JUNE JOY DARE 2013

June, June . . . a time to warm the bones and work in the garden. OH JOY!

#1496-1498  Gifts Orange:: Apricots sitting on the counter; Parking lot cones that protect us from all the cars coming to the garage and bake sale; Beautifully ripe, fresh tomatoes from our local farmer.

#1499-1501 Gifts Funny:: Watching Robins vie for fence post space; Watching my hubby demonstrate a value he heard from the sermon today; Chuckling over the Sunday Comics in the newspaper.

#1502-1504 Gifts from Today's Conversations:: God's voice in my heart as I listen to Him through scripture - and talk back to Him with my own thoughts; Birds chirping in morning chat; Hubby not completing the sentence I hear each morning: "It's time . . . "      for oatmeal, I can make it. (That's my signal to volunteer - because I make the BEST oatmeal ever!)  That said, I let him make it a few times each week.

Two baby Robins nestled deep inside our huge Rose bush.
This was a flash photo that startled the blind chicks.

#1505-1507 Gifts found in Christ:: Peace, Hope and Love!

#1508-1510 Gifts of Peace:: Knowing that each day has already been mapped out for me so I can walk forward with confidence and JOY,   Hope:: That was and is and is to come - Jesus Christ;  Love:: God's sacrifice of his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering - for US!

#1511-1513 Gifts Ugly Beautiful:: A now-empty field that had its wheat crop harvested yesterday; Muddy garden shoes after digging and transplanting and fixing empty garden spots; Soft gray skies that tempt us with the promise of rain we so need.

This is the Rose Bush that the nest was in.
Those little birds grew up and flew away before June 4.

#1514-1516  Gifts in what I am Reading:: The Prodigal God by Keller brings me back to the basic tenant of my faith in Christ - that I can be just as much a pharisee as Saul was before his life was transformed.  A great read for everyone.  The Summer Book by Susan Branch is a delightful piece of art, great recipes and hospitality tips.  Reasons to Believe by Scott Hahn provides basic explanations of our Christian doctrine so we are better able to share with others.

#1517-1519 Gifts Empty:: The wastebaskets my husband empties daily; My 'in' box for about thirty seconds; The laundry basket once in awhile - usually after five loads.

This looks like a perfect place to put
our love notes: to each other and to God!

#1520-1522  Gifts that made me really Smile:: Affirmation that my words to the congregation were embraced with a renewed heart; Friends from another church came to visit our church; Wonder conversation at Coffee Hour.

#1523-1525  Gifts at 8am:: Finished exercise, breakfast and quiet time (that's what I get for getting up at
5:30am because I just couldn't sleep!)  12 noon:: A short nap! 2pm:: Laundry done!

#1526-1528  Gifts on our Anniversary:: Twenty-five years together!; Lunch at a HUGE buffet that we never dared go to before now; My hubby and I are in good health and ready for another twenty-five!

#1529-1531  Gifts Full:: My heart as I review my memory verses in Romans 8; My life as I juggle some new opportunities to be used by God; My home: filled with trinkets from all over the world to remind us of so many treasured moments we each have experienced in our earlier years of travel.

#1532-1534  Gifts Smelled:: Fresh flowers in my garden; Chocolate at the "Wilbur Chocolate Factory"; Soggy fields as more rain brings more humidity.

#1535-1537  Gifts Unexpected:: A trip to Erie for a Women's Conference; Unwanted:: Rain while we drive for too many hours;  Unlikely:: Time will fly and we arrive at our destination sooner than we thought.

#1538-1540  Gifts in His Word:: Romans 8:1- "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ the law of the spirit, who gives life, will set us free from the law of sin and death." "Trust in the Lord" Prov.3:5   "The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

#1541-1543  Gifts Moving:: The car bringing us home from the conference; My body in exercise after sitting for three days, in the car and in meetings; My life as each day moves me through another year of life.

#1544 -1546 Gifts in my Dad:: Great genes - dad is 98 and still going strong; Curiosity; Can-do spirit.

#1547-1549 Gifts from my Heavenly Father:: Forever with me; Leading me on His best path when I
seek Him; Promises me eternal life.

#1550-1552 Gifts I became in serving today:: A speaker for someone who did not want to share a report; A listener as I shared lunch with a spirited 90 year old; A hunter as I looked for bast information needed by others.

#1553-1555 Gift Bent:: Sun rays through beveled glass; Gift Beautiful:: The garden as I plucked and weeded into the evening;  Gift Loved:: Summer sunshine!

#1556-1558 Gifts Found in Light:: This longest day of the year; Ability to read at night; A computer screen that I can see.

