A Life Well Lived

She sits in a rolling recliner with her eyes half closed. 

Four years ago, she used to sit in a chair outside the children's ministry bathrooms making sure those little boys washed their hands. 

I walk up to her and smile. She smiles tentatively, obvious that she doesn't remember me at first sight. 

I say my name and her eyes widen. She cannot stop exclaiming that I remember her. I tell her that she's pretty impossible to forget. She smiles and chuckles. 

We talk. I walk down memory lane with her about that feisty 90 year old who sat in a chair so those little boys would have clean hands. She smiles again. 

I remind her how she told me to talk to my dad and work things out with him. She praises God for His faithfulness even though some progress is made and then lost. 

We talk about family, church, life... She still can't believe I remember her. 

She comments that she was so busy. I tell her that she put busy people to shame! She once told me that her one goal in life was to use every breath in living for her Savior. She did and is doing just that. From being to church early just to help me get ready Sunday morning to delivering meals and visiting those who couldn't get up and around... she truly put "busy" people to shame. Such an example of life and words in tandem. 

I take out the little gift I hastily wrapped for her. A cheery pack of orange and pink flower post-its and a little journal. I feel awkward now realizing her writing must not be what she would like it to be. But I explain what my children do with the shaped post-its. How they write and draw their "thankful-things" and stick them anywhere and everywhere. I tell her how I would feel if I were in her shoes. Freedom and ability taken away and now under the constant supervision of healthcare people.  She looks down. I tell her that I would need to remember all the good things I have. She keeps thanking me for the little gift.  

I take out my iPad and scroll through pictures of the kids and Easter and Mike being silly with them. I show her video clips of the Star Wars birthday party and the sugar-crazed boys whacking Mike with the lightsabers he made for them. She chuckles and reminds me to treasure these things. They are what is truly important. 

We get talking about sickness and bodies and I say how someday... someday! we will have perfect bodies and her face just glows! We agree that we can't wait. Sin and hurts and terrible things in this world make us long for perfection. 

We look at more pictures but I can tell (even though she would have me stay another hour) she is tired. 

I ask if I can pray with her before I go. She would love it, she says. 

I take both of those beautifully soft wrinkled hands into my own and bow my head. As I begin to lift her up in prayer and thanksgiving for all God has done through her, I cannot stop the break in my voice as I ask  God to give me endurance and let me run my race with abandon as she has run hers.  With tears, I praise God for placing her in my life and ask Him to encourage her to finish strong. 

As I wheel her back out to the open area, I give her another hug and tell her again that I will be back and to stay feisty. She smiles and chuckles and I feel as if somehow I've been given the greatest gift instead doing the reverse. 

She's almost in the cloud of witnesses but she's still here cheering me on. Keep loving your husband, Ruth. Make time to sew that twirly dress for your little girl. She will grow up far too soon. Get down and play trains and legos with your boys. Never be too busy to be silly. And never, ever pass up a chance to laugh!

Okay, Veryl. You have my promise. 

Kids, Cracked Pots, and Grace!

3 kids. A completely messy house. Thanksgiving break. AND family coming for the holiday usually equals one horrible day with a mommy losing her cool and only half of the job done.

That was supposed to be Monday.

But Monday was THE best day I've had with my kids in a long long time!

Now, I'm no parenting genius, but I know what works for me.
I dislike cleaning.
A lot.
I only do it because I love what it looks like afterwards!

So... I stacked the deck for myself. :) 

-I prepped their minds for the task as they went to bed the night before.
(Mainly, that PBS wouldn't be on until the job was done.)
-I decided that this could really be fun!
(I didn't dread it with an attitude.)
-I let them stay in jammies.
(who cares what they wear if they're working!)
-I put on upbeat music for dancing purposes!
(They could only dance if they were putting things away :)

It worked!

I should've taken before/after shots of the living room. The dining room table was covered in random bits and pieces from the weekend. Sunday school papers, toys, books, homework folders, backpacks, wii remotes... you get the idea. The living room had landmines of Legos strategically placed for the unassuming foot to find. The kitchen looked like I hadn't had the thought of cleaning it for quite some time. Food/crumbs all over the floor, each counter holding a piece of some meal that was partially cleaned up not to mention piles of dirty dishes - we have 3 sizeable counters... so you do the math. Oh. And the dishwasher was chock-full of clean dishes.

