One Thousand Gifts - Week 45-52

“Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control, let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for joy's fire. Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whisper a surprised thanks. This is the fuel for joy's flame. Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will. And I can empty. I can empty because counting His graces has awakened me to how He cherishes me, holds me, passionately values me. I can empty because I am full of His love. I can trust.” 
-Ann Voskamp

As I post my last post of the year of my One Thousand Gifts project, I have had a chance to reflect on the past year.  There were days that I felt pure joy and thankfulness for the abundant of gifts given to me and there were days where I had to dig real deep down to recognize God's gifts.   As I reflect, I realize that we need to be thankful for the good days, but we also need to be thankful for the not so good days.  Even on a bad day there is something to be thankful for.  

I didn't quite make my goal of recording one thousand things that I am thankful for, but that doesn't mean that they are not there.  This project has opened my eyes to the realization that we are surrounded by God's gifts daily.  When we humbly let go and recognize these gifts, a seed of thankfulness surrounds us and and then we can experience pure joy! 

Want to see this project from the beginning?  You can see what I am counting here.


567.  Homemade pizza.

568.  Flu shots that hopefully keep us from getting the flu.

569.  Family night at the Acrobat show.

570.  Snowflakes.

571.  A warm fire during a snow storm.

572.  Not having to drive in the snow.

573.  First snowman of the season.

574.  A warm cup of hot chocolate after playing in the snow.

575.  Snow clothes.

576.  Thanksgiving Break.

577.  Thanksgiving.

578.  Not having to make Thanksgiving dinner.

579.  So many wonderful people to be thankful for.

580.  Christmas Tree Hunting.


581.  Sledding.


582.  Playing in the snow.


583.  A pretty view.


584.  Away from the hustle and bustle of Black Friday.

585.  Finding the perfect tree.


586.  The Christmas Season.

587.  Remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

588.  Decorating the Christmas tree.


589.  Discovering special ornaments from previous years.


590.  Memories.

591.  Hanging the ornaments.


592.  Getting to climb on the top of the ladder to reach the perfect spot.


593.  Christmas music.

594.  Addressing Christmas cards.

595.  The season of giving.

596.  The innocence of a child.

597.   Discovering Christmas through a child's eyes.

598.  Sparkling Christmas lights.


599.  Receiving Christmas cards.

600.  Being amazed each year of the true Christmas story.

601.  Mary the mother of Jesus.

602.   Our Saviors birthday.

603.  Teaching the kids about the Christmas story.

604.  Christmas programs.


605.  Christmas treats.

606.  Christmas parties.

607.  Pretty Christmas wrapping paper.

608.  Wrapping presents.

609.  Christmas vacation.

610.  Spending the Christmas with family.

611.  Snow on Christmas Eve.

612.  A snowman that dad help build.


613.  A Christmas table that I didn't have to set (thanks mom).


614.  Handmade decorations.


615.  Christmas decorations.


616. Christmas pajamas.


617.  Seeing family that you haven't seen in a while.

618.  A Christmas Eve service.

619.  The excitement of Santa.

620.  Christmas traditions.

621.  Sitting by the tree looking at the Christmas lights.


622.  Christmas morning.


623.  Opening presents.


624.   Receiving gifts.


625.  Giving gifts.


626.  Enjoying Christmas Day.

627.  Feeling blessed for a healthy happy year.

628.  For all the blessings I have been given

629.  Looking forward to a new beginning the New Year will bring.

One Thousand Gifts- Week 38-44

"... I can see it in the looking back, how this daily practice of the discipline of gratitude is the way to daily practice the delight of God..."  -Ann Voskamp

Not sure what I am counting?  Click here to see what it's all about!

507. Taking 2nd place in the first meet of the season.


508.  Competing with a new team.

509.  School Carnival.

510.  Playing silly string.

511. Crisp autumn  mornings.

512.  When he goes to sleep.


513.  Capturing his personality.


514.  The three of them together.


515.  When daddy helps make them smile for the camera.


516.  These boys.


517.  The bond of being brothers.


518.  Her.


519.  When they let me bribe them for family pictures.

520.  The perfect picture for our Christmas Card.


521.  Annual trip to the pumpkin patch.


522.  Potato sack slide (even if it hurt my back)!


523.  Smelling farm animals.


524.  Getting to feed the farm animals.


525. Seeing the animals up close.


526.  Her fierce love of horses.


527.  When she rides the kiddie rides just so her brother can ride too.


528.  Hayride with dad.


529.  ending a perfect pumpkin patch night with cotton candy and doughnuts.

530.  Turning seven.


531.  Watching him open his presents.


532. The excitement of getting what he wanted.

533.  A little brother that helps too much.


534.  Watching him play with his new things.

535.  A grandma and grandpa who travel for birthdays.

536.  Spending the day at Wahooz.

537.  Birthday wishes.


538.  His sense of adventure.


539.  His love for sticks.


540.  When they get dirty together.


541.  Their love for throwing rocks.


542.  Warm fall evenings.

543.  The vibrant fall colors.

544.  Piles of leaves to jump in.

545.  Halloween costumes.


546.  A brave superhero.


547.  A scary storm trooper.


548.  A panda bear.


549.  The excitement of putting up Halloween decorations.

550.  When daddy creates new decorations.


551.  Spooky Halloween music.

552.  Halloween parties.

553.  Halloween treats.

554.  No school for parent teacher conferences.

555.  Getting pumpkins from grandma and grandpa.

556.  Carving pumpkins.


557.  The gooey inside of a pumpkins.


558.  A daddy that likes to help.

559.  Glowing jack-o-lanterns.


560.  When it is time for trick-or-treating.


561.  A safe neighborhood to trick-or-treat in.

562.  Neighbors who give good treats.

563.  When giving out candy is just as fun as getting it.

564.  Dumping out your candy when you get home to see what you got.

565.  When they share their candy with mom and dad.

566.  An extra hour of sleep.