#1559-1561 Gifts Difficult:: Waiting for God's best for me; Knowing when to say 'yes;' Following another's lead when I am not in charge.

#1562-1564 Gifts Found Around a Table:: Friends, Family, Food

#1565-1567 Gifts in Water:: A cool drink on a hot day Words:: Affirmation and encouragement; White:: Linen tablecloth on the back porch table.

#1568-1570 Gifts Today:: My younger sister celebrates her birthday! Dad's lake cottage is finally sold; My brother is safely home after cleaning and sorting and throwing and giving.  Same with my sister who helped clean out dad's cottage for the new family.

#1571-1573 Gifts in Fabric:: Cotton that breathes in the heat; Linen that looks so good even if it does wrinkle easily; Patterns that please the eye for pillows that POP!

#1574-1576 Gifts Framed by a Frame::  My sister's mother-in-law painted what we call a "Pearl Primitive" of my first house.  To this day I dearly love it; Other works from my sister who is a botanical artist, are treasures you have seen periodically over the past months; Mini-mirrors in tiny places, used for 'primping,' a trend I learned from my mother.  Now all I need to do is look into them and 'primp' a bit. . . . if I ever remember.

#1577-1579 Gifts Eaten:: Apricots, Nectorines and organic celery. YUM!

#1580-1582 Gifts Small:: A second set of baby birds getting strong enough to fly in a couple of weeks;

Big:: The expanse of land behind us that leads to five farms - none of it is ours but what a glorious view!   Gift Just Right:: Breakfast out on our little back porch - nice.

#1583-1585 Gifts I Gave today:: Again I gave myself to God to do with as He wills as I wait to hear from a possible job offer; A fabulous italian lunch after church just for my hubby; Time in reflection as I published another blog post on womenofworthmin.com

MAY JOY!

This is the month of May-ing, the trees and flowers all swaying, with drops of rain and bits of sun, God's glory is reigning.  Here is another month of remembering moments of joy and thanksgiving.

#1403-1405  Gifts Tasted:: Oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast; A sense of renewal as the sun shines brightly; Honey in my tea.

#1406-1408 Gifts Flat:: The floor I am standing on as I type; The little stone bench in the gardenI will soon begin to sit on; A bunch of annuals waiting to be planted . . . a 'flat' of plants.

#1409-1411 Gifts Found in Difficult People:: Grief stuffed deep; Unforgiveness waiting to be released; In need of a hug and encouraging words.

A very cold Spring but tulips
still bloom.

#1412- 1414  Gifts before 9am:: Beautiful sunrise; Quiet time with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Morning exercise.
#1415-1417  Gift in a Sign:: God affirmed sermon words as a sign to move forward;  Smile:: Sharing the peace with church family  Snack:: Great Coffee Hour

See the smoke floating through
the meadow? A wet burn.

#1418-#1420  Gifts found in Christ:: Affirmation that our God reigns; His constant presence through the Holy Spirit; A hand that will lead us into a new place a we respond to the "call" of another church.

#1421-1423  Gifts about my home:: Amish buggies at the feed store;  Tulips bursting forth a little late; The smokehouse in the farm behind us blowing a cloud of smoke into our little valley.

A trip to the 'feed' store for garden supplies brings all of out.

#1424-1426  Gifts inside a Closet:: More clothing than I can wear; Tidy piles of T-shirts and shorts for when summer finally arrives; Shoes: both fun and practical.

#1427-1429 Gifts Found in the Dark:: A greater ability to see; Stimulation of other senses; The quiet of night.
#1430-1432 Gifts Outside:: My Garden, Inside:: A warm haven of rest, Upside--Down:: Well planned days that takes life in another direction.

This was taken last year but dad is still going
strong at the age of 98!  His sister is still
amazing in her 101st year.  Their 'little' sister
 just died at the age of 92.  Amazing genes.

#1433-1435 Gifts about my Parents:: Great genes; Smart and articulate; Curious
#1436-1438 Gifts Held in my Hand Today:: Christ's Body as I take the consecrated bread; The Cup of consecrated wine that becomes Christ's blood to my spirit; A child's hand as we walk to the altar.



#1439-1441 Gifts Found in my Mother:: Courage; Imagination: Joy of Life
#1442-1444 Gifts Picked-Up:: Weeds from the garden; Put Away:: Heavy winter clothes; Put Back:: Retrieve my down vest as winter lingers with chilly days.

Christian Doctor has
created a plan for
those who choose to
live a healthy life.

#1445-1447 Gifts about ME:: Curiosity as I glean scripture daily; Perseverance as I continue to wait for the Lord's direction in work; Determination to live JOYfully even on tough days.

