JOY!

Choose it.  Joy that is, and ask God to reveal it in the mundane, in the challenges, in the minute.  It's a challenge to always find your hope and JOY in Him, but God's word tells us thats where the REAL stuff is found.  I trust God, I trust His word, SO I will choose to seek my JOY in Him, not in this world, not in the trials, not in the things that aren't always going to be there.

On a particularly hard day in a hard week, I awoke, and spoke out loud, "Today I will choose JOY, and I ask you God to help me."  And you know what He did.  Now, I wonder why I don't do this EVERYDAY.  But luckily each day is new, and I can start NOW:-)

The thing that made this even better, I had a chance to speak to a dear friend who had the same experience THE SAME WEEK.

Yep, our God is GOOD!

1000 gifts | April

125. NO MORE DIAPERS!
126.

big boy undies!

127. Family

127. God showing us direct good, in bad.

128. modern miracle - a friend believes!

129.

sleepy baby

 129.  As far as the East is from the West thats how far He have removed our transgressions from us!

130.  A run - that was running to, not running from

131.  A husband who reminds me when someone asks us to go against God's Law - it's OK to say no

132.  A little voice declaring, "Mommy it's time to wake up!"

133.  ABC's 100x's never fully right, but always at the end with gusto a, "now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me!"

134.  Dinner with a sweet friend

135.  yummy dinner born totally in my head:-)

136.  on the hardest days confirmation that God is good.

137.  Text from a friend who has been heavy on my heart.

138.  God's miracle continuing in the heart of a friend.

139.  Praying with my husband

140.  God's gentle reassurance

141.  Good amidst Bad

142.  God's redemption being seen.

143. Email from a sweet friend who is hurting

144.  Following God's lead

145.  Honesty

146. Knowing I am beloved even when I am not feeling it.

1000 gifts - March

Wow! How is March over!...SO here is March. 1000 gifts the book, and the blog

100. chatting boys in the car

101. a gymnastics coach that really cares

102. friends, who check in when we are late

103. booster seat that makes my little man "feel" big

104. flowers brought in by my big boy:-)

105. a talented and resourceful sil who helped make a night out a little prettier and greener:-)

106. clothes that fit again:-)

107. a treasured gift around my neck that bears the names of my biggest gifts

108. a ring that signifies a commitment between two people

109. time together at home due to sickness(fighting off guilt to be somewhere else)

110. ability to do laundry (that is overwhelming due to sickness)

111. An orange sunset with the perfect Oak in the middle, I will remember that forever in my heart

112. the moon suspended, full, pregnant with beauty...oh how I wanted to capture it with my camera, but it wasn't to be so I must remember it with my mind

113. mornings with friends, in my pjs:-)

114.

beards:-) out of bubbles!

115.

bathtime!

116.

sunset

117.

The BEST Breakfast!

118.

The last hurrah before heading home

119.

me and the boys

120.

Dan the Fireman

121.

a special friend turns 1!

122.

God's promise

123.

kite flying!

124.

sun and wind!

1000 Gifts - February

I found it harder to keep up with this list this month, I get so mad at myself when I feel as if I am failing again, failing to pick up a GOOD habit, to allow it to change my heart. SO here is February. 1000 gifts the book, and the blog

58.

Grandparents who visit

59. Sunshine as we exit Holden's Class

60.

sleeping baby

61. Listening to Holden playing with Grandmere

62. all the ingredients in the fridge/pantry for a yummy meal!

63. Holden reading the bible to himself.

64.  Daniel saying, "Hi Axel, Axel I love you."  to his friend.

65.  A smile of a friend made huge by a blessing!

66.  texts from friends checking in on me.

