One Thousand Gifts

One Thousand Gifts? This is much harder than I thought it would be. One day this past week the only tangible "gift" I came up with was the fact that we learned that the capital of Delaware is Dover.

I have realized that to find the daily gifts bestowed on me, I need quiet, not necessarily a quiet house, but a quiet heart. I am trying. I really am, but it is so hard right now admist the chaos of my days. I just say to myself, I can do this, day by day. It will get easier--hopefully.

It must be a learned skill, this finding peace and quiet of the heart---I'll keep trying.

Now for some of this weeks gifts:

#6 Becky calling from work, just to check in while on her break. I in turn, call my mom, just to check in. All things are better after talking to Mom.

#7 Icicles dripping from the eaves. You can hear springtime trying to show itself--to let us know it will arrive. We just need to be patient.

#8 Eight children home for dinner, laughing like the best friends they are....arguing like the best friends they are.

The Gifts of This Life #5

I had to make the yearly trip to the eye doctor today.

I was annoyed to have to take time out of a busy day for this.

Yes, my eyes have gotten worse over the year, and even though I already need to wear tri-focals, I really didn't want to be bothered.

I began thinking tonight about today's "gift".

The gift of the eye doctor??

Yes, I came to realize.

These learned people, using their knowledge, and spending just a few minutes with me will make it possible for me to see this beautiful world more clearly.
This beautiful world that the Lord has created for us.

I know, for one, that I take my sight for granted, but stop and think. What would we miss if we couldn't see the falling snow,
the springtime flowers,

children playing along the waters edge,

fall leaves, on falling children,

our loved one's faces?

And as we gaze at these gifts from God, we can see God in them.

His gifts to us....and seeing these gifts, we see the face of God.

The Gifts of this Life---number 4

What I just found written on my Facebook homepage by my son, Daniel-18

"You have begot me, bred me, loved me:
I Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you."

I am finding that the gifts that have been bestowed on my are absolutely breathtaking sometimes.

The Gifts of this life

It's time to write in this journal, a gratitude journal. A journal of gifts. Three things a day. I can do that. Find three things to put down in this journal--everyday. But does it ever get quiet enough in the "little house" to even think? I have too--think---think deeply. Deeply, into the grateful areas of my heart.

I know that first I am grateful for my family. Pat says I should just put photos of the kids in here, and I will. But first, the first photo, will be of Pat. My husband, my best friend, my love, my life. Without him, I am no one.

Without him, I wouldn't even be alive. How many times have I heard from people that he was the only thing that kept me alive? He was told I wouldn't live through the night. He wouldn't leave my side---for two weeks. I knew that if I reached out my hand, at any moment, he would be there to take it. He squeezed my hand and kept me here, with him, with our children.

The doctors say it was a miracle, pure and simple, and I don't deny that. It was totally miraculous that I lived. But I also knew that the hand holding my hand wasn't going anywhere, and neither was I.

So I begin my journal, some handwritten and some shared.

Today I am thankful for these gifts:

1. God and my faith

2. My husband--steady and strong

3. Life---sweet, precious life