February 25: A gift worn-out, new, made-do
164. Worn-out- Hugs. Although worn, never get old.
165. New- God's mercies new every morning. Never tired of his fresh mercy falling upon me.
166. Made-do- The fail-safe of having kids play basketball in gym when someone forgot to do lesson plans over the unexpected 3 day weekend... (oops)
Monday, February 25, 2013
Up and at 'em
February 24: 3 Gifts before 11am
161. God's House and the fellowship found within
162. Cereal. Quick. Easy. Good.
163. News that the fans injured in yesterday's horrible accident at Daytona are going to be okay. So scary!
161. God's House and the fellowship found within
162. Cereal. Quick. Easy. Good.
163. News that the fans injured in yesterday's horrible accident at Daytona are going to be okay. So scary!
Sun Shine In
February 23: A gift of tin, glass, wood
158. Tin- A police badge. Heard news that my brother had been promoted to sergeant. So proud of him!
159. Glass- The beautiful front window letting in the sun's rays today... even if I didn't see them until after 10am today as I enjoyed a much-needed lazy morning.
160. Wood- that last box of wood from my parents burning in the fireplace. (And happy 60th birthday to my daddy!)
158. Tin- A police badge. Heard news that my brother had been promoted to sergeant. So proud of him!
159. Glass- The beautiful front window letting in the sun's rays today... even if I didn't see them until after 10am today as I enjoyed a much-needed lazy morning.
160. Wood- that last box of wood from my parents burning in the fireplace. (And happy 60th birthday to my daddy!)
What HE ordered
February 22: 3 Gifts that changed today
155. The snowfall that wasn't. We got about 3 inches. No ice. No blowing snow or bad roads. But with school already being called off the night before, instead I got a house full of warmth and laughter with 6 kids.
156. Some MAJOR work and progress on the new church website being made by my husband and I.
157. A well-timed devotional that changed some perspectives. Simply beautiful. I love when God places a devotional in my lap and HE opens to the page I need for that very moment.
155. The snowfall that wasn't. We got about 3 inches. No ice. No blowing snow or bad roads. But with school already being called off the night before, instead I got a house full of warmth and laughter with 6 kids.
156. Some MAJOR work and progress on the new church website being made by my husband and I.
157. A well-timed devotional that changed some perspectives. Simply beautiful. I love when God places a devotional in my lap and HE opens to the page I need for that very moment.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
White as Snow
February 21: 3 Gifts White
152. 2 white boxes delivered to our front porch filled with K'nex pieces for Payton. He has really taken off on these! He continues to amaze us with his projects.
153. Snow falling down - well, at least the threat of it - and school already being called off for tomorrow before supper is even on the table!
154. Washing. No matter how many times I screw up. I am still blameless in the eyes of my Savior.
152. 2 white boxes delivered to our front porch filled with K'nex pieces for Payton. He has really taken off on these! He continues to amaze us with his projects.
153. Snow falling down - well, at least the threat of it - and school already being called off for tomorrow before supper is even on the table!
154. Washing. No matter how many times I screw up. I am still blameless in the eyes of my Savior.
Rub a Dub Dub Thanks for the Grub!
February 20: A gift at breakfast, lunch, dinner
149. Breakfast- a fresh pot of coffee
150. Lunch- a "leftover" butterfinger that I laid claim to
151. Dinner- pizza and a movie
149. Breakfast- a fresh pot of coffee
150. Lunch- a "leftover" butterfinger that I laid claim to
151. Dinner- pizza and a movie
For I know the plans I have for you.
February 19: 3 Gifts that were "Plan B's"
146. While I don't do out and "make plans" each day especially during the school year, I live by living each day and doing what I can. Fly-by-nightly I guess you can say. But today we did finish our taxes, and that makes making plans for our mission trip to Angola Prison in May a doable trip again this year. It's not a Plan B, but it was one we were wondering if we'd be able to do.
147. Family tradition in the summers had been going to the state fair and after the events of family last year with siblings moving out of country etc we didn't go last year but both missed it. So this summer we made a Plan B to go back again- even if it is just our family of 5.
148. the ability to fly-by-night on lessons plans that don't go exactly as planned...
146. While I don't do out and "make plans" each day especially during the school year, I live by living each day and doing what I can. Fly-by-nightly I guess you can say. But today we did finish our taxes, and that makes making plans for our mission trip to Angola Prison in May a doable trip again this year. It's not a Plan B, but it was one we were wondering if we'd be able to do.
