146~ growing hair
147~quilts and comforters warm and comforting
148~sound of snow shovel clearing a path for me!
149~little one organizing with no prompting from me
150~nourishing oats
151~yoga and its ability to help my arm
152~my wise counsel man
153~smell of coffee
154~time to reflect
155~grandparents giddy to see me
156~a hug from mom
157~people connections
158~new friends–gifts of cancer
159~the cross etched in snow, in sun spotlight
160~gentle hands coaxing lymph vessels
161~my carry all bag–thanks, Wendy!
162~Caring Bridge connections
163~chai tea
164~affordable organic food
165~duet of laughter, husband and my middle girl
166~little girl giddy for Valentines day
One Thousand Gifts
I have not counted gifts here on the blog in a very long time. It is a shame, as I have so, so many to count.
131~my home smelling of chili on a cold day
132~a book that teaches
133~a brand new Moleskin journal
134~giving children
135~old hymns put to new song
136~grandparents and birthday sleepovers
137~a child with ipod in ears, singing louder than intended:)
138~valentines delivered to neighbors by eager little hands and feet
139~same little hands stirring ingredients together with all of her might
140~body parts that are starting to work as intended
141~a husband that seeks wise counsel
142~a new electric tea kettle 
143~a God who is so faithful in feeding me truth
144~an envelop in the mail full of gift cards, given from a 10 yr. old heart of gold
145~a wise and gentle physical therapist
Andrew Peterson-Dancing In The Minefields
I am heading into a surgical center today to sit with my husband.
He is having surgery to have his knee repaired.
Exactly a week from now, he will be with me as I have surgery, a double mastectomy.
I had a friend write on my face book “He will be your hands, you can be his feet“
That is how we have worked these last 14 years. Joined together. Filling in the others weakness, and when we fail (which has been often), our Lord steps in and fills in the areas we were never meant to fill in each other.
There have been many, many bumps in the road. Life has not always been easy, but because of our faith and goodness of our God, we have been able to stay strong and get through the minefields of life.
I love this song. I love the idea of “Dancing in the minefields.” We are. We are holding tight to each other and getting through them, many times stumbling, but more often, we are, actually, dancing.
Todd, I love you.
Well I was 19 you were 21
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much to young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago
Everyone said we were much to young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago
Chorus:
We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
Well ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin
Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found
Chorus:
And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for
Bridge:
So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose loves chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith
to the end of all my days
when I forget my name, remind me
Cause we bear the light of the son of man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands
Till the shadows disappear
Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos baby
I can dance with you
Chorus:
So lets go dancing in the minefields
Lets go sailing in the storms
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for
The girls fall break from school is usually when we break out the puzzles here in our household. We usually finish 2, one for the Thanksgiving season, one for Christmastime. It is fun to see one of my girls just stop and sit for a few minutes and work on it, they love seeing it come together slowly but surely! This year, I have found it very therapeutic through the highs and lows of sickness, to just sit a bit either by myself or with one (or all) of my girls and work on it while listening to Christmas music.
We use a cork bulletin board to make our puzzles portable. The cork is great for keeping pieces from sliding around when moving it from place to place. We usually keep it at the dining room table, but move it out of the way for family dinners. Sometimes one of my girls want to lay in front of the t.v. and work on the floor while watching a show. They also will carry it into the basement to join the rest of us if that is where we are hanging out.
We have a tradition of taking a photo of the puzzle when finished, which makes breaking them down much less painful for my girls. 🙂 This candy puzzle is the one we worked on in November.
Progress!! My family is coming to celebrate Christmas on Thursday. I know this will get finished that day, my sister, Kathy, is a pro and once she starts, she has a hard time stopping until it is finished!
Can’t wait…so fun!!
121~chemotherapy that we think is working & that lands on Monday, the day of counting gifts
122~a husband who still takes me on dates and connects with priceless conversations
123~piano music of Ann Voskamps blog and how it calms my heart
124~a new Themos cafe’ mug that keeps healing green tea hot
125~a reminder at beginning of the week of Thanksgiving, to give thanks
126~that He is able to do “more than I can even ask or imagine! Exceedingly!!
127~hair that has a will to start growing back even before chemo is over
128~wonderful in-laws that take my girls on trips and create lasting memories
129~a blogworld full of women who amaze me with their care
130~a masseuse who is standing by, waiting to bless me with her free gift
Tonight is a night where I am grasping for truth. I had a reader send me the song below (love his voice!), I needed it tonight, to remind me of these gifts…
111~ God makes ALL things work together for my good
112~ a love that never fails, despite all the mistakes I make
113~ Sin forgiven
114~ His promise that there will never be separation from Him
115~ the joy that comes after the pain
116~ hope
117~ the help of my 3 girls to make gifts for others
118~ my mom’s gift of time this week
119~ medical treatment
120~ the internet and its ability to communicate prayer requests and thoughts
Chris Quilala-Your Love Never Fails
Verse 1:
Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes, but
You have new mercy for me everyday
Your love never fails
Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage
I don’t have to be afraid
Because I know that you love me
And your love never fails
Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water’s deep, but
I’m not alone here in these open seas
Cause your love never fails
The chasm was far too wide
I never thought I’d reach the other side
But your love never fails
Bridge: You make all things, work together for my good
Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes, but
You have new mercy for me everyday
Your love never fails
Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage
I don’t have to be afraid
Because I know that you love me
And your love never fails
Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water’s deep, but
I’m not alone here in these open seas
Cause your love never fails
The chasm was far too wide
I never thought I’d reach the other side
But your love never fails
Bridge: You make all things, work together for my good
101~ energy!
102~ vitamins and supplements and the ability to buy them
103~ family pizza Sundays
104~ beautiful warm, fall weather
104~ the raspberries topping my oatmeal
105~ phone texts full of love
106~ Christmas shopping fun
107~ fresh lemons
108~ God’s presence
109~ my husband and his love for me
110~ that my well-being does not depend on circumstances!
So much to be thankful for! I have been mulling over what it looks like to be thankful and content in every situation, in all circumstances. This excerpt from Jesus Calling really has hit home for me.
From Jesus Calling p. 324
YOU CAN LIVE AS CLOSE TO ME as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.
People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. So they pour their energy into trying to control those situations. They feel happy when things are going well, and sad or frustrated when things don’t turn out as they’d hoped. They rarely question this correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation.
Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My Presence. Don’t let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises:
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.
I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.
Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you
from My Love.
Philippians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Genesis 28:15
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:39-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.