For the moment that is. But I soak up these moments. Can't think of anything better during a cold fall night than to be snuggling next to my love listening to Micheal Buble's Christmas CD while blogging about the many ways God has shown his love to me over the past week.
22. he made mint hot chocolate for me
23. warm november days
24. christmas music reminding me of what God has done
25. how hard he studies for school
26. He is not done with the good works he has began in me
27. my cute little notebook where I memorize Philippians
28. early breakfasts with friends
29. serving groups of students willing to give up there Christmas or spring break holidays to share Christ
30. learning to be patient in this job hunt and trust Him fully
31. hearing his heartbeat as we snuggle
32. giggles with mom and sister over lunch and shopping
That is all for today's very late post. May you all have a wonderfully rich and full Thanksgiving!
I have two un-edited, un-finished posts that I could have posted for today. They were heartfelt but selfish posts about me and what has been bothering me lately. I decided that I don't need to publish those today. Today I want to give thanks to God who has richly blessed me. I am the rich girl who gets it all.
I am warm and dry when it is cold and wet outside. I am loved and taken care of when so many are abandoned. I have a job and lack nothing when many are unemployed. I know I am a child of God when countless are lost.
I am the rich one in this world. And I am convicted by these words in 1 Timothy 6:17-18
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
As Thanksgiving and Christmas rapidly approach, I know how easy it is to forget that we are the rich ones when our money is flying through our hands. I am praying for a giving spirit that will stay with me long past the holidays. God has to gently remind me so often that it, whatever "it" may be, is not mine to begin with. He has richly blessed me with everything I need and will continue to do so that I may in turn be a blessing to others.
Please watch this video of one of my favorite songs
Oh friends, I just don't know what to write about most days so nothing gets written. Here we have another Monday where I DO know what to post about, more gifts!
7. the way my ring sets so delicate on my finger
8. how that reminds me I am cherished
9. the noise google chat or skype makes letting me know someone is waiting to chat
10. great chats with good friends
11. whip cream on my nose after sipping a peppermint mocha with my love
12. staring at him in a crowded room not noticing anyone else
13. little arms giving big hugs
14. they way all the little one's eyes lit up when they see their momma there to pick them up
15. celebrating his birthday
getting breakfast with his grandparents in yoder, ks
grabbing dinner the night before his actual b-day
a movie date the night before, whole theater to ourselves!
I finally "punched" him in the nose ;)
16. wedding bliss for two friends
17. the way she glowed
18. the way he looked at her
19. knowing my day is coming soon!
20. starting my own moleskine memory book
21. the first 6 verses of Philippians filling my soul
I am going to be working my way through memorizing all four chapters of Philippians. Taking it a few verses at a time :) Starting with 1:1-6
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this; that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
great pocket size moleskine notebook
sorry its sideways I can't figure that out... I write the verses then my reflection
I am very excited to have found a wonderfully rich blog, A Holy Experience, thanks to my friend Sarah, who is getting ready to move overseas with her hubby and 9 month old! I have been praying about what my blog should look like, recently it has just been random posts about daily activities, which that will still happen, but I like what my friend Dana is doing over at her blog. She has something daily to blog about under specific topics. I like that and as I continue reading different people's blogs, I will get a feel for what my heart wants to spill out into these internet journal pages. Thanks to the recent treasure of A Holy Experience's posts on being thankful, I will begin my very own list of 1000 gifts.
Why do I want to record 1000 gifts? I can think of no better way to gain the right perspective of life, than to daily give thanks to the creator of all life. I can't put it any better than Ann, the author of my new favorite blog, so beautifully said,
"When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that Helovesme. It is happening to me as John Milton wrote: “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”
What do I hope to gain? My prayer is that as I consciously make effort to open my eyes, my ears and my heart to all the gifts around me I will begin noticing all the gifts I already have and it will leave me never wanting. I hope that every Monday as I reflect on the past week and prepare a posting, I will revel in the grace and goodness the Father has given to me each and every moment of my life.
Why do I want to share this? Oh I can't explain how excited I am about sharing this with all (or few) of you who read this blog, that you may begin your own list of 1000 gifts as God carries you throughout your days. If you decided to join us, would you leave a comment and maybe a few of the things you have been gifted with recently? Private journals or public blogs, please everyone join me!
1000 Gifts
1. tears in my eyes as I think back to how God has saved me
2. the song, How He Loves
3. the way he looks at me and hugs me like he hasn't seen me in days
4. warm November days
5. giggles that turn into silent, belly-holding, nasals flared laughter with your best friend who happens to be your sister
6. how He has turned tragic events into beautiful things and continues to rescue my family 2 years later
I hope that as you go about your day that you will see the gifts of grace God has placed all around your life. Begin a life of gratitude and it will change your life, truly truly.
10.29.10
Final Friday
My lovely sister, Jackie, (check out her amazing blog here) is an intern for Tangent Labs, one of many studios that participate in Final Fridays. So Friday she asked me if we would come hang out with her for a few hours with her. Doug and I were just eating mac-n-cheese with no great plans for the rest of the night, so we said yes! We enjoyed the different displays and the mostly eaten but still yummy goodies.
Contemplating art. It's what we do.
Three warm art connoisseurs.
10.30.10
Murder Among the Mateys
Jackie had a birthday at the beginning of October, which I had planned for this amazing party to take place then. It had to be postponed until the 30th for various reasons. BUT, nevertheless the party did in deed commence. What better way to celebrate my dear sisters birthday than to host a pirate murder mystery?
A great website "night of mystery" gave me all the materials I would need to host such a party. I bought the package back in July and have began planning it and putting it together in September. So much fun to read through and figure out which characters would fit our guests! With pirate love triangles, a lost treasure to be found, bottles of root beer, eye patches and bad accents all around, we had a spectacular night of surprising plot twists.
I made this video (my first time ever!) to show the pictures instead of having you scroll forever.
The pirate party was so much fun to plan and to see everyone getting into character. Happy Birthday Jackie!
10.31.10
3 mile walk is sensible.
Phew friends, almost done with the weekend, hang in there we're almost done. Sunday after church Doug and I go back to our beloved nature center for a walk. He takes me the "back way" in and then we have hours of fun finding short cuts and walking the bike path all the way to Woodlawn and down 29th back into the nature center! All in all we walked close to 3 miles and enjoyed every step, it was gorgeous out. Later that day after leaving Doug to take is pre-work nap, I headed over to my friend Jennie's house for a night of Jane Austen. We had a fabulous time eating brownies,cheese, crackers, apples and not a piece of candy in sight, as we watched my new favorite Austen film, Sense and Sensibility. Such a fun halloween night!
What a fun filled weekend to close out the great month of October. What has been some of you favorite times in October? Past or present!