So, with Mandisa, Jamie Grace, and Go Fish pumping through the speakers, we danced and twirled our way to a clean house! Complete with Chloe and Michael asking to vacuum the couches (almost fighting over who gets to do what!). At one point, I almost fainted from the shock of watching Chloe ask Michael if he could get some large thing that couldn't be vacuumed and he obliged without issue! 

It was the greatest day... EVER!  So much so, that I almost forgot about parent/teacher conferences!

Even then, the conferences made for an even better day - more reflective.

Chloe loves to write stories, her vocabulary is enhanced by her love of chapter books, she's using paragraphs when they haven't covered them in class, she's great at math, and has a bestie that her teacher knows better than to seat together. :) I sat there listening, thinking how this little girl is so much like me. And for the first time - I was not beating myself up for my issues but so very proud of her strengths. She's growing and learning! My heart simply overflowed.

Michael's teacher commented how much fun he is to have in class. His huge smile and "willingness to contribute in class" which is to say he loves to talk! He has come so far in the first 3 months of school - reading and learning so much! His teacher  said that when he asks a question he can always count on Michael to have the right answer!! We just chuckled. :) This kid knows so much and loves to share! My heart kept on flowing over...

In case you're thinking this post is a brag on my kids or my parenting, it's not. At all.

Photo courtesy of calm-energy.blogspot.com

This cracked pot has enough cracks that it's obvious it has nothing of its own. It's only (and I mean ONLY) what's God's doing in it. I'm thankful beyond words for the days I described above where things all fall into place, but they can only be appreciated if there are the other "not-so-good" days. You know, the ones when you feel like the worst mother alive... when it's work to believe that there is grace out there for even me.

That's why I can write this.
I'm not boasting. I'm living proof of God's goodness! His grace is big enough for even me! 

Your day may not go so well today, but God's grace is enough for you too. :) Drink deep!

I'm Thankful For...

* LCL healed so that my knee can bend and I can wash the floor!
*A fridge jammed full of fresh fruits and veggies!!
*A sherbet mustached face that shouts, "Push me in the clouds, Mommy!"
*Having conversations like this:
(Me to Jonny) "Mornin' sweetheart!"
(Jonny to me) "Mornin' sweetheart Mommy!" A flood of kisses on his squishy cheeks follows... :)
*Having enough clothes that there is a huge clean pile unfolded on the counter. 
*My best friend, first and only love, and the only one who knows me besides my Creator - Mike :)
*Seeing the basement covered in pillows and blankets in the pursuit of the "Best Fort Ever!"
*The ability to see beyond the mess to the gift. (Thank you, God!)

That's my dance today!
How's yours going?

The Mother Curse - Seeing Your Daughter's Potential While She's Driving You Nuts

It’s déjà vu meets out of body experience. I’m sitting on the floor helping my daughter put away the eternal pile in her room, and I see her blonde head pouring over a book she hadn’t seen in awhile. I’m taken back 28 years to another room with shag carpet. I’m sitting on the floor and this time, it’s my mother that is helping me clean up my eternal pile. My short brown page boy haircut flops down in my eyes as I find a book that was just begging to be opened and perused. I hear my mother’s pained frustration at having to remind me yet again to stay on task and finish the job… and I feel that same helplessness. I don’t know how I can put down a book that calls my name. I put that book away and find myself on another rabbit trail when my mother breaks into my thoughts with “Someday, Ruth Lynn, you will have a little girl JUST LIKE YOU.”

I snap back to the present where I’m still sitting on the floor sorting Polly Pocket from Littlest Pet Shop. And, she’s still there, head down, hair in her eyes, enraptured with her imagination. I call her name and she looks up with a guilty deer-in-the-headlights-look. Brusquely, I remind her that the pile will not put itself away, but I refrain from echoing those age-old words. Yes, she will indeed if God so wills it… she will have a little girl just like her, and that’s a good thing. Strong-willed daughters give their mothers gray hair, but someday they’ll change the world if they learn to submit to God.

Some days, however, I wonder if she’ll live that long. My frustration with her feels overwhelming at times. The repeated bickering with her brothers, her refusal to keep her body to herself, her lack of respect to her daddy and me, the lack of desire to obey, and my own sin issues reflected back to me make it hard to see the amazing qualities she does have.