#1448-1450 Gifts found in His Word:: the Spirit, who gives life (Rom.8:1);
One body and One Spirit (Eph.4:4);  You send forth Your Spirit ... and renew the face of the earth." (Ps.104:30)

#1451-1453  Gifts in a Box:: My favorite crackers;  Bag:: Fresh green beans from our local farm;  Book:: Prime-Time Health by William Sears, MD.

#1454-1456  Gifts unexpected::  Hubby's offer to cook breakfast!  A gorgeous WARM day with only a slight breeze so perfect for working in the garden; A bird's next with new hatchlings under a corner of our porch.

#1457-1459  Gifts from my Childhood:: Curiosity about odd things :-)     Two parents;  A never-ending wonder about God even though I rejected Him when I was ten . . . and found Him again when I was thirty-one.

#1460-1462  Gifts Sweet:: Birthday cake left over from our Pentecost celebration yesterday Sour:: Lemon juice I put in our hummus  Salty:: Chinese food we enjoyed at lunch.
#1463-1465  Gifts found in Little People:: Watching the TV series "Little People" teaches me Tenacity;  Perseverance; great accomplishment in living a 'normal' life with HUGE surrounding them.

#1466-1468 Gifts that made me Laugh:: My hubby almost daily; Girl-chat at our bible study luncheon;

I'm thankful for all the fresh produce that we are able
to buy at our local farm store.  YUMMY!

Baby birds in our huge rose bush - blind but with mouths wide open waiting for mama to return.

#1469-1471  Gifts found in Community:: Shared caring; Always something to do with a neighbor; plants, especially day lilies, that others want to get rid of and which I so love to plant in my ever expanding garden.

#1472-1474  Gifts in a Plate:: Haddock with sweet potato and asparagus, YUM!  in aPot:: Garlic buds bursting flavor to override the smell of fish!  Package:: New summer shorts for hubby - look great!

#1475-1477  Gifts Hard Giving Thanks for:: Stepping back from work in a specific area;  Waiting for doors to open in a new place; Lingering in more cold spaces as I wait for summer to come.

#1478-1480  Gifts Worn:: The righteousness of God eternal  White:: Trinity Sunday so wearing a white jacket with my blue and white skirt.  Whispered:: Prayers for so many who have asked for prayer.

#1481-1483  Gifts Found in Memorial Day:: Flags waving! , Sad memories of those who died so that we all freedom to worship . . .  or not; A fun day of fishing, food and being with friends.

#1484-1486  Gifts in Today's Work:: Helping a friend clean out her attic of 65 years worth of 'treasures.'  Filling the dumpster to almost full; Great teamwork and a sigh of relief from our friend who could only watch due to her health.

#1487-1489  Gifts at 8 AM:: I've been up two hours and have quiet time and morning workout completed.  12 Noon:: Lunch meeting where we enjoy lingering together.
 8 PM:: Relax! and then early to bed for another early day.

#1490-1492  Gifts Blue:: My favorite pot for plants (see picture above);  Skies when the morning fog lifts;
Beautiful clumps of iris all over the front yard.

#1493-1495 Gifts I Gave Today:: A Silent Time . . . for my husband to linger in bed this morning without noise that makes him restless; Loaves of Molasses Bread for the community bake sale tomorrow; Prayers for others in need during the time I gave in reflection with God.

APRIL JOY!

Another month of thanksgiving begins just after Resurrection Sunday!
I celebrate a new release of JOY as I continue to give thanks for each day.

#1362-1364  Gifts Round:: The "O" in JOY! It's so nice to round out my mouth with that word;
Sun that peaked out of the clouds early this morning and then shyly hid again;
The rim of my tea cup as I sip tea on this chilly day.

#1365-1367   Gifts White:: Lovely linens on the dining table and side tables; this little computer; sun-streaked posts on our porch.

#1368-1370  Gifts surprisingly found:: Peace in the midst of chaos; Patience when everything seems to spin out of control; Kindness when my hubby wants to try on everything in his closet with me right there by his side.  A few things did not fit anymore.

#1371-1373:: Gifts found in His Word:: From Paul's Epistle to the Romans 1:3- God's son... a
descendant of David and, through the Spirit of holiness, was appointed the Son of God, in power, by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Romans 1:4 Through Him we received grace and apostleship to call all the gentiles into the obedience that comes from faith for His name's sake.  Romans 1:16 ...I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

#1374-1376  Gifts at 11am:: Ability to write my words of JOY for today  2pm:: God's grace as I gather His words to share on Sunday.  6pm:: A lovely dinner with my husband.

#1377-1379  Gifts nailed together:: My desk; The frame of the home where I live; Jesus' feet on the Cross so that I might live.