67.  Matthew 6

68. Daniel's laughter as we played and danced

69.  Worms making compost.

70.

strong boys

71.

strong boys

72.

my #1 job

73.

rest

74. Daniel's giggles

75.  Sunshine streaming through the window.

76. New friends mommy ones made at school.

77.  A God conversation amongst kids @ public school, unintended or provoked.

78.  A glimpse of God's perfect timing.

79.  Cousin giggles and fun!

80.  Seeing God's heart in the eye's of others

81. A full life at it's end.

82.  a chance to let go of selfishness

83.  Rain falling as Daniel sleeps next to me.

84.  Embracing "crazy" boy life!

85.  Being a source of comfort for a feverish boy in the night.

86.  Fever break

87.  A glimpse of God's grace in a world so broken He is our only hope.

88.  Bringing Joy in hard times

89. Being where God wants me AT THIS moment.

90.

date night

91.

great music

92.

self entertaining

93.

just cute

94.

God's word, on apparel

95.

breakfast!

96.

Grandpa Snuggles

97.

legoland + star wars = perfect!

98.

staying home with my boy

99.

brotherly sympathy

1000 gifts | January

So awhile back I started reading this blog, and then when I got my Kindle for Christmas this was the first book I purchased!  I had been waiting as I am trying not to buy paper copies of books anymore!  SO in reading the book, I thought I would gift it a try, this 1000 gifts list, a list of thanksgiving of Eucharisto, as she talks about in this book.  And I started out, I have failed at doing it daily, I have one journal, she talks about having many, to catch where the thanksgiving hits.  I try to have mine accessible, but I am still learning this life of thanksgiving.  I can see the slight shift in my thoughts, the desire to go to thanksgiving when fear or worry hit, so I am praying this sticks, that in doing I will want to do more (giving thanks that is).

So I publish my list here, for noone but myself.  But maybe just maybe, you will start your own list, start seeing God and His gifts in the everyday, in the mundane, and in the HARD.  AND I would encourage everyone to read the book!

If you need help with your list you can find January's Joy Dare here, and February's here.

1000 gifts:

1.  God speaks to my heart through scripture: Galations 6.

2.  A friend called for an impromptu coffee date, honored.

3.  Peace about my "jobs"

4.  A husband who reads the bible, and trusts in it.

5.  The blue cast of morning light in our bedroom.

6. The gift of watching Paul's words come to life in a friends life, "learning to be content in all circumstances".

7.  Snuggles with D as he falls asleep.

8.  A husband who cooks.

9.  exercise.

10.  A husband who works from home.

11.  The quiet of a house with napping boys.

12. Friends who check in, and who I check in on.

13.  My boys sheer joy in the shower, as the water falls on their heads.

14.  date night

15.  late night card games with friends

16.  fun projects

17.  the hum of the sewing machine as creativity is expressed.

18.  Sweet, fruity smoothie breath on a two-year old.

19.  Kids and bedtime conversations.

20.  Peace

21.  The feel of my husbands embrace.

22.  Our church family.

23.  God going before me.

24.  EVERY piece of train track laid out in the playroom!

25.  Rain softly falling on parched ground.

26.  H giggles as he reads his book.

27.  Holding D in bed after a dream.

28.  Forgiveness that was desperately needed today.

29.  sweet sister in law.

30. my husband.

31. love of our community.

32. The grands visit while Tom is gone.

33.  God speaks through his word, and through others.

34.  lying awake feeling the urge to pray for my husband and the team are in India.

35.  safe return of the team to the "home base"

36.  sunshine this morning.

37.  short updates from Tom

38.  The perfect light for my 9-month session.

39.  An email from Tom at "just the right" time.

40.  Oatmeal in the crockpot

41.  slipping out of bed without disturbing the 2 year old sleeping next to me:-)

42.  FOG that came in AFTER the photo session.
43.

Boots:-)

 44.

yum:-)

 45.

all set up!

46.

homemade whip cream

47.

yum!  Tart!

48.

giving thanks!  For volunteers!

49.

last moments before daddy leaves!

50.

jump!

51.

friends!

52.

ice cream!

53.

design work!

54.

me and my oldest:-)

55.

My littlest!

56.

a message to dad.

57.

bowling!