1000 Gifts

For a couple of years now, I have been practicing the habit of a daily gratitude journal.  I just recently finished my second journal of 1000 gifts! This concept comes from a book I read a few years back by Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.

Between 2011 and 2013, I lost my job, my mom died and I had a major back surgery.  All of these were completely unexexpected, but losing my mom by far was the most painful of all and made me feel like I no longer recognized my own life.  In the midst of all this, there were wonderful things too: I got a great new job that I loved, my sister had her youngest daughter, my brother and his wife welcomed triplet daughters and I finished graduate school.  Then, between 2014 and 2015, both of my grandmothers died. So many ups and downs, but way more downs than I had every experienced in my life before.

 During all of this, I had to make peace with the fact that my life was NOT going as I had planned. There was no changing it, and no going back to how things used to be. Intentionally counting the gifts God gave me each day was one way I could remember His goodness and kindness in the midst of sorrow and pain.  I realized I had to choose joy and choose gratitude each day. I truly believe that this practice has help keep me from letting seeds of bitterness take root in my heart.  The goal is to do it each day but I often fail in that.  Sometimes it is just a few times a week.  If I drop off for a week or so, I start to notice a difference in myself and I realize that I need to get back to it.  I hope to become more disciplined with each journal and keep this up for the rest of my life!

The best part about finishing a 1000 gifts journal is going back to read each gift.  There are always things I know I would have forgotten if I had not written it down.  I thought it would be fun to share the gifts from this past year that are specifically about God calling me to serve Him in Budapest.  I apologize for the messy cursive! :)

               

                                            

It is such a blessing to look back and see God's gracious gifts to me through this past year!  I count ALL of my friends and family among God's most abundant gifts for all of the love and support you have given me throughout this whole process!  

I hope you are able to look around and count some of God's gifts to you today as well! :) 

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Ten Things I'm Loving About Summer 2016!

This is such a wonderful but unusual summer for me - living in Kingwood for the first time in 10 years!  It has been fabulous so far and I am soaking it all in before I depart for Budapest in August!  Here are my top ten things I'm loving right now (in no particular order)!  :)

10. Life without GPS because I know where everything is!  I lived in Houston for 8 years and it was a rare week that I didn't have to look up directions on the map on my phone.  I love being in my hometown and knowing where I am going!

9.  One of my cousins started weekly family dinners this summer and it has been so much fun!  Thank you Maggie! Spending time with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and my sister's family is just the best!

8. This has nothing to do with living at home and everything to do with the fact that it is summer: NO MAKE-UP! See also: WORKOUT CLOTHES EVERY DAY! (whether I work out or not...) See also:  NO HAIR FIXING! I am throwing my hair in a messy bun every day and loving every minute of it!

7. My summer birthday!  I absolutely love having my birthday in June and I always have!  The past few years I have gone with my sister and her kids to Galveston for a beach day on my birthday so this year we continued the tradition.  And my dad had the day off from work so he got to join us!  That evening we had cake and ice cream back at the house.

Me and my sister Meredith!  (Thank you to my sweet friend Amy for my fun new shirt!) 

Matching t-shirts with my cousin Christina!  Love them both with all of my heart! 

Sidenote: I didn't mean to wear only Texas shirts on my birthday but I am more than okay with the fact that it happened! :) 

6. The Kingwood Library! It is two stories and so pretty.  The last time I went it started thundering and raining while I was looking at books and it made me so happy! Few things are better than rain + reading a good book!  Sidenote: If you aren't on GoodReads, get on it.  We can be friends and see what each other is reading!

My stack of books checked out from last week.

5. Spending time with my dad!  He's pretty much my favorite person.  My dad is never in a bad mood - ever.  He literally whistles while he works.  I have had a few minor meltdowns about moving to the other side of the world (just keeping it real, y'all) and my dad always listens with understanding and offers encouragement.  I have cooked dinner a few times and he is always so complimentary because he is the least picky eater on the planet.  I could go on and on!

This was on my birthday beach day in Galveston! 

4. The view out the back windows of our house! My current desk space is the kitchen table which looks out the patio and forest behind my dad's house.  It's so green, and there are always birds chirping!  My favorites are the cardinals and hummingbirds. :)

3. Catching up on my podcasts!  I got way behind throughout May/June and I'm finally getting back to all my old favorites.  If you are a podcast listener, let me know if you have any recommendations!

2. Summer Bible study!  I'm doing this at my hometown church, FPCK!  We are studying the gospel of Mark and I'm really enjoying it!  I'm learning not just about Mark but also more about how to study the Bible and apply it to my life. I love studying God's word with a group of ladies - we are all on a journey together to know God more!

1. My Summer Bucket List!  I have done this the past couple of summers.  I love having a list of things I really want to do (and need to do) while I have the chance.  I still have a lot left to do on it but thankfully I still have about 6 more weeks! :)

I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer so far and that all of my Texas friends are staying as cool as possible! :)




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