#1380-1382  Gifts Waited For:: Finally being able to say Hallelujah after 'fasting' from this word during Lent; Forty days of walking with Christ as He visits His disciples after His resurrection; Helping at another church for a short time - three hours away.

#1383-1385  Gifts Rising Up:: Early morning Sun!; Green tips of late-sprouting daffodils; My spirit as I serve the Lord.

#1336-1338  Gifts Hiding:: Spring!  Held:: Hands of the hurting as we pray; Heard:: God's word in my heart as I continue to memorize Romans 1.

#1339-1341  Gifts Opened Up:: My heart to God's plan for me; My hears for words of direction; My soul to drink in resurrected life as we celebrate this season of Easter.

#1342-1344  Gifts Budding/Blooming:: Blooming Forsythia that gets all-day sun; budding rose bushes, so fragile looking; Budding daffodils almost ready to open.

#1345-1347  Gifts Worn:: A wool shawl a friend knit for me; flip-flops inside; a fragile heart as I hear news of the yesterday's deaths of a friend and the son of my old boss.

#1349-1351 Gifts Bright:: The Red-shade lamp in a dark-night room; My spirit after a time with the Lord; The Sun as it peaks from behind early-morning clouds.

God cares for every step we make and
even the tiny specks of sand on the beach.

#1352-1354 Gifts Found Looking Up: Hawks circling early-green fields; Knowledge that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God: Father almighty; Seeing a vast sky and a big world and realizing that I am but a tiny speck as part of God's glorious creation.

#1355-#1357  Gifts in a Bag:: Freshly dried pear slices;
 in a Box:: Neatly folded clothes for the thrift shop.
 in a Book::  Road Trip by my brother, Ross Robbins.  It's a diary of some of his most noted road trips, written with a chuckle in the heart that puts a smile on the reader's face.

Purchase it on
Amazon.com
It is so fun!

#1358-1360  Hard Eucharisteos:: Praying with a group of people who have been deeply hurt; Traveling 3 hours each way to provide leadership for a small church; Juggling responsibilities in three areas, all which bring joy to my heart.

#1361-1363  Gifts Woven Together:: My life with my husband; Our circle of prayer that winds in and out of so many other circles that we feel the connection with God in Christ; Hearts that seek God in Christ.

#1364-1366  Gifts Inherited:: All the treasures of heaven through my faith in Christ Jesus; A precious rocking chair from my mother; The responsibility of carrying on as family matriarch.

#1367-1368  Gifts Square:: My little flip-card set of scriptures from Romans 1, 8, 12, that I choose to memorize;  Napkins that fit perfectly on my lap;  Space I choose to live in and expand as I press into exploring God's vast world.

#1369-1371  Gifts Stashed:: My chocolate in the fridge for when I need a bite;  Stacked::Piles of books to be read - it never gets smaller;  Stilled:: My soul when I am riveted on scripture.
#1372-1374  Gifts Found in Christ:: Forgiveness; A still soul; Hope
#1375-1377  Gifts Close:: My favorite chair that greets me each morning; The back porch that is waiting for warm weather to become alive; My hubby and I who love hugs and words of encouragement.

#1378-1380  Gifts Reflecting:: Sun on a puddle; My heart as it absorbs Apostle Paul's exhortations; God's image in all of us, especially when I see acts of love.

#1381-1383  Gifts Fragile:: My spirit when not fed enough assurance; My favorite Hummel figures sitting on the shelf; Our ecosystem when too many chemicals seep into the earth.

#1384-1386  Gifts Cloth:: My comfy skirts;  Steel:: My gaze as I concentrate on memorizing scripture; Wood:: My computer desk that is tall enough so I can stand in front of it - no sitting.

#1387-1389  Gifts Moving::  My body after sitting too long; The rain storm as it passes quickly; My thoughts as I create a story to share.

#1390-1392  Ugly-Beautiful:: Rich earth that waits for the temperatures to rise before blooms sprout; Brown and gray landscape as trees begin to bloom; The highway as we drive three hours each way to a church that needs help for awhile.

#1393-1395  Orange:: Sunset on a clear evening; Ripe tomatoes at the reception we enjoyed after two children were baptized; Signs on the back of Amish buggies.

#1396-1399  Gifts in Dirt:: My herb garden; Tulips finally popping up; Bugs

#1400- 1402 Gifts Given:: A Bible to a newly baptized teen;
 Made:: A fresh smoothie for my hubby so he does not starve while he runs errands;
 Sacrificed:: My time an energy for the Lord's work which is not really a sacrifice at all.