147. Family tradition in the summers had been going to the state fair and after the events of family last year with siblings moving out of country etc we didn't go last year but both missed it. So this summer we made a Plan B to go back again- even if it is just our family of 5.
148. the ability to fly-by-night on lessons plans that don't go exactly as planned...
Write Your name on my heart
February 18: 3 Gifts on Paper
143. love notes from my Savior
144. Belated sappy love card from my husband
145. note from a friend reminding me they are praying for me
143. love notes from my Savior
144. Belated sappy love card from my husband
145. note from a friend reminding me they are praying for me
Monday, February 18, 2013
In His Service
February 17: 3 Gifts found Giving/Serving
140. Receiving a manuscript to see about making a dream come true
141. Serving college kids lunch and the fellowship we enjoy
142. Giving birthday kisses to my FOUR year old daughter!!
140. Receiving a manuscript to see about making a dream come true
141. Serving college kids lunch and the fellowship we enjoy
142. Giving birthday kisses to my FOUR year old daughter!!
Even in the Dark
February 16: 3 Gifts in Shadows
137. late night laughter with the girls and 3 friends staying overnight (meant little sleep for mommy- but knowing the girls had fun that's all that matters)
138. serving "in the shadows" behind the scenes at church - serving our God and his church while not being in the spotlight
139. sitting in the back of a favorite custard shop savoring the time and the moments celebrating tomorrow's birthday girl
137. late night laughter with the girls and 3 friends staying overnight (meant little sleep for mommy- but knowing the girls had fun that's all that matters)
138. serving "in the shadows" behind the scenes at church - serving our God and his church while not being in the spotlight
139. sitting in the back of a favorite custard shop savoring the time and the moments celebrating tomorrow's birthday girl
Lost Get Found
February 15: A gift in losing, making, finding something
134. Losing- lost power for about 45 minutes tonight but once the kids had flashlights they had fun playing flashlight tag
135. Making-Payton made a DVD holder out of K'nex tonight. Future Engineer?
136. Finding Something- Finding another reason to love my husband. It is true you fall in love a little more each day.
134. Losing- lost power for about 45 minutes tonight but once the kids had flashlights they had fun playing flashlight tag
135. Making-Payton made a DVD holder out of K'nex tonight. Future Engineer?
136. Finding Something- Finding another reason to love my husband. It is true you fall in love a little more each day.
Love in the Air
February 14: 3 ways you feel the love of God
131. in family
132. in friends
133. in "just the right scripture" at "just the right time"
131. in family
132. in friends
133. in "just the right scripture" at "just the right time"
Peek-A-Boo
February 13: 3 Gifts Behind a Door
128. Payton and his cleaned his room he cleaned ALL ON HIS OWN!
129. Teacher's devotions and prayer in the morning before school beings.
130. a truck door closing and then seeing THREE bouquets of flowers-- one for me and one for each of the girls.
128. Payton and his cleaned his room he cleaned ALL ON HIS OWN!
129. Teacher's devotions and prayer in the morning before school beings.
130. a truck door closing and then seeing THREE bouquets of flowers-- one for me and one for each of the girls.
Making it Hard
February 12: 3 Hard Eucharisteos
126. Goodbyes.
127. Grades. I hate giving students bad grades and making them re-do an assignment, but learning doesn't come by just getting by. Sometimes lessons are hard to learn, but necessary.
Definition from urban dictionary: A Greek word meaning thanksgiving, to be thankful. Envelopes the Greek root word charis meaning grace, and the derivative chara which is Greek for joy. "He took the bread, and knew it to be a gift and gave thanks." We too participate in eucharisteo in communion, and in life if we so choose.
125. In being un-rich. A rusted part of my van fell off today. It still drives fine but showing her age. Now sure it would be nice to get a nice beautiful new vehicle, but it's just not in the cards. I am thankful our money doesn't speak for us and that even in being poor, we are so very rich. There are so many things I WANT, but we have all that we need. Even if those needs require a bit of duct tape.126. Goodbyes.
127. Grades. I hate giving students bad grades and making them re-do an assignment, but learning doesn't come by just getting by. Sometimes lessons are hard to learn, but necessary.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Working Hard for the Money
February 11: 3 Gifts in Working
122. A hard day at school, but I count how blessed I am to be in the environment working to teach these young minds and hope to inspire them for the better.
