1000 Gifts | From: The Little Pink House

colds and rest and living life giving thanks

Dec 052011

Mary with the nativity set It’s December and once again the weather has played tricks on us. It taunted us with that bright, fluffy, beautiful snow that melted before Thanksgiving. Yet now, when we’re thinking about Christmas trees and wishing for more sledding weather, it’s clear and cold.

Of course, speaking of colds, it seems impossible to visit my family without bringing back some cold bug or other. I thought we’d escaped with our health intact, but it was just waiting a few days to get me. At least we got unpacked and caught up on laundry before Mommy started operating in constant-I-need-a-Kleenex-mode.

And even though I’m fighting the cold bug and the cold weather and the tired and the to-do’s, I’m loving this slightly slower time of year. The time to sort through some of the books on our shelves with my hubby. The early dark that means earlier dinner and earlier bedtime so there’s time to cuddle up together in front of a movie (we’re still loving the “Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye” series we’ve been borrowing!). The time to devote to web design and home décor and cooking and reading. Time to dig out the boxes and begin decorating for Christmas.

Each time I pause and realize that the to-do list isn’t an emergency and that there’s time to slow down and rest and just be is one more time I’ve been able to forget the “tired” and just live this crazy life I love.

And so I sit with my lemon ginger tea, Christmas music on the radio, the children in bed, and I tap out words and list out gifts and thank Him for the slow, quiet moments that come again into my days to surprise me with their rest.

counting backwards

Nov 142011

When you’re running on coffee and behind on laundry, when you’re stepping over toys and sorting through piles, when you’re in desperate need of simplicity but everything you touch seems to open another can of worms… I just look back and count the gifts.

These are the days I’ll miss, the days I’ll look back upon with fondness. So I pause and look back now, trying to see these moments, these days, these weeks through the lens of the future. Because from that perspective, it’s all a gift.

our table 516. Our first dinner guests at our new kitchen table.

517. Always one more subject, carrying us late into the night, regardless of bedtimes, in conversations with friends.

518. A full fruit bowl, and room for it in the middle of our new kitchen table.

519. Our new kitchen table—an antique from the church I grew up in—lovingly redone, and leaves enough for company added, by my talented husband.

520. Ru “reading” (memorized) the entire story of Cinderella to her Aunt Jessica and Uncle Cake over Skype and then showing them her complete “work-a-day-rags” costume.

521. A sincere compliment.

522. Trying out new scone recipes.

523. Making it home despite the snowy weather on the east coast.

524. Getting back home to my bestest friend and husband.

525. Being missed.

526. Hearing that, whenever my girls missed me, Nanna told them I was being Cinderella and having fun at the ball.

527. The Relevant Conference. Just, all of it.

528. A new friend, full of encouragement and exhortation straight from our Father.

529. A stack of new books to read.

530. A Circle of Quiet and the quiet it brings to my mind and heart.

531. Hugging that other farmer’s wife, Ann Voskamp.

532. My bags making it back in one piece, despite zippers tearing away from canvas.

533. Finding out I really can sleep in an airport while holding a baby and luggage.

534. The best of roomies.

535. Hugging old friends, meeting longtime acquaintances, and connecting with other bloggers.

536. Company and cousins.

537. Our first flakes of snow.

gifts, gifts, so many gifts…

Oct 242011

pony tail 498. God’s timing.

499. Friends who listen to me.

500. Last-minute plane tickets.

501. The way everything fell together for me to go to Relevant.

502. Surprise visits.

503. Six little cousins and the delight they have in each other.

504. God’s protection.

505. That moment you realize your little cousins are all grown up into really neat adults you’d choose as friends.

506. My brother-in-law passing all the exams and shipping out for training in the Army National Guard.

507. A new friend who encourages and exhorts me.

508. Meeting other local young moms and knowing we’ll be friends.

509. Old friends who’ve known you forever and love you anyway.

510. Coffee shops that let you bring your own almond milk.

511. Curly heads.

512. Big girl pony tails.

513. Anticipating Relevant and hugs and encouragement and friends.

514. His first two teeth!!

515. Sisters-in-law who were my friends before they were my sisters.

many blessings

Oct 102011

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
-Johnson Oatman, Jr. “Count Your Blessings”

487. pink houses on Pinterest.

488. two and a half hours in town all by myself, thanks to my hubby babysitting.

489. finding two pairs of pants that fit at GoodWill.

490. a coffee shop that will make me a hot mocha with coconut milk.