MARCH JOY DARE

The wonder of JOY is that the same prompts from last year seem to elicit a different response this year.  JOY grows. Gifts of THANKSGIVING are a new delight each day, especially when giving thanks for challenging times.  So, here goes another month of Eucharisteo, Thanks Be to God.

#1269-1271 Gifts at 3pm:: A walk on the beach; the ability to cough as my lungs fill up with tiny spores from the Red Tide; tiny bird feet tracks in the sand.



#1272-1274 Gifts Green:: Fabulous Botanical Gardens; Acres of vegetation; Endless scenes of nature.

#1275-1277 Gifts Worn:: Several layers as the tropics became chilly; Bodies of friends who have aged since I last saw them; God's grace covering my soul.

#1278-1280 Gifts Hard to Give Thanks for:: Cold weather that does not leave when I came south to warm up; my visit to Florida without seeing my father (he had to return North for better care); Hard work fixing dad's place instead of lingering in the sun.

#1281-1283 Gifts Found:: Lovely shells; Time to work on this blog; Space in my suitcase to fit one more thing as I travel home.
#1284-1286 Gifts Bent:: Objects pulled from my suitcase  Broken:: Long distant conversations with hubby that are now in the past  Beautiful:: The sight of home and hubby and eye-to-eye conversation.

I saw this often when I live in Florida but never took a photo.
Now that I am a visitor, I am drawn to this much-visited pier.

#1287-1289 Gifts in the Kitchen:: A fresh pot of bean soup with ham hock; Fresh hummus; Fresh baked molasses bread.
#1290-1292 Gifts Loud:: Wind whistling almost non-stop; A bravely driven tractor on the farm behind us; Laughter as we run errands together.

#1293-1295 Gifts Carved:: Time for writing graces in the midst of piles of other backlogs; Deep furrows in moist soil as the farmer turns up soil; Slices of molasses bread as we consume this delicious decadence.

#1296-1298 Gifts in Christ:: Celebrating Christ's healing power in our healing service; Embracing His presence in Holy Eucharist; Hearing His Word as we digest the story of the Prodigal Son.

#1299-1301 Gifts Read::Ann Voskamp's blog today: Honk if you're happy; The book of Esther as I prepare to teach another session of Women of Worth; Books on Holy Eucharist as it was intended to be celebrated (dating back to the 1st century).

#1302-1304  Gifts in Wind:: if blowing the right direction, farmer smells go elsewhere  Gift in Water:: Sea salt and wonderful waves

The waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  Oh JOY!

in White:: My sweet tablecloth that makes everything look clean.

#1305-1307  Gifts Round:: Rocks; A favorite table; Clementines!
#1308-1310  Gifts Found in Silence:: Icy flakes hitting the window; Time to connect with God; Rest for the ears and mind.

#1311-1313  Gifts Given Away:: A bag of Wilbur's Chocolate from the small town next to us; A book I love that I hope the other will love; Breakfast at a new cafe for a friend whose car broke down.

#1314-1316  Hard Eucharisteos:: Saying 'yes' to a wonderful opportunity three hours drive away - for four weekends; Praying for one several who are fighting cancer; Quietly waiting for God's timing.

God's creation shows off "POPS" of red against green.

#1317-1319  Gifts Turned:: My eyes toward the Lord as I worship Him   Folded:: Hands in prayer as we join with others in prayer requests  Fresh Hung:: My Sunday Best, waiting to be worn as we prepare to enter the presence of the Lord.

#1320-1322  Gifts Red:: Botanical plants; My favorite room in the house; Small couch pillows.

#1323-1325  Gifts Eaten:: Clementines; Hummus; Tuna fish sandwiches.

#1326-1328  Gifts that made me Laugh:: The sun! when it pops out of gray skies; Emails from friends who share their own stories; Friends in conversation.

#1329-1331  Gifts Salty:: Strong cheese  Sweet:: Chocolate from Cafe Chocolate in Lititiz
Just Right:: A good cup of tea!

#1332-1334  Gifts found in His Word:: Romans 1:16 ... for it is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:17 For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed... [and] the righteous will live by faith.

#1335-1337 Gifts found in women today:: Soul Strength; Perseverance through tough times; More wisdom to know when to say, "yes" or NO to requests.

It's a great read even if you don't know
what a Lotus is! You can order it
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#1338-1340  Gifts Spoken:: The Passion of Christ, always recited on Palm Sunday, as we all participated, each with a different voice;
Greetings to friends and new faces as we 'passed the peace' at church;
Conversation over a Sunday meal.

