3 Days of Gifts...

Ohh, I knew I couldn't do it...but I am determined to make up for the last couple days...

3 Gifts from my Saviour:

1. Grace. Its a word that's become very 'common' in our church over the years...almost like we thought we were amongst the few who really 'got it'...a grasp on understanding grace...how arrogant. But GRACE...oh my soul, where in the world would we be if it weren't for His grace??? I grew up in a conservative, traditional Baptist church, being a pastor's kid, with some fairly legalistic people in my world...I could look back on my growing up years and look at a lot of 'ungrace'...but I believe Jesus was still real to me, even in my young, young years...so, I experienced His grace, even as a child...and much of seeing grace lived out, was through my Mom...a very gracious, godly, loving Christ-like human being...and the hugest impact on my life...Jesus was real to her...and real to me...showering me time and time again with grace, showing me that it is actually...all. about...Him. and the grace that HE gives...giving me so much more than I deserve...and not based on a single thing that I have done...truly. amazing.
2. Hope. I do not have a clue how people get through -- anything, really -- without the hope of Jesus being in control and the hope of Him working 'all things together for good to those who love God..."  not just HERE, either...it is the hope of a purpose bigger than all I know right here, right now...knowing there is something so much more than this...the hope of an eternity with Jesus...free of pain, and hurt and disappointment and struggle...the hope of a life lived face to face with Him...and not just for life beyond the here and now...but hope for today...and hope for tomorrow...
3. Little blessings. Seeing Jesus becoming more and more real to my little boy...seeing the magic and wonder of Christmas through his eyes...seeing him on stage this morning for his Sunday School concert, being the little drummer boy, and being sooo pleased to have that part, even though it was small...seeing him take his role seriously and be excited and sing for Jesus...listening to this boy pray every single night, starting his prayers, always the same..."Dear God...thank You for how You love us...and thank You that You know us..."...great theology...and a great reminder of the simplicity and wonder of a God who loves me and knows me...and LOVES me even THOUGH He KNOWS ME!....gifts of food and generosity and kindness of others when we actually really need it.  This beautiful little Christmas tree lighting up our living room and making it so cozy and sweet...and blessing me that we get to share this Christmas with TWO little boys...they are...over and over again, the greatest blessings of my life. I am BLESSED to be a Mama...truly.

A Gift Hung, Held, Heard

1. Tonight as we decorated our Christmas tree, we found a little sled ornament that we had written on the back of :"Our First Christmas 2003" - and I think of how this will be our 10th Christmas together married...and we still love each other...we still actually like each other...and there is no-one in the world I would rather share my life with each and every day.  The little ornaments decorating our sweet, imperfect little tree are reminders of years spent together...good years. Happy, hard, heart-breaking at times...but good...having my best friend and soul-mate walking through each day with me...makes life so much sweeter and better.
2. Again with the sap...but tonight I brought out the Christmas mugs we got our very first Christmas - been drinking delicious hot drinks out of those cute little mugs for a lot of years now...and I quickly flash back through each of those Christmases and marvel at the differences each year brings...and the joy to still have a faithful friend and husband to go through this journey of life with...and to know without doubt I am loved...
3. Honestly...listening to those sweet little kids singing at the Sunday School concert this morning: Emmanuel...Emmanuel...God incarnate, here to dwell..Emmanuel...Emmanuel, praise His name Emmanuel...(Christ Tomlin - if you've not heard this song...youtube it...it is beautiful.) you may be missing a few little cuties in his version, but...this song is lovely...and listening to it this morning, and seeing my little boy up there singing his little heart out...just a beautiful gift.

3 Gifts Ugly Beautiful
...this one's gonna have to wait. we wanted to be in bed by 11:00 - and it is 11:09...I could make a joke here about how ugly I'm gonna be if I don't get my beauty sleep...but I won't.

3 Gifts Sweet

Ohhh -- I love sweet things toooooo much -- I'm glad this is limited to three, so anyone reading doesn't judge me too much!

