1,000 Gifts

In hindsight, I can find gifts in lots of small ways last week despite feeling sick, sore, tired, and altogether worn out.


13. Frost covered cars glittering in the light of a pink sunrise
14. Eyes meeting after too long apart
15. Pink, white, and red sprinkles atop frosted brownies awaiting my return after school
16. Tissue boxes close at hand
17. Hot steam from a morning shower awakening me to a new day and refreshing a dry and sore nose
18. Chai tea steaming from the top a new mug early Saturday morning
19. A face smiling back at me in the reflection of a new humidifier softening up my nose : )
20. Awakening to a snow covered wonderland and sunlight streaming through my window beckoning me to worship our awesome creator in church with a community of welcoming believers
21. The smell of homemade cinnamon rolls reaching my nose the second church is over
22. Monday morning stories of excited first grader weekends.

I had such a nice day at school today. Yesterday almost left us in tears with distracted, jittery, chatty, defiant students, but today went much better. I also got to enjoy a night with the Verwolf's :) They invited me over for dinner and hanging out since I am alone at school this week. They made me spaghetti, we played Quirkle, and watched the Bachelor since Rachel missed it Monday. They are the sweetest couple ever and I was very thankful for some warm faces, good converstaion, and a fun night off campus. Therefore, I am adding these gifts to my list today:

10. Marshmellows melting on the hottest hot chocolate
11. First graders lifting up and celebrating our "Tacky" star like a football team after a successful play
12. Branches iced all around gleaming in the light of sunrise


Forever&Always
Aubs

New Year, New Commitment... hopefully :)

I started reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I am only 4 chapters into it and I already love it. She writes so artistically and descriptively, and I really want to take up her challenge to look for things to be thankful for even in the small parts of our lives to truly be thankful for EVERYTHING. Her epiphany is that thankfulness truly leads to deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father and brings out the deepest joy from within us. She calls it eurcharisteo. Charis means grace, eucharisteo means thanksgiving, and chara means joy. The three put together portray that thanksgiving, grace, and joy all go hand in hand. To truly embrace grace and live with joy you need to be thankful for what you have. As I continue to learn more about my relationship with God and with others around me, I am going to strive to find ways to be thankful in the small parts of my days and try to reach a list of one thousand gifts that I will share with you along the way.

1. Tieing up early morning whispies into a single french braid
2. Hesitant hugs met with warm embrace
3. Long awaited hugs and laughter with distant family
4. The company of a new friend to share a depressing eleven hour car ride with
5. Having the resources available to make an eleven hour trip back to school safely
6. Late nights just me and God
7. The innocence of first grade prayers and confessions
8. Bonding with new friends
9. The soft cushion of new socks


Stay tuned for what other gifts God will open my eyes to enjoy!
Forever&always,
Aubs