#1341-1343  Gifts Sung:: My husband singing me a 50s song that makes me smile
Written:: A rave review of my brother's new book, Road Trip!
Painted:: My sister's botanical prints I look at each morning as we awake.  Our botanical garden of art is in the bedroom.

#1344-1346  Gifts Almost Gone:: Organic chocolate a friend bought me from 'Cafe Chocolate' in Lititz, PA; My birthday balloon from my hubby from 3 months ago with helium almost gone. Love it!; The fluffy white stuff called SNOW that fell in globs today and is still coming down ... but melting just as fast.

#1347-1349  Gifts Redeemed:: The death of the first-born in Egypt in order to make Pharaoh let God's people flee Egypt and start a new life; Christ's life for anyone who believes Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead; My own life through the shedding of Jesus' blood on the Cross as he took all of my sin upon himself so that I might have eternal life.

#1350-1352  Gifts Entwined:: Brush strokes that make this bird's nest look real; My life with my sweet hubby; My life with God as I feel wrapped in His love.

#1353-1355  Gifts of His Promises:: The Lord, thy God will never leave me nor forsake me; He will go before and behind and lay His hand upon me; He will give me resurrected life IF I believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

#1356-1358  Gifts Uncovered:: Daffodil as it peaks through solid earth; The table on the porch when the tarp is removed - a promise that warm weather is almost here; hiding places for field mice as stones are removed in our very small brick wall.

God created the Butterfly to show us a perfect example
of resurrected life.  The Caterpillar 'dies' to it's old life
to be resurrected with the freedom to flit about
as a butterfly in newness of life.

#1359-1361  Gifts Heard:: Alleluia! for the first time since Ash Wednesday
Held:: The body and blood of Jesus Christ as we receive Holy Communion
Hoped for:: Resurrected Life for all who are willing to accept Jesus as God's only begotten Son.

FEBRUARY JOY DARE 2013

Another month of daily GRACES.
I never know if I will take the time to continue this project but the Lord draws me close and provides dozens of reasons for me to say THANKS daily.  Each month is a gift for which I am truly grateful.

#1188-1190 Gifts RED:: Wearing a red sweater to remind me to take care of my heart, Pasta sauce for our meal tonight, the farmer's barn I love to look at beyond our back yard.

#1191-1193 Gifts on paper:: Daily graces from God; A watercolor bouquet of flowers; A card my 100 year old aunt made on her computer just for me.

#1194-1196 Gifts found in writing:: Creativity seeping out of my soul; Confession from the dark places I choose to cleanse; JOY in reflecting daily thanksgivings.

#1197-1199 Gifts found when bent down:: Discovering dust that always returns; nurturing plants that love inside warmth; listening eye-to-eye to a small child as she rambles in happiness.

#1200 - 1202 Gifts Stitched:: All my mending;  Hammered:: A nail to hang a clock;  Woven:: My favorite winter scarf.
#1203-1205  Gifts Found Outside:: Bunny tracks in the snow; My favorite farm now seen through tree skeletons; Hawks swirling empty fields searching for food.

#1206-1208 Gifts at 11:30:: A few minutes giving THANKS to God   2:30:: Loving my hubby through a hearing test and evaluation
6:30:: A nice meal at home near the warmth of the fireplace.

#1209-1211 Gifts Broken:: A few promises I made to myself in the new year.  Fixed:: Hummel figures that broke in our last move  Thrifted:: Scads of clothes I love, in good condition, but I do not need anymore since I no longer work in a big city.
#1212-1214 Surprise Gifts, Unexpected Grace:: An early valentine note from my hubby this morning;  only a sprinkle of snow that glistens in the SUN;  A crisp day with sparkle and shadows.

 #1215-1217  Gifts of Laughter:: Chuckle at ourselves when the sermon hits hard; Sharing JOY at coffee hour; Enjoying a relatively balmy and sunny day as hubby and I walk and talk.
#1218-1220  Gifts in Working:: Serving another, knowing my purpose for each day, stimulus that permeates other areas of my life.

#1221-1223  Hard Eucharisteos:: Confessing my sins to God and my neighbor before the beginning of Lent; Gracious thanks for a dear friend's reality-check on me as we share challenges with each other; knowing God has me in the palm of His hand as I see only the precious present and not one inch further.
#1224-1226 Gifts behind a door:: Christmas Wreaths I hang until next year; A big bag of items I am taking on my trip; A room filled with memories.


#1227-1229  Ways I feel the love of God:: Sharing my heart-felt thanks to my hubby as we share words of love and assurance with each other; Memorizing God's Word in Romans as I empathize with the Apostle Paul; Claiming God's promises as I abide with my Lord daily.