I try to remember that I need to be thankful, that she is a gift. Of course, I think, her very creation is a miracle. But it is so very hard to see that gift in the moments where my peace is disturbed and fights reign and I am forced to fight for composure and justice and patience one more time. Ephesians 5:20 comes to mind, “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Ann Voskamp captures my thoughts exactly:

          “The whole of life – even the hard – is made up of the minute parts,

and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole. …

There is a way to live the big of giving thanks in all things.

It is this: to give thanks in this one small thing. The moments will add up.

She continues:

“But in this counting gifts, to one thousand, more, I discover that slapping

a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life. A lifetime of sermons on

“thanks in all things” and the shelves sagging with books on these things

 and I testify: life-changing gratitude does not fasten to a life unless

 nailed through with one very specific nail at a time.”

That moment when I see beyond the hands on her hips and the furrow of her brow and the attitude she’s wearing... when I can see the gift of her strong character and love her for it.  That is the counting. That is the nailing. The strong-willed daughter’s mother must be strong-willed as well. She must doggedly see the good gift in her child whether the mood is compliant or volume loud.

I continually feel that there is a piece missing to our relationship. I remember how as a single teacher, I’d tell my student’s parents to look for even the smallest thing to give positive reinforcement. The child finds himself drowning in the negative issues of his own making and unable to see the love of the parent.  Sometimes, I cringe at the gall I had to say stuff like that – having no experience. It had to be hard to hear from a single non-parent like me. Now, as a parent, yeah – I should listen to my former self.

As I was pondering how to bridge the gap in our mother-daughter relationship, I heard a song speaking the name of Yahweh: the God who wanted us to know His name. It hit me. I need to make myself known to her. I struggle in almost the same ways she does. I’ve done this a few times before, took the time to open myself up to her, but never on a regular or intentional basis. Each time, though, she looked up at me blue eyes rimmed with thick lashes in solemn understanding that she’s not the only one.

That’s the most appealing thing about Jesus. He, our High Priest, wore the same flesh and bone and struggled with temptation just as we do. Hebrews 4:15-16

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

When I find myself working on that eternal pile in her room, I will see beyond her rabbit-trailing to the gift of who she is.  I will speak words of encouragement to her and give her hope that her mommy understands the struggles she has.

There is indeed Someone who can empathize with our weakness. Praise God!

I lift my eyes up!

There’s nothing like being stuck in the house for a week straight to force you to focus on something (anything) good that you can find in your circumstances. Even if those particular circumstances are you spraining (very painfully, I might add) your right lateral collateral tendon in an attempt at picking up the minefield of toys downstairs.

I’ve been sitting here on my rear for a week now and I’ve gotten a lot done in terms of things normally reserved for “me time”. Things like: crocheting, writing, sketching, developing characters for the series of children’s stories I’m attempting; not to mention the times of playing Super Mario Wii with my son to keep him from climbing the walls with me.

Good friends as well as family have brought meals so that we have a fridge full of leftovers that with some creativity will give us several more meals.

Today was the Star Day for Michael in his preschool class. He’s been talking about this day for months - about his show and tell item and how he is going to be the special helper. It’s also my day to bring the snack and help with the class as well. Since the Van Nazi said, "No driving for you!", my wonderful mother-in-law stepped in for me. However, leave it to me to forget to send the apple juice with the snack – even though I remembered to pack the cups. Yeah.

My amazing carpool neighbor, Joni, has filled in for me doing both runs and going along with my craziness. The kids even got to play at the awesome school playground today while she talked with a friend. I’m glad that Michael got to have some time playing outside.

My highlight of the day came as my littlest man called my name, cupped my face in his hands, and said “Wuv you, Mommy! So much!”  Then he kissed me – once on each cheek! Such a little sweetie.

So, this is me trying to preach to my soul. All I could see tonight was the dark side to all the above. My literal response is to press the keys to the letters to make the words that remind me to “Lift up your eyes. Why so downcast oh my soul?! Put your hope in God!”

It’s hard to be on the receiving end of help. It’s hard to sit and accept the fact that the “normal” won’t be done today. I have to completely ignore the fact that the downstairs looks like a tornado came through followed by a hurricane and then a tsunami completed the look. The debris of 3 kids over a period of one week is equal to that of 3 mega storms. Any mother will agree.

Instead of wallowing in the tears of pity, I have to choose to look up beyond these temporary things and see that God is using this time for something good and purposeful. 

