One Thousand Gifts

*Eucharisteo* — Grace, Gratitude, Joy  

He pours out His grace, sometimes in ways that may not seem as such.  We stay awake, eyes wide open, watching for Him.  We thank Him for the gifts, grace all around.  Joy follows and fills us.

Ann Voskamp writes it more beautifully and explains it more deeply.  I read her book about loss and thankfulness and I am forever changed. 

My own list follows.  It keeps me awake.  I don’t want to miss a thing! 

1. Grace that taught my heart to fear
2. Grace, my fears relieved
3. The gift of marrying my very best friend
4. Until death do us part…never a doubt
5. Voices, loud through the hallway
6. Lemon slice, like sunshine in my glass
7. Big pink flower perched on my middle girl’s head
8. Reading glasses, inviting me from atop a book
9. Quiet moment w/snuggly little girl
10. Verse…Robert Louis Stevenson
11. Waking to daisies, bedside
12. Hazel (25 year old dryer) is still running, noisy as she is
13. Electric pencil sharpener…professional strength
14. Babes, all tucked in
15. Bare backed little boy hunched over cereal bowl.
16. Family memories, coming through photos
17. Sweet girl joining us on our trip
18. Little boy wanting so many hugs
19. Teen girl who kisses, “Goodnight, Mommy”
20. Ann Vaskamp
21. Fruit, frozen and blended smooth
22. Strong arms wrapped around
23. “I got a dollar, hey, hey, hey, hey” ;0)
24. Travel for basketball; a passion
25. Conviction on a little heart
26. Light snoring, breathing all around the dark hotel room
27. Comfortable beds while away
28. Winning
29. Losing
30. Celebration
31. Tears of disappointment
32. Family; so much family
33. Friends; close friends
34. My Mama’s brother
35. All seven of us under one gym roof
36. Ice skating and cheesecake; all together
37. The college boy’s company
38. Teammates and families
39. A little boys protection; no brain damage
40. Friend of 36 years and her family
41. My best friend
42. Coffee with my cream and sugar
43. Safe travel
44. Home sweet home
45. washer and dryer (Hazel) working hard
46. Quiet House (except for Hazel)
47. Text from college boy
48. Mother-in-Love
49. Puppies, safe and sound
50. A friend’s wisdom
51. A friend’s contagious laughter
52. Breakfast for dinner
53. Eight year old’s wacky toothy grin
54. Teen girl’s renewed self imaage
55. Kitchen help
56. Matched socks
57. Middle girl cooking for littles
58. Siblings saying “thank you” to each other
59. The sound of water filling the washing machine in a clean house
60. Little girl, eight years old, still fits in my lap and wants to be there
61. Quiet moment to pray
62. Oatmeal w/brown sugar
63. Ellie’s voice
64. Tessie’s stories
65. another day
66. March madnes
67. Bright eyed boy
68. Children/teens helping without complaining
69. Girls getting ready in MY bathroom…they won’t live here forever.
70. Coffee brewing
71. Fresh sheets on my bed
72. Windows all around
73. Talking; enjoying oldest daughter
74. Oldest girl and youngest girl watching “Love Comes Softly” together
75. Photos emailed to me from  while she is out shopping; she wants my opinion
76. Daughters valuing my opinion
77. Little’s company while going through photos
78. Family all together, laughing
79. Little drawings from little girl
80. Rugs underfoot
81. Girls late night run to store w/Daddy
82. This house
83. Lamplight
84. Healing bodies
85. No emergency room visit for little girl’s head bump
86. Husband’s patience
87. College Boys Homecoming
88. A morning alone
89. Husband going by the store for me; gladly
90. College boy playing w/his dog
91. Littles w/legos
92. Aroma of coffee
93. My sweet songbird; song throughout the house
94. Husband and littles working together; a clean garage
95. My girls are home
96.  A clean porch
97. Able arms
98. Family lunch with college boy and Grampa
99. Dinner all cleaned up
100. Comnin in to “flowers” in an egg cup carefully placed on bed table by little girl
101. Apricot blossoms in tiny vase
102. Long snuggles w/ten year old boy
103. Rolled Oats;  jar full