#1230-1232  Gifts in Shadows:: An anonymous gift at the door; A cut-down tree releasing light from a shadowy place; Sun streaking through shutters showing a 'ladder' on the rug.
#1233-1235 Gifts found giving/serving:: Returning to my old church and giving God thanks for renewed inspiration; Giving hugs too numerous to count as friends touched my heart with gifts of encouraging words.

#1236-1238 Gifts on paper:: Words to Zesty songs as we celebrated at Ultreya; Sharing a liturgy of new words for people new to Cursillo; Writing notes for further study as new ideas were shared.
#1239- 1241 Gifts of Plan B:: Changed gears to a longer stay as I visited with my sister; Drove longer than planned to the next destination; The need for sleep curtailed conversation as I went to bed early.

My hostess drank coffee from her favorite cup
this morning.  I love it!

#1242 - #1244 Gifts at Breakfast:: My hostess treated me to real bacon and real eggs;
 Lunch:: Impromptu snack as our original lunch plans cancelled;  Dinner:: Mid-afternoon dinner of pasta and veges.
#1245- #1247 Gifts White:: Bright sun piercing the glass-like lake; Down comforter keeping me warm as windows are open and cold air creeps in; The clean look of my sister's Florida home.

#1248-#1250  Gifts that changed today:: A surprise visit with my old women's affirmation group; Purchase of items to help renew my dad's abode; Unscheduled extra time to clean and organize.

#1251-1253 Gifts of Tin:: A lovely Christmas tin I found in a corner is now in a pretty spot;  Glass:: Lovely candlesticks sparkling clean; Wood:: Dad's little ship he made years ago is now sitting out for all to see.

#1254-1256  Gifts before 11AM:: A cup of tea and God's Word; A ride to my old church; A wonderful   Holy Eucharist.

#1257-1259  Gifts Worn Out:: My black 'hoodie' that I wear almost every day.
  New:: This day! Warm, cloudy, nice.
  Made-Do:: Circumstances that pop into the day unexpectedly. I am grateful that I can think of a 'plan B' or even a 'plan C.'

I loved taking off my flip-flops and squishing
 my feet in the sand.

#1260-1262  Gifts Seen as Reflections:: My life as a reflection of God's creation; Other's lives reflecting among mine to help me grow; The mirror reflects my JOY I choose to live by each day, especially on hard days.

#1263- 1265 Gifts Ugly Beautiful:: My life; A pile of dirt with a path popping from it; feet seen in flip-flops.

#1266-1268  Gifts from the past that help me trust the future:: Salvation in Christ Jesus; A step-mother who prayed nine years for my salvation, then nine more years for marriage then lost her battle with cancer;  Family and friends who provide words of encouragement periodically.

I built a path from old pavers.  Now those who love to
plant can enjoy circling it with foliage.
A path over the dirt, onto green grass, leading to
the waterway. . . just like life.

2013 JANUARY JOY DARE

Another year following the JOY DARE offered by
Ann Voskamp  aholyexperience.com

With well over 1000 THANKS, I continue gathering another 1000 of God's graces throughout this year.  And so I begin at the beginning . . . 2013 . . . praising God and giving  thanks for oh so many blessings.

#1096 - 1098  Gifts Heard:: Whistling of the chill wind; crackling of the fire in the fireplace; tic-toc-tic-toc as time beats forward.


#1099  Gift Outside:: A bit of sunshine
#1100  Gift Inside:: Gas heat
 #1101 Gift on a Plate:: Leftovers from the pork and sauerkraut dinner we shared with our community on January 1.

#1102-1104  Graces overheard:: THANKS from my hubby for just being ME; Scripture affirming God's continued grace in my life; Hearing my own voice rejoice in God's grace.

#1105-1107 Gift OLD:: My father who is almost 98 and my aunt who is 100; NEW:: Affirmation that returning to scripture memorization is possible at my age; BLUE:: Early morning sky before gray clouds linger throughout still-short days.

My partial shadow as I take a picture.

#1108-1110 Something I am Reading:: Thomas Merton's Meditations on the Psalms; Making:: Scripture memorization booklet for 2013; Seeing:: Affirming BLOG words.

#1111-1113 One thing in a BAG:: Apple chips I dehydrated, yum! in the FRIDGE:: Cranberry/orange relish we put on everything; in my HEART:: Endless assurance from God in Christ.

#1114-1116 GRACES from people I love:: "I love you" from a phone-chat with dad; Hugs throughout the day from Hubby; Sweet email-words from friends.

#1117-1119 Gifts Dusky Light:: Street lights that pop on as the light changes from dusk to dark; Surprising Reflection:: Bright sun bouncing off our neighbor's window; Lovely Shadow:: My own last summer.