I must not live in what I see. For the sake of my own sanity and my family, I must lift my eyes. My worth as a woman is not based in the appearance or organization of my home. I am worth something because of Christ – and only Him. He gave me His righteousness and took the dirty rags I thought were good enough. He made me – every innermost part. He knows me – in ways I can’t begin to understand. He loves me and lavishes it on me in ways too numerous to count. But I can try!

My eyes are lifted tonight and I will keep them on Him tomorrow.

Water Stops

Another Sunday and I am sitting here battling my thoughts and choosing to see the gifts of today – whether or not they are immediately apparent. 

Saturday morning, Jonny was up early and with Mike. He began coughing and his stomach deposited the undigested mucus it’d been saving up with the nasty sinus infection he’s been getting over. This process of coughing and depositing was repeated 3 more times followed each time by a bath. After drinking mostly milk for breakfast, he deposited. I felt my heart and spirit sink… low. I walked away to get the bath going but as the water began to fill the tub, I began to sob and sob. It just couldn’t be bottled up anymore.

Another week.

Another Sunday morning.

Another missed worship service.

Yet another week to feel drained as I go into holiday preparations for our trip. Why?! Why God?  I just wanted to feel refreshed and focused on You. I need You so desperately! I can’t go another week without You! I feel like I’m running a marathon without water stops. No cool refreshment to go back to pounding the pavement anew.

So, as the water poured out, my soul poured out its sorrows to my Father. My Father who is never distracted or too busy for me, my Father who felt compassion for my hurt and counted every tear, my Father who sees me in His image not as I see myself.

He loves me! How He loves me so!

I dried my eyes and walked back to my son who was now calling for me. As I got down on my knees with the bucket and towel to begin the process of cleaning, my thoughts were not of the “Happy To Be a Mom” variety. They were more of the “Really?! Right now?! Why?” variety.  Instantly, I felt a tug and all I’ve read and written about seeing God’s gifts in every moment flooded my mind. So, I asked myself – What can I be thankful for right now? My answer came just that fast… His deposit was made over the linoleum; missing the carpet.  It was as if a plug was pulled, because more things came to mind.

This week, I’m going to trust Him for the water stops. I certainly don’t see how they’re going to happen. But He does. He sees my next “moment” where I will have to choose to see His gifts instead of my problems.

I will drink deep in those moments. Living water for my soul.

Thanksgiving Edition 2011

There are so many things welling up in my heart and mind and not nearly enough space to pour it out.  God is so very good, so very faithful. In His sovereignty, He gives and takes away. His name alone is worthy of praise! My darkest place of questioning is the backdrop for His quiet Voice to remind me He is enough.

  “As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible.” Ann Voskamp

I have learned much this year from the dear author above. Her book, One Thousand Gifts, has been ever challenging. It is the one book, aside from His Book, that I refer to again and again for a bit of perspective.  She challenges her reader to see even the hard things of life as gifts – gracious gifts from a gracious God.