1. My sweetheart...too obvious?? well -- its my list!!! I'm serious -- Jason is STILL my very favorite person in the world to be with -- my best, best friend - I find such safety and security in this relationship and friendship we share - not that we don't have struggles or get on each others nerves, but -- I still am so in love with this man -- he is kind and cares about others, and has a heart for our church and the world around him - and he is the best Dad...these boys adore him - rightfully so! - and I am just beyond grateful to have him in my life...
2. I woke up with a terrible, terrible head-ache today - made me sick to my stomach, I couldn't go to work -- and my sweet, sweet Mom came down and looked after the boys so I could rest - and after many pills and a few pieces of peanut butter toast and a cup of coffee...I felt much better...I am soo so grateful for all my Mom does for me and my little family...she is the most generous and selfless person I know...my life is sweeter because of her.
3. We made Gingerbread Trees yesterday - different shaped star cookies, piled on top of each other to make a Christmas tree - and decorated with icing and candies and sprinkles...fun and delicious if I do say so myself.

3 Gifts Silver

1. I inherited silveware - like, REAL silver-ware from my Aunt - my mother's sister...it is polished and lovely - and not something I would have been able to buy myself...but something beautiful to have...we tend to only use on 'special' occassions, but when I use it, I think of my Aunt Jeannie, and am reminded of the blessing of the life I have and the people I have to share it with...
2. I'm looking down as these bright Santa-ish-looking slippers my Mom bought me a couple weeks ago with these little silver bells on them jingling with even the slightest movement...and think about a few things to do with these puffy, cheery slippers with the silver bells...a) My Mom...is probably the most generous person I know...she does not have much, to be sure...but she is kind and generous, always giving little gifts and making meals, and blessing me...and many others...she is the most amazing example in my life of grace and kindness and godliness...my life is richer in so many ways for having her in it...I could write a book about tis lady...but...onto my b) Jonah wears these slippers and puts on a Santa hat OFTEN these days, pretending to BE Santa...wrapping up presents, toys, papers, whatever he can find...and it makes me smile, thinking of his imagination and excitement for Christmas...I love seeing life through him - he makes everything so exciting and fun! c) Levi is quite smitten with these slippers, too -- the fuzziness and the jingle of the bells...I literally have to throw them on the other side of the baby gate or he will have that white fuzz in his mouth...my life is just oozing these little boys...they are in every part of what I do and what my life entails every day...and I (mostly!) love it!
3. I have these pretty little silver hoop ear-rings that Jason got me for Christmas last year...or perhaps it was the year before...he is sweet to buy me ear-rings every year for Christmas....and they are the only ear-rings small enough - AND pretty enough to be able to wear with Levi - he tends to be very grabby!!

And now...I must go to bed.

A Gift Circling, Crowning, Crafted

Oh man, this gift thing is fun...and challenging. Its 11:06pm...and I JUST now looked at the list...even though I've been thinking of 'gifts' today...I didn't think of this specifically...

1. Circling: I look down at my left hand and see these 2 beautiful rings circling around my finger, symbolizing the fact that I have, laying beside me on the couch...an amazing man who I have entered into a life-time covenant relationship with...I am incredibly grateful to be married to my best friend -- who is STILL my very favorite person in all the world to be with...I felt like I waited a long time for him (now I think its silly I thought I was OLD when I was only 26 when I got married...but in comparison to many of my friends...I was several years 'late') -- I'm blessed to share my life with this man...
2. Crowning: not exactly a crown, but...it makes me think of the dear sweet heads that belong to my little boys...which are covered these days in 'hats'...not crowns, per sey, but..."crowning" isn't exactly in my daily vocabulary so I will use some liberty with this one! I kiss their sweet foreheads all the time - I don't know why its one of my favorite spots to kiss them, but...I just love their sweet little foreheads...and am grateful to have these two healthy happy little boys in my life...they were both difficult to conceive...and I do not forget the pain involved in waiting for them...now they are here, and I am grateful that I get to be their Mama...and happy they both seem to be very fond of kisses!
3. Crafted: there is evidence all over my home of various crafts from my little 4 year old, who is continually creating and using his (over-active!) imagination to give me and many others gifts made with his own sweet hands...it is his joy to make things and wrap them up in blankets, pillows, paper, whatever he can find...and though I admit the clutter is really starting to get to me...his little creations bring such joy to me, and I love seeing the evidence scattered all throughout this little home. I am blessed.

