One Thousand Gifts

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

510-537

sleeping in

pushing Stinky Pete on her new swing

snuggling with my youngest

hearing my man pray for and over his kids

being encouraged as I encourage a friend

the unimaginable depth of Gods love

quiet mornings

new recipes

breakfast with my family

pretty toes

an affordable car repair

dancing with my girls and my mom to the wii

driving through Chicago

laughing with my man

art exhibits

funnel cakes

live music

watching my mom enjoy my girls

M&M cookies from the bakery

a family trip to DQ

getting JUST ME ready on Sunday morning

watching my man do what he was created to do

seeing my girls fish with their papa

a fabulously cooked steak

sitting with my family on the back porch in perfect weather

tons of hot water

a warm day

my hubby having a whole day off!! 

One Thousand Gifts

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

456-484


a free redbox movie

piggy tails

listening to Lucy sing to Stinky Pete at night

finishing up a few projects

the perfectly browned crust on a homemade chicken pot pie

hearing the real wit of my firstborn. Man that girl is funny!

loving friends who make me laugh

a fridge full of groceries

laughing with my man

a day out with the girls and a sweet friend

playing tag with my girls at the park

my man stealing away a few minutes to connect with me

crocheting with my girls

hearing God speak

grace

watching a group of 5 & 6 year olds play freeze dance

my amazing husband who listens to me and really hears me

wearing flip flops again

laughing with friends

2 year old little girls

watching the kids play and love on each other

babies!!

the final weigh in: a 19.2 pound weight loss!!!

tiny leaves sprouting on trees

eating a meal and not obsessing about it

hearing my man be the spiritual leader to our family

a bike ride on a sunny, cool spring day

seeing people who love their job

swinging at the park with my kids

One Thousand Gifts

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." Henry Ward Beecher


442-455


shopping with my girls

family time playing the wii

making some money while spring cleaning

sweet friends

my girls playing together

giggles

a moms day out

still being in the lead in the biggest looser contest

seeing God do a new thing in our community

a windy night

my man giving me freedom to be me

my kids

the beauty of quiet moments

lazy Monday mornings

One Thousand Gifts

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. Psalm 7:17


410- 441

first morning hugs

a good school day

Lucy working hard at English 

listening to Mike read to Stinky Pete

feeling great after a good workout

watching the sunrise

taking my girls to the movies

having the whole theater to ourselves! 

the gospel

playing outside again in 60 degree weather

riding bikes with the girls

listening to the wind whisper and rumble through a park of leafless trees

sweet sisters 

an empty grocery store while I shop

looking for clothes in the S-M-L-XL side of the store!

blueberry bagels with cream cheese

hearing the birds chirp loudly outside my window

taking family pictures

swapping babysitting

date night!!!

live Latin music

the city at night

lazy Saturday mornings

opening up the house to let the fresh spring air in

the first day of spring!

loosing 2 more pounds this week!!! (that's down over 16 total!!)

leading kids in worship

laughing in the worship service with a purpose (here is a video link)

my crockpot

a mini mint Oreo blizzard

ridding bikes with Stinky Pete

pink and orange streaked sunsets

One Thousand Gifts

"We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning." -Albert Barnes


380 - 409


waking up rested

holding a newborn baby

park day with the girls 

my hilarious husband (Here's the video link)


Lucy's smile

my favorite faces

an hour to unwind

Girl Scout cookies

much needed grace and forgiveness from a friend at a horribly narcissistic moment

snow trimmed trees (in March I might add!!! :D )

godly wisdom from my man

having a heart to heart with Lucy

answered prayer

a haircut I like!!

reading books in a homemade fort with Stinky Pete

a long day finally ending

resting in my man's arms

making Mike laugh

smiling faces

Laughing through lunch with my family

spending the day with my family 

dreaming big with my hubby

knowing l don't have to cook tomorrow! :D

seeing my firstborn be a leader in kids worship

hearing children pray in JAM

connecting with a friend

being encouraged with a dream

exercising first thing in the morning

sensing God's presence
having 3 hours of the morning to myself before the kids get up! 


