November 2014
Three gifts red- It is a gift to be able to remember my mom every time I see the color red. It was her favorite! I honestly can't look at something red without her coming to mind. It was really, really special to see everyone wearing red at her memorial service.
- It is a gift to have a healthy heart (hopefully it's red! lol). It's a gift. I know that at any moment that can change, but I am working on taking care of me. I want to be there for my kids.
- Another gift that I have been given in the past, by my wonderful husband Stephen is the pretty red roses. He spoils me rotten. I knew the day he sent me flowers for mother's day that he was a keeper.
- It is a gift to live in a very generous community. My family has been the beneficiary of quite a few gifts. Our most memorable is when we were adopted for Christmas. You can read more about it here and here. We have also never gone without. This community helps take care of it's own. I just love it.
- It is a gift to have a community of believers to worship with. I love that I can go to church and worship and learn about God without fear of persecution. It isn't a freedom everyone has.
- It is a gift to be in a community where there is so many opportunities to do new things. I have been able to do more with my family then we would have ever been able to do back in Oregon (we lived in a much smaller town!)
- It is a gift that my wonderful sister was able to make my wedding dress. It is just beautiful and perfect for our special day.
- It is a gift that I was able to hug and hold my sister, dad and brother as well as my other Schallig family. I miss them so much. These trips are just wonderful to be able to get my hugs in.
- It is a gift to be able to share our special day with those we love. I think everyone there was happy (and if they weren't they faked it really well!)
- It is a gift to have been able to do most of the work for the wedding. It was so much fun making things just the way we wanted them.
- It is a gift to not have to prepare any thanksgiving meals this year. One of the perks of traveling. Though I do think we might end up three different places for meals!
- It is a gift to be able to prepare things for my girls for Christmas. I am so excited for this year. They aren't getting much in way of toys, but they are going to be happy with it. =) I am also happy to be able to prepare the 24 days of Christmas for them again. Not so many days since they spend half at their dads, but we will still have fun the days they are with us!
- my tears. I am not a pretty crier. But He sees my tears, counts them even! It is such a gift to know that about my Heavenly Father.
- The rain. It makes the day just ugly (in my personal opinion!) But without it, the world would be ugly. Not to mention that beautiful smell and the way things look after the rain.
- This is going to sound horrible, but I think McKayla's teeth are ugly beautiful. They look funny right now, missing a few, have a few "grown up" teeth and quite a few baby teeth. But she has the most beautiful smile. Her whole face lights up. Just love it!
- When I first moved into my own place, my dad and mom really helped me out. They helped me get groceries and some kitchen things I needed. Each gift alone might have been humble, but as a whole, it was amazing. Very generous, especially knowing they don't have a whole lot of extra money either.
- In 2005 my mom made me a cross stitch picture for mother's day (see here). Since then, to this day, I have it on my wall. It is a simple one, nothing super fancy, but it's from her and just touched my heart something special. Still does.
- The crafts that the kiddos do for mother's day at school and church are always super special to me. One that comes to mind (click the link to see the blog post I did about ) is when McKayla and Natalie were in preschool, they pained terracotta pots and gave me flowers in them with a picture and poem. The flowers didn't last long, but I still have the pictures in their handmade frames. It didn't cost much but it was super special to me.
- Grace. Without Christ and His death on the cross, there would be no grace. We would have to do actual sacrifice for the sins we commit. He gives us grace more often then I think he should (or that I would be able to give others!) It's just amazing.
- A helper to be with us always. As helpful as my family and friends (and kids) are, they can't compare with the mental help the Holy Spirit provides. Some days it's that quiet voice in my head telling me that this too shall pass.
- Hope. Without Christ there is no hope. I know where I am going when I die. I know that someday I will be reunited with my mom. As hard as life can be, that makes it just a little bit easier, knowing that in the end, I will be rewarded for a life in Him. Even if I'm not perfect.
- It is a gift to see my family again. I have been worried about this trip, just a little, because it is the first time coming home when mom won't be there. But it's still a blessing to be able to see them all again.
- It is a gift to know that my girls are well taken care of while I am gone. They have a good dad and that is an amazing gift.
- It is a gift to have not one but two amazing church families. I have my hometown church family and my Boise church family. Both are amazing and supportive and I love them all. Not going to lie, I was a little worried when I first moved, that no church could compare with the one I had spent the first 25 years of my churched life in. But I was blessed indeed by the family that immediately took in me and the girls. It's an added bonus that when I go "home" it's like I never left. LOVE my church families.
- It is a gift to be able to carry a few traditions from when I was a child into my life with my children. For example, we have a family tradition of an "up" day. It's a day where we go to my aunt's house and my dad's sisters and their families (and now their children's families) all meet up and spend the afternoon and dinner together. We call it an "up" day because we used to have to drive up a hill to get there and the name stuck. I get to have an "up" day Saturday when I go home and I am so excited!
- It is a gift to be able start new traditions with my girls. I have been trying to do a "25 Days of Christmas" every year, it's slowly becoming tradition. They also get pj's to open on Christmas eve to wear Christmas day. Not quite sure how we will work that now that I only have them either Christmas or Christmas eve, but we will figure it out.
- It is a gift to be able to merge my family's traditions with Stephen's families and create our own. I can't wait to see how we figure things out.
- It is a gift to not have to worry about maintaining my yard. I have a property management company that takes care of all of that for me!
- It is a gift to have been able to enjoy the fall foliage before the snow abruptly ended our autumn.
- It is a gift to be able to enjoy autumn as well as the other three seasons in the beautiful state I live in.
- One gift made is the poem my mom cross stitched for me. She is gone, but it is with me forever. It reads "Daughter, you may have outgrown my lap but you will never outgrow my heart."
- A gift shared is the wonderful books that have been given to me about grief and grieving. They have been such an amazing help to me in this difficult time as have the friends who have shared them with me.
- A gift passed on is the book that my good friend Erica gave me. It's about Ruth and I am very excited to read it.
- It is a gift to hear my girls laughing and playing together in the other room. Their laughter is really the most beautiful sound ever.
- It is a gift to have tv shows to watch that make me laugh. Sometimes you need a break and it's nice to have a few shows in my Netflix que that just make me laugh.
- It's a gift that my girls have great humor. Sometimes they come out with the funniest things without even knowing it. For example, yesterday we were doing our memory verse in Sunday school and were filling in the blanks. We were trying to get the kids to answer "trustworthy" and started with the T sound and Alivia blurts out "terrific!" I don't think I have laughed that hard in Sunday school before. The Lord is absolutely terrific, but he is also trustworthy. Just loved her answer.
- Even though right now my life is amazing, it is still hard getting past the rejection of my first husband and then death of my mom and best friend. Even in those times, I had to raise my hands and give it to him. He is the only one capable of taking me through this storm. Yesterday was a little rough for me. I can't even really explain what was going on, but I felt weepy and unsettled all day. I know that, in dealing with my loss, there are going to be difficult days. Living through those and being able to wake up the next morning is one of my hard eucharisteo gifts. I am slowly seeing the different ways he has blessed me through this.
- Another gift hard eucharisteo is the financial struggles I have had. I keep thinking that without those struggles, I would never be where I am now. I have worked hard and got out of the situation but honestly don't know how I did it. Actually I didn't, He helped me through it. That hard situation showed me what a gift it is to be where I am now.
- My third hard eucharisteo gift is my children. Now before you get judgy on me, hear me out. Being a mom is HARD. Being a single mom means that (at least for awhile longer!) I have no help at home. Sometimes it is so hard, it leaves me feeling mentally (often psychically) exhausted. But I am thanking God for my children the whole while. It's sometimes a real joy, it's always a blessing, but sometimes it is so hard to see.
- It's white gold, but my wedding band and engagement rings are a gift. They are a constant reminder that I have an amazing man in my corner who will always be there.
- My ring from my mommy. A gift that continually reminds me that she will never really be gone, so long as she is in my memories.
- The beautiful golden sunrise over the snow. I think it was even more beautiful then the ones we have when it isn't white. The glow against the white snow is just amazing. It's a gift to be able to see beautiful things like that.
- Silence is a gift. To be able to just sit in the quiet of my home, it's peaceful.
- Watching my girls sleep. They are silent (mostly) and I can just enjoy watching them.
- The snow falling. So long as I am inside and not driving in it, it really is quite beautiful.
- It is a gift to be able to have a door that I can close on the cold. Especially with today being the first snow of the year.
- It was a gift to open the door to my first house on my own this year. Before the year ends I will be sharing that door with Stephen and I can't wait.
- It is a gift to be able to open the doors to school beyond high school. I never thought I would go to college and I am going to be paying it off forever, but it got me my job here and I wouldn't trade it for anything!
- The gift of a beautiful fall day, despite the freezing temperatures, at least I can see the colors.
- The gift of a warm lunch to warm me up and fill my tummy.
- The gift of a quiet break from the phones, if only for thirty minutes.
- It is a gift to have tons of stories about my mom to share with my girls as they get older. I was blessed to have her 30 years, and her legacy will live on.
- It is a gift to have some things of my moms to keep her alive in my mind.
- It is a gift to have been able to share her with a few friends. She wasn't just my mom, she was mom to many.
- For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
- He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary.They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
- It is a gift to be able to go buy fresh produce, even when I can't grow it at home.
- It's a gift to be able to enjoy fruits from other places that can't be grown here (I bought a pomegranate today!)
- It's a gift to be able to share my love of fresh produce with my girls. They already love their fruits and veggies and I love it!
- It is a gift to be able to get candy on clearance after Halloween as a treat to myself and not eating it all yet!
- It is a gift to be able to make (salty, but not too salty!) taco soup and be able to have it for lunches for the next few days. It's perfect for those cool days of fall.
- It is a gift to be able to sip on my soda. It's something I am a little too hooked on, but I figure it's better then another habit I could have! :P
- The beautiful foothills I can see, no matter which window I am looking out.
- The amazing sunrises I can see out my car window, never fail to leave me amazed at His handiwork.
- The rain coursing it's path down my window. So grateful we live in an area where water isn't a concern.
- It is a gift that I live in a country where I can vote for my government leaders and some of the laws. I also think it's also amazing that every single vote counts here. Look at ballot measure 92 in my home state of Oregon, it failed 49.63% to 50.37%!
- It is a gift that I live in a country who's government protects my freedom of religion. There are so many places where you have to hide to worship, I'm just glad that isn't happening here.
- It's a gift that anyone can be involved in politics. There were so many volunteers of all ages out at the voting polls, I just thought it was amazing. And it's also a gift to be able to observe your government at work. I can't say for other countries, because I haven't been there, but this one's pretty awesome.
- My beautiful engagement ring and wedding bands. I love them and love the symbol they share.
- The opportunity isn't, but the jamberries are acorn sized. I am so glad for this gift. Seems God opened this door just at the right time for me.
- My eyes. They are a constant reminder of my mom, also a reminder that my mom's legacy lives on in the form of someone else's sight. Not sure if I shared on here but we were able to donate her eyes to the Lyons eye bank. Truly a gift to know they are helping someone else.
- Natalie. My sweet middle child will always be a gift. She tries my patience but helps me grow in more ways then I imagined I could.
- New beginnings. I never imagined the change my life would take as I brought in the new year, but what I thought was a terrible thing turned into an amazing gift. My new beginning with Stephen is really a gift.
- Nature. Every time I look around, I see something else beautiful, something else God created for us. It sometimes leaves me breathless it's so beautiful.
- The wonderful pot-luck lunch that work had on Halloween.
- Being able to afford to get myself sodas when I feel like it.
- Learning how to cook a few things on my own that aren't from a box (yummy taco soup!)
- a nice warm coat for myself and my girls for the winter.
- pants that I found at costco that fit me well.
- comfy sweatpants to wear on the weekends.
December 2014
Three gifts anticipated- It is a gift to be able to anticipate an extra day off. This week I've been on the phones and its been pretty busy. Makes me feel more tired then normal.
- It is a gift to be able to anticipate going home after work. I love going home to Stephen and my girls.
- It is a gift to be able to anticipate paid vacation. My paid time off is slowly growing again and I can't wait for our next trip to Oregon.
- It is a gift to be able to anticipate an extra day off. This week I've been on the phones and its been pretty busy. Makes me feel more tired then normal.
- It is a gift to be able to anticipate going home after work. I love going home to Stephen and my girls.
- It is a gift to be able to anticipate paid vacation. My paid time off is slowly growing again and I can't wait for our next trip to Oregon.
- It is a gift that we have a hope for our future. We know the end of the story. Jesus paid the ransom for us to go to Heaven, all we have to do is ask Him into our hearts and allow Him to change our lives.
- It is a gift to have a hope of a better future. I lived for too long worried about what tomorrow would bring. Would I have money to pay all my bills or would something have to be pushed off for later. I feel right now that our family is in a solid place and I am so grateful.
- It is a gift to have a hope for my girls' future. They can be anything they want to be and that is amazing.
- It is a gift to be able to smell. My daddy can't. I can't imagine not being able to. Scent is tied to so many of my memories.
