Gratitude

81. Lazy days of summer...Not having to wake up by a buzzing alarm clock, but instead waking up to little eyes staring at me in bed, or waking to a baby talking to the morning sun in his crib.

82. A new friend in my life who is so easy and comfortable to talk to. It's like we have known each other for years.

83. Little girls with tired, red eyes and wet hair from a day at the pool lying comfortably and peacefully together and watching a movie. (too tired to argue or fuss with one another)

84. Having the opportunity to tell my kids we are going to the beach in two weeks!

85. Having the opportunity to invite dear friends to go along with us for a week at the beach.

86. Later bedtimes that mean more activities outside like swinging, looking for fireflies, sparklers, and riding bikes until dark.



87. No set routine or times to be somewhere.

88. Seeing my little man in his swimsuit for the first time.

89. Little, pudgy toes tickling the water.

90. Cheerios. (they can provide several minutes of great entertainment for an 8month old)

Gratitude

Time to butter up the in-laws. (and this is only my father-in-law's side of the family...whew!) More things that I am thankful for:

72. A mother in law who is my friend. Fun to be with and talk to.
(and as an added bonus she just happens to be my personal shopper)

73. A very generous and loving father in law who is wise and has
a very calm dispostion.

74. A very intelligent, very witty brother in law who has a gift
of reading people like no other. He's a great uncle to my children
and a wonderful friend to me.

75. A grandmother in law who is computer savvy in her 80's! She
raised 5 wonderful children while working as a teacher/counselor
the whole time.

76. Memories of a grandfather in law...a hard working farmer,
a kind and gentle man, who I didn't have long enough
to really get to know.

77. 4 Aunts and 4 uncles (in laws) who always make you feel at
home, a part of the family, so kind, generous, fun to be around.

78. 8 cousins (in laws) and 1 cousin in law,in law (married to
a cousin..) that are so intelligent, seeming to have a constant
quest for knowledge..so talented..such good people to know.

79. And the family grows....a precious baby boy cousin on the
way...a 2nd cousin (or 3rd..not really sure how exactly that
works) for my children.

80. A wonderful, incredible, handsome, caring, loving,
generous, intelligent, funny, hard-working man who added
all these people in my life..my sweet husband who is so
proud of his heritage, his family and I am just honored to
be a part of.

Gifts Continued....

62. long, black eyelashes on 3 beautiful children

63. a true love, my husband who loves me and takes
care of me and his family

64. seeing a little one discover
new things

65. a sweet and tender soul of a seven
yr. old, freckled face little girl

66. a giving and self-less heart of a
four yr. old--always willing to give
up something for someone else--a peacemaker
by nature

67. being able to really see the hearts &
personalities of little ones that
God has created--so unique and so
amazing

68. memories of a 90 yr old Granny snapping
beans on the porch of the family
farmhouse


69. new life springing forth with warmer
weather--tiny buds on our "Mr. Tree"

70. Godly women to share a journey with:
digging deeper, desiring more.

71. apparently dodging several tornadoes
today as my Mom and I drove right
through their path...having us safe
and having my family safe at home.

Gifts

51. good times with good friends

52. seeing little children excited about
pretty snowflakes falling from the sky

53. a warm place to be on a cold, snowy
morning

54. to be able to put my son in my Dad's
arms after 4 long months and to
see the pride in his face as he
looks at how much his grandson has
changed

55. a salad dressing do die for that
only A. can make from a family
recipie passed down (and one which
she won't tell) Mmmmmmm

56. a hot bath and a few minutes
alone

57. giggles from little girls
playing in the next room


58. squeals of joy from my baby
boy who loves to be naked

59. hearing the loud belly laughter
from the kids while being tickled
by their grandfather


60. a baby that finally is sleeping
10 hours at night

61. snuggling with my sweet K in her
twin size bed, tickling, holding,
keeping each other warm...savoring
the moment

Even More Gifts

The following is a quote from Ann over at Holy Experience about her 1000 gift list. She has a way with words. This is part of the reason I was so inspired to do one myself:

"Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the tings that I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me."