491. getting things done.

492. fun, relaxing reading.

493. a day of rest.

494. an afternoon of canning with my husband.

495. having him home all day long.

496. bumping into him in the kitchen.

497. all those jars of tomatoes and peaches.

thanking Him today for…

Oct 032011

478. Nectarines and coconut milk.

479. My husband building new shelves to get the storage room organized.

480. Everyone recovering from the cold bug we caught.

481. 15 years of knowing this man I’m married to.

482. Getting to church early.

483. Family and friends getting to see “Courageous.”

484. Early-morning walks.

485. An exciting new themed carnival at YLCF.

486. All your encouraging comments on my 31 days commitment!

because Mondays are for counting gifts

Sep 262011

It’s been a few weeks of hurry and flurry here at our home. Blog carnivals, birthday parties, company—busy but good! So it’s nice to feel the change of the season in the weather as well as the slowing of pace. I’m looking forward to a return to normal schedules and simple routines—like counting gifts on a Monday…

462. A week of nothing but aprons.

463. His birthday, wearing my “I Love Merritt” t-shirt.

464. Spending my birthday with my parents and grandparents for the first time in seven years.

465. Remembering where I was seven years ago—in Prince Edward Island with my mom, sister, and grandparents.

466. A stack of books to inspire me in my “baby steps” of routines.

467. New appliances!

468. A new mug for my tea—a birthday gift from my husband.

469. Rain clouds.

470. A morning walk.

471. Not getting sick until after our company left.

472. Wrinkled hands and baby hands.

473. Making priceless memories.

474. A husband who’s more impressed with a warm meal and a clean house than blog stats. Winking smile

475. Hearing beloved voices on the phone.

476. How he looks like a grown up little man in his polo shirts and corduroy pants!

477. Being able to just write.

“And you will keep singing as the days go by…”

Sep 052011

Still singing as I (because I?) count the gifts on this holiday that ends one busy week only to begin another…

448. 2-year-old little toes by birthday wrapping paper.

449. pink birthday cake crumbs everywhere.

450. a successful site launch.

451. the powers of htaccess.

452. finally getting the htaccess right.

453. a one-day-whirlwind-site-makeover that made someone feel like Christmas.

454. rejoicing with a friend.

455. using my baby wrap at church and everyone thinking it must have come from Africa (since my cousin was just visiting & just home from there & my wrap looks African?).

456. chocolate peppermint cookies.

457. a loving, understanding husband who lets me make and eat them without comment.

458. a holiday.

459. getting out of the house.

460. the bbq hamburgers I can already almost taste.

461. knowing He is in control.

letting peace rule

Aug 292011

Sometimes, the stress creeps in and overwhelms. Like the smoke from some far away fire that’s enveloping our valley today, it fills every corner with its smell, its taste, its power.

And when it does, I have to slow. I have to stop. I have to take my Bible out to my chair and listen to the stillness of His presence.

I read that I was called to peace. I’m to let it rule.

And? I’m to give thanks.

I start with that nap yesterday (#432). The longest stretch of eyes-closed-snoring-restful-sleep I’ve had in a long time (or at least so it feels). #433. The chair I’m sitting on—a gift from the man who loves me and loves to surprise me and who loves to see me stop and rest and listen a while. #434. This little man who’s growing so big and chunky I already need to sort his outgrown clothes again. #435. The way he folds his chubby little hands in delight and contentment.

#436. Seeing my cousin again after she was two years in Africa. #437. Introducing her to my two youngest in person, and not just via Skype. #438. My aunt fixing my drapes so that they open and close so very much easier. #439. More company coming and filling up the rest of September with visits to look forward to. #440. The way my girls love everyone who loves them, even if they do complain about missing their Grandpa and Grandma a dozen times a day.

#441. Our Ergo and our wrap, which make everything—but especially the fair—so much easier. #442. Seeing people again and realizing that I have so many acquaintances and people I’ve known a long time here now as opposed to just back where I grew up. #443. Fellowship. Hugs and fellowship.

#444. A second birthday party coming up. #445. The way she’s been “missing” her birthday for months now. #446. Candles and cakes and cobblers and pink birthday things and three parties in a row coming up just for her.

#447. Snuggles and all five of us piled in bed of a morning. #448. The wind in my hair as I sit, reminding me of His power.

And soon? Peace rules so completely there’s no part of stress left.

Life has that vertical perspective, pointed towards the Cross once again.

Older Entries