- Friends lingering after a meeting and getting to chat non business is wonderful.
- The lingering snow on the grass is a gift. Getting to see the pretty white on the grass but not having to drive into it is a gift.
- A gift found would be the popcorn set that Stephen and I just found at shopko for six bucks. It will be wonderful for a movie night!
- A gift shared is jamberry for me. I have been able to share this company with some friends and am praying it helps them as much as it has me.
- A gift saved is the money we have saved on Christmas stuff by buying after the season. Gotta love the post Christmas mark downs!
- Grace. He is the ONLY one who can give it. Without it, we are all doomed.
- Forgiveness. Again, the only person who can give it. The only person who ever walked the earth blameless. He then died on a cross for no reason, so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He only offers us the forgiveness that we can't get anywhere else.
- Love. He shows us perfect love, agape love. We have his example and we are called to put that love back out into the world.
- It is a gift that God picked a young, unremarkable woman to bring about the salvation of the world
- It is a gift that he revealed the Angels to lowly shepherds who were just doing their job. Can you even begin to imagine how they felt?!
- It is a gift to know that people of all kinds came to celebrate the newborn king. We are still all welcome to come to Him. It is a real gift.
- It is a gift that our savior came as a humble man in a humble way to save the world.
- It is a gift to be able to teach humility to my girls. It isn't easy in an "all about me" world, but I'm trying.
- It is a gift to have talented artists and performers who give their glory to Him. He is, after all, the reason they have the talent.
- It is a gift to be able to look at the stars in the sky and know that I worship the God who created them.
- It is a gift to have a star on the top of our tree, as a reminder of what the star over Bethlehem meant back when Jesus was born.
- It is a gift to see "stars" in the eyes of my children when they look at a pretty light display or a beautiful Christmas tree. And to know that they know the reason for the season.
- It is a gift to be able to rejoice in the coming of our Savior in human form.
- It is a gift to be able to wonder at what amazing things he did, just as human man.
- It is a gift to be able to praise him, to give Him praise for what He has done in our lives.
- it is a gift to have a husband who loves Christmas lights as much as I do. It's been fun decorating with him.
- It is a gift to be able to drive around and see all the pretty lights. I just love it. I think it excites me more then the kids.
- It is a gift to be able to light another advent candle each Sunday until Christmas. It's the anticipation of getting to celebrate the birth of our Savior! Love it!!
- It is a gift to know that my savior comes from the lowly background of being born in a manger.
- It is a gift to know that Mary the mother of Christ wasn't anything "special" by the world's standards, but God still used her.
- It is a gift to know that Joseph the earthly "father" of our Lord was willing to overlook the social problem that Mary's unexplained pregnancy had. He married her anyway. I don't know how her story (and in turn the story of Jesus) would have been if he hadn't.
- The miracle of healing is a a gift. Sometimes it is beyond our understanding why things happen the way they do, but I know that He has an amazing plan, I just need to be patient and see where life is going to take me.
- The miracle of birth is a gift. I have never been so blessed as I was the three days I became a mother. It was difficult but totally worth it. Going through childbirth made me feel empowered. If I can do that, I can do anything.
- Grace is a miracle to me and a gift. It is something I would have no way of earning on my own. I didn't deserve it at all, but He still gives it freely.
- It is a gift to see the beautiful frosted patterns on my car window.
- It is a gift to see the beautiful Boise foothills frosted with snow. A great break from the brown.
- It is a gift to have a warm home, safe from the frosty outdoors.
- It is a gift to have a Lord who has literally been in my shoes and walked in human form. Makes Him much more relate-able.
- It is a gift to be able to read the gospel from so many view points and they all confirm each other's stories. I love it.
- It is a gift to know that God loves us so much that He sent His only son to walk among us. Sent Him as a fragile baby who grew into a blameless man who was the sacrifice for our sins.
- One gift gold is the beautiful sparkling gold ornaments Stephen and I picked out for the tree. It really is beautiful
- A gift scented is the wonderful fresh pine smell we get from the tree. Makes the pain of cleaning up needles daily totally worth it.
- A gift bent low would be the branches on our tree. Some of them are so low they almost touch the floor and I LOVE IT!
Three gifts stamped
- Dollar Shave Club. The box comes with a stamp on it! Stephen and I just joined and for nine dollars a month you get four refills of a four blade razor (there are other options) but it's a way better deal then buying them at the store! (Check it out here) According to hubby they are great razors!!
- Christmas cards. They are stamped and so fun to get. Much better then the bills that usually come.
- Jamberry mail. Even though they are my personal orders and I pay for them, it's still fun to see the beautiful new ones I get to use!!
Three gifts striped
- The wallet my girls got me, it's stripes of hearts, but they are still stripes. Makes me smile thinking of them every time I get it out. (see here)
- Candy Canes. I love them and it's such fun to get them and share them with the kids (even if they do get sticky everywhere!)
- The stars and stripes on our flag. They remind me every time I see or think about it how very blessed we are to live in a country where we are free.
- The ornament I shared yesterday that I got in honor of my mommy
- The mini urn that I have so there is always a piece of her with me.
- My beautiful festive nails. They make me smile whenever I see them!
- The beautiful snow as it is falling from the sky or when it is fresh on the ground
- Frost on my windows (love the patterns it makes!)
- A sweet frosty soda. Sometimes it just hits the spot. Probably more often then it should!
- see HERE
- Natalie's smile. It isn't the classic "beautiful" but it is beautiful to me. The gaps of a child loosing her teeth, I just LOVE it!
- Our tree, again not ugly to me, but compared to the perfect christmas tree, well lets just say it isn't. But the girls and Stephen and I love it. That's all that matters!
- Daily struggles in life. They are UGLY and hard, but God takes them and turns them into a beautiful story in my life.
- We hung up our pictures and paintings after rearranging the living room. It is a gift to have reminders of our family and friends around us all the time.
- Our ratties are a gift to me. They are soft and sweet and soon they might sit still long enough to enjoy. lol
- It was a gift to hear McKayla answering Major Rhonda that God was on the top of our sand jar because He is the one who protects us. It was beautiful.
- the candy gifts my love gives me.
- kisses from my babies, even if they don't think they are necessary as often as I wish.
- a blended family working together.
- My beautiful wedding ring and engagement bands. I just love them and they are a constant reminder of what an amazing man God has put in my life.
- The beautiful wedding painting Jen did for us. It isn't silver so much as gray, but I am going to count it anyway!
- The beautiful light from the full moon. It's really like nothing else on earth.
- it is a gift to have running water. The water circling in the toilet bowl reminds me of how blessed our country is.
- It is a gift to have a crowned king of my heart. He is just so amazing. The king of kings and we will soon celebrate his birth again!
- It is a gift to have been able to do so much on our own for the wedding. I think it made it that much more special to know what went into it.
- fresh snow both falling and when it's on the ground
- clean white t-shirts
- beautiful healthy teeth
- the beautiful sun rises and sets I have gotten to see recently
- my girls faces when they get to do something new (see photo above, one of her first carousel rides)
- my pretty jamberry nails and the fact that I can sell them to make extra money. I can't say enough how much I love this company. Being able to sell something that I can stand behind is amazing.
- This girl
- The beautiful brass band we now have at church on occasion. It's wonderful to hear.
- The chorus of voices coming from the back of my van every Sunday. We have been taking between five and seven girls to church every Sunday and they sing all kinds of songs in the backseat. I love hearing them!
January 2015
Three Gifts Heard- it was a gift to be able to hear a voicemail from my mom. A friend had it on her phone and just hearing that voice again, something I can't even put into words.
- it is a gift to hear all my girls playing together and getting along (even if they do get a little too noisy sometimes)
- it is a gift to hear nothing. To go to bed at night knowing my girls are safely and snugly sleeping in their beds.
- It is a gift to be able to look outside and see the snow falling lightly. I love that I can see it but not have to be out in it.
- It is a gift to have a warm cozy house to be inside of.
- It is a gift to be able to have the food to put on my plate without having to worry about where the next meal will come from. I am incredibly blessed.
- It was a gift to hear my daughter offering her new toy to her sister to play with because she was sad.
- It is a gift to hear the sermons on Sunday. Its just a wonderful to be fed and it seems like God knows just what I need to hear.
- It is a gift to hear about the grace of God on my facebook. I know that there are a lot of bad things about facebook, but I have found some amazing inspiration on there.
- My mommy's piggys are my gift old. I look at them and just remember some of the times we shared together.
- A gift new is the relationship I share with Stephen. It's been blessing after blessing with him and I thank God so much for bringing us together.
- And a gift blue would be my eyes. I can look in a mirror and see that I have a part of my mom always with me.
- It is a gift to be able to have hundreds of books for free at my fingertips. I have ebooks on my kindle, 98 percent of which were free. If I hate it, I can delete it. Nothing lost. Something so simple makes me happy
- It is a gift to be able to have all kinds of ingredients at my fingertips to make meals with. Many are not so blessed.
- It is a gift to have sight. I can see clearly almost all the time. Another thing that I am so blessed to have. Even my dear husband has vision problems. I'm blessed.
- It is a gift to have a CPR mask in my purse. Hopefully I never have to use it, but it's there if I need it.
- It is a gift to have plenty of food in my fridge to eat.
- It is a gift to have so many memories of my mom. I am trying so hard to write as many as I can down, so I can share them with the girls as they get older.
- It is a gift to be with someone who continually shows me that he loves me and appreciates me.
- It is a gift to have my "baby" ask me for butterfly kisses.
- It is a gift to have people who have given me grace even though I have bugged them about jamberry like crazy.
- The fog is a gift. It makes everything feel like a dream world. The light isn't too harsh and it's easier to overlook the dirt and not so pretty. Love it.
- My reflection in the mirror is a gift. Seeing the things in myself that I can say are beautiful is a wonderful thing. It's been awhile since I felt beautiful.
- Its a gift to see my girls shadows on the ground, because that means we are outside playing and having fun.
- It is a gift to be able to be held by my husband at night. I didn't do well last night. It was a rough one, and he was just there to help me, hold me together. I don't know what I would do without this man.
- It is a gift to be passed by the sun every day. I can't see the sun right now, but I know it's there. We would be in a world of hurt if it wasn't!
- It is a gift to sit with people at work who I enjoy being around. There are so many people who don't love their jobs. I am glad to say, I'm not one of them.
- The sour war head candies from my now ex husband were an amazing gift. He was kind enough to win me some from one of those claw machines to fix my first pregnancy craving.
- It was a gift to have my wonderful husband bake me snickerdoodle cookies yesterday. They were sweet and delicious!
- It is a gift to have a just right night with my love last night. Just him and me and a little How I Met Your Mother.
- it is a gift to have a wonderful God who gives me more mercy then I ever deserved.
- it is a gift to have forgiveness, even when I don't deserve it.
- it's a gift to get grace from my lovely husband when I'm not the best housewife.
- It is a gift to have a father who is above us and in us all the time.
- It is a gift to live in a free country where I can express my views without fear of persecution.
- It is a gift to walk beside my love. I have been beyond blessed by him.
- I am grateful for my tablet. It's got books, games and internet. Easy to take with me to keep me busy. =)
- I am grateful for my nice warm bed. It's comfortable and big enough for Stephen and I both.
- I am grateful for my comfy couch. It is a wonderful to be able to kick back and relax after work on it.
- It is a gift to have a God who loves me despite my mistakes and flaws.
- It is a gift to have a God who forgives me even when He knows I will make mistakes again and again.
- It is a gift to have a God who wants what is best for me and helps me make the right decisions, even when I don't feel like that's what I should be doing.
- it is a gift to have nice warm coats for my girls, myself and my husband to wear.
- it is a gift to be able to give things away I'm not using anymore. I am taking part in the 365 in 365 challenge and it's been so nice to see things go, knowing they will find homes with others.
- it is a gift to be able to share my christian book collection (or part of it) with my church family. I can't wait for people to be able to take the books they want. Its wonderful to be able to share them.
- It isn't really witnessed by me (yet) but it's a gift to hear stories about the drive through difference that KTSY is promoting. Paying for the person behind you in the drive through. An anonymous thing that can make a huge impact.
- It is a gift still to think about the Christmas Santa came to our house. It was because of one generous person we were able to give our girls the Christmas of a lifetime.
- It is a gift to see a small child wanting to help other kids. The girls school is doing a penny drive for a cancer foundation and they are all so excited to help kids who can't afford it get the treatments they need. I don't know if it's the pizza party or the excitement of helping but it's a blessing none the less.
- My girls are a huge gift. They are now into the jokes. None of them are great, but they make me laugh trying to remember them.
- Prayer is a gift, to be able to talk to my God whenever I want? It's wonderful.
- A quiet house is a gift. Sometimes you just need to unwind and relax and a quiet place really helps.
I think the best gifts found in God's word, are His words. These are just three I have pinned recently.
- My relationship with Stephen almost didn't happen. I really didn't want to get into something so soon. But, God had other plans.