(God is so good, this week was a really tough week....amongst much to be thankful for! )

One Thousand Gifts

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16:8


357-379


a brand new day

funny conversations in the car with my 4 year old

putting on clothes that used to feel tight that now feel loose!

beautiful, pink streaked sunrise

junior mints

knowing Gods voice and hearing him speak

story time with Stinky Pete

the beginning of a new adventure

my girls and I singing at the top of our lungs to the radio

clean bathrooms

sleep!

cooking breakfast with my youngest

the smell of bacon frying

spending the day with my first born

zupa toscana from olive garden

listening to Lucy and her friends read personalized bible verses

big snow!

really connecting with Lucy

sharing God's awesomeness with a room full of second graders

completely blowing the diet for lunch and enjoying every bite

sunday afternoon naps

my fabulous husband


weighing less than I did they day I got married

One Thousand Gifts

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

340-356

easy Mondays

family movie night

watching Stinky Pete dance (video link, sista's got some moves!)

waking up to a fresh dusting of snow

watching fat, chunky snow flakes fall while the house it still quiet

kids sleeping late

my man texting me a love note

exercising first thing in the morning

newborn babies

Thursday mornings

shopping with my girls

new fabric for projects

really wet, clingy snow

giving gifts

remembering my past and recognizing God's faithfulness and hand of protection

listening to the rain while I'm going to sleep

connecting with my man

One Thousand Gifts

Nothing is ordinary. Life is an endless series of little miracles. The difference between living and existing is noticing. -Louie Giglio

320-339

chocolate chip pancakes

yummy brownies

getting chores done

watching my girls find their Valentines day treasure hunts

windmill farms silhouetted by a beautiful sunset 

date night with my man

an excellent salad

playing the wii with my kids

sleeping late

black bean salsa

dreaming a big dream

eating lunch out with my family

watching my family play on top of a HUGE pile of snow! 

cream of spinach soup

a great new babysitter that my kids love

couples game night

Hershey's kisses

my man's arm around me in church

good Mexican food

super heros in Sunday dresses

One Thousand Gifts

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~Frederick Keonig


302- 319


Seat warmers

Hearing my man laugh

A fabulously hot shower

Sweet at sugar blackberries

A day of rest

A free trial of Netflix on the wii

A husband who takes care of me and our kids so lovingly

Fat, thick, warm, tall socks

Friends who check in on me and the girls

A church staff that put actions behind their words

Hearing God speak through someone who has a fresh fire for Him

My ESV bible on my phone!

A husband who works hard to provide for his family

A dishwasher

Mike's foot reaching to find mine in the middle of the night

Healing


Being down 12 pounds!!


Lazy Saturday mornings

One Thousand Gifts

"Praise now is one of the great duties of the redeemed. It will be their employment for ever." Albert Barnes


281- 201


Cranking our favorite song up loud in the kitchen and dancing while we clean

Leaving the house without crutches!! (first time in 6 weeks!)

Spiritual conversations with my man

Stinky Pete snuggling in bed with me when the house is still quiet

Being a hostess

A home big enough to share

Warm brownies!

Lucy earning another level in AWANA

A day of rest

The lowest number I seen on the scale in more than a year!

Thick, crazy, fat snow falling

Sleeping newborn babies

Gods patience

Late Christmas presents

Perfectly ripe bananas

Driving again!

Spending the day shopping with my girls

Becoming "the coolest mom ever" for some thrift store finds

Dinner with friends

Apple bars and ice cream

Free fried ice cream

One Thousand Gifts

"Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies." -Charles E. Jefferson


249-280


Climbing back into a warm bed

Covers and blankets bundled up to my ears

Hearing God speak

Being able to get back in the kitchen a little bit!

Cheddar busciuts

Writing down a plan and feeling good about it.

Playing make-up with Stinky Pete.

A new day

Listening to Lucy share her excitement to me about dance

Freedom to be myself with a friend

Conviction (that's never condemnation)

A shrinking appetite

Realizing I didn't go over my points at the end of the day (weight watchers)

Waking up to see it's snowing!

Watching it snow

Playing Candyland with Stinky Pete. She was cracking me up!

Seeing Lucy so excited about dance

My girls using great manners at dinner

Art time

An hour to sit and read

A helpful friend

My kids noticing Gods beauty in creation


A HUGE debt finally paid off!!!