123. Freelance design. To keep the degreed skills sharp and being able to get paid for playing.
124. Kids working to clean the house. So the mirror may be a bit streaked and a spot on the floor may have been missed, but they are trying their little hearts to try to keep the house nicer (and I love it when I say the reward is HAMBALLS for supper and that motivates them to help!!!)
122. A hard day at school, but I count how blessed I am to be in the environment working to teach these young minds and hope to inspire them for the better.
123. Freelance design. To keep the degreed skills sharp and being able to get paid for playing.
124. Kids working to clean the house. So the mirror may be a bit streaked and a spot on the floor may have been missed, but they are trying their little hearts to try to keep the house nicer (and I love it when I say the reward is HAMBALLS for supper and that motivates them to help!!!)
Laughter
February 10: 3 times you heard laughter today.
119. With a house of three little ones, this is not a hard grace to find. Giggles in the morning. I believe they were playing hide and seek. At 5 am. But they were happy. And it's Sunday. Let them laugh.
120. At lunch. Our favorite mexican son and Jason picking in fun at eachother. They make me smile.
121. In the evening. Watching some sill show. I don't even remember what it was. But it was funny. And we laughed. HARD.
119. With a house of three little ones, this is not a hard grace to find. Giggles in the morning. I believe they were playing hide and seek. At 5 am. But they were happy. And it's Sunday. Let them laugh.
120. At lunch. Our favorite mexican son and Jason picking in fun at eachother. They make me smile.
121. In the evening. Watching some sill show. I don't even remember what it was. But it was funny. And we laughed. HARD.
Surprise!
February 9: 3 Surprise Gifts- Unexpected Grace!
116. Tears. I thought I'd shed them all already. But there were tears. And there was a wonderful hand of a man I cherish ready to wipe them away. Healing.
117. Free movie code. Good for a laugh. And family bonding.
118. A call for a stop-over visit. 6 cousins take over the house!! Good laughter. Good times.
116. Tears. I thought I'd shed them all already. But there were tears. And there was a wonderful hand of a man I cherish ready to wipe them away. Healing.
117. Free movie code. Good for a laugh. And family bonding.
118. A call for a stop-over visit. 6 cousins take over the house!! Good laughter. Good times.
Ultimate physician
February 8: A gift broken, fixed, thrifted
113. broken- hearts. The upstairs of the church is filled with broken hearts today as we mourn the loss of a dear friend and father of 7. Though through the tears, there is hope. We mourn, but we still have hope. We know he is with his Savior and we are happy for him, but there are still a lot of tears. And hugs. And I love these kids.
114. fixed. Jason fixed our furnace tonight. A simple fix for him. But I'd be so lost without him. (and cold!!)
115. thrifted. Well, this one is easy. 99% of my wardrobe is thrifted. I grew up hating the thrift store and that I couldn't have the newest best clothes, but it's all surface. Now I love saving the money and that I can afford to get "new" clothes whenever I get tired of my old thrifted ones. Upcycle baby!!
113. broken- hearts. The upstairs of the church is filled with broken hearts today as we mourn the loss of a dear friend and father of 7. Though through the tears, there is hope. We mourn, but we still have hope. We know he is with his Savior and we are happy for him, but there are still a lot of tears. And hugs. And I love these kids.
114. fixed. Jason fixed our furnace tonight. A simple fix for him. But I'd be so lost without him. (and cold!!)
115. thrifted. Well, this one is easy. 99% of my wardrobe is thrifted. I grew up hating the thrift store and that I couldn't have the newest best clothes, but it's all surface. Now I love saving the money and that I can afford to get "new" clothes whenever I get tired of my old thrifted ones. Upcycle baby!!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
God's Timing is Perfect
February 7: A gift at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, and 6:30 pm
110. 11:30 am- placing an order for Jimmy Johns for a lunch meeting. Having a yummy UNwich for lunch makes meetings more bearable. ;)
111. 2:30 pm- snow coming down (and happy I don't have to drive in it!) Finally. Winter.
112. 6:30 pm- 6 kids eating corn dogs and drinking hot chocolate after an afternoon helping Jason shovel the driveway
110. 11:30 am- placing an order for Jimmy Johns for a lunch meeting. Having a yummy UNwich for lunch makes meetings more bearable. ;)
111. 2:30 pm- snow coming down (and happy I don't have to drive in it!) Finally. Winter.
