One Thousand Gifts

I just read a lovely article over at "A Holy Experience." It's a blog a friend here, Robyn, told me about. I have been blessed by what I've read. But, I read this article on starting a 1000 Gifts List, and it reminded me of the blessings journal I started here so long ago. I have also been reading "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and this idea goes along so well with what I've been reading in her book.

Over at "A Holy Experience", Anne Voskamp talks about starting a list of 1000 gifts you are thankful for. Not gifts you want, but gifts you have. The everyday things. And, I thought it would be great to pick up my blessings journal by starting this list. Maybe it will help keep me blogging, too. Especially, because lately I have been thinking of so much God has given me that I'm thankful for.

Anne wrote in her blog post, "It is happening to me as John Milton wrote: "Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."

Before I start my list, I'll leave you with one last encouragement from Anne...."Father, You are the Giver of all Good Gifts. They are everywhere. I can hardly jot them down fast enough. How You love.~~Will you too begin your list of a Thousand Gifts? It will change your life. Guaranteed."

(By the way, she does hers on a Monday...so I'm just getting a head start here!) :)

1. the lovely orchid on my side table in my living room..a gift from our church staff

2. the gorgeous flowers on my table..a gift from the love of my life

3. a bowl full of homegrown tomatoes from my sister

4. another bowl full of garden fresh squash from Sara

5. two computer desks and two bookshelves for a total of $5 (we needed those when we came to IN and prayed, and God provided-again!)

6. this lovely lake house that we could never afford if we didn't have "kingdom-minded" landlords

7. our screened in porch and quiet nights

8. free lakes/beaches for the kids to swim

9. three nights of wonderful meals when we moved here two weeks ago from lovely church members, which gave us time to get settled

10. an amazing church to be a part of

11. money in the bank and a kitchen pantry and fridge full of food

12. peace that passes all understanding

13. that I get to see my dear friend Elizabeth tomorrow and meet her new baby girl

14. that I get the choice to school my kids at home, and get this time with them that I will never regret

15. for a pile of laundry...which means I have a family to take care of

16. for a son who tells me all day long how beautiful I look :)

17. for a "free walking track" around our lovely "island"

18. the God-given ability to create art

19. coupons and my dear friends, Sarah and Mandy, who changed my way of shopping and helped me to cut our food bill in half :)

20. Kate letting me borrow her glue gun til I can get mine from our house in KY.

21. my sweet sister, who watched our kids last night so we could go out

22. my parents, who are always helping us out however they can

23. parents who led me to Christ

24. a husband who follows God wherever He leads..even when it doesn't make sense to others around us

25. Kerry doing so much work on our cars before we left KY, and the discounts he gave us, because he, too, is kingdom-minded

(and that's just a start).....

Update!

(right around the corner from where we live!)

This is for you, Elizabeth, since I think you're the only one who is patient enough to keep coming back and seeing if I've updated my blog in five months or not! So...oh well for my "new resolution to keep my blog up better!" ha!

We have gone through alot of changes and have recently moved from the hills of Kentucky to good ol' Indiana! In 13 years, it looks like we have come full circle...Indiana, California, Kentucky, and back to Indiana. :) We're so happy to be here, though. It had been something we had prayed about off and on for our whole marriage, and never reallly new why we were drawn to this area. But, now we know. God is sovereign and had a sovereign plan for us to be here. Shane is now the Children's Ministry Director at Christ's Covenant Church in Winona Lake, Indiana.



In our two and a half short weeks here, we have been so blessed and in awe of the Lord. The people here in this town and at our church are amazing. We came, sight unseen, to our rental home-as our home in Kentucky has not yet sold. And, this house is just what we would have picked. Probably better than what we would have gotten on our budget, but our landlords are kindgom-minded and are helping us out. What a blessing to be part of God's family! :)



We live 200 yards from the lake, in the cutest town. It's one of those "nobody locks their doors" kind of town. We walk almost daily, the kids ride their bikes to the park or the beach or just around the "island" where we live. We could not have asked for anything better.



We are so thankful for our time in Kentucky. Our seven years spent there made it become home to us. We were able to meet so many wonderful people and I left with some of the greatest friendships of my life. We were always blessed with wonderful neighbors (Seminary, Cedarmore, and Frankfort), who we will miss terribly. But, we are just thankful for each and every moment God gave us there and all He taught us, knowing is was all just preparation for this step of our lives.



(more to come...no promises when, though!) :) ha!