One Month, One Hundred Gifts-October

 October was a month of many events and changes for me. At the end of September I was laid off my job, due to the store being sold. God did an amazing thing through that and gave me the best job I could ask for! I'm enjoying every day of work as the housekeeper and cook for a single mom and nanny for her two little boys (1yr and new born)! I also spent a week in Florida for the celebration of my Grandparent's 50th anniversary. During all this...I felt like an incredible failure. I felt so weak and helpless. Everything I tried to do seemed to turn back on me. But God. I love those words. But God. And His grace...wow, what can I say? (Hopefully more on this soon in a post on Grace For the Good Girl.)

You turned my wailing into dancing; 

   you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. 

   O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Psalm 30:11&12

101. 10 Hours of Sleep
102. A Happy Heart
103. Sunrise and Smiles
104. Sipping cider with my baby
105. Perpetual smiles and good mood songs
106. Thirst
107. The Counselor
108. Getting to say goodbye to Mr. Hunt
110. Assurance
112. Anticipated Job Interview
113. Messed up lives
114. Strength in weakness
115. Imperfectness
116. The joy and blessing of His presence
117. His truly awesome Glory
118. His gentleness and loving kindness
119. His anger and justice
120. His mysterious ways
121. Smooth interview
122. Phone calls
123. leaves, pictures, and smiles
124. Pumpkins
125. Perfect Days

126.Chillaxin
128. Painting
129. Blue Jeans
130. Handprints
131. A gift multiplied
132. Voices lifted in praise
133. Elderly voices lifted up too
134. Peace from god's care
135. Slowly forged friendships
136. A moonlit morning
136. awakened by His joy
138. Captured by His Love
139. Encouragement and sharpening
140. His delightful Touch
141. Rain!
142. The security of His love
143. A friend I can allow to see behind the masks
144. Love that casts out fear
145. The stillness
146. Lessons in relationships
147. Little bits of laughter
148. Walls taken down
149. Immanuel
150. My new job!!
151. A od who knows my name
152. Bouncing on the trampoline
153. Playing in the leaves
154. Freezing at the football game

155. Fussy Babies
156. An open door
157. Pacifiers
158. Finger kisses
159. Greedy
160. Walking in town
161. Picnics on the lawn
162. Target shooting
163. Pistols
164. Whack, whack, whack!
165. Flies in the sweet potatoes
166. Balls
167. Wagons and walks
169. A friend's growth and prayers
170. Cuddle Time
171. His promise to satisfy my desires with good things
172. Bonding time with my boss
173. Pumpkin spice and hot chocolate
174. His new job and my answered prayers
175. Research on autism being put to use
176. Missing my best friend
177. Realizing I've already fallen in love with my babies
178. Diaper changes
179. Baby swings
180. Letters and new friends
181.Small towns to walk in
182. My big boy reaching for me on the trampoline
183. Cuddles with the baby boy
184. Temptations to fight against
185. Perfect Peace
186. A new chance to trust
187. My big boy wanting to give finger kisses
188. A little chat with Brit
189. Laughing around the fire
190. God waking me up early
191. Security, knowing He knows my anxious thoughts
192. A power outage and object lessons from God
193. The big boy saying my name
194. Lovins from my big boy
195. Rearranged days
196. Time with Jenika
197. Talking with my boss in the car
198. Watching my big boy play contentedly
199. Healthy babies
200. Stares at Walmart

One Month, One Hundred Gifts--September

I've been blessed by Ann Voskamp's quiet thoughts of blessing and gratitude at her blog, aholyexperience.com, and have decided to start my own list of One Thousand Gifts, little gifts from God for which I am grateful. I began this list on August 30th and it worked out almost perfectly to 100 gifts in this month. I thought this would be a nice habit to keep going--One Month, One Hundred Gifts. It was a blessing to read back over these as I typed them in, remembering God's goodness. So here you have, to rejoice with me, One Hundred Gifts.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Phil.4:4

1. Healing in my body—energy!
2. Fresh smelling crisp laundry
3. Possessions to give away
4. Listening to my best friend plead with God for the soul of another friend
5. Hearing the littlest boy pray for Cody and Nepal so grown-up like
6. Puppy dog kisses
7. Hearing them cheer me on when they knew I was trying hard

9. Refreshing sleep

10. The pink in the sky

11. Dancing in the rain

12. Running a quarter mile

14. Her excitement over losing 20 lbs

15. Hard times at work

16. Investigating the Word together

17. Discipline

18. Time to get everything done

19. Star gazing

20. The smell of fresh bread

21. Grace

22. Promises that I will find when I seek

23. “Tansha!!”

24. Marjorie’s cheerful smile

25. Hugs at the table

26. Child training ideas

27. Their patience with me

28. Lessons children teach

29. Breaking free from my addiction

30. Rodeo sounds

31. The freedom to live as God directs

32. The security of God planning and shaping my days

33. The safety of a friend whom I can tell my hardest struggles, and know that they will still love me, pray for me, and protect my heart.

34. Raindrops

35. Tea in polka dots

37. Butterfly kisses and Eskimo hugs

39. Squeals of delight in a ball game

40. Friends showing up unannounced

41. Swinging in the moonlight

42. Seeing my breath in the air

43. Ball games

44. Wanted ads

45. An extra day at home

46. Sore throat

47. My failures

48. Death

49. Promise of the Spirit

50. Runny nose

51. Talk with Mom

52. Surprise smiles

53. Pink sunshine and lemonade

54. Heroes

55. Singing on the bus

56. Getting dumped

57. A break from work and stress

58. Quiet campfire conversations

59. Peace like a river

61. Change

62. Possibilities

63. Brother-friends

64. Best friends

65. Mommy hugs

66. Grouchy people

67. Messy rooms

68. Sock feet and squeaky floors, bare feet and stars

69. Picture perfect moments

70. A new friend

71. Sanctuary

72. Towels on the line

73. Pictures of me and the littlest boy

74. Curls in their hair

75. Wood stacked for winter

76. Being together with a little boy

77. Late night frustrations

78. Cold toes

79. A new morning

80. A sister’s growth

81. Hard choices

82. Impossibilities

83. Froggies and raindrops

84. Stillness

85. Desperation for the Spirit

86. Promises of perfect peace

87. A soul that is alive

88. A good night’s sleep

89. Contentment

90. Each breath

91. Lessons

92. Fall colors and falling leaves

93. Loss of control

94. Weakness

95. Autumn smells

96. Crickets

97. Joy in His presence

98. Pain in my shoulders

99. Kittens and boots

100. Dissapointment