- McKayla. I had seriously low progesterone counts when I first found out I was pregnant. The doctor didn't even know if she was "viable" still.
- My new life in Boise. I kept putting it off and putting it off. I am so glad that I did make the move because I love my life here.
- it is a gift to be able to take close up pictures of pretty flowers. Then I can enjoy them all year round.
- it is a gift to have my pendants from my bouquet. They are small but remind me of those I've lost.
- it is a gift to be able to read my books at night. There are so many who can't read or whose eyes don't work right and I'm eternally grateful I'm not one of them.
- A gift in the sky is the beautiful sunshine that I could see today.
- It is a gift to have clean safe drinking water all the time.
- It is a gift to have memories of my mom. I am working on writing them down so my girls will have them to read later.
- It is a gift to be able to enjoy other people's baby pictures. Adorable wrinkled brand new baby skin without the stress of having to take full responsibility for another child.
- It is a gift to have beautiful smooth jamberries on my own nails without having to use artificial nails anymore. :P
- It is a gift to be able to unfold my nice soft blankie and cuddle on the couch with my love.
- unconditional love. He loves me the same when I am awesome as when I am grumpy and mean.
- unending grace. His patience with me never fails. He offers me grace anytime I need it.
- wonder. His creation often makes me pause and ponder how great our God is, to have created this world just for us.
- The beautiful blue eyes I got from my mom
- The beautiful blue sky we got to see yesterday
- The beautiful blue water we have here and back home in Oregon.
- Being able to borrow things from others and not have to purchase them is wonderful. Money saving and helps me keep down on the excess stuff in my house.
- it is a gift to have found a few new ways to help me reduce the medicines going into my body. I just started using doTerra peppermint oil for my headaches and it's doing pretty well so far. I still have to take drugs for the big ones, but it's been a good thing so far.
- It is a gift to have inherited my mother's love for others. I just want to be able to help others and love on them the way mom did.
- it was a gift to be able to sleep so soundly through the night. Nights have been rough lately and I'm glad last night wasn't one of them.
- It was a gift to be able to take my girls and three of their friends to church. I love being the mom who does that.
- it is a gift to be able to have neighbors who take the kids for play dates. They weren't home until after dark, I think that counts.
- It is a gift to have a husband who is handy in the kitchen.
- It is a gift to have a working dishwasher.
- It is a gift to have a pantry that has lots of choices. I may not want to cook, but I have food to do so. More then some people can say.
- It is a gift to have friends in Boise and back home.
- It is a gift to be able to spend time with people who enjoy the same things as I do.
- It is a gift to be able to have people I can trust and rely on.
- It is a gift to have a few of my mom's piggy collection. They are ones that have been around since I was little, very old, but now very precious in my eyes.
- It is a gift to see the beautiful old houses that have been restored. They aren't new, but they are back to the old glory of their prime. Love them!
- It is a gift to see some of my childhood things through the eyes of my kids. I have a few stuffed toys they got that were mine and to hear and see them playing with the same things I did, it's beautiful. Old toys given a new life.
- it is a gift to get letters in the mail that are actual letters. It's a great change from bills all the time.
- it is a gift to get family and friends visiting from out of town. It's been too long since I saw everyone and I miss them. What I wouldn't give for a visit!
- it is a gift to have pictures of my friends and family back home that I can look at whenever I want. I miss them a lot!!
February 2015
Three gifts red- It is a gift to have a beautiful red urn so I am never without a piece of mom.
- It is a gift to have my red rhododendron painting. It is pained by my great aunt and it was love at first sight. I am so glad that Grandpa let me have it!
- It is a gift to not be "in the red" with my jamberry business.
- It is a gift to have a shelf full of books to read whenever the mood strikes.
- It is a gift to have a bible that I can read and write in, highlight and study.
- It is a gift to have paper to write on. Sometimes the computer just isn't as therapeutic as pen to paper writing.
- It is a gift to have a multitude of books I can get lost in when I need time away from the real world.
- It's a gift to be able to read my old writing and see how far I've come.
- It is a gift to watch my girls learn to love writing and see them grow.
- it is a gift to be able to bend down to talk to my girls, to hear their stories and how their day has gone.
- it is a gift to be able to bend down and play with my girls. To let them share a part of their play with me.
- it is a gift to be able to bend down and hug and kiss my girls. I love every single time it happens, spontaneous or prompted.
- it was a gift to find that my amazing husband sewed my button back on my pants.
- It is a gift to have the Christmas lights on our house that my wonderful husband put up (I'm sure he used a hammer lol)
- It isn't woven exactly, but mom made me a beautiful cross stitched wall hanging and it is just so precious to me now.
- It is a gift to be able to see the beautiful sun rises and sets on my way to and from work.
- It is a gift to view the changing seasons. I catch the glimpses of spring coming and it gives me hope.
- It is a gift to see the animals out my window. We have a fun squirrel who I just love watching. He is "our" squirrel and I love him!
- It is a gift to have had my heart broken, because if it didn't happen, I wouldn't have the life I have now that I love.
- It is a gift to have a man who is able to fix things around the house. I had so many "honey do" projects that he helped me complete. Much faster with his help!
- It is a gift to have gotten a few things for our wedding thrift style. I added a few things and made them our own, made a perfect touch for our wedding without the cost associated with buying personalized stuff.
- It is a gift to be surprised by strangers when they show you there is still good in the world.
- It is a gift to see charity at work. We saw an adoption drive going on at Petco this weekend and it was nice to see people trying to help others.
- It is a gift to be able to see people I work with go out of their way to help patients and even other staff. I love where I work.
- The girls laughing and singing along while driving to church.
- The girls laughing when we went to the park to fly kites.
- My husband's laughter as he listens to the girls conversations.
- It is a gift to have adult interaction every day. I have no idea how stay at home mom's do it. I don't think I was cut out for being one.
- It is a gift to be able to help others. Even if it's just getting them a glass of water or helping them to their seat, it makes me feel good knowing that what I do matters.
- It is a gift to have a group of coworkers who make me feel appreciated and loved. They have helped me through some of the hardest times of my life.
- It is a gift to have dull knives sometimes, I am clumsy and it's saved my fingers more then a few times.
- It is a gift to have reminders of two very special people shining on my hands all the time. On my left the ring my love gave me and on my right the ring my mom left me.
- It is a gift to have a nice clean kitchen. Stephen and I make a pretty good team. He's been cooking and I've been doing dishes.
- It is a gift to have a warm house behind the door.
- It is a gift to have a nice warm coat hanging on the back of my door.
- It is a gift to have a locking door to close for some privacy in our bathroom and bedroom now.
- I feel the love of God through my girls. They show me every day what unconditional love is. They love me despite how bad a mother I might be.
- The beautiful scenery. It makes me think of how much he loves us, that He created this world for us, just for us. He paints new pictures every day for us in the sky. It's just amazing.
- I feel the love of God through the people at my church. I often get texts just to let me know they are thinking of me, or an email forwarded to me of something someone thinks I will appreciate. I just love feeling the support.
- It is a gift to see the shadows of my girls playing outside in the beautiful sunshine we have been having.
- It is a gift to be able to see my shadow on the ground. Another reminder that spring is coming.
- It is a gift to have shade loving plants we can have in the house. My mini rose bush is doing pretty well. =)
- It is a gift to be able to give to those less fortunate. I have been in the place where I had to take the help and it meant more then I can ever express.
- It is a gift to be able to serve others and show them that they matter. Everyone deserves a hand. Not a hand out, but a hand up.
- It is a gift to be able to give things that I can no longer use to help those who don't have anything.
- It is a gift to be able to hold on to things that have mom's handwriting on them. I love having that piece of her.
- It is a gift to have my journal to write sermon notes on. It's really helpful at keeping me on task during church. Especially knowing that my pastor reads my blog!
- It's a gift to have a new series of books to read. They are waiting for me to finish the book I'm reading now, but I'm pretty excited!
- It is a gift to have Alivia. She was never part of our "plan" but I cannot imagine my life without her!
- It is a gift that I was able to go back to school. I never had plans to go, but I am so glad I did!
- It is a gift being in Boise still. If it were my choice, I might have never left Lebanon, but I have been beyond blessed since moving here.
- It is a gift to have free breakfasts for the girls every day at school.
- It is a gift when my wonderful husband packs my lunch and puts a love note in it.
- It is a gift to have create a meal plan created and stick with it each week, saving our family money.
- My beautiful flowers are a white gift. Love them!
- My journal pages are a gift, they are blank and ready for my words to pour out onto them.
- It is a gift to have the beautiful white clouds of yesterday turn into the beautiful sunset seen here.
- It was a gift to have the beautiful weather to enjoy some time outdoors.
- It was a gift to have a little extra money to spend on another zoo membership.
- It was a gift to spend the day with my sweetheart, sans electronic entertainment.
- It is a gift to have a stock of food in tin cans. My dad was amazing in helping me get started in this new home.
- It is a gift to have our beautiful ceramic animals home. The girls love them!
- It is a gift to have a beautiful wooden box to store our oils in.
- It is a gift to be able to have at least one day a week that we can sleep in. Sadly this week, we still ended up waking up at 8:30, but it still counts!
- It is a gift to be able to enjoy mornings with my girls. I love being able to see them off to school every morning.
- It is a gift to have a few mornings lately where I didn't have to scrape my windows. I am so ready for spring!!
- It is a gift to have multiple pair of shoes to choose from to wear, even if they are a bit worn out.
- It is a gift to have new pants to wear to work. I love feeling pretty.
- It is a gift to be able to "make do" with the clothing that I have to make a wardrobe that is work and home appropriate.
- It is a gift to be able to watch my daughter Natalie taking care of her morning routine, looking in the mirror and loving the way she looks.
- It is a gift to look in my mirror and see a woman I think is beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I can see all my flaws too, but overall, I'm happy about the way I look.
- It is a gift to get things in the mail that make me feel better about the reflection in the mirror.
- My girls' crying faces are not ugly, but certianly not the cutest. Still beautiful seeing their emotions right out front.
- The cold weather we have been having lately. Love the sun. The cold wind? Not so much.
- My mess of a car. I hate how dirty it gets so quickly, but it's a beautiful thing being able to take not only the girls' but their friends to church in it.
- It is a gift to not have been given everything I wanted as a child. I see now that it was what was best for me and helps me make similar decisions for my girls.
- It is a gift to have spent so much time with my grandparents when we were young. I had great relationships with them and it means so much more to me now that both my grandmothers and my mom are gone.
- It is a gift to have gone through storms and come through on the other side. It makes me see that God is there for me, always. He carried me through the loss of my mom, that was the hardest thing I have ever been thorough. He will carry me through anything else I encounter.
- It is a gift to have a warm lunch when I want it.
- It is a gift to have a wonderful man to spend a lazy afternoon with.
- It is a gift to be able to enjoy a dinner, just the man and I.
March 2015
Three gifts at 3pm- It is a gift to have the sunshine streaming through my window.
- It is a gift to smell my dinner already cooking.
- It is a gift to be nearly caught up with the housework! Big thanks to my Hunny for the help with that!
- It is a gift to see the green start peeking out on the trees.
- It is a gift to see the green sprouts of the bulbs sprouting from the dirt.
- It is a gift to see the grass getting greener as the weather is getting warmer.
- It is a gift to have a warm jacket for every member of my family.
- It is a gift to have multiple pair of shoes for my kids to wear. They might be worn down but they work.
- It is a gift to have beautiful reminders of those I love that I can wear. Like my ring from my mom. Not only does it remind me of her, but it reminds me of God's provision for our family.
- It is hard to give thanks for my mom being in heaven. I miss her so much and want her to be with me. I have to keep reminding myself that she is in a better place.
- It is hard to give thanks that my girls had such a wonderful connection with my mom. They have been taking it so hard lately. But I have to be thankful that they had their early years with her to have an influence on them.
- It is a hard to give thanks for hindsight. You know, those things you understand looking back on a situation that you never saw while in it. I just wish I could see these things in the moment. But, hindsight is what hindsight is.
- It is a gift to have found essential oils. They have helped me so much! More on that tomorrow.
- It is a gift to have found so many great friends through Moms Run This Town. I may not be running right now, but I am going back someday and I know they are there for me if I run or not.
- It is a gift to have found the birth boards I am still a part of. I have a few friends I met on the first birth board I was on (we all shared the same month of due date) who I am still friends with. I live on the edge of one. Still keeping tabs on everyone. I also have my birth-board from when I had Liv and we still all talk regularly.
- It is a gift to see any parent (or adult for that matter) bent down to a child's level. Talking to them, playing with them, loving on them. My kids are so blessed to have so many adults around them who love them. You show your love to a child by not always talking down to them but coming and bending down to their level.
- It is a gift to be broken, because that means I have Jesus to put me back together and mold me to be used for His will. I have never been as broken as I felt last year and here I am feeling like a new person. He has taken my brokenness and made me feel useful and beautiful.
- It is a gift to see the beautiful scenery around me. Constant reminders of how much our God loves us. He created this entire world for us to enjoy.
