One Thousand Gifts

My Eucharistio—My One Thousand Gifts 

• Learning
• In
• Finding
• Eucharisteo (thanksgiving)

1.) Fresh baked doughnuts on the morning of my birthday.
2.) A beautiful bouquet to brighten my day.
3.) The most beautiful poem–the most beautiful words—MY love. My heart is full—it overflows.
4.) My son and husband preparing my birthday chili. I pause to reflect the beautiful cards the day brings. My youngest to match the colors of my heart. My oldest, the whimsy that makes me smile. My husband, the color of flowers—a hint of red the card, so feminine {glistening pink} the blooms.
5.) A sister who cares too. A thank you.
6.) Oh, the smell. The chili, the flowers. The taste.
7.) My husband, my son reciting steps. They’re both learning. The joy of knowledge. My son excites: “I can make chili.” My husband responds, “Your turn next time.”
8.) Feeling a bit under the weather, drops in eyes. Being waited on. A birthday wish from my mother-in-law. Doughnuts, chili . . . a birthday in the making.
9.) My husband, his heart, and all he does for me!
10.) Discovering leftover birthday surprises.
11.) He calls ME by name, a purity only found in Him.
12.) I thank You for MY husband. I truly love this man. MY man. My boys. My family.
13.) For his eyes–they mesmerize me, and they are mine.
14.) For his vision greater than my own—my S.O.S.
15.) For new sinks and strong faucets.
16.) For—still—a beautiful comforter. Because it does matter.
17.) For unnecessary messes and knowing the boys are here.
18.) The Spirit that gives utterance.
19.) Trusting You when I don’t know the answer.
20.) Remembering video from a sister who cares.
21.) Listening to video while ironing shirts for my HUSBAND. She’s “pure” in the light.
22.) You are my Eucharisteo. Your forgiveness my most perfect and complete gift.
23.) Weekend moments to get caught up on reading.
24.) The Cross. Forgiveness. And the ability to say so.
25.) Family and all that it means.
26.) Hope. Hope in things to come.
27.) Thank You for loving us and bearing our afflictions!!
28.) Thank You for Your glory. For Your presence. For being there. For being here. (Even when it doesn’t feel like it.)
29.) A husband with patience and two boys the same.
30.) Family and the beautiful blessings they bring.
31.) The gift of wisdom and teachings that prompt me to find her again.
32.) His Word that brings reproof and His blood that remembers no more.
33.) The heart of family and knowing He’s still here.
34.) My husband on Father’s Day and what it means to celebrate him.
35.) His heart towards my dad and his gift of obedience—a Painter’s Bench and the Father’s perfect timing.
36.) My dad who is the Poppy—the voice of laughter and wisdom.
37.) Thoughtful children and the cards they create.
38.) Grace. Simple grace.
39.) The reminder that I still have more.
40.) Holiness, redemption, and nuggets from the writers of old.
41.) New opportunities.
42.) A heart to embrace change.
43.) Morning coffee and moments of peace.
44.) Conversations with sisters, broken prayers, and resting promises.
45.) In the dryness, His rain will come.
46.) Texts from the boys that I take for-granted.
47.) The ability to give something back and say “I’m sorry.”
48.) Receiving small graces.
49.) Family and friends that stand together.
50.) Teen boys having a great time with friends and coming home tired.
51.) A husband who fixes everything and wisdom to keep Him in His place.
52.) Time watching evening TV together.
53.) Remembering I still have a voice and getting ready to write instead of fill.
54.) Thinking of life’s blessings (the little things in life that make me smile and taking time to really reflect on all).
55.) My boys. Just my boys.
56.) A husband who takes care of all wounds.
57.) A son resting and healing.
58.) A mother-in-law who is ever ready to help and use her gifts.
59.) Parents who work hard, press through, and paint on.
60.) Realizing the work of chastisement and learning to grasp it.
61.) Good coffee, biscuits, and Jordon’s fried egg in the a.m.
62.) A husband who is a patient teacher who blesses you by his skill.
63.) The comfort of good family shows, good food, and the presence of real family.
64.) A black bean version of Jerry’s chili made by Gordon.
65.) Lotion by the bed to coat dry, weary hands.
66.) For finding mercy and watering his seed to precede with His grace.
67.) For sisters just being sisters.