Being filled again

Faithful friends

A birthday lunch with a friend

Girls making their crafts

Raspberry lemonade!

A Facebook wall full of birthday love!

Day 2 hair looking better than day 1

Wearing matching shoes again!!!

Loosing 4 pounds this week!!

One Thousand Gifts

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven." Johannes A. Gaertner

230- 248

a finished project

not having to cook dinner

the hush of fresh snow

giggles

a good report from the Dr.

hearing my favorite song on the radio

family day

watching Mike play with the girls

snow fights!

seeing a deer walk across a frozen river

Oberweis mint chocolate chip ice cream

a lunch date with my hubby

yummy salsa and chips

Lucy's servant heart

dinner out with my family

progress in my healing!

Stinky Pete being such a good helper

glazed doughnuts

a weight loss challenge!

One Thousand Gifts

I must be honest, these last few weeks of being limited and stuck on the couch with my bum leg have made it easy to find frustration and lack. But God is so sweet and faithful. When I choose to look, blessings abound.

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." Epictetus

203-229

A friend who calls to say hello

being able to sleep on my side again

noticing what a beautiful young lady my firstborn is becoming

a friend who comes to cook me and the girls lunch

my girls being so helpful

focaccia bread

hearing Stinky Pete pray at bedtime

an answered prayer

a friend texting a prayer

dinner that's delivered

a walk in shower

hearing Stinky Pete run down the hall when she thinks she's being quiet

watching Mike make things right with Lucy

leftover Christmas candy

being appreciated by my man

my accountability partner

Mike taking his daughter on a date

spending the day with my youngest

watching a movie with Stinky Pete in my lap

junior mints

a friend that is such a kindred spirit

a hubby who is so very gracious

fabric for a new project

a lunch and movie date with friends

my home

a play date for Lucy

home made blankets

One Thousand Gifts

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues." -Cicero

"Thanksgiving like contentment is a learned attribute. The person who hasn't learned to be content we will not be thankful for he lives with the delusion he deserves more or something better." -Robert Flatt

174 - 202

a quiet, lazy afternoon

a beautiful sunrise

sprinkle covered, chocolate iced bakery doughnuts

opening the dryer and smelling the lavender dryer sheets

watching my girls be creative together

making Christmas cookies with the girls

eating Christmas cookies with the girls!!

Lucy and a friend putting on a show

warm fleece pj pants from the dryer when your ready for bed!

hearing Stinky Pete's bedtime prayers

a few minutes of peace and quiet

watching it snow

a husband who seeks to honor me and our girls

a sole set of footprints in a fresh blanket of snow

an amazing sunset

dance recitals

the true meaning of Christmas

a thoughtful Christmas gift from a wonderful friend

waking up to big chunky snowflakes falling

a sincere compliment that was such an encouragement

lunch with friends - lovely people that are a blessing to all they encounter

friends who share

a home that's plenty big enough to be a hostess

early Christmas presents!

biscuits and sausage gravy

spending the day with my brother doing nothing but hanging out

tickets to the Broadway show Wicked!!! I can't wait!!!

fresh coconut...yum!

my girls getting to skype with cousins

One Thousand Gifts

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie

"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." -Frank A. Clark

145-173

my husband having a job

my husband having a good job!

my husband doing what he loves!

glimpses of my child's heart from a friend

a new printer!!!

buying our first Christmas tree

the gift and fruit of accountability

Zumba!

my girls doing what I asked, when I asked

clean sheets and a freshly made bed

a day filled with sweet friends

SNOW!!!!!

A garage!!! (for my FL friends, this is fabulous when it's 25 degrees out and snowing!)

driving through town with the kids enjoying the fresh dusting of snow

a great night at group with some amazing friends who love Jesus.....what a blessing!!

fried plaintains  :D

decorating the christmas tree with the girls

reading the first little book out of our advent calender and Stinky Pete telling us with such excitement "That's my verse Mommy, that's my verse!"

a handyman friend who fixed some essentials

a girlfriend who continually blesses Lucy

making Christmas ornaments with friends

FRIDAY!

the anticipation of more snow!! :D

dinner with great people

my health

shopping!

grace and freedom

snow angels

Trinity Church...great leadership and an amazing vision for people to meet, get to know and love Jesus