- I am thankful for the "honey do" project that got done. I have a few special mugs to me and now I am able to display them so they are visible.
- It is a gift to have a kitchen, however small, that we can cook in. It isn't something everyone has. I watched House Hunters International and have zero idea how families in England get by with such small stoves and refrigerators.
- It is a gift to have my beautiful garden window in my kitchen for my plants to sit in. I just love being able to look out and if the weather is bad, I can just look at the plants and things in the window.
I think I'm just going to go with the simple. I have three gifts that are always loud, unless they are asleep. They are one of the greatest gifts God has given me. I thank Him that He entrusted me to raise them.
- McKayla
- Natalie
- Alivia
- It isn't carved, well I don't think it is, but it is a gift to have my name written in the hand of my God. It's amazing to me to know that the maker of the universe not only knows my name but knew me before I was even a twinkle in my mom's eye.
- It is a gift to have a bit of time carved out of my day just for me. It's way too easy to let it get away from me and spend all my time taking care of the kids or the husband or work. But my hubby is just the best. He makes sure that I have time for myself and it's wonderful!
- It is a gift to have carved a new tradition for my kids. We began reading a chapter book last week and while mom is reading they get to draw pictures of what they are hearing. It's been awesome.
- It is a gift to be certain where I am going when this life is over.
- It is a gift to know that God loves me so much that he sent His son to die for me.
- It is a gift to be able to share His love with everyone I come in contact with. I may not be able to preach the word, but I am living it day to day.
- It is a gift to have a prayer for my marriage emailed to me everyday. You should check them out if you have a chance, they are awesome. Written by the writer of Messy, Beautiful Love. Seriously, go take a look. The best thing you can do for your marriage is keep the solid foundation of Christ under it, praying is a huge part of that.
- It is a gift to have been able to finish two books last night! I have been slacking on the reading lately but that brings my total for the year up to six.
- It is a gift to hear McKayla reading confidently to her sister. She read Alivia the foot book last night. Then this morning Alivia read one of the early reader books to me. So sweet to hear what they are learning.
- It is a gift to have not had the strong winds we had last month. Makes it really feel like it's becoming spring.
- It is a gift to have the canals full of water again. I know it's a silly thing but I love seeing the irrigation water flow (or any water for that matter.
- It is a gift to have had some beautiful white wispy clouds to look at the past few days. Lets just say, the weather has been amazing!
- It is a gift to have my mom's beautiful eyes.
- It is a gift to have the beautiful round sun in the sky and actually be able to feel it's warmth.
- It is a gift to have two beautiful reminders of the people I love most with me always. The round rings I wear on my hands are that reminder.
- It is a gift to have my mom's beautiful eyes.
- It is a gift to have the beautiful round sun in the sky and actually be able to feel it's warmth.
- It is a gift to have two beautiful reminders of the people I love most with me always. The round rings I wear on my hands are that reminder.
- It is a gift to have enough in my life to be able to give back to others. I am slowly starting to do a few fundraisers and it feels good to give back.
- It is a gift to be able to donate the things that we didn't need or use anymore to those who can use it.
- It is a gift to be able to know that what I don't need anymore goes to help others.
- It is a gift to have gone through the death of my mother. It gives me insight to be able to comfort others. My situation gives me perspective.
- It is a gift to have the hard times with my girls because it makes the good times that much better.
- It is a gift to have suffered through times of ill health because it makes me appreciate the health I feel most days so much more.
- It is a gift to have a nicely made bed, covers turned down and ready for us.
- It is a gift to have someone to help me put away the folded laundry.
- It is a gift to have enough space in our closet to hang all our clothes up. The closet isn't huge but big enough for us and that's wonderful.
- It is a gift to have my beautiful red rhododendron painting. Reminds me of home every time I look at it.
- The beautiful red tulips that are starting to pop up are a gift, a reminder that spring is here.
- The red letters in my bible are a gift, the words of Christ, spoken for me.
- It is a gift to be able to bring left over dinners for my lunches this week. Saving us money and it's been great dinners a second time!
- It is a gift to have a husband who is handy in the kitchen. He made us fried chicken last night and it was amazing!
- It is a gift to have my mom's biscuit recipe. We were smart enough to have her write it down and now we have it for future generations.
- It is a gift to be able to read books that make me laugh.
- It is a gift to be able to talk to my sister every day on my way home from work. She makes me laugh like no other.
- It is a gift to work with people who make my job fun. I laugh at work, a lot, and I love it!
- Popcorn is a gift to us, salty and buttery and delicious.
- Easter candy is a gift, it is sweet and springy and I love it!
- The deep fried green beans that Stephen and I shared were just right and the lunch date we shared today was a gift.
- It is a gift to have the word of God, to study and read and learn. It is through his word that we get to know him.
- It is a gift to have multiple verses to look at when I am having a bad day, to be able to hold in my heart.
- It is a gift to have hope. Every page of his word is written to us and we have hope for a future spent with him.
- It is a gift to have lots of books written by women, for women about living a Godly life.
- It is a gift to have retreats with my church ladies that allow us to grow closer to God and closer to each other.
- It is a gift to have a few ladies at church who have been very supportive in the loss of mom. I don't have her, but I Have a few mom's at church. Helps a little.
- The sermon this Sunday was a gift. Being reminded that the entire time Jesus faced his persecution and crucification He had the control. But he choose to be killed in a most horrible way, for me.
- A kind word from my coworker today was a gift. Seemed she knew I was having a rough day and made sure I knew she cared.
- The beautiful lyrics of my favorite songs are a gift. Being able to worship my Lord and savior with such beautiful lyrics is so amazing.
- It is a gift to have beautiful songs that are also praises to our God.
- It is a gift to have the ability to write and the freedom to write whatever I want.
- Both my family painting and our wedding guest book painting are gifts.
- It is a gift to have winter be almost over. I am so beyond ready for spring.
- It is a gift to have leftovers in the fridge. My meals may last a few days, but they are almost gone now and just as good as the day they were made.
- It is a gift to have family who are willing to help out in a hard time. What I thought was a budget buster was saved by my amazing sister.
- It is a gift that he redeemed me by no merit of my own.
- It is a gift that he redeemed me even though I continually make mistakes.
- It is a gift to have grace, anytime I need it. I am saved by grace.
- It is a gift to have a life so entwined with my church. It's honestly become a second family for me.
- It is a gift to have my children's lives entwined in mine. I can't imagine my life without them being so hopelessly entwined in mine. This week without them has been really strange.
- It is a gift to have voluntarily entwined my life with Stephen's. I love him so much and love sharing our lives together.
- He promises that He will never give me more then I can handle, with His help.
- He promised and provided a guide for us here on earth. The Holy Spirit is an amazing gift.
- He promises us grace. Undeserved, unmerited grace.
- It's a gift to have a beautiful uncovered lawn. I have missed the green so much.
- It is a gift being able to have my comfortable bed and warm covers, especially nice to have the edge to stick my foot out of so I'm not too hot.
- It is a gift to be able to uncover all the memories I have had stored in the shed. Going through all the stuff from my childhood is fun.
- It is a gift to hear the laughter of my girls coming from the bedroom.
- It was a HUGE gift to be able to hold my girls close last night (see above, I missed my snuggles!)
- It is a gift to get my mom's ring fixed. Now I have no worries about losing part of it. The ring was something I would tease her about inheriting (secretly hoping she might relent and let me have it earlier!) but now that I have it, it is a serious blessing.
- April 2015
- My wedding ring. A round endless circle of a reminder of the commitment Stephen and I made.
- The beautiful sunshine that we have enjoyed the last few days (maybe it's been a week, who can remember!)
- The pot of the Easter lily that Stephen brought home for us. A reminder of the new life we have in Christ because of his sacrifice.
- My beautiful Easter Lily
- The Jesus Sand that is the foundation and top of our sand jar
- The yummy peppermint taffy I got in my Mother's day gift box from Jamberry.
- It was a gift to find a couple new jamberry orders on my workstation. Unexpected commissions are wonderful.
- It was a gift to have an unexpected surprising sick day with my girls. I missed them so much, it was nice to have the sick snuggles with them.
- It is a gift to have my ring back, better then before because I know it's in great condition so I can be assured it is safe from damage on my hand all the time.
- It is a gift to be surrounded by fellow believers, celebrating the joy of a risen Savior!
- It is a gift to have my girls this Easter. Let them play and enjoy the day.
- It is a gift to have a beautiful family to celebrate with, have a beautiful Easter dinner.
- it is a gift to have a sturdy bookshelf to keep my books on.
- it is a gift to have a nice looking bedroom set to enjoy in our bedroom
- it is a gift to have a twin bed for each of my girls.
- It is a gift to have found Stephen. He is the man I never knew I was waiting for.
- It is a gift to be a part of Jamberry. I hesitated getting into a direct sales company but this is a perfect fit for me. I'm so glad I waited for the right opportunity.
- Waiting until the last minute to get the girls' Easter baskets ready was a gift. Stephen and I got to spend some time together, we only spent about $35 on all three baskets and the girls were thrilled with them.
- it is a gift to watch a balloon rising up with a letter to grandma attached.
- it is a gift to watch the birds take off, rising into the sky. Never fails to amaze me how perfectly God created them to be able to fly.
- it is a gift to see the run going up on the horizon. I get a great view when I go to work of the sunrise. Beautiful!
- it is a gift to see my beautiful baby girl, hiding under her blankie from me in the mornings.
- it is a gift to hold my child in my lap, snuggle her during her final days as a five year old and then again on her first day of year six.
- it is a gift to have heard all three of my girls playing nicely together in their room. Doesn't happen often, and I love hearing it when it does.
- It was a gift to see Alivia open her presents from her aunt sissy, papa Jaye and auntie Lease and see their reactions via skype. Technology is amazing.
- It was a gift to see my husband's beautiful face as I opened the front door yesterday. He was trying to scare me, but I don't mind!
- It is a gift to be able to open my pantry and fridge and have food in there. Might not be what I want, but we have never had to without.
- The trees are budding with new leafs
- some of them are blooming
- it is a gift that my husband brought some of the blooms inside for me.
- it is a gift to have a beautiful wedding dress made by my sister.
- it is a gift to have a quilt in the process, made with shirts my mommy wore.
- it is a gift to have been able to buy the girls their beautiful Easter dresses. They looked beautiful!
- It is a gift to have the beautiful sunshine streaming through my windows.
- It is a gift to have the light from the girls' nightlight bright enough to see my beautiful babies sleeping.
- It is a gift to see the bright smiles of the kiddos at church yesterday.
- It is a gift to look up and see the trees blooming
- It is a gift to look up and see the beautiful blue sky.
- It is a gift to look up and see the airforce jets doing their training runs.
- It is a gift to have a bag full of toys, clothes and other things we can donate to help make someone else's life better. Just things we were no longer using.
- It is a gift for the girls to have gotten packages in the mail for Alivia's birthday. Not only did she get birthday presents but the other two got a few things from their aunt Sissy as well.
- It is a gift to have found an amazing series of books that took my mind somewhere else for awhile.
- It is a gift to have gone through my divorce, without which I would have never fallen in love with my beautiful husband.
- It is a gift to have gone through hard financial times because they makes me appreciate what we have even more.
- It is a gift to have been through the loss of my mother because it helps me to be sympathetic to my patients and coworkers at the office.
- It is a gift to see how wonderfully our little family has woven together. The girls love Stephen and he loves them.
- It is a gift to have a few of my mom's needlepoint creations. They aren't woven, but the thread is woven through the canvas, so I am counting it.
- It is a gift to have doTerra oils woven into the fabric of our lives. They are making a difference in how we treat illness and injury in our house.
- It is a gift to have my mommy's ring. It's a daily reminder that she's always with me.
- It is a gift to have a few of my mommy's pigs. She was a collector and every time I see them it makes me smile.
- It is a gift to have my great uncle's painting in my home. I miss home and this helps me feel a little closer to my family.
- It is a gift to have my mommy's ring. It's a daily reminder that she's always with me.
- It is a gift to have a few of my mommy's pigs. She was a collector and every time I see them it makes me smile.
- It is a gift to have my great uncle's painting in my home. I miss home and this helps me feel a little closer to my family.
- The beautiful view out my square window.
- The box full of essential oils I am just learning to use.
- The throw pillows on our couch set, comfy and inviting.
- Christ is my refuge and my safe place.
- Christ is my comfort when I am lost.
- Christ is my peace.
- it is a gift to be growing even closer to my sister.
- it is a gift to be close to my husband. He is my best friend and I love that we can talk about anything.
- it is a gift to be close with both Stephen and my family and also the girls' dad's family. It's important that they know we are still a family, just a bigger one.
- It's a gift to have the sun reflecting on the water, beautiful.
- It is a gift to have three girls who have no problems with self image and love looking in the mirror.
- It is a gift to have the reflection of my mom's eyes in my own face. People say I look just like her and that is a huge blessing.
- our beautiful wedding cake topper is a gift. To have it to remind us of that special day.
- the twin piggys that I got when mom passed are a gift. Anytime I see them I remember her and smile.