 52 Gifts since last November

1. My little blue-eyed boy turns four! 2. Holding a gator in Florida with cousins 3. The pouring out of ministry 4. Trusting God to open blind eyes to see their need 5. My beautiful blue-eyed girl turns six! 6. The heartache of knowing my ministry is for Him alone not the praise of man 7. My little brown-eyed boy turns two! 8. The beauty of giant snowflakes at night  9. Laughing hysterically with Jr.High girls 10. The softening of the ground and promise of life 11. Learning again the joys of the Dangerous Journey – Pilgrims Progress 12. My father survives a massive heart attack and a quadruple bypass 13. An amazing week with my siblings amidst the uncertainty of dad’s health 14. The beauty of a husband who loves and protects his wife 15. The adventure of Garage-Sale Season! 16. Hearing God remind me of His love in the dark places 17. Mike driving a float in the Foolip Time Parade!! Our Neighborhood Spoof of Tulip Time  18. Chloe and Michael’s excitement for swim lessons 19. Rejoicing as Chloe begins her journey of knowing God! 20. Mike and Michael go see CARS 2 opening night! 21. Chloe and I enjoy a Girls Night – haircuts and Wendy’s! 22. Following Mike as he follows God to a different church 23. Celebrating 8 years of friendship and marriage! 24. Trusting God as our family transitions to the new church 25. Driving lessons for each of the kids out on Lake Michigan! 26. Campfires and sweet conversations alone 27. Marveling at God’s creativity and sense of humor at Binder Park Zoo! 28. Opportunities to listen and quietly share eternal Truth 29. Chloe’s first day of 1^st Grade! 30. Michael’s first day of Preschool! 31. Alone time with my dimpled little 2 year old  32. The gift of learning God has given to each of them 33. The love of reading God has given to Chloe! 34. The gift of time to be home with them each day 35. Watching my scattered thoughts become words that fill white space 36. Discovering the fact that I’m a writer who was once a teacher 37. God’s gracious provision of a dynamic small group 38. The time to volunteer in our children’s schools and connect with their teachers 39. The challenge of Wednesday evening Men’s Group for Mike 40. Listening to Michael’s sweet understanding of God’s amazing sacrifice on his behalf 41. God busting my box wide open as I went on a Women’s Retreat where I knew not one person 42. Watching my little Michael “stunt-man” fly and be a superhero for his sister! 43. Jonny’s squishy little hands on my face each night as he says “Fanks (thanks) Mommy!” 44. Knowing with certainty that Chloe will be cuddled up on the couch with a book 45. Storing away all her little post-it notes that say “You’re the bast (best) Mommy ever!” 46. Picking Apples at our favorite orchard! 47. Making Sauce, Pies and Crisps 48. The rough hand of my best friend as we walk in the neighborhood on his birthday 49. Remembering the good as well as the hard times 50. The children’s uncontained joy when their daddy comes home each evening! 51. Choosing joy on a cloudy gray Michigan fall day 52. Seeing God’s amazing grace through it all!

As you go into this amazing time of remembering, make your own 52 List.

Happy Remembering & Happy Thanksgiving!

The Challenge of Being a Mom

It is an age-old mom challenge: Kids, Colds and Church.

Every year (it seems to get sooner and sooner) October and November begin the predictable cycle of colds and sniffles. You know you can’t encapsulate your child in a germ-free bubble, though the idea does cross your mind every once in awhile. You even know that coming into contact with germs is a necessary to the function of the immune system.

Yet… that mothering/protective instinct comes out of you with force.

So Sunday, you decide to play it “safe” and keep your just-barely-sniffling two-year old home.

That very evening you are hit with the baffling irony… he is sick anyhow. Not only just a sniffly nose, but now he’s up at 11 coughing so hard it sounds like a dog barking. He can’t sleep, he’s tossing and turning and crying. You somehow unearth the Vicks VapoCream with sleep crusted eyes while trying to calm a flailing child.

The cream is a godsend, however, an unfortunate side-effect is that it chills whatever skin it comes in contact with. As he begins to relax and breathe deeply, you realize that your arm (now chilled from the cream) is stuck under his head as he lays next to you. You silently debate with yourself the pros and cons of moving your arm thus waking up the sleeping toddler or having a very cold and now numb arm for an undetermined span of time. The debate ends with you dozing on and off as he moves in his sleep.

Finally, at 12:30 you come to grips with the fact that if you do not move this child back to his bed, your body (and mind, for that matter) will be very upset with you the next morning. Your family and your day require your A-Game - whether you have it or not.

 

So, after he’s sleeping soundly in his bed, you manage to reclaim the last 6 hours of your nights sleep. Your body (and mind) thank you! And… you thank your husband as he gets cereal out for the munchkins and heads off to work.

The rub comes as you launch into your week without the benefit of being with the Body… again.  Not standing with your family of believers and praising God for who He is - nevermind hearing the Word spoken and taught, receiving the challenge and applying it to your own life - you feel like you're close to empty. 

Studying theology for four years, learning how to take the Word apart and see the intricacies of the ancient languages and the understanding and beauty they bring to the text make being content with only having time to read a paragraph or two very difficult. This too shall pass, you know this. It’s just a season and the demands on your time will change.  Still, it’s frustrating to know how to chew steak but have to settle for a granola bar. Both are good for you, but you need a whole lot more time for the one.

Missing church and having to stay home with a sick child added to the demands of a family and you have all the ingredients for a dive into selfishness and ingratitude.  Not to mention self-pity.

You try all sorts of mind tricks (“it could be worse”, “someone else has a much harder life than me”, “it will be better tomorrow”) to keep yourself thinking right, but you find in the end (as all of the previous thoughts go south) that it is only consciously choosing thankfulness at all times that will keep you on the sane side of the highway.