104. Lotion, relief for dry hands
105. Pride slowly breaking
106. Oldest and Littles: Kids all piled up
107. Sweet 16
108. Nuerologists; hospitals for children
109. No “job”; staying home
110. Family all around the table
111. Warm chocoate chip cookies
112. Oldest girl baking
113. Breaths of cool air
114. Quiet…well sorta quiet
115. lip stuff
116. Middle girls booty dance; cracking up
117. Duece Duece’s (a.k.a. Sam) disposition
118. Sam’s sense of humor
119. Little girl’s tender heart
120. Last few minutes w/college boy
121. Funds for Nationals
122. Bare wood floors
123. Cheeping; birds out window
124. Dirty dishes stacked by the sink; evidence of a good meal and kids around
125. Grandma’s old squeaking beds in girl’s room; reminding me that my girls will sleep here only awhile longer
126. Ripening bananas…smoothie time
127. Ellie’s funny words
128. Waking before the sun
129. Time with Jesus 
130. New phases
131. Warm lamplight glowing
132. Comfort of lip balm
133. Music
134. Quiet heart
135. Sound of the dishwasher; working hard
136. Travel; all in the car
137. Honking at cows
138. Onions, sweet and grilled
139. House all clean
140. The way the oldest girl loves her sister, her best friend
141. Oldest girl’s melody all through the house
142. Pups barking at the dumpster truck; daily ritual
143. Littles, fresh out of bed
144. Little girl’s giggle
145. Joining little girl in giggles
146. One Thousand Gifts
147. A sweet young friend’s infectuous laugh
148. Silly girls still under our roof
149. Father/son communication
150. Over the counter meds
151. Morning snuggles w/little girl
152. Little girl’s funny questions and smart answers
153. Opportunities to get creative, industrious and hard working
154. My best girlfriend
155. Coffee brewing
156. Wii
157. Youngest carving initials in tree
158. Little girl’s scripture memory
159. Sleeping angels, precious littles
160. Communication w/my girls
161. Being driven to HIM
162. Forgiveness of sin, cast far
163. Middle of the night, time w/Jesus
164. Young people on fire for Jesus; in love w/Him
165. Infectuaousness of a young person’s love for Jesus
166. Down lap throw and slippers
167. Protected heart of my teen girl
168. Peace
169. A new friend; true
170. Gym time w/oldest girl
171. Health and strength
172. Sound mind
173. That my perception is not necessarily reality
174. Oldest son asking first
175. Work ethic of oldet girl
176. A beautiful day
177. Raw oats in jar; elemental and simple
178. Home
179. Steam rising from my mug
180. Good ol’ Bessie (really old van)
181. My Seaside sweatshirt
182. An older woman’s wisdom
183. Highlights for my hair
184. Technology, keeping me connected w/my kids
185. Burt’s Bees
186. A clear blue sky
187. The company of my beloved
188. “Friends, food, translators” (oldest girl)
189. “Showers, Sisters, British accents” (oldest girl)
190. “Nice car, good teammates, supportive family” (from college boy)
191. “Water, my dog, My house” (middle girl)
192. “Colored pens, guitar, body spray” (middle girl)
193. “Showers, Clean car, Pandora” (college boy)
194. Sunlight pouring through windows
195. Coffee, fresh and waiting in pot
196. “A healthy body; sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle, a cool morning” (college boy)
197. “Daughter working w/me” (husband)
198. Text messaging immediate family to share our “gifts”
199. Little girl having time in the Word next to me
200. Exercise, Tandem ride w/little girl
201. Cracking up w/my girls
202. Girls laughing at themselves
203. Dimples on her little face
204. The sounds of piano, laughter, voices and the dryer colliding in air
205. Neuorologists and family support for a little boy
206. College boy; selfless and available
207. Cabinet doors/fridge opening and closing; commotion of kids at breakfast
208. Kids perched, hair messy, oatmeal bowls in hand
209. Middle girl getting well; Momma not sick
210. Little girl’s night time rest
211. Family laughing with oldest girl’s new friend…through text; hilarious

 

1. Joining Ellie’s giggle
2.