- the memories I have of my mom. They aren't going to last forever. I want to cling to them. Part of the reason I am writing things down on Blogging Through My Grief
- It is a gift to have the beautiful knitted prayer shawl from the hospital. It was donated and had a special card. Means a lot to me to have it.
- It is a gift to have the beautiful charms I had in my bouquet at the wedding. They have pictures of the people we miss most on them.
- It is a gift to have a beautiful wedding painting, spread over a frame of wood. A reminder of all the love and support we have from family and friends.
- the movement of the water in the Boise river
- the movement of the white clouds moving across the bright blue sky
- the movement of the birds and squirrels in our yard
- Blogger is a gift. To have this as a journal of sorts to look back on, it's a precious gift. (The blogger sign is orange!)
- Beautiful spring flowers. I saw some on my way to church the other day and wish I had stopped to take a picture, they were just beautiful!
- The vibrant colors of an Idaho sunset. Some days it is pink and purple, other days a blazing orange and red.
- It is a gift to have a husband as excited as I am about getting our hands dirty and having a (however small) garden
- It is a gift to have the cute squirrel in our yard. We love to watch him hide the nuts we leave him in the dirt.
- It is a gift to have plans for what is going to go in our dirt. We are going to have a wonderful garden this year. Might be all in pots, but it will be wonderful.
- It was a gift to be able to give my friend a journal. She uses it to take notes at church and it makes me smile every time.
- It is a gift to be able to cook meals at home more often. We are able to save money and try new things.
- It is a gift to have been able to sacrifice some of my paid time off to be able to be with M today. I wasn't there with Natalie for her work, so this was a real gift.
May 2015
Three gifts tasted- It is a gift to have wonderful home cooked meals made for our family by my wonderful husband.
- It was a gift to have pot lucks at work, to get to try other things that people like. We had a welcome one this week for a newbie and have another planned May 5th.
- It is a gift to have wonderful tasting coffee readily available in the mornings. Our Keurig is my best friend.
- It is a gift to have flat portable technology. We have been able to have a few skype dates using my tablet and I love it!
- It is a gift to have a nice flat yard the girls can play in.
- It is a gift to have flat mostly smooth roads to travel. I can't imagine traveling the way they did back in the old days, before freeways.
- It is a gift to have lived with difficult family members, they helped me to give grace to those, even when they don't deserve or even want it.
- It is a gift to deal with difficult patients at work because it helps me appreciate the ones who aren't even more.
- It was really hard during my mom's sudden trip to the hospital and then death. I dealt with a few very well meaning difficult people. People say things when they are grieving that they don't think about. Having lived through that, it makes me more aware of the things that I say to people in volatile situations.
- It is a gift to be able to see my kids off to school every day they are here. They walk to school, but its nice to be able to get them ready and send them off.
- It is a gift to have my Keurig. I love that I can make one cup and be done. I also am blessed to have free coffee at work.
- It is a gift to have a job that I love to go to in the mornings. Don't get me wrong, there are some days I really don't want to be there, but overall, I do love my job.
- it is a gift to have a beautiful array of signs in our break room to celebrate today.
- it is a gift to have a staff at work full of smiles because we get to party at lunch.
- it is a gift to not have to pack a snack because we are having a Mexican pot-luck today.
- It is a gift to have a God who reminds us daily of His creativity through His creation.
- It is a gift to have abundant love from Him. Never ending.
- It is a gift to have grace. More grace then I could possibly deserve.
- it is a gift to have a home we can afford comfortably.
- it is a gift to have a place to lay our heads and rest without worry about the neighborhood around us.
- it is a gift to have a cozy space to share with family.
- It is a gift to have so many things for my girls to wear. We are so blessed to have family and friends with children who are bigger then mine so we get lots of hand me downs.
- It is a gift to have coworkers who think about me when they are growing out of things. I have a lot of things I got from a coworker that dressed up my wardrobe a bit.
- It is a gift to have a beautiful box of memories in my closet. Things I can keep and cherish of my children's and my life right now.
- the beautiful stars in the sky
- the quiet noise of sleeping children
- my cozy bed, just waiting for me
- It was a gift to spend so much time outside with my girls yesterday.
- It was a gift to spend some time indoors with my friends celebrating a birthday.
- It's a gift to have had my world turned upside down last year, with out that having happened, I never would have the life I do now.
- My dad makes me laugh a lot! He called me yesterday to wish me a happy mother's day, one of the first things he asked was if he was the first. Love it
- It was a gift to have had my mom around for the years we were still in Oregon after having my girls. She was their sole day care provider for all their earliest years. It makes me happy knowing they will have those memories of her is very special to me.
- It is a gift to have had both my parents and both sets of my grandparents still married to each other during my entire life. Gave me an excellent model for marriage.
- the delicious breakfast that was provided by one of the drug reps at work today
- the beautiful flowers my daddy and sister sent me
- the books that I love to read, more then enough for me to read for my lifetime on my kindle I think!
- What a bittersweet prompt. Hopefully I can get through this without crying. She is still my mom, still a blessing, just not nearly as close as I wish she was.
- her giving spirit. She almost always said yes, to a fault almost. I loved that no matter what I did, I knew I could call mom and she would help. Her home was open to anyone who needed it.
- her hugs. She was the best hugger ever. A mommy hug could help almost any problem.
- her involvement and interest in my girls' lives. Not only was she their primary child care provider the entire time we lived in Oregon but she was really active in their lives when we moved. She visited us and we skyped and called each other a lot. I miss her so much.
- it is a gift to have my amazing husband let me know that he picked up around the house today. Just makes me smile knowing that he knows I appreciate it.
- it is a gift to be able to put away my work at the end of the night and know that I did it well.
- it is a gift to put back some kindness into the world. Help teach my girls that the world is not all bad.
- it is a gift to look in the mirror and see my mom's eyes looking back at me.
- it is a gift to have a beautiful voice to sing praises to God.
- it is a gift to have hair I am finally figuring out how to love.
- it is a gift to have His word so openly accessible.
- it is a gift to have verses from his word sent to my email regularly and I honestly believe it's God inspired because often it's just what I need at the time.
- it is a gift to have his word to inspire me to be a better person.
- It is a gift to have a few things of my mom's and my grandmother sent to me from my aunt Sandy. I have a couple of grandma's coffee cups, a table runner my great-grandmother made and my mom's baby book
- It is a gift to have a bag that I can carry the girls' bibles in. We have enough of them to have a bible for each of the girls to use every Sunday.
- It is a gift to have a few books that I can loose myself in.
- its a gift to have an empty house for just a few hours
- it's a gift to have a funny squirrel to watch outside
- it's a gift to have my dad and sister send me flowers for Mother's day belatedly.
- It is a gift to have salt readily available to season our food. Can't imagine a world without it. It is also a good reminder that we are called to be the salt of the earth. Every time I use it, I think about that.
- It is a gift when my husband bringing me home sour patch kids as a treat for me.
- It is a gift when my sweet girls climb up in my lap begging to cuddle and have kisses. I know this won't last forever so I am trying really hard to enjoy it.
- It is a gift to have spent my childhood with a lot of focus on spending time with my grandparents. Even more special since I am missing two of them now.
- It is a gift to have a few toys and books from my childhood to share with my children.
- It is a gift to still go to the same church from my childhood and be able to raise my girls in the same beliefs.
- It is a gift to have some of my mom's shirts. Right now my sister has them, holding them safely until we can create a quilt with them.
- It is a gift to have the white sand in our family unity jar. A color that stands for God. It's at both the base and the top of the family's colors and has started moving to the center. A reminder always that God is the foundation of our family and we are only complete with him.
- It is a gift to have little girls whispering their secrets in my ears. I know they won't always share them, but I'm so glad they do!
- it is a gift to hear their voices, working nicely together.
- it is a gift to seem them creating a love of reading so early in life.
- it is a gift to see them being good friends to the other kids, even when they aren't the easiest kids to get along with.
- My girls repeating jokes they hear. Usually they are completely off what they were supposed to be, but they make me laugh anyway.
- My husband. He finds ways to make me laugh and smile every day.
- My coworkers. I have so much fun at work and I am so glad that we can laugh together.
- it is a gift to live in a community where we have so many awesome parks
- it is a gift to live in a community that helps you be active by offering lots of outdoor and active stuff to do.
- it is a gift to have a health conscious community that isn't too pushy that you have to be a super health type person.
- it is a gift to have a meal on my plate every night. I never have to wonder where my next one will come from.
- it is a gift to be able to make slow cooker meals. It's in the crock pot cooking all day while I'm working and when I get home it's done and ready to serve.
- it is a gift to get packages in the mail. I have a subscription box and it's so fun to get stuff in the mail that isn't bills!
- it is hard to give thanks for my girls being gone, but I am grateful they are with their dad and I know they are loved and safe with him.
- it is hard to give thanks for the rain, but it is so needed right now.
- it is hard to give thanks for the loss of my mom, but I know that she is in a better place and that someday we will meet again.
- It is a gift to have a second family in our church. They love and support us just like my family back home.
- It is a gift to have a place I can safely worship God.
- It is a gift to have people who care for the futures of my children. They want to help them learn about God and be confident in their faith.
- it is a gift to have a second family at work.
- it's a gift to be in a position where I feel like I can actually make a difference in people's lives.
- it is a gift to be able to work with people I enjoy being with (most of the time!)
- it is a gift to see my girls off to school every morning.
- it is a gift to have a few minutes to myself at work to enjoy my book.
- it is a gift to be able to share down time with my love, both of us reading our books.
- my mom's beautiful blue eyes on my baby girl
- the beautiful blue sky
- my beautiful engagement ring, a symbol of my hubby's love for me
- I gave a hug to a friend who is leaving this week.
- I gave my girls an afternoon in the sprinkler.
- I gave my friend a laugh with a funny message posted to her wall.
June 2015
Three gifts from today's conversations- it is a gift to have appreciative patients on the phone. We all to often talk about the grumps, but I had a couple who were so nice and so grateful for the help.
- it is a gift to be able to sit and talk to my husband without any distractions.
- it is a gift to have daily conversations with my sister. We might talk about serious stuff and often talk about nothing important. Every call is ended with a smile on my face.
- His grace. I think I say that every time, but it is so amazing to me.
- His love. He loved me from before I existed.
- His understanding. What other God has walked this earth, been through what we go through? None. Christ is the only God who stepped down to earth to be among us. He then died to save us. It's amazing.
- it is a gift to have peace in our city. I can't imagine being in a place where there is such turmoil.
- it is a gift to have a hope for my future. Someday I will be in heaven with Jesus (and mommy!) until then, I need to make the most of what God has given me.
- it is a gift to be so loved. Stephen has showed me what real love is.
- the storm clouds on the horizon, beautiful but I know the storm won't be.
- our pet ratties. Many call them ugly, but I think they are beautiful.
- some art. The stuff I look at sometimes I think is just awful, but someone thinks it's beautiful.
- It is a gift to have a variety of books to escape into.
- It is a gift to have books that remind me of mom.
- It is a gift to have my essential oils "bible" to read and figure out how to better help my family naturally.
- the empty trash can after my husband takes it out is a gift.
- the empty sink after my husband helps me fill the dishwasher is a gift.
- the empty van, ready to be loaded for my trip home is a gift. I can't wait. 19 days!!
- seeing my girls after a week with their dad.
- seeing the response of a "let's party, pick a number" game. I have two facebook parties going right now and although they are slow, I am hopeful I can get my hostesses some cool freebies.
- unpacking my grandmother's china and seeing everything she wanted me to have.
- It is a gift to have a stable secure job to go to every morning.
- It is a gift to have a husband who packs food for me to enjoy for lunch. Not every day, but often enough to really appreciate!
- It is a gift to have a slower day at work so I can really enjoy the time with my coworkers and actually talk to the patients awhile.
- The beautiful painting I have from my great-uncle. Reminds me of my family every day.
- The beautiful painting my friend Jen made us for our wedding guestbook. It is just perfect for us and a priceless reminder of that special day.
- The beautiful hand painted china my grandmother left me is a gift. I hope some day to be able to use it for special occasions and then pass it on to my children.
- it is a gift to have a house full of children. Sure I might complain about the noise and the close quarters, but it's a joy to have these years with them.
- it's a gift to have a full(ish) pantry. I know there is stuff in there to make for our family, even if I would rather eat out.
- it is a gift to have a full car on the way to church on Sunday. The extra kids can be a rough adjustment, but knowing they are learning about God is just priceless.
- It is a gift to smell my tomato plants. Reminds me of my childhood.
- It is a gift to smell my essential oils. They can uplift me with just a whiff.
- It is a gift to smell my clean babies. I love snuggling after their showers.
- It was an unexpected gift from my sister and Maranda that gave me a like new kitchen.
- It was a gift unwanted when two of the patients I really loved died. It's a gift that they are no longer in pain, but their loss was hard.
- It was a gift to be able to watch my friends kids this weekend, get to watch them go, see how much they have grown.