3 Gifts Shining

Yay!! I'm on Day 3...and its December 3rd...not 23rd. Good for me.

3 Gifts Shining:

1. I have to just say, the pretty little Christmas lights going up my banister, shining their little hearts out...make me so happy. Its the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning: plugging them in...and they do all kinds of fading in and out, blinking fun little things too when I want them to...so they are #1 on my list tonight!! Also..."shining" is hard, kind of close to "bright"...I've been thinking about it all day.
2. Jonah's face literally shines whenever we do anything out of the ordinary...these days its everything Christmas-related! Tonight getting his Advent gift from his little sock AND getting to eat a gumdrop cake...a boy TOO much after my own heart...he loves himself some treats, this kid! But I am loving seeing Christmas and LIFE through his eyes...we've always said about him how much LOVE FOR LIFE! he has...and I love that about him...may be a little stretch on the word 'shine', but...his joy for life really does shine though him, and I am grateful at a little dose of perspective that he offers me when I make it a point to notice!
3. I hate to cheat and use a gift of shining by mentioning a song with the very word 'shine', but...its something I have actually been thinking about all day. "Mighty to Save"...because, I actually thought we were going to watch the Louie Giglio dvd "Fruitcake and Ice Cream" tonight for our small group...which we didn't, but -- I've seen it before and I remember how much I loved his reference at the end to the song "Mighty to Save"...which is practically hymn-genre now we've sung it so much and for so many years, but...it is still one of my favorite worship songs..."Shine your light and let the whole world see...we're singing for the glory of the Risen King: JESUS!!!...." I mention this because of the song I love...and the challenge to myself to really allow Jesus to shine in my life...I'm afraid I don't LET Him very often...but it is my desire to let Him be seen in my life...to really shine and make HIS presence known in me...

3 Gifts Bright

Oh my word. I almost forgot to do it!! My little 'blogging challenge' to myself is to do this 31 days of journaling gifts idea from Ann Voskamp:

 

 

I haven't even looked all the way through it...so...I make no promises, but...here I am on Day 2. Kudos to me.

 

3 Gifts Bright:

1. My little brother gave his girlfriend a beautiful ("bright"!!) diamond ring today -- my BABY brother is engaged!!! The ring is BRIGHT and beautiful...and their faces were equally glowing with joy and sweetness... So happy to see 2 of my younger siblings in love with people WE love, as well!!! One sibling left to fall in love...I love my family...
2. The virtual bright orange fireplace on my tv right now, pumping out Christmas tunes while my hubby and I relax for a few more moments in our cozy little Christmas-y living room before we head to bed.
3. The beautiful bright pink sky I got to see this morning as I was up just as the sun was coming up...gorgeous winter sunrise!!

 

 

 

 



3 Gifts White

Ha! Remember a few months ago, I decided I was going to do the whole Ann Voskamp thing and start recording my blessings/gifts?

Fail. I did not do it.

Just saw something on facebook about recording this month, every day, 3 specific gifts. I'll give 'er a whirl. I'll likely report back here in a few weeks, having only recorded these 3 gifts, but...

whatever. Since I type more than WRITE with a pen and paper...here it goes:

3 Gifts White:

1. The white chocolate candy I'm going to make tomorrow: "White Trash" (not the name I gave it - I should really think of another name for it!) - melted white chocolate with Golden Grahams cereal, dried cranberries and peanuts in it...kinda like a bark soo unbelievably yummy.
2. The tiny little snowflakes that were floating around in the air today.
3. Levi's sweet little toothy white smile. I mean. seriously.