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to do this with Meier...
1028.  Isaiah coming down in the morning, carrying his ball glove.....Isaiah bringing his ball glove in the car to go to co-op....he's gearing up for his favorite season
1029.  Saturday cleaning (even when done on a Friday)....I just love the tradition....I have fond memories of it when I was a kid and now I'm so proud of my kids as I watch them tackle their "job" and I wonder if they get satisfaction from it besides just the reward of a movie or Wii
1030.  Valentine cupcake drop-off from the Weldons....cupcakes that looked like they came from a bakery and the blessing given to my children who were wanting something "special" to happen like it does for public school kids

1031.  red-tailed hawk on the side of the road that we spied on our way to the first soccer....being able to sit and soak in every detail despite the time crunch we were under and to enjoy His gift of nature
1032.  hand that reaches across seats to lay hold of me
1033.  excitement...fear...tangible...in early rising before the sun to prepare for a day of family skiing adventure...safety - I didn't get any broken bones, just sprained thumbs and torn ligaments in knee

1034.  those that plow roads
1035.  moment he knows he's annoyed me so he asks 1 more request of me and then laughs as I glare
1036.  safe travel on a snowing morning
1037.  heated seats
1038.  beautiful little girl in skinny jeans, face mask - throwing and catching like she's been practicing all winter

1039.  the Camera Shop and Chadd who was helpful when my new D7000 stopped focusing and who was patient as I stood in the store over 2 hours, testing one lens and then another
1040.  Johnny coming back to church....praying that he'll find his way back to the Father
1041.  Jake & Isaiah wanting to play for the worship at church
1042.  Bakers inviting us to a Spartan basketball game and the fun we had....I love watching Sparty do his thing!
1043.  visits with Charis....playing games with my kids

1044.  new camera D7000 with Sigma 18-250mm lens
1045.  January turkey day with family over to enjoy it with us
1046.  kids wrestling with Dad

1047.  bologna and Ben (don't ask!)

1048.  loving Addie as part of our day

1049.  God's Word and how it changes all our lives....Isaiah 44:5 and how the Holy Spirit used it in Jake's life

1050.  having to fight over my guitar with my eldest

1051.  fun with Addison's t-shirt - modifying it to read "My Great-Auntie is #1"

1052.  big brother who plays with little brother and gives him a chance once in a while at shooting a basket

1053.  donut making....making donuts like my grandma did and enjoying them all day

1054.  pizza making as a family...sharing stories with kids about our years growing up and always making homemade pizza on Saturday nights and episodes of Hee Haw

1055.  69 years with my Mom...a beautifully strong lady who loves the Lord and has encouraged all of us children to love the Lord too!  What a legacy her life is for us!!

1056.  can I say thanks for Blue Moon icecream?  Only if it's for the fact that now we all can warn others to never buy it!  It may look fun but it is not!!

1057.  playing Wii with Grandma and Grandpa and laughing!  Watch out Nate or Grandma will hit you again with her "racket"!

1058.  snuggling together

1059.  jeans that still fit, even if they are not my ideal size, life is too short to obsess about it
1060.  10 chapters a day - Horners Bible Reading System
1061.  alarm clock going off at 6a.m. - unable to ignore it when I know it signals time with HIM
1062.  Ted committing time in morning to read 10 chapters of God's Word
1063.  kitty cats who peer into windows begging for spoiling

1064.  kids who endure "Singin' in the Rain" for mom
1065.  opportunity at Tuesdays soccer to give friendship a chance with a fellow BSFer
1066.  little girl making my little girl welcome and befriending her
1067.  sermon on generosity and tithing - thankful that my pastor is willing to say hard things once in a while
1068.  yawning distance that seems to separate me from others at church...it is so uncomfortable and the enemy would love for me to self-focus, instead Sunday I stood in the uncomfortableness of it and didn't begrudge anyone their connections
1069.  how Holy Spirit works to lead me in choosing songs and how unknowingly they tie right into pastor's message
1070.  being willing to say "I miss you"....to admit I need him and need his time and attention
1071.  stepping out of my comfort zone to get to know Mitch....young adult who attends our church sometimes
1072.  BSF...how it builds routine into our lives of being in God's Word, how the questions bless my children and grow them, how the leaders there spur my kids on to go "FURTHER UP, FURTHER IN!"
1073.  so many lessons gleaned from the Word thru study in BSF this past month....I wish I had done a better job of journaling them here....but may there never be any doubt GOD is AT WORK!
1074.  Eurcharisteo....reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann VosKamp...meditating on giving thanks in ALL circumstances
1075.  being left behind on Sunday evening as kids all chose to go with Dad to play basketball...fighting off the feeling that I'm last on everyone's chosen list....sitting in the quiet house realizing I now have time to do my Gratitude list without feeling guilty.  Thank you Lord for letting me be last.