- God has promised protection from harm and danger. It's in the Bible, Psalm 91:4-6, NKJV. "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday."
- God promised he has a plan for my life: Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
- God promises to be with me always. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- it is a gift to know my dad enjoys what he does. Driving all the time would drive me batty, but he likes it.
- it is a gift to not be moving. having had three homes since moving here, it's nice to be in one longer then 12 months.
- it is a gift to be traveling west, to go back home and visit my family. Cannot wait!
- It is a gift that he is so generous. He's helped me out more times then I can count.
- It is a gift that he has so much random knowledge. Never fails to teach me something when we hang out.
- It is a gift that he has become so much more affectionate. Before we lost mom, I can't remember him ever saying he loves me, I knew he did, just didn't say it. Now he does and it means more then he will ever know.
- Grace. I say that every time, but it's HUGE. The only reason we have a chance.
- His son. I can't imagine watching one of my children go through what Jesus did. But God allowed that, to save me.
- This world. We have such beauty around us. Too often taken for granted but always amazing.
- It is a gift to be able to watch a friends kids for them. I don't expect to be paid but enjoy payment in the form of a cold soda.
- It is a gift to have been able to go around and give out flowers with our church family for The Salvation Army's 150th anniversary. People were shocked we were just giving them away.
- It is a gift to be able to serve my children by helping them grow into responsible adults.
- It is a gift to see one of my plants, it branch bent over with the weight of the vegetable growing on it.
- It is a gift to see the beautiful sunset and know that God painted it just for me.
- It is a gift to be loved so wholeheartedly that He sent His son to die for us and would do it even if it were just for me.
- It is a gift to have the beautiful view around me to see in the sunlight.
- It is a gift to have consistent reliable energy to light and heat/cool our home. Reading a former pastor's blog, who is in now stationed in Kenya, has really shown me how blessed we are.
- It is a gift to have the light of my mom candle to remind me that she is still here for the special times. I light the one from our wedding during special occasions as that visual reminder.
- it is a gift to have to work full time. I have really rough days (like today) but in the end, I'm helping people and that's what I wanted to do.
- it is a gift to have rough days at work because they make the great ones that much better.
- it is a gift to have rough days with my girls. They give me the motivation to make each of the next better.
- It is a gift to have a family table that we can enjoy dinner together at. Hoping to make that a more regular thing this year.
- It is a gift to have a beautiful new table waiting for us, just as soon as we have a bigger house to put it in.
- It is a gift to have extended family that we sit at the table with as well. I know of at least two family get-togethers we are having while on vacation this next week. Can't wait!
- it is a gift to be able to use water as we need it. I can't imagine being in drought conditions like California.
- it is a gift to be able to use my words to express myself. Be that by talking or in writing.
- it is a gift to have a clean white slate every day with God. He doesn't care the crap that I did in my past, all He cares about is that going forward, I am trying to live for Him.
- it is a gift to still have my grandpa around. He has such amazing stories to share, I can't wait to read what he has down in his novel!
- it is a gift for my children to get to know their great grandparents, or at least have met and spent some time with all of them.
- it is a gift to have so many grandmas and second mothers at church. It's a blessing to be cared about.
- It was a gift to get three beautiful dresses from my pastor for the girls.
- It is a gift to have a beautiful wedding dress, made especially for me by my amazing sister. Something I will cherish forever. I also still have the dress from my first wedding, simply because it is so beautiful and made for me by my aunt.
- It is a gift to have beautiful clothes passed down to me from a friend. It's awesome to have a whole bunch of new stuff to wear at no cost to me.
- It was a gift to be able to give both my father and my husband special father's day gifts framed beautifully.
- It is a gift to have framed pictures of my family and friends in my home. Reminds me they love me.
- It is a gift to have a beautiful view out the frame of my window.
- It is a gift to have shared a meal with my extended family yesterday.
- It is a gift to be home and enjoying the fruits of my dad's labors, his produce is delicious.
- It was a gift yesterday to enjoy popcorn with my sister. She spoiled us at the movies
- It is a gift to have my small girls. They are just right for me.
- It is a gift to have my "big" husband. I fit just right in his arms.
- It is a gift to know that everything I have, God made "just right" for me.
- it was a gift to give grandma and grandpa Hart time with the girls.
- it was a gift to be able to give my dad a home made cake for his 55th birthday
- it was a gift to be able to give the girls each a few things to use in the pool while we have been here
July 2015
Three gifts loved
- it is a gift to be loved by so many here in Oregon. It's literally coming home every time I do it.
- it is a gift have so much family (by marriage especially) here in town who we can be with every time we come. We love being here and they love being us.
- it is a gift to be surrounded by so many people who knew and loved my mom. They know what a loss we suffered and make sure I get lots of hugs being back here where her loss is so solidly felt.
- it is a gift to have a few books I have read in common with my sister. We can talk books and be nerdy together.
- it is a gift to have read such a variety of books available to me. LOVE reading and praying I can instill a love of reading in my girls too.
- it is a gift to have read stories of our forefathers. To be able to get a glimpse of how they lived and what they gave to allow us to have the lives we have now.
- It is a gift to be able to live my life as a christian without persecution. We in the US are beyond blessed.
- It is a gift to have been able to spend the last few days with mine and Stephen's families.
- It is such a gift to have freedom here. People often forget the price that was paid so that we can have the freedoms we so cherish.
- it is a gift to have a bunch of beautiful red strawberries to munch on this week.
- it is a gift to have a big white tent for shade, even though I still got sunburned. :-(
- it is a gift to also have yummy blueberries to eat while we have been here.
- it is a gift to have not given up on our trip. It was almost not going to happen, because of Stephen's job, but he persisted in asking for the time and we had a wonderful trip.
- it is a gift to be able to have a jamberry party while down here. There have been some really rough months with the business but my persistence seems to be paying off.
- it is a gift to see my girls so persistent in learning. They might fight it sometimes, but they have a love for learning that I really appreciate.
- it is a gift to have children who keep my enthusiasm up.
- it is a gift to have a pastor who is enthusiastic about my kids and making sure that they know Jesus loves them.
- it is a gift that my girls have had such great teachers so far. They have all been enthusiastic about learning and about making sure the kids love learning too.
- it is a gift to be challenged by my husband to think outside my comfort zone. He makes me crazy sometimes but usually it is for good reason.
- it is a gift to sometimes have conflict in our marriage. It allows us to change and adapt our relationship to better weather the storms of life. Sounds cliche, but it really has. Our open line of communication is a gift.
- it is a gift to have had such huge changes in my life last year. However painful, they have brought me to who I am today and I feel like I am a stronger person.
- it is a gift to have a swimming pool from my amazing family. They ordered one and had it sent to our local walmart store. Can't wait to get it set up and go swimming!
- it is a gift to have the water bill paid for us. In return for keeping our grass green, they pay for water. Makes it nice to not have to worry about how high the bill will be when it has been so hot out.
- it is a gift to have clean, fresh water readily available for use. It is something that we really do take for granted.
- it is a gift to have children who love the rhythm of music. We may have had a few sing-a-longs on the way to and from Oregon.
- it is a gift that they are quick learners. We had a few songs that were new to them but they picked them up real fast (thank you rhyming, catchy songs!) There was also one, not sure it really rhymed, but McKayla remembered it when I didn't.
- it is a gift to have children who are able to reason. I guess it could also be a curse because they use that to argue their point to me. lol.
- With Christ, when I am weak, He makes me strong. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
- He gives strength to the weak. He gives strength to the weary (weak), And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:29-31
- The spirit helps in our weakness, interceding on our behalf. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Romans 8:26
- It is a gift to have sauces premade in a jar. Easy meals!
- It is a gift to have a canning family. I have lots of yummy stuff that lasts forever in my pantry.
- It is a gift to have our sand jar. Our family is blended, just like the sand in the jar.
- it is a gift that my good friend Tabitha had her sweet baby boys, twins, full term, naturally.
- it is a gift to see my girls growing, however slowly, into beautiful young girls.
- it is a gift that in seeing someone decline, you are able to say goodbye. For those who I know, going through that, take advantage of it. I never got that chance and neither do many others. It's hard to see them go, harder to not know if they heard your goodbye.
- it is a gift to have been "cured" of my kidney stones way back in 2009. My sister just had one that she passed and it reminded me how lucky I was.
- it is a gift to have my grandmother "cured" of her MS. She went to be with Jesus in 2012 and though that isn't what we wanted, it is an answer to prayer.
- it is a gift to have such amazing treatments for illness now a days. It is even better to be able to go natural and not have to use them for the minor things anymore. Thank you essential oils we are able to treat and cure naturally.
- The sunshine is a gift. Beautiful shiny yellow warm rays on my face.
- Daffodils are a gift. Every time I see them I am reminded of my mommy and how we used to bring her a bunch of them from the field across the street.
- Sunflowers are a gift. A constant reminder of a friend I lost long ago.
- it is a gift to have a beautiful table rock to look at the beauty that is Boise.
- it is a gift to have a stone pendant on my mom's urn. It is a reminder of the gift she gave someone else in her passing.
- it is a gift to have the small stones from some of the places we have visited. My favorite are the stones that have been worn smooth by the ocean waves.
- it is a gift to have my beautiful hanging baskets of flowers, still blooming, in front of the house.
- it is a gift to have our marriage braid hanging down the wall by the marriage certificate. Reminder that God is to be the center of our marriage. He should be intertwined with us.
- it is a gift to have fresh veggies hanging down off the plants. I can't wait until they it starts ripening and we can eat it!
- it is a gift to be able to learn new things at work. I love being able to expand my knowledge.
- it is a gift to see my grils learning to read. I hope I can instill in them the same love of reading my mom did with me.
- it is a gift to see my husband learning how to be a dad. He is so wonderful with the girls and I love that he is striving to be the best parent he can be.
- It is a gift to have three girls who love music.
- It is a gift to have a free christian radio station I can listen to all the time. Very positive and uplifting.
- It is a gift to have friends and family who love music too. We are able to enjoy together.
- it is a gift to have a husband who likes to bake and he's good at it!
- it is a gift to have baked goods at the store that we can buy. Helps to not have to make your own bread!
- it is a gift to have the ability to bake when I want to.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful sunshine. I can't get enough of this weather. Even when it's hot, hot it is so nice to have that lovely sunshine.
- it is a gift to have the darkness of night, and the cooling off that we get. I can't imagine being in a place where the days go on and on with no dark of night.
- it is a gift to have the house facing east because of the shadows that fall over us at sunset. Allows us to enjoy the evening without the sun being directly on us.
- it is a gift to have stories that can take me away from my world and into something amazing. And there is a different kind of book for every adventure and I love that!
- it is a gift to have stories of my grandfather's first months in the states. He just finished his book and I can't wait to read it!
- it is a gift to have stories about my mommy. Hearing about ways that she touched other peoples lives is a real gift to me.
- it is a gift to have a pet we can cuddle with. He is hopefully going to help Stephen's anxiety. Definitely not understated.
- it is a gift to have an understated wedding band. It isn't super flashy, but something that compliments my engagement ring perfectly.
- it is a gift to have friendships that are understated. We don't flaunt them, but they are there and they are very important.
- It is a gift to have that bright beautiful sun high up in the sky. It's just amazing to me how perfectly God created our world. Close enough to the sun for life to flourish but not close enough for us to be cooked.
- It is a gift to have my girls so short and low to the ground. They are so easy to kiss that way!
- It is a gift to have my family, although far away, we are close in heart and I love that.
- it is a gift to have our beautiful sand jar. It is a symbol of not only our commitment to each other, but for our commitment to the kids. Our family will be as hard to separate as the five colors of sand in the jar.
- it is a gift to have gifts of sand from friends from a few different locations. Amazing to see how different they are.
- it is a gift to have sand as a reminder of God's promises to us. He knows how many grains of sand there are and how many hairs on my head.
- it is a gift to have happy endings in books. They leave me feeling great. Especially those endings that wrap everything up in a nice little finished package. Those are the best.
- It is a gift that Christ's death wasn't the end.
- The end of the struggle is a gift, even if the struggle is hard, it makes our lives what they are. But when the struggle is over, you can look back and see how very far you have come.
- it is a gift to have fresh veggies from our mini garden. So far we have enjoyed a couple yellow pear tomatoes, lettuce and one lemon cuke. YUM!
- it is a gift to have fresh air. When we first moved to Idaho, our first summer was a bad wildfire season and the smoke made it miserable. Nice to not have that this year.
- it is a gift to have the fresh smell of my doTerra oils diffusing in the house. Gives the whole place a different feel.
- it is a gift to hear my girls laughing. It's pretty much the best sound ever.
- it is a gift to be able to go to the river and hear the water. Such a calming sound.
- it is a gift to have a few videos that include mom. To be able to hear her voice again is just amazing.
- it was a real gift to be able to go home to Oregon on vacation and enjoy that time with Stephen's and my family.
- it is a gift to be able to come home after a vacation and rest up!
- it is a gift to be able to have a comfortable home we can relax in.