68.) For remembering missed miracles and to count gifts as they come.
69.) For a good report and continued healing. {Katie}
70.) For knowing she’s (still) praying for me. {Ode to big sisters}
71.) For starting this journey before her and realizing she’s ever ahead of me.
72.) For knowing that’s okay too.
73.) For a God “Who is More Than Enough.” Always.
74.) For watching others grow and being okay in the stillness but urging forward.
75.) For encouraging myself in the Lord.
76.) For knowing my place and knowing wisdom.
77.) For finding “my” seat of prayer. {Seek and He will come.}
78.) For the Word ever waiting to reveal.
79.) For learning to be okay with myself.
80.) For searching and trusting H to bridge the gaps.
81.) For knowing He will and canceling present doubt.
82.) For learning not to be double minded.
83.) For believing in hard Eucharisteo—even in repeated paths around the same mountain.
84.) For knowing You are my friend. {Did I mention those family shows I so look forward to?}
85.) For just being thankful and pliable.  {In the dryness, every drop of water counts.}
86.) For the lamenting mother in the wilderness (Ezk. 19).
87.) For an iPhone alarm app that finally works correctly.
88.) For getting out the door on time.
89.) Trusting You for new “growth.”
90.) Fixing problems caused by tiredness and undo stress.
91.) Causing distractions that lead me to my “secret place.” {A Psalm 91 God.}
92.) Reversing the curse and finding what to be thankful for.
93.) Clarity.
94.) Learning not to count offenses and throw the baby out with the bath.
95.) {Believing for} Sales and finally reaping overflow.
96.) Prompting me to read Your Word  again and believing for the best when things don’t turn out as we hoped.
97.) Finding a reason to write again . . .
98.) Believing.
99.) Finding my testimony.
100.) Sharing the hard stuff with others.
101.) Thank You for ink pens and paper in the age of technology and for opportunities to spend with You.
102.) Thank You for victory!!
103.) Thank You for finances.
104.) Thank You for family.
105.) Thank You for extended blessings. (Even those we cannot see!)
106.) Thank You for new friendships.
107.) Thank You for opportunities to serve.
108.) Thank You for allowing me to home-school Lauren and the boys!!!
109.) Thank You for opportunities to trust You, and only You.
110.) Thank You for family and those who stand by me through the hard times.
111.) Thank You for people who genuinely serve You and who are truly blessed to receive.
112.) Thank You for healing even the smallest of pain.
113.) Thank You for a father who makes sacrifices for his family.
114.) Thank You for having a mother who prayed me through as a youth.
115.) Thank You for seasons of strong spiritual growth and leadership.
116.) Thank You when there is none, and we can trust Your outstretched hand.
117.) Thank You for a cup ready to be full—even with a simple cup of coffee . . . ha!
118.) Thank You for having a sense of humor and for new friends that bring out the laughter in you.
119.) Thank You for a husband who finds grace.
120.) Thank You for not letting me give up (on myself).
121.) Thank You for reminding me who I am—who we are!
122.) Thank You for many seasons of reflection.
123.) Thank You for reminding me what prayer means.
124.) Thank You for godly, fruitful connections.
125.) Thank You for books. I cannot believe I haven’t thanked You for those yet.
126.) Thank You for iPhones and iPads, as long as we’re being practical.
127.) Thank You for my husband’s new MacBook Pro and for the hands that provided it.
128.) Thank You for new opportunities for him to embrace iOS and what new developments this may bring.
129.) Thank You for his Home Server application that has continued to provide.
130.) Thank You for meeting our needs and allowing us to help when we didn’t know it was there.
131.) Thank You for trusting You to do more with so little.
132.) Thank You for Thanksgiving and family.
133.) Thank You for sisters with hearts full of mercy and patience.
134.) Thank You for wisdom to bridge gaps and for being our bridge.
135.) Thank You for childhood memories that bring peace.
136.) Thank You for big sisters and everything they encompass.
137.) Thank You for bringing me back to this place.
138.) Thank You for restored, fruitful memories.
139.) Thank You for strength to be still.
140.) Thank You for “knowing.”
141.) Thank You for a woman of God who reminds us to write—to count gifts.
142.) Thank You for her compassion and for those who reach where you (we) cannot.
143.) Thank You for our boys and their friendships.
144.) Thank You for all the help they provide when I just need more of You.