#1120-1122  A gift Held:: My Bible; Passed by:: A beautiful frost-filled meadow; Sat with:: Friends at Bible Study.

#1123-1125 Gifts Sour:: Dried apples that sat in lemon juice too long; Sweet:: A delicious piece of cake a friend gave to me;  Just Right:: A hot cup of tea after a long day.

I was guided through the creation of this
icon in a class several years ago.  It still
amazes me how God held my hand as I 'wrote'.

#1126-1128 Yellow gifts of fresh mercy:: The yellow-gold of the halo on the icon I 'wrote' of the Angel Gabrielle; Sweet, yellow, butter saved for my special cookies; Pages of my legal pad, filled with reflections for my study on the Woman of Valor in Proverbs 31:10-31.

#1129-1131 Something Above:: God, the Father Almighty;  Below:: Solid earth upon which I stand as a mortal human being; Beside:: The Lord Jesus Christ as He walks with me daily.

#1132-1134 Things about MYSELF I am grateful for:: Faith in Christ Jesus as Lord; Focus on God's precepts in scripture; Hope-filled as I walk daily with the Lord, thy God.

#1135-1137 Startling graces of God:: He WILL never leave me nor forsake me; He is my precious present, the I AM, always present at this present time; He loves me unconditionally.

#1138-1140 Gifts Worn:: The full armor of God (Eph. 6)  Given away:: My gifts and talents where the Lord has directed  Shared:: The Good News of salvation in Christ Jesus.

#1141-1143 Witnessed Blessings:: A baptism last Sunday; My hubby's daily encouragement; Grace shining through our community leaders in difficult circumstances.

#1144-1146 Gifts bringing Laughter:: My husband's stories; Prayer:: Dear friends who need healing  prayer in the midst of challenges;  Quiet:: Hours of meditation on a cold, dark day . . . nice.

Join us in memorizing Romans 1, 8, 12
For more information visit Ann Voskamp's blog:
A Holy Experience.com

#1147-1149 Gifts from God's Word:: Memorizing Romans 1; "... regarding his son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, ... Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake."; Four verses memorized so far.

#1150-1152 Gifts that might never have been:: My salvation had I said, "no" to God; My husband had I not trusted my friends who set me up on a date with him; My incredible occupations had I not been unbelievably curious.

That little white block  on
the small butter pad is
hand moisturizer.
 Wonderful!

#1153-1155 Gifts only seen close-up:: Most everything written in small font since I can barely see with trifocals; tiny bugs in dirt; A painted scene on the head of a pin.

#1156-1158  Gifts in The Sky:: Clouds and Stars; Water:: Healthy refreshment; Memory::Ability to memorize Roman 1 at my late age since  I have memorized six verses so far!

#1159-1161  Gifts Wrinkled:: My aging skin; Smoothed:: My life by the working of the Holy Spirit; Unfolded:: My vocation in, for, and through Christ Jesus.

#1162-1164 Gifts found in Christ:: Abundant life; Spiritual Gifts; Grace to give thanks in all circumstances.
#1165-1167 Things Blue:: My spirit if I have not said, "thank you" to the Lord each day; My kitchen counter; Huge splotches of sky on a semi-sunny day.


#1168-1170 Graces Borrowed:: My life, which actually belongs to God;  Found::My resurrected life given to me by grace through faith in Christ Jesus;  Inherited:: ALL the treasures of heaven and earth that belong to God are mine to use according to His will for me.

Why not display veges on a pretty platter!

#1171-1173  A Gift Before Dawn:: Sleep, cozy under warm covers; at Noon:: Bean soup I made yesterday; After Dark:: A huge full moon floating in dark gray-blue sky.

#1174-1176  Gifts in the Kitchen:: Nuts ready to eat, a yam for dinner, hot-house tomatoes

#1177-1179  Graces found in Friends:: Laughter, fun conversation, prayer partners.

#1180-1182  A Song Heard:: My husband humming a song from the 50s;  A Soft Word:: Scripture speaking to me daily;  Light Seen:: A rising red sun before it is blocked by winter clouds.

This is my ugly-beautiful
treasure that looks so much
better with a red shade.

#1183-1184  Old Things Seen New:: Mason jars used to store fresh cookies and dried apple chips; A glass canister lamp from a parent given a fresh look with a red shade; An old cup with fresh, steaming tea;

I love all my teapots and cups, most given to
me by my sister.  Mary Englebreight created
this one years ago and I still love it.

#1185-1187  A gift In Person:: My girlfriend with a spring flower in the middle of COLD weather; On Paper::This blog of THANKS to God; In a Picture:: Memories I can share with others.