- It is a gift to have been able to have a new beginning with Stephen.
- It is a gift to have a new beginning each day, a clean slate to write a new day's story on.
- It is a gift to have the beginning of a new book to jump right in to.
- it is a gift to be able to spend time together as a family. Enjoying nightly walks with the dog.
- it is a gift to be able to spend some one on one time with Stephen, enjoy each others' company.
- it is a gift to be able to spend time with Mr Odin, our dog. We are slowly gaining each others trust and learning.
- it is a gift to have strong willed children. Sometimes they push me to my limits, but they love me fiercely and show that often.
- it is a gift to have gone through mental health struggles myself. I may not know exactly how my husband is feeling, but I know that I can be here for him.
- it is a gift to have the difficult days at work because I know that I am doing my job and doing it well. I know that and my supervisor knows that.
August 2015
Three gifts white- it is a gift to have a beautiful white colored sand in our jar to represent the foundation of our marriage on God.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful white paws of our fur baby clicking across the floor.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful white clouds in the sky, helping block some of the hot sun.
- It is a gift to have fresh veggies from our potted garden
- It is a gift to have a healthier option at work to eat. They have a "Healthy You" option and it's a healthy balanced meal for less then $5
- It is a gift to have an amazing husband who loves cooking. We have great meals that he seems to cook with magic.
- It is a gift to have a stable job that I know isn't going anywhere. It's also a gift to be working with people I like.
- It is a gift to have leftovers to be able to bring for lunch. Saves money and is just as good!
- It is a gift to have a safe, climate controlled place to sleep and live. I cannot imagine living on the street and not knowing I was safe.
- it is a gift to have a comfortable office chair to work in. Especially the weeks, like this one, where I am sitting all day answering phones.
- it is a gift to have a table that we can all sit and eat dinner at. We are making plans this week to start family meal time up.
- it is a gift to have a comfy place to sit and read my book while eating my lunch. It isn't quite the same as being home but it's nice to relax a bit.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful sun shining outside.
- it is a gift to have air conditioning for when it's just too dang hot outside.
- it is a gift to have had my world turned upside down by these girls. They are what makes my life exciting.
- it is a gift to not have to pay for our water. I don't have to worry when the kids want to play in it or when I have to water my plants twice a day.
- it is a gift to not have to worry about clean fresh water. I have a former pastor stationed in Africa and her struggles just hit me hard. We are so blessed.
- it is a gift to not be in such a drought here as we have been in the past or like other states.
- It is a gift to have his word at my fingertips.
- It is a gift that he promised to never leave us or forsake us.
- It is a gift that he gave us his son to save us from our own sinful nature.
- it is a gift to have some beautiful mild summer weather so we can really enjoy this summer.
- it is a gift to have the weather be nice enough during the summer to let the kids just play outside all day long.
- it is a gift to have so many things we can do in the summer time outdoors to enjoy in this city. We have splash pads, pools, the river, parks, trails, it's just awesome!
- it is a gift to have no holes in the yard to trip in. Odin and I were walking the other day and he fell in one. As funny as it was, I'm glad he's safe in our yard.
- it is a gift to have a whole family together this week. I sure miss the girls when they are at their dad's house.
- it is a gift to have so many half sheets of jamberry's. I was able to do another amazing jamicure today! I love pretty nails!
- it is a gift to have struggles because that is what allows God to help me.
- it is a gift to have been through the hard times with my mom because it allowed me to sympathize with others.
- it is a gift to have bad days because they allow me to really enjoy the great ones.
- it is a gift to have a beautiful ring to remind me of Stephen and I's promises to each other.
- it is also a gift to have a beautiful ring from my mommy to remind me how much she loved me.
- it is a gift to have a secure home with locks and deadbolts. Makes me feel very safe!
- it is a gift to have a cherry tomato plant with the ripe little pear tomatoes hiding in the leafs, ready for me to pick and enjoy.
- it is a gift to have scriptures that were half hidden, revealed to me through a message at church.
- it is a gift to have children's feet, half hidden because they are covered in dirt. A sure sign that my girls have been having fun!
- My diet Mt Dew is a gift, an addiction but so worth it!
- it is a gift to have the beautiful green grass to walk through.
- it is a gift to have my green plants to get fresh veggies from, they are really producing now and I love it!!
- it is a gift to hear the ringing as you call someone you love. You are instantly able to hear them as soon as they pick up the phone. It's an amazing thing.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful curves of the foothills surrounding our city. Feels much more sheltered this way.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful sphere of the sun, to light up our days. As bad as the Soda fire is west of here, it sure makes some beautiful sunsets.
- the smoke over the hills is ugly-beautiful. Ugly because of the destruction you know the fire is doing, but beautiful sunsets come out of it.
- my husband's tears are ugly beautiful. Ugly because I have to see them, beautiful because I know in tears there is healing.
- the struggles we have in life are ugly-beautiful. Ugly because they are hard and uncomfortable and we don't like them. Beautiful because in the struggles we are able to see God working in our lives.
- it is a gift to have a wonderful family I love and who I can count on.
- it is a gift to have a wonderful family-in-law I have quickly learned to love even more then I did before.
- it is a gift for my girls to have a step mom who loves them like her own and a new extended family that they love.
- it is a gift to have the cooler morning temperatures this summer. The birds and animals get out and make for a fun thing to watch.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful sunrise to admire in the mornings.
- it is a gift to have my morning conversation with my dad in the morning. A couple times a week we talk while I am driving to work. It's wonderful to have that connection with me.
- it is a gift to have the red letters in the bible, to know the words that Jesus actually spoke while he was here on earth.
- it is a gift to have read the book Mama Needs a Do-Over, it was really inspiring. I can make today great.
- it is a gift to have won a prize of the amazing book Bonding With Your Child Through Boundaries. I can't wait to read what is written in this book.
- it is a gift to have an amazing church family who loves me and cares about our family.
- it is a gift to have two amazing church families, one here and one in Albany.
- it is a gift to be part of a church that is not only nationwide, but worldwide, for more then 150 years now. Such a gift to know where ever I go, the Salvation Army will be there.
- it is a gift to be able to serve my neighbors by bringing their girls to church with us.
- it is a gift to be able to serve my husband by being the wife God called me to be to him.
- it is a gift to serve my children by helping them grow into the people God called them to be. Much more of a gift when they aren't making it hard on me!
- it is a gift to have a mostly straight road to get to work. Makes the commute go very quickly!
- it is a gift to have the trees with beautiful curves in their branches, making excellent shade for us to enjoy.
- it is a gift to be able to make a turn in my life and make a change in things. My life took a turn that I didn't like and God made something wonderful happen from it.
- it is a gift to have lights to keep our home bright at nights. Especially when the days start getting shorter.
- it is a gift to have an ebook reader with a built in light that allows me to read at night without keeping the hubby up.
- it is a gift to have so many options for lighting depending on the situation or mood.
- it is a gift to have my grandmother's china as a legacy from my family on that side.
- it is a gift to have my grandpas both alive. I am trying my hardest to enjoy the time I have left with them.
- it is a gift to have a painting from my great-aunt. Something that she created to live on with my family.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful water in our city, running though our streams, irrigation canals and rivers. One of my favorite things ever!
- it is a gift to have my three girls who are ever moving and ever changing. Sometimes its bittersweet seeing how much they have grown.
- it is a gift to have the wind moving. Praying that soon the smoke will blow out of our valley. It's been bad air quality to be in, but I'm sure wind is coming.
- it is a gift to have my grandmother's china. A legacy that lives on in my family.
- it is a gift to have a few of my mommy's pigs from her collection. Just a visual reminder of her and how much she loved me (more then her pigs even!) There is even one that isn't fragile!
- it is a gift to have the girls' painted figurines. They made them and now they will be a treasure for us to remind us of this time in their lives.
- it is a gift to have a beautifully cut lawn that we don't have to maintain (except watering) It's a real blessing to not have to worry about it.
- it is a gift to have a pastor who loves my girls so much that she sewed each of them their own dress. They love them!
- it is a gift to have pants that the girls can button all on their own. I made the mistake of setting out their clothes on Monday and two of three girls couldn't fasten their own buttons!
- it is a gift to have a new start every morning. God gives me a fresh new start every day.
- it is a gift to have a new book to read. I love books!
- it is a gift to have a new fur baby to play with and spend time with when the girls aren't around.
- it is a gift to have had my long-awaited vacation. It's been a month-ish since I was home, but I am still enjoying the memories.
- it is a gift to have finally found my perfect Mister. He completes me more then I ever imagined was possible.
- it is a gift to have our dog. We have been waiting for him longer then I think I even know. He pretty much completes our family.
- McKayla, my oldest and the person who made me a mom. The child who shows me some new parts of being a mom every week.
- Natalie, my middle child and the one who challenges me to be a better mom and person. Who loves on anyone who needs it.
- Sweet Alivia, my baby and our surprise blessing. Not a day goes by I don't thank God for his plan and putting you in my life, even if it wasn't in my plan.
- it is a gift to have girls who care about the smallest of bugs, even if they give mom the heebie jeebies.
- it is a gift to have a very small urn of some of mom's remains. Makes me feel like she's with me.
- it is a gift to have a small device on which I can read all my e-books. Its been such fun getting to read and review books. And this makes it super easy to do that.
- it is a gift to have the miracle of a child born to a virgin, sent to save the world.
- it is a gift to have the miracle of our Lord living a blameless life and still going to the cross for me.
- it is a gift to have the miracle of Christ's resurrection from the dead. With Him raising again, he made the way for us to be with Him in Heaven, even as undeserving as we are.
September 2015
a gift cool, warm, sun-soaked- it is a gift to have cooler temperatures this weekend. Makes it nicer to watch the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic in.
- it is a gift to have a nice warm bed to snuggle up in at night.
- it is a gift to be able to eat a sun soaked tomato right off the vine. They may not be perfect, but they are still good to me!
- it is a gift to have cooler nights where we can open the house and enjoy the air.
- it is a gift to see the changing leaves. My favorite seasonal view of the year and Boise, the city of trees, is a perfect place to find beauty.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful fall leaves to look at.
- My taco soup, made for a lovely dinner was a gift.
- My girls, dressing up in their old Halloween costumes is a gift, makes me smile to see them running around masked as make-believe characters
- The way I have marveled at the way my girls have grown is a gift. I think God puts a special light on them sometimes and you just see, instantly, how amazing they are.
- it is a gift to have given my best friend and her kids somewhere to stay while visiting. It was just as much a gift to me to have them there.
- it is a gift to have been given my kindle. A good friend gave it to me after mine was stolen. She is amazing.
- it is a gift to have been able to be given the opportunity to review some books that my girls can even read (like the one above)
- it is a gift to have a beautiful framed photo of my mom to keep on my bedside table.
- it is a gift to have the framed needlepoint my mom made me. So much more of a gift now that she's gone. It reads "Daughter you may have outgrown my lap but you will never outgrow my heart."
- it is a gift to have framed pictures of our families on our walls.
- it is a gift to have our lovely drawn wedding tree, to remind us of the family that connected us and supported us during our special day.
- it is a gift to have drawings from my girls, showing me what they love right now. Many of them include minecraft creatures.
- it is a gift to be able to share my girls' drawings with my family. My sister loved the ones we sent her.
- it is a gift for Stephen to have been sick. Yes, it sucked that he was sick, but it really gave me an idea of how much he does to help our household.
- it is a gift to have gone a whole year without mom. All the firsts are over now and I can focus on learning to live without her.
- it is a gift to be struggling with money because it makes me appreciate what we do have.
- it is a gift to know that he knows the plans he has for us (Jer. 29:11)
- it is a gift to know that God sent his son not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17)
- it is a gift to know that in Christ I have a new beginning (2 Corin 5:17)
- it is a gift to have the gift of my essential oils, scented and natural.
- it is a gift to have some of my mom's journals and writing. I love her handwriting.
- it is a gift to have started doing book reviews. Makes me feel like I'm helping people make good reading choices.
- it is a gift to have coworkers who share of their garden's bounty with the office.
- it is a gift to have friends who share a love for jamberry and I can talk "shop" with.
- it is a gift to have shared custody of my girls with their dad. It's an amazing gift for them to have relationships with both of us.
- it is a gift to have those non-matching socks. The kiddos can pair their own.
- it is a gift to have a pair of perfectly capable hands to do my work and the things I love.
- it is a gift to have a part of perfectly working legs and feet to get me around. My grandmother was confined to a wheelchair most of my life so I know how precious a gift that is.
- it was a gift that was given to me by my sister that really changed my kitchen.
- it was a gift to get unexpected help from people when I needed it most.
- it is a gift to have given rides to the neighbor girls for church. They so need Jesus and I love being the one to make it possible for them to meet him.
- the grey skies aren't all ugly or all beautiful but they are a nice change.
- it is a gift to have the drizzly rain, makes the beautiful rainbows.
- it is a gift to have the ugly attitudes of some people because they make those with a beautiful one even more appreciated.