She proceeds to say that in looking for the gifts she has gotten to know herself a little more. The things that she loves is part of her identity... I think this is so true. Obviously what I might see as a gift, something I love, might not be cherished by another. It is fun to do this list, but I have to say, very challenging as well. I am so glad that I set my goal at 100 instead of 1,000. Not that God hasn't given me a million gifts, but to try to notice them, not sound weird, and to try and not be redundant is rather difficult.

Here are a few more of my gifts/loves that come to mind:



36. The way K says "hotel"...she pronounces it "Ho-Tail"
and when corrected she says, "Ho-tel-a" So cute

37. J's long eyelashes and pudgy cheeks

38. having a brother and a sister

39. silver streaks at my husband's temples

40. 10 years of living with my best friend & sweetheart

40. the back of K's neck..so delicate, feminine, pretty

41. memories of my PapaJ loving the back of my neck (just as
I love K's)

42. memories of my Mom's purple velour zip-up robe (there
was nothing softer to hug on)

43. a sweet pet, always glad to see you

44. watching the excitement that our kids and dog have
when "Daddy" pulls up after a days work

45. unexpected morning kisses

46. family photographs that capture a moment in time

47. the comfortableness with a best friend

48. laundry being caught up (well, almost caught up)

49. a sunny and warm afternoon that gives you energy
and motivates you (because afterall, bathing suit season
is ONLY 3 months away. )

50. sunshine from a bottle that gives you that fresh sun-kissed
glow without all the worry of skin cancer! (plus it's fast)

Gifts Continued...

26. Someone to take care of you
when you are sick

27. An answered prayer...my mother's
mended heart...to have her here
with me today

28. cool foreheads & dry noses

29. a well-worn heather grey t-shirt
that feels so good!

30. little girls, future women, lending
a helping hand to help their mom
clean and disinfect

31. squeals and laughter from baby boy
who loves to be touched & cuddled

32. 3 healthy children that at one time
actually grew inside of me

33. a dad, husband willing to set aside
everything and play "mommy" for 3 days

34. Hot and Sour soup

35. watching sisters play, imagine,
& pretend together

Things I Love & I am Grateful for

11. and occasional afternoon nap that rejuvinates
the body and soul

12. the warmth of the sun on your face

13. daffodils, blooming too early, but reminding you that
spring is just around the corner

14. Little hands to hold

15. "morning hugs" from K

16. The opportunity to be able to work from
my home

17. The combination of a hot cup of coffee, a cool morning,
favorite furry socks, and some quiet time.

18. Hot soup on a cold, wet day

19. God's forgiveness and grace

20. Tender hearts of children

21. A mom's hug that nourishes the soul

22. Good friends that listen, relate, and care

23. Hand-made Valentines crafted out of love and made
by small hands

24. Kisses on the forehead from my husband

25. "God Moments"..those times when you see something
(like a sunset or a rainbow) and you stop to savor
in it and say, "Thank you for that today"

100 Gifts

If you have never had the pleasure of reading any of the posts written by the ever talented Ann over at Holy Experience Blogspot, then you have truly missed out. What a gifted writer she is and wonderful Christian. Her posts never cease to amaze me and always make me think. She has a Thousand Gifts post that I think is a wonderful idea. It is an ongoing post about the gifts that she has. Not things she wishes she did have, rather gifts she notices on a daily basis that she already does have.

I would like to start a gift list of my own. Now, I'm worried that it might take me years to get to a thousand (not that I don't have them). I'm making my list one hundred. I will randomly post these 100 gifts from time to time. I hope that this challenges me to focus less on what I don't have and more on what I do. It's all a matter of perspective and I would like to try to change mine to an overall more positive one. There are so many things we have everyday that are gifts to be thankful for. Here are a few of mine:

1. Marrying my sweetheart: a protective and loving man who still
takes my breath away
2. Curly brown ringlets
3. Chocolate sprinkles on little noses
4. Knock, Knock jokes told by young ones that don't make sense
but make you laugh anyway.
5. Imaginations of my children when playing with dolls.
6. Shared smiles and laughter.
7. The tickling of Butterfly Kisses
8. Lint in tiny little toes
9. The sound of my son drinking his bottle and the smell
of his little head
10. A bed, a home, a family