145.) Thank You for allowing me to type these words and put Your works on record.
146.) Thank You for daring to use my voice for anything.
147.) Thank You for reminding me that it’s Your work and not my own.
148.) Thank You for awesome applications, like Awesome Note, that gives me the ability to copy these truths to my blog and share this season with others.
149.) Thank you for teaching me not to put off worry, but to remove it.
150.) You heard, You answered, You are PRAISED!! Thank You Jesus!!
151.) Thank you for savory omelets and a warm cup of coffee made by my thoughtful husband.
152.) Thank you for giving me my father’s blue eyes.
153.) Thank you for giving full brown, wavy hair with auburn highlights.
154.) The sensitivity of sons when they are not feeling well.
155.) Crazy humor of two boys who crack me up.
156.) Trusting You with my emotions.
157.) Watching “The Help” on the eve of Thanksgiving.
158.) Friendships. True Friendships.
159.) Fresh baked sugar cookies, even if they’re not Pillsbury.
160.) A sister’s beautiful words on Thanksgiving.
161.) Coffee and my husband’s omelets the morning of Thanksgiving.
162.) Friends that support other friends.
163.) Thank you for Maw-Maw’s marble cake on Thanksgiving.
164.) Thank you for awesome Coconut Cream Pie.
165.) Leftover marble cake the morning after Thanksgiving. {Yes, I ate that for breakfast.}
166.) Breakfast with hubby, complete with White Chocolate Mint Holiday Pancakes from IHOP.
167.) Followed by Bacon Juicy Lucy’s with fries for dinner. {Yum!}
168.) Catching up on family time while hubby is off. {Whoo Hoo!}
169.) Making a sale on EBay as soon as it’s posted. {Timing is always good.}
170.) Rest. Sweet rest.
171.) My Dishwasher. {Yes, after reading Sunflower Faith’s post, I really am that spoiled. Although, I love her friend’s comment. }
172.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 1}: The gift of the Spirit—His Spirit.
173.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 2}: The gift of His Word.
174.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 3}: The Living Water.
175.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 4}: The gift of His love.
176.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 5}: The gift His forgiveness and healing.
177.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 6}: The gift of His grace.
178.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 7}: The gift of His mercy.
179.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 8}: The gift of His purposes and direction.
180.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 9}: Delight in His plans.
181.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 10}: The gift of Himself.
182.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 11}: Letting Him rule and reign in sovereignty.
183.) 12 Days of Eternal Gifts {Day 12}: For *His* glory.
184.) The joy in decorating for the season.
185.) The fun of simple snowmen.
186.) Christmas movies throughout the holiday.
187.) Childhood memories of Christmas past.
188.) Happiness found in lighting the Christmas tree each morning.
189.) The offbeat humor of my husband and boys.
190.) The silly laughter between teen boys and their crazy slang.
191.) Breakfast in bed with strong morning coffee.
192.) Awful acting  in “Pure Country” leading to my favorite parts and an ending that makes up for it all.
193.) “White Christmas,” Bing Crosby and taking all afternoon.
194.) Enjoying chocolate covered pretzels in the shapes of Christmas trees.
195.) Filling the day with my husband’s warm soup.
196.) His grace in stepping towards personal freedom and *knowing* who I am.
197.) Remembering siblings receiving small blessings and being thankful.
198.) Continuing to read a good book. “Life is not an emergency.”
199.) Remembering to take in the comfort, always, one breath at a time.
200.) Trusting and following Him with new hope.
201.) A husband who provides for his family even when he faces a job he cannot stand.
202.) A husband who is honest, trustworthy, and who walks in integrity.
203.) A husband who thinks of me and does the little things to make me happy (like that candy bar or favorite coffee and creamer from the grocery store)..
204.) A husband who buys me gifts even when we don’t have the money.
205.) Two boys who never cease to bring joy.
206.) Two boys who face the truth, seeing our error as parents, and strive to be better.
207.) For last minute birthday blessings and the little things that really do show a mom you care.
208.) For every silly mistake that reminds me that you’re still just a boy.
209.) For a son who shares in the joy of coffee and a collection of mugs and another with a tooth so sweet just like his mom.
210.) For all the  extra chores and helping a mom clean and prepare dinner.
211.) For unexpected surprises, one day after the other, from a husband and boys who show love so well.