- it is a gift to have fixed doggie. No worry about him making little Odin's all over the neighborhood
- it is a gift to have a basket of fresh folded laundry put away by my girls.
- it is a gift to see my sister's beautiful, freckled face every day on my way home from work. Her picture pops up when I call her on my way home every day, also a gift.
- it is a gift to hear bits of conversation from my girls when they are getting along and showing the love for each other.
- it is a gift to have my girls at an age they can almost hold a descent conversation with people on the phones or via skype.
- it is a gift to have the conversation of grown ups at work. I say it over and over, as much as I love my children, my job is what helps me be a better mom. I can't imagine how I would handle all kids all the time.
- it is a gift to be confident in my salvation.
- it is a gift to be able to freely share my salvation with others.
- it is a gift to see my girls learning about salvation.
- it is a gift to live in a time where information is so readily available. News, weather and sports are literally at my fingertips.
- it is a gift to be able to get information on my home town in just a few seconds. Makes me feel a little less far away.
- it is a gift to have the ability to look up information on things I am interested in so quickly. I still remember when you had to use encyclopedias to look things up. So much slower then google.
- it is a gift to hear the rattling of a baby's toy during church. Not so much to be distracting, but I know that child is in the best possible place.
- it is a gift seeing the smoke receding from the air because I know it means the fires are getting under control
- it is a gift to be able to reclaim old things and make them like new. You see all these design shows where they re-purpose things and it is a wonderful thing.
- it is a gift to have a few minutes after the kids have gone to sleep of quiet in the house. Sometimes I sneak in and just watch them sleep awhile.
- it is a gift to have some quiet time in the mornings to prepare myself for another day.
- it is a gift to have an end the quiet when my girls wake up. I love them to pieces and would not exchange the noise for anything!
- it is a gift for Stephen to be finished with his first class and he got 100% in it!
- it is a gift to be nearly finished with this workweek.
- it is a gift to finish each book I have been given and be able to give my feedback to the authors and publishers.
- it is a gift to have funny christian authors and stand up people. You don't have to be vulgar to be funny.
- it is a gift to have children who are finally getting the concept of jokes and what makes them funny. Some are still a miss, but overall they get it.
- it is a gift to have a dog who is funny. He plays with his toys and makes us all laugh.
- it is a gift to see that my girls have flourishing imaginations. I love watching them pretend.
- it is a gift to see the fall colors flourishing. I always worry when we have these late summers that the trees aren't going to be as pretty but there is never a problem.
- it is a gift to see my girls flourishing in school. Maybe not in all the ways I want them to, but they enjoy it still and that's a gift. If nothing more, at least they have flourishing social lives.
- it was unexpected to get the penny yesterday but reminded me that mom is still watching over me.
- it is a gift to have the uneven ground to walk on. We have to be more aware and that makes it easier to enjoy the world around us.
- it was a gift for me to have been "unpopular" in school because it made me branch out to do other things I might not have tried if I had been in the "in" crowd.
- it is a gift to have my girls pretend to be shy, gives mommy some snuggle time I don't usually get.
- it is a gift that I have never been shy. Makes my life much easier to manage, being able to be outgoing and able to talk to perfect strangers.
- it is a gift to have a few shy kids who have opened up to me. Their willingness to open up to someone they don't know, its a gift and a privilege.
- it is a gift to have new books to add to my ever growing electronic book shelf.
- it is a gift to still have paper books to add to my overflowing bookshelf. Someday I will have a library.
- it is a gift for my girls to have so many books they can't all be shelved. I really want them to share the love of reading that I have.
- it is a gift to know the sun is shining, even when we can't see it.
- it is a gift to be able to see the shining stars in the sky.
- it is a gift to have a shining reminder of my mom with me every day.
October 2015
three gifts overjoyed!- It is a gift to see my overjoyed children excited about going somewhere special. I honestly can't wait to tell them we are going back to my home for Christmas.
- It is a gift to see my overjoyed family, simply happy to be seeing the girls Stephen and myself.
- It is a gift to be able to be overjoyed for a friend who found out she is expecting. She had given up but God wasn't done with their family yet.
- McKayla is my "on time" gift. The only child that didn't make me wait past her due date to arrive.
- It is a gift to have a husband who is very aware of us being on time for things. I am the same way so it's wonderful!
- It is a gift to have the birthday presents that our wonderful family mailed to McKayla both arrive on time for her today.
- it is a gift to be humbled by your children. They have an amazing way of bringing you to your knees and reminding you of what's really important.
- it is a gift to be able to honor those who have served our country. Veterans day is coming up and it's the perfect opportunity to give thanks and honor them.
- it is a gift to be happy with what we have. Things might be tight, but we have a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, electricity to run the heat and lights.
- it was an extravagant gift for my husband to get me the amazing engagement ring he bought. Looking at it on my hand makes me feel spoiled.
- it was an extravagant gift for my sister and Maranda to send me all the kitchen stuff they did for my birthday.
- it is a gift for my husband to give me the laptop we got him for his "tax" present. He knew mine wasn't working well and let me have his.
- it is a gift to have been able to enjoy the longer "summer" that we had this year.
- it is a gift to have so many books to have been able to read and enjoy and share my opinion with others.
- it is a gift to be able to really enjoy the time I have with my girls. I miss them when they are gone, but I think that time for mommy to refresh and recharge helps me be better.
- I still think, three years later, it is a gift to have accomplished getting my associates degree. My gpa stayed high even though I went through school during my entire pregnancy with Alivia and was even taking classes online the semester she was born.
- it is a gift to have nearly accomplished writing these 1000 gifts. Only a few days left and they will be done for this year. Now I can look back and see how blessed I really am.
- it is a gift to have accomplished my half marathon back in 2013. Still something I am very proud of. Someday I will do another one!
- it is a gift to have started this book reviewing thing. I am having fun and stretching out my reading styles a bit, reading books I might not normally pick up.
- it is a gift to have begun my jamberry business. I love sharing something I love. The compliments on my pretty nails don't hurt either.
- it is a gift to have begun to learn to live after mom's sudden death. It was so hard and I was so angry for a long time, it is nice to be able to start to remember her without the threat of tears every single time.
- It is a gift to have the silence of our house, after everyone is asleep. I'm usually the last one up and it's a precious gift I really cherish.
- It is a gift to be able to watch the still forms of my sleeping children. Reminds me of when they were little still.
- It is a gift to be able to be strong when I need to be. Seems to be happening a lot lately, but God continues to give me the strength when I need it.
- It is an unconventional gift for my daughter to have been given a step-stool for her 3rd birthday from my awesome ex-sister and brother in law. She loved it more then most of her other presents.
- It was an unconventional gift when Natalie was given a vacuum for her 4th birthday. Sure it was a toy, but she knew how to use it and cleaned the park right away.
- It was an unconventional gift for Stephen's grandparents to have given us a night at a hotel for a wedding gift.
- we got an unexpected gift from a friend that allowed us to take care of a problem that really needed it.
- we got an unexpected gift from my sister for the girls. We have a TAG learning pen now to read the books with the girls. It makes it easier for mommy to supervise them reading and not just telling them what the words are.
- it was a gift to have so much help and support when going through a recent issue. More then one person has stepped up with help. It's been amazing.
- it is a gift that Jimmy and I are able to share our girls. I have seen so many divorced couples who just bicker and can't get along, even with kids, and it breaks my heart. Makes me even more grateful for the good relationship I still have with the girls dad.
- it is a gift to have been able to save some money from my book budget by reviewing books for the publishers. I am actually having fun doing it too.
- it is a gift to have surrendered some of the anger about my mom's passing. I was holding on to a lot of anger, my pastor is really helping me with this.
- it is a gift to have the rain clouds. They aren't pretty all the time, especially not the rain they bring (at least to me) but it's beautiful when it brings water to drought thirsty ground.
- it is a gift to have a crying child come to me, their tears are awful, but the beautiful is when mommy is still able to make things better for them.
- it is a gift to have the ugly winter days because the snow and rain they bring make for the beautiful springs we have.
- it is a gift to be able to re-read the books I loved as a child to my children. We are almost finished with the BFG and loving it.
- it is a gift to have some of my favorites at home so I can re-read them whenever the mood strikes.
- it is a gift to not have to worry about re-reading old books if I don't want to. Since I have so many to review this makes it simple to have new things to read.
- it is a gift to have my coworkers, family and friends all be able to joke with me about my clumsiness.
- it is a gift to have people still come up to me and talk about my mom. I know people are always hesitant to mention someone when they are dead, but I encourage you, if you are saying nice things, its appreciated. At least for me.
- it is a gift to have the funny things my kids say, stowed away in my heart to remember (and also on facebook!) Here is a funny conversation I Had with Natalie the other morning.
N: when are my sisters going to wake up?
Me: I don't know. You are the one who woke up crazy early.
N: I know, but I was having a great dream and it was so good I had to wake up.
I asked her what she dreamed about and she told me about how her school turned the gym into an aquarium, big one with sharks and fish and a coral reef (yes, she is that detailed). She also dreamed her pe teacher put them in diving suits and let them swim with the sharks and fish.
- it is a gift to have read a few motivating pins this week. I love that I can just go on pinterest and search for uplifting quotes and up pops a whole bunch.
- it is a gift to be able to read books (both advanced copies and just review copies) and be able to share my opinions with other people at no cost to myself.
- it is a gift to be able to read other blogs that inspire me to be a better writer. They give me ideas like participating in the 31 days of free writes.
- it is a gift to have my small stature. It allows me to get into places that taller people can't.
- it is a gift to have a smaller phone then I used to. It is much easier to carry with me then the bulky cell of the 90's
- it is a gift to have the smallest kids in the class (all three of them!) because I always know where to look during school performances (front row!)
- It is a gift to be able to change spots every week at work. It gives me the variety I crave.
- It is a gift to have the changing seasons. Where I grew up, the seasons weren't nearly as diverse. One of the joys of living in Boise.
- It is a gift to have had my life change so much this last year. Some of it was good, some not so much, but it is helping shape me into the person I am today.
- It is a gift going through Stephen's mental health issues with him. I feel like this struggle is making us a stronger couple.
- It is a gift to be going through the issues we are at home. I can't go into details but it sure makes me appreciate the people we have who jump in and help us out
- it is a gift to have dealt with loss, it helps me be more compassionate to and about other people's situations.
- it is a gift to praise Him for his gifts to us (I have been listing them nearly a year)
- it is a gift to get praise for a job well done.
- it is a gift to be able to praise my kids for great behavior, wish I could do it more often.
- it is a gift to have my rainbow baby McKayla. After we miscarried our first baby, I was worried it wouldn't happen for me. But there was joy after the storm and McKayla was born just shy of 18 months later.
- it is a gift to have gotten an answer to prayers in some home issues we have been having. Dealing with it was going to cost us, a lot, but we got a loan from family and a gift from a friend and are able to take care of things now.
- it was a gift to see my good friend Tabbi go to "full term" with her twin boys and deliver them naturally. She (and everyone else I think!) was worried that she would have to have a c-section but God answered her prayers and allowed those boys to come in safely the way she wanted.
- it was a gift to have a couple fresh baked batches of pumpkin bars this weekend. A treat from my love.
- it is a gift to have yummy pumpkin spice creamer to stir into my coffee in the morning. My husband sure knows what I like!
- it is a gift to have a home cooked meal, made special by my amazing husband, each night. Last nights tacos were amazing.
- it it a gift to have reaped some benefit from our summer garden this summer.
- it is a gift to reap what we sow. Some things show us fruit right away, like a child learning what you are trying to teach them. Some things we have to wait to find out about. The seeds are planted, they will be reaped someday.
- it is a gift to be able to enjoy the fruits that someone else has reaped. This time of year there are so many fresh local things we can eat and I love it!
- it is a gift to have been able to redeem a gift card that allowed us a bit more comfort in our budget for this month.
- it is a gift to be redeemed by Jesus, through the blood He shed on the cross for me.
- it is a gift to be able to able to redeem a free movie code and have a family movie night the other day. Redbox is the best and free is even better!
- it is a gift to be able to return the gift that my mom gave so many kids. I now take two extra to church every Sunday.
- it is a gift that one of our grandma's has returned to church. The girls sure love seeing her.
- it is a gift to be able to return time and time again home and still have it feel just like home.
- it is a gift to see how excited the girls are when they catch bugs.
- it is a gift when said bugs are released without injury. We have lost a few to over-loving so it's nice to have some released in good health.
- it is a gift to have a midway point where I have been able to meet family for a visit. A couple times now we have spent a day or two at the "mid-way" between me and them. It's wonderful!
- it is a gift to have a husband who may laugh at you for falling, but is always willing to help you up.
- it is a gift to be able to see the falling leaves. They are so pretty this year!
- it is a gift to have falling rain. I may not love it, but it is necessary.
- it is a gift to have the beautiful orange uniforms for our Broncos when they play on the smurf turf.
- the beautiful orange leaves on the trees, slowly falling on the ground.
- the orange in the sunrises or sunsets is a gift. Adds something special to them.
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