I'm very excited about what my next project will be. I'm sure most of you have heard of Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts." This is a description of the book:
Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. 'How,' Ann wondered, 'do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long---and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?' In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It's only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted ... a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved --- by God.
I actually haven't read the book yet, but I want to jump in on the exercise of praising and thanking God for everything he gives me and teaches me. So, for however long, I am going to just start a running list of "gifts" God has given me. I'm very excited about it!
Lord, thank you for this opportunity to thank You!
1. The fact that I was raised in a Christian home
2. My beautiful childhood
3.My incredible husband, Kurt
4.My beautiful daughter, Evy Kate
5. Music
6.Disney World!
7. Reading!
8. The adoption of our son, Liam
9. The incredible, magnetic, nostalgic city of London
10. Cherry Coke
11. Learning about the Tudor period of English history
12. Unwinding in front of the TV at the end of the day
13. Trips with my husband - we love traveling together!
14. Finding blogs that inspire and challenge me and make me smile
15. Telling people my son is adopted and being so proud of it
16. A warm, crackling fire
17. Christmas tree lights
18. Senior adults - they're absolutely the most precious thing
19. The English Home and Discover Britain magazines
20. Ambient lamplight
21. Makeup
22. Warm blankets and socks
23. Rocking chairs
24. Front porches
25. The freedom and excitement of homeschooling our children
26. Friends of all kinds
27. The ability that music has to transport me
28. The theatre - it makes my soul so happy
29. The rush of the curtain going up right before a performance
30. Making an audience laugh
31. Our Ladies Christmas Tea and Home Tour each year at church
32. The Duggar Family and the Bates Family
33. How my brother makes me laugh harder than anyone
34. How my younger sister has the sweetest spirit ever
35. How my youngest sister has a passion for so many things
36. Random acts of kindness
37. Fayetteville, Arkansas
38. The great, unmatchable state of Texas
39. My year at Baylor, which taught me an incredible amount about myself
40. Evy's crackly little morning voice and messy hair
41. How Liam's whole face smiles
42. Meeting Liam's incredible foster family
43. Holt International Children's Services
44. The simplicity of a country lifestyle
45. A full meal of delicious comfort foods
46. Christmas stockings
47. Our Christmas Parade of Lights each year
48. Comfy couches
49. Worship in all forms - hymns, praise songs, dance, instruments
50. The ability to walk
51. The ability to see
52. The ability to hear
53. The ability to speak
54. My wonderful church
55. Serving with my husband in Worship Ministry and Lifegroup
56. A wonderful Preschool Ministry for our children to attend
57. The incredible power of prayer
58. Technology and its ability to connect people
59. Lunches with my Dad
60. Time spent with my Mom
61. My Nana's old yearbooks and the memories I have looking through them
62. Iced Christmas cookies from Rick's Bakery in Fayetteville, AR
63. Nana's ginger cookies
64. Dah telling stories around the table
65. My crazy, fun, hilarious and godly cousins
66. Veterans and all who are serving in the Armed Forces
67. Singing in a choir and the collective sound of voices singing together
68. Walking through a beautiful park
69. Fresh, clean, crisp sheets on the bed
70. A car that takes us places
71. Spending time with my friends
72. Going to see movies in the theater
73. Hearing my Poppy tell us stories
74. Christmas traditions
75. Large families
76. Clean drinking water
77. Visiting historical sites and expanding my knowledge
78. Enjoying a meal in a restaurant
79. Pumpkin patches
80. Having a dishwasher
81. Having a microwave
82. Having running water and a sink
83. Having a refrigerator
84. The living Word of God
85. Evy's well-worn and well-loved Bun Bun
86. When Evy wears her princess dresses "just because"
87. Handwritten notes and letters
88. My wedding rings
89. Having my great-grandmother's wedding gown in my possession
90. Beth Moore
91. Rustic Cabins
92. Cottages
93. A garage to park our cars in
94. Our kitty Thomasina
95. Watching home videos and dwelling in memories
96. Cowboy boots
97. Family meals around the table
98. Our Christmas Eve service at church
99. Creating memories with Kurt's family
100. Candles
101. The opportunity to vote
102. Watching Evy and Liam play together
103. Watching Evy's maternal instinct take root in caring for Liam
104. Classic, wholesome movies and musicals
105. The fact that Kurt made Evy and Liam a playhouse out of cardboard boxes
106. My camera and the opportunity to capture precious moments
107. Cooking for my family
108. Little feet running through my house
109. Evy singing along in the car to her church "Music Class" songs
110. Evy learning to say "Jesus" in sign language
111. Liam resting his head on my shoulder
112. Our little routine of praying with our babies before naps and bed
113. Sunlight coming through a window
114. Going to showers and celebrations for friends and family
115. Framed pictures around the house
116. God's incredible, amazing grace
117. When Scripture passages lift from the page and come alive
118. Learning about people in the Bible from a human perspective
119. Child sponsorship
120. Operation Christmas Child
121. The Cross and absolutely everything it means
122. That Jesus loves me. He loves me!
123. How the Old and New Testaments are so intricately entwined and connected
124. The Holy Spirit
125. Doctors and medical professionals who save lives everyday
126. God's incredible forgiveness over me every single day
127. That when we ask God for wisdom, He gives it
128. Getting something unexpected in the mail
129. Christmas cards
130. Making friends when you least expect it
131. Long talks with my favorite people
132. Playing the piano
133. A hot shower or bath
134. A husband who is so selfless and loving
135. Fresh flowers
136. Experiencing authentic conversations with authentic friends
137. The refreshment of a good nap
138. Celebrating with friends who welcome children through pregnancy
139. Celebrating with friends who welcome children through adoption
140. Being challenged in my faith by friends who radically obey the Lord
141. Our brave and incredibly selfless military and their families