Every single one of us has a story and history. Each one is filled with situations that would be easy to see as terrible and ugly, even to question why God allowed it. Choosing thankfulness would be the equivalent of climbing Mt Everest. Really?! How in the world can I see this as a good thing? Just can’t do it. No way. No how.

But God knows our frame. He knows we are just dust. When we make that heavy choice to look at our past and present circumstances and choose to be grateful, He hears His child loving Him more than the irritation and hurt… more than the pain… more than gloomy feelings… more than herself.

He knows our hearts and even if we are not fully thankful for the things that drive us nuts, He knows we want to please Him. That small choice to be thankful for the setting sun while the children fight over who gets which stool will not escape His notice.

Thankfulness leads to Joy – not happiness – but true Joy in the Creator of the Universe who made me and knows me and loves me still.

When you are thankful, you will find joy blooming where before there was only a desert. 

Will you join me in this?  Look back over your past, see His gracious good gifts in the hard things, and see how He is shaping you in the present daily trials. 

Oh... and by the way.... today this writer is thankful for Vicks VapoRub Cream!

Book Basket: One Thousand Gifts

One of my heroes is Ann Voskamp.

This farmer's wife and homeschooling mother of six speaks to my heart and soul when she tells of her struggle to be thankful when the pile of dirty jeans is so high it's about to topple over, when the clean floor is no longer so minutes after finishing it, when dirty dishes far outweigh the clean ones, and her fears of not fully living the life God has given her.

God has given her an amazing ability to capture with a camera and words the essence of a moment. She has been through horrific valleys; some I relate with and some I have no way to understand except by knowing how big God is. Her blog,  A Holy Experience, is one I follow closely and one I highly recommend. It's always a perspective turner for me.

In her book, One Thousand Gifts, she has a chapter called "a word to live... and die by".  In it she relates a dream where she was told she had cancer. She goes through the last goodbyes and feels panicked as she realizes how badly she wants to live. Her panic wakes her and causes her to reflect on what it means to live life fully.

"It's the life between, the days of walking lifeless, the years calloused and simply going through the hollow motions, the self-protecting by self-distracting, the body never waking, that's lost all capacity to fully feel - this is the life in between that makes us the wild walking dead." 

She goes on to talk about how people who want to live usually want to live for something. Live to see the world... cities/architecture/mountains/countries/people groups that otherwise they'd never see.

"So - more time for more what?  The face of Jesus flashes. Jesus, the God-Man with his own termination date. Jesus, the God-Man who came to save me from prisons of fear and guilt and depression and sadness. With an expiration of less than twelve hours, what does Jesus count as all most important? 

 'And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them....' (Luke 22:19 NIV)."

He gave thanks. As I was sitting in Panera last Friday evening for a little R&R, it really stood out to me. Jesus considered giving thanks (eucharisteo) to be one of the most important things He could do in His last 12 hours on this earth. Even with the betrayer present, He still gave thanks. 

If I'm honest and I had 12 hours left on this earth, I don't think I'd be concerned about giving thanks for the little things like bread. I'd, more than likely, be consumed with worry over my husband and children and making sure everything was as prepared as I could make it. I'd be soaking up the last moments of remembrance and hugs and saying goodbye. 

Serving? Nope. Exuding thankfulness and giving thanks for all things? Um... hardly. 

Christ gives us a pattern that I'm taking steps in.  Give thanks. Always. In all things. 

There are no more excuses - like "I'm having such a day with these crazy mutinous kids!" or "Why do I bother cleaning?? No one really cares. And tomorrow I'll have to do it all over again anyway." 

Ann challenges us to make a list (yes, this definitely goes along with my propensities!); looking with different eyes to see the things God has for us in every single moment of every single day.

Here are some of mine today:
- The shine of my brown eyed boy's eyes and how his dimple deepens when he sees me.
- Greasy little handprints on the front window reminding me of little hands that will leave someday
- The swaying of a neighbor's giant tree as it dances in the breeze.
- Lunch crumbs on the clean floor; God's abundant provision
- Precious time to spend stringing my thoughts together in quiet reflection
- Long eyelashes lining the blue eyes of my little man as he pulls my face close to tell me secrets.

I'm learning to count my one thousand gifts.
I challenge you to begin the journey!