Counting Gifts Archives • Page 8 of 12 • New Nostalgia

One Thousand Gifts #29

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Most Mondays, I list the gifts here at New Nostalgia.

Today, I have so many on my heart, but little ones home from school keep my brain too noisy to express them on paper. Today would be the “hard eucharisteo,” the giving of thanks in the trials of life.

I lost a friend last week, one very dear who knew the hard eucharisteo, and lived it. While sick and in pain, her words…“I am just so thankful for this day. I am so thankful to be alive one more day.”

I can’t articulate on my own today, but Ann did so eloquently, as she always does. I am sharing some of hers, for today they are also mine.

#681~for the troubles that cause me to turn towards You

#682~for the sicknesses that invite me to bring a sacrifice of thanks

#683~for the grief that bears gifts of its own

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts #28

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

#661-#680

~new stripey shoes that match with everything

~rain

~pride revealed

~her grace in death

~survivors sharing stories

~songs on Sunday, they heal

~a heart pulled toward those in pain. His leading.

~new doctor relationships. Their kindness.

~peace despite upcoming surgery

~peace despite upcoming health decisions

~knowing the Peace-Giver

~the beauty of leaves changing

~the words of a very sick friend “I’m just thankful to live one more day. This day.”

~my husband. His support. His words that erase my fears. His affirmation.

~a counselor that knows me, that knows God, and points me toward Him

~clarity

~a successful garage sale

~beautiful weather to sit and sell in

~pumpkin pie oatmeal

~my writing used: “I read your post. I felt for lumps. I found one. It is cancer.”

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts-A Weekend Away!

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Today I am celebrating the beautiful gift of a Bed and Breakfast Weekend getaway.

It was given to us by friends. Thank you, Muellers, we had the very best time and are truly grateful.

#639-#660

~beautiful Traditions Inn. Columbus, NE

~a grandma that watches over our girls for us so we can go

~food! Almost too pretty to eat

~touches of the garden on our plate

~time to reflect, communicate and grow

~this book, A Lasting Promise, to help with that process.

~perfect weather, sunny and 77 degrees

~a drive that is not too short but not too long

~tasteful decor, an evident gift of the owner

~good reading material, left out for guests

~a dvd player for a late night movie

~beautiful gardens. What a view from our room!

~the sound of water features and fountains

~gazebos lit at night with twinkle lights

~sitting outside, quiet with my husband, each engrossed in a book

~the distant sound of cows and trains, drifting in through our open window

~a morning knock at the door, a breakfast cart left for us

~my giddy delight in the beauty of it

~drinking the entire pot of coffee by myself

~cinnamon roll french toast

~my ability to hold my tongue from scolding my husband’s order of breakfast diet coke:)

~a lazy, slow morning. No responsibilities.

~a chance to remember. A 9/11 sculpture in the town we are visiting on 9/11

~jagged metal, making it real. This gift of art.

~the blessing of freedom

~an opportunity to pray for those hurting this day

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts #26-Falling In Love

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

I am falling hard, I’m falling deep.

This falling in love with You is THE gift.

You give the Gift, You allow the receiving.

I unwrap the layers, I find Love.

I lean, I fall hard, into Love.

{My Favorite Love Song}

#627-#638

~melting in His peace

~being overwhelmed in love

~seeking and finding

~comprehending more of who He is

~time to sit at His feet

~drinking in what He has for me

~leaning in close enough to feel His heartbeat

~hearing these words over and over, “You are fully known, You are fully loved“

~being ok because of this love, even when others are not ok with me

~surrendering to His ways that do not make sense

~being full of His love, free to love

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts #25

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

“The mind would rather fret about the future or pine over the past — so the mind can cling to its own illusion of control. But the current moment? It cannot be controlled. And what a mind can’t control, it tends to discount. Brush past… over.”

“What if all our running around is only our trying to run away from God — the great I AM, present in the present moment?”

“What if I woke to now and refused to hurry because I didn’t want to refuse God?”

“What if I didn’t discount this moment, but counted it for what it is — God here?”

—Ann Voskamp “How To Get The Most Of A Day”

#611-#625

~ice cold lemon water, refreshing and cleansing

~visiting at the vineyard with dear friends

~feeling so very loved by my Heavenly Father

~celebrating my firstborn and her 12 years of life

~the sweet friends God has provided for her

~a complimentary stay in a bed and breakfast, another desire of my heart fulfilled

~a good God who drops gifts into my lap. I’m overwhelmed.

~the chills I get as I list these gifts. Amazing love. Amazing life.

~piano music

~in- laws that let me use their home to create sweet memories

~my middle girl who senses I’m sad, brings me a coupon for a hug. My smile restored.

~crisp, cool morning air.

~peaceful mornings as responsible girls get ready for school

~friends for them to walk to school with

~a gym membership, provided for me from a friend. Not just any gym, but one that is BEAUTIFUL and provides a trainer who has worked with those who have had disease and are still healing. Beyond my hearts desire…

…CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts #24

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

“Unless we make it a habit to give thanks, we habitually give our family grief.”

“Unless we consistently speak praise, we consistently speak poison.”

“Unless we are intentional about giving God glory throughout the day, our days unintentionally give way to grumbling.”

“It’s in praising a Savior in all things that we are we saved from discouragement in all things.”

–Ann Voskamp

#600-#610

~precious time with a friend over coffee at the Farmers Market

~fear that presses me harder into Him

~a sister cancer fighter is now whole and healed in Heaven, suffering no more.

~hope even within sadness

~the promise of His strength and courage even within my fear

~a precious, perfect job for my sister

~lunch with her

~a Godly grandpa, celebrating his 88 years

~nephews who use their gifts for eternity. Ambiance, you rock.

~baby Stella. She lights my heart with her flirty, shy, one shoulder shrug.

~a Sunday Sermon, full of hard words I needed to hear:

John 1:21– Peter, pointing a finger…”Lord, what about him?”
John 1:23– Jesus, “What is that to you? Follow me.”

   How much more loudly can he say to me “You worry about you!”

   My interpretation of my pastor’s words:
     No matter what unique pathway is yours, no matter what shape of the journey is yours, we are called to follow Him! Your life, as Peters did, may require courage. Your life, as John’s did, may require endurance. Remember that He is worthy of our hearts!! Beloved, follow Him.

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

My husband has the privilege of leading and teaching a group of boys each week. They have become a super special part of our lives. This weeks gratitude list is inspired by them.

#590~599

~added testosterone to our very estrogen dominate family

~their kindness to my 3 girls, they feel like they have a bunch of older brothers

~video game club madness drifting up through my basement vents most Saturday nights

~a pile of boy shoes in my sun room, a sign of respect. My awe in the size of some of those feet!

~a pool party of 27, not one behavior issue

~younger grades being welcomed by older grades– unity.

~the way my heart melts every time one thanks me for making the “grub”

~when I was sick, a boy finds me to tell me “I prayed for you”

~their willingness to come into our home, to let us into their lives

~their admiration and genuine respect for my husband. Relationship.

~a basket of clothes given to me by one of their mothers, a friend. I delight in a new fall wardrobe.

~the endless possibilities of the gifts and strengths of these young men. In a few years they will be leaders in the community. Change agents.

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