One Thousand Gifts



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One Thousand Gifts

1. The gift of life itself...my very physical existence, but in that state alone I was dead in trespasses and sins, until Christ saved me, quickening this mortal body and giving me His Spirit.

2. My family and God using them to teach me love, forgiveness, and endurance. It is through them that my life has been filled with much joy, laughter, encouragement, and humility.

These are my first two, which I know seem very general, but those are the foundations for the rest of this list developing over time.  I cannot overlook those gifts.  The rest of my list, with newest posts first....

5/2/2011

57. Coffee that tastes sweeter and more refreshing when poured by Matthew, a loving son wanting to pamper his mom in the morning.

56. A flower picked for me by my Nathan. The reward of a kiss!

55. Kristy, sitting Jacob on her lap, playing the piano for  him.  He loves this music, this time with his sissy.  I love how his feet rest on the piano.

54. A Sunday afternoon, lying on the swing on our back deck with Jacob on my chest.  I feel the rhythm of his breathing, the swaying of the swing, and the breeze kissing my skin.  My view, the beautiful cathedral ceiling of oak branches, with new spring leaves, the blue sky marbling with brown and green.  The birds fly in and out.  Their wings beat and when settled they sing the praises of God.  I wonder at how amazing He is, how much He must love us to give us so much beauty.  I think of how much I love Jacob, so much that it seems my heart should burst with trying to contain it.  Then I fully comprehend, feel, the verse that we loved Him because He first loved us. 

4/18/2011

53.  Windows open, fresh breeze filling the house and curtaing dancing to the birds' song

52.  Overhearing a conversation with the kids that makes me laugh

51. St. Ives Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash, to wash away the smell of spit up on the skin

50. Dancing with Jacob to music I used to listen to growing up.

49. Rejoicing in my heart because Matthew said he finished another book and asked if he could pick a new one from the shelves.

48. Kisses

47. The smell of coffee, the soothing effects of a hot drink

46. An evening playing Wii darts with my husband after the kids went to bed.  Laughter and fun!

45. Sweet tea

44. Neutrogena Naturals Lip Balm, my latest & greatest to feed my 'chapstick' addiction.

43. A refreshing, encouraging book

42. A funny commercial

41. Hearing a car horn outside, knowing it means the mail lady is delivering a package. Yay!

40. Pretty fabric

4/1/2011

39. Rainy days, washing away the pollen, adding calm to our days, demanding us to stay home, read, and cuddle.

38. Sleep--getting 5 hours uninterrupted last night. Yes, glorious sleep; much needful to the mom of a newborn.

37. A kiss from Russ after a long day of mothering. Yes, it's good to be a woman!

36. Insurance paying for a new windsheild on the car, replacement scheduled for later today.

35. Email---have I mentioned this before?  It diminishes the miles between friends.

34. The sunlight breaking through a cloud covered sky, beautifully highlighting the treeline across the field. This was my first view outside this morning, out the backdoor window, while carrying a load of dirty clothes to the washing machine.  A good morning from God, waking me and reminding of His very existence.

33. Looney Tunes and Wipeout, these shows bring those deep belly laughs from Matthew and Nate. I love this sound!

32. Sibling love & tenderness.
2/23/2011--All things of a newborn baby

31. Jacob's coos and happy moans.

30.  Nursing another baby, what a beautiful gift from God.  To comfort and nourish him.

29. Jacob sleeping on my chest.  Feeling him breathe.

28.  Kissing hands, feet, cheeks, lips, ears, neck, forehead, etc.  His skin is so soft and warm.

27. Jacob looking at me with furrowed brows, that perplexed look.  I wonder what he's thinking.

26. Fine, soft, dark hair to stroke.

25. Soft baby skin.

24. The birth of a new baby.  2/4/2011--Jacob Zane.  8 lbs. 11 oz., 21 inches long.

1/24/2011

23. A sweet memory of a past friendship.

22.  Age...yes, age.  Lately, I'm remembering the words of some older women spoken years ago and now honestly understanding the value of what they were teaching me.

21.  The ability to truly forgive another...it doesn't come to us naturally, but is a gift of God.  I don't think anyone can forgive outside of God's grace...saying you forgive and experiencing forgiveness toward another are two very different things.

20. The ability to read...to read stories of women in times past, the trials they endured, the battles they won, the tears they shed, the strength they developed, the compassion they shared, the love they gave despite it all.

19. Pretty fabric...pretty projects that make a day cheery and bright.

18.  The feeling of a Jacob's foot pushing out and being able to rub the roundness of his rump right under my right rib cage.

17.  The wonder of how an amniotic sac is fragile, yet strong enough to endure the weight, kicks, and pokes of a growing baby.  It's awe-inspiring. I don't know how anyone can witness reproduction or experience it and not see God at work.

16. The glory of God revealed in a beautiful sunset.

15. A reminder that the Lord sometimes teaches us compassion, how to pray for another, and how to be a real help, through the trials He allows us to go through.  And remembering that He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, so that we may boldly come to the throne of grace.  What an amazing, personal Lord we serve.

14.  Watching Kristy develop her gifts and talents.  This past week, she finished an art project, studied hippology with her teacher, played two pieces for her piano party.  You can see pics and read more on my blog post about her.  What an incredible girl...and it's a gift to be her mother!!


1/18/2011

13. The sound of Jacob's heartbeat at the doctor's office. It is beyond comprehension how the Lord has created us.

12. Matthew's laughter, which I cannot hear without smiling and remembering the blessing of being a mom.

11. The sparkle in those dark, chestnut eyes of Nathan as he curls up next to me.  He's so kissable!!

10. A 12 year old daughter, who surprised me by tackling some housework that needed done, without being asked.  What a thoughtful girl!

9. A compassionate nurse.

8.  Very thankful for my husband, who right now is my strength through a very difficult time. He dries my tears, reminds me to focus on the positive, and he keeps me laughing...knowing how much I despise the gloomy & negative. That merry heart doeth good like a medicine....the last thing I need is my bones drying out right now. haha!

1/12/2011

7. The sound of the kids laughing in the other room and knowing they are making memories that don't involve my presence...things they'll laugh about when they are grown, specific to their relationships with one another.

6. Encouraging words from mom.

5. The faithfulness and intimacy of a true friend...one whom I discovered was praying for me in a very specific way before I even asked her to.

4.  The compassion and thoughtfulness of a stranger.

3. Last night Nate cuddled with me in the recliner with the side of his head resting on my belly. After awhile, he looked up and said, "Mom, Jacob is drinking milk. I can hear him." haha!! Then he fell asleep and as I was rubbing his head, Jacob was moving and I was thinking how wonderful being a mom is...cuddling with two of my boys...one resting his head on the womb that is nourishing the other.