112. 6:30 pm- 6 kids eating corn dogs and drinking hot chocolate after an afternoon helping Jason shovel the driveway
Baby it's cold outside
February 6: 3 Gifts Outside
107. A certain handyman making repairs to the gutter (fixing an ice dam) at the church.
108. An Eagle perched in a neighbor's tree. Yes. Eagle. In the Chicago suburbs. Amazed.
109. A small hand in mine on the walk to school.
107. A certain handyman making repairs to the gutter (fixing an ice dam) at the church.
108. An Eagle perched in a neighbor's tree. Yes. Eagle. In the Chicago suburbs. Amazed.
109. A small hand in mine on the walk to school.
Switched but still counting
February 5: 3 Gifts found when bent down (I actually accidentally switched Feb 4& 5th gifts to count, these gifts should have been counted and recorded for yesterday)
104. change on the floor under the couch (always a good thing to find extra money)
105. bending down to light a fire in the fireplace
106. a bending of the heart and folding of the hands to lift up a friend in prayer -- always a humbling and precious thing to talk with my savior.
104. change on the floor under the couch (always a good thing to find extra money)
105. bending down to light a fire in the fireplace
106. a bending of the heart and folding of the hands to lift up a friend in prayer -- always a humbling and precious thing to talk with my savior.
Starting the second hundred!
February 4: A gift stitched, hammered, woven
101. Stitched- The stitching on the twin hats my boy and I wore today during Spirit Week Sports Day at school. We wore the same hats and every time I saw him today it made me smile.
102. Hammered- The nails hammered into the hands and feet of Jesus. He didn't need those nails. His love for us could have held Him there. But He needs us to be His hands and feet. Even today. Especially today.
103. Woven- The weaving of people in and out of our lives that have touched me and made me who I am today.
101. Stitched- The stitching on the twin hats my boy and I wore today during Spirit Week Sports Day at school. We wore the same hats and every time I saw him today it made me smile.
102. Hammered- The nails hammered into the hands and feet of Jesus. He didn't need those nails. His love for us could have held Him there. But He needs us to be His hands and feet. Even today. Especially today.
103. Woven- The weaving of people in and out of our lives that have touched me and made me who I am today.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Hard Thankfulness
February 3: 3 Gifts found in Writing
98. Desperation text to Jason saying the computer for church was down. My hero to come and rescue me. (Unfortunately, it was not just a simple fix and we went "old school" for service)
99. Sermon notes: "What does He want us to learn from this?" Hard day for the FVBC family. But Pastor's sermon really will mean so much more this week.
100. Bible passages to bind hearts together.
98. Desperation text to Jason saying the computer for church was down. My hero to come and rescue me. (Unfortunately, it was not just a simple fix and we went "old school" for service)
99. Sermon notes: "What does He want us to learn from this?" Hard day for the FVBC family. But Pastor's sermon really will mean so much more this week.
100. Bible passages to bind hearts together.
Don't recycle these!
February 2: 3 gifts on paper
95. One smart cookie- Ashleigh earned a certificate for counting to 100 on Friday. It was just yesterday she counted 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 14, 15, 18.
96. While cleaning the girls' room today, I found a note from Payton to the girls saying he loved them.
97. Table of 8. Nice treat out by our neighbors to enjoy dinner together.
95. One smart cookie- Ashleigh earned a certificate for counting to 100 on Friday. It was just yesterday she counted 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 14, 15, 18.
96. While cleaning the girls' room today, I found a note from Payton to the girls saying he loved them.
97. Table of 8. Nice treat out by our neighbors to enjoy dinner together.
Seeing Red
February 1: 3 Gifts Red
92. The blood of Christ. That He can love even me -- and even more, that He would die for me and still choose to use me in His service.
93. Red monkey slipper socks. So comfy and warm. And so cute.
94. New red pillows beckoning for an afternoon snooze on our new living room couch.
92. The blood of Christ. That He can love even me -- and even more, that He would die for me and still choose to use me in His service.
93. Red monkey slipper socks. So comfy and warm. And so cute.
94. New red pillows beckoning for an afternoon snooze on our new living room couch.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Manifested
January 31: A gift on paper, in a person, in a picture
89. Paper- Love note drawing from my son.
90. Person- My little cuddle bug. Love snuggling with her.
91. Picture- My monkey playing her guitar with her foot crossed over her knee. Note to self: In 10 years, retake that picture...
89. Paper- Love note drawing from my son.
90. Person- My little cuddle bug. Love snuggling with her.
91. Picture- My monkey playing her guitar with her foot crossed over her knee. Note to self: In 10 years, retake that picture...
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