1000 Gifts...The Gifts Continue

#7....a hot shower after a cold early morning run
#8....a freshly pruned orchard
#9....Carolina reaching up for big sisters hand, oh the security!
#10...a whispered prayer from Husband, praying over the day ahead
#11...blond heads bowed over Bibles
#12...quiet early morning minutes
#13...fog enveloping the hill and hen house
#14...a 7yr olds excitement at memorizing the books of the New Testament
#15...oldest daughter, a reluctant writer, eagerly writing in her journal...daily
#16...over hearing sisters talking, encouraging one another in the wee morning hours
#17...a friends faithful prayers for me
#18...warm bread right out of the oven
#19...the sound of rain on the roof
#20...a husband who faithfully warms up my side of the bed before I get there

Only 980 to go...what an adventure!
As I read my way through Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, I am moved by a small phrase, almost a disclamer. She says,"I begin the list. Not gifts I want but of gifts I already have. I wonder how much I have already missed because I haven't enjoyed all the gifts that were mine given to me from God. I am thrilled to notice more closely the gifts that are all around those I already have!

Gratituding My Life Away

Gratitude Monday...thanks to the inspiring blog A Holy Experience I have been moved to record here the way I am finding endless joy in my life. I do believe the more I focus on the things I am thankful for the more happy I have become and the more I see God's hand in so much of my day, weaving together the little things into a fabulous story of our family. We are blessed beyond words and even on those days when things seem hopeless I pray that the spirit can draw me back to a heart full of gratitude. So here goes my list....

#1. Watching the children run free, chasing chickens on the hill
#2. A husband who is willing to take the children for a day so I can "catch up"
#3. Seeing Katherine stop and bend down to give her brother a good morning squeeze.
#4. A beautiful Sabbath hike ending at sunset, gazing at snow capped mountains
#5. A precious Caroline's tight hugs each night, not wanting to unwrap arms from around my neck.
#6. Enjoying a play with Mary on Sunday, just the two of us, learning the stories behind many hymns and singing with all present the glorious words penned by such faithful men and women.

Christmas and the New Year....

Eric and I sat down together for a couple hours one morning to really pray over the year ahead. It was wonderful to dream, plan, discuss, look at the calendar, set goals, and look at ways of simplifying together. We MUST do this every year!!! It made us both excited about the year ahead and what God has in store for our family.

We want to hold ourselves accountable by writing our notes here.
These are in no particular order...
1. To bed at 9:30 (encouraging us to read every night) and up at 5:30 to have quiet ourselves
2. Service-Ayme check out how to get K and E involved in ACTS, Eric check out the shower church ministry. Continue the granola bags to the homeless, expand the contents.
3. Exercise-Ayme continue to run 3x a week, Eric bike to work at least 1x a week, and ride 1x on the weekend. Family exercise one time over the weekend. Ayme join weight watchers and lose 15 pounds.
4. Date night 2x a month...once here at home and once out.
5. Schooling...hire a tutor to help a couple hours a week and call Sarah Bowen to help several hours a week.
6. Extras...stop gymnastics and ballet. Katherine to join Prep Orchestra at University of Redlands. Art classes 1-2 times in the spring for E and M.
7. Vacations...
March-Mammoth?
April-Camping Pathfinders
May-CCLHO Monterey, camp on the way home at Kirk Creek.
June/July-Lodge and San Juans?
August-Leoni Meadows
Oct/Nov-APHA Washington D.C.?
8. Start attending Calimesa for Sabbath School and 2nd service(11:45)at LLU.