Revisiting Joy Dare

I've decided to recommit to finishing my Joy Dare...counting one thousand gifts.  Being thankful sets you on a whole different course and I've missed my moments this past year.  It's important to remember to Whom we are thankful for all the blessings, big and small, in our lives.  It all started when my MIL gave me the book, One Thousand Gifts.  After reading this gift, I felt a shift in my life.  It came at a really dark time, but counting my gifts brought a beautiful light.

 

JOY DARE

 

282.  Diamonds
283.  Cozy PJs
284.  Christmas lights

285.  Reconnecting with family
286.  Gift of pearls
287.  Ornaments on a tree

288.  Yarn slipping through my fingers
289.  Kitties eyes peaking from inside the Christmas tree

290.  Rare snuggles from Frosty
291.  Marshmallow santas
292.  Chinese dinner
293.  The gift of a Savior born long ago

294.  The joy of Christmas
295.  The joy felt in giving something special
296.  New blue walls
297.  Handmade soft afghans

298.  Time with my kids
299.  A chance to still be "mom"
300.  Scent of Christmas cookies baking

301. The beginning of a new adventure
302.  Sunshine streaming through a window
303.  Sapphie hiding in a basket

 

 



Stay-at-Home Mom

My daughter said one of the most amazing things to me yesterday.  It was just one of those moments you wish you could freeze in time. 

When I made the decision not to work after my girls were born, I never really knew what impact that would have on them.  I wanted to be fully available to them without the stress of working and being tired.  I know it's not for everyone and I don't at all object to those moms who do work.  This was a very personal decision and I consider it a blessing that I was able to do this.  I may not have been paid in monetary ways, but I reaped benefits that made being home so worth it.

Anyways, Beki's talking to me about her future and her career and then tells me that "the best thing that ever happened to her was that I was home, that I was there for her."  It's a beautiful thing to see your grown children growing and changing and beginning to see the world...to see them begin to appreciate the things you've done or sacrificed for them. 

I am truly blessed with two beautiful, smart, amazing girls who are becoming wonderful women. 

 

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

Do you still believe? | Joy Dare

Ever read something and have a revelation, an eye-opener, a discovery?

There are times I see or read something that just really makes me think, wakes me up.  Sometimes it's actually something I've always known, but hits me in a different light.  Do you ever wonder if your prayers go unheard or you get an answer that's not what you think you want or need?  We all have, I'm sure, at one time or another questioned God, maybe even screamed at Him....Why!!!  When we get an answer that's not to our liking, do we still believe God is good, that His way is better than ours? 

                    When the diagnosis is chronic and the healing doesn't come...

                    When the spouse walks out the door and doesn't come home...

                    When the prodigal child turns their back and doesn't return...

                    When the desperate couple seek out the physicians and still can't have a baby...

                    When you need the job and it doesn't work out...

How do we handle these situations?  The God of our Faith is bigger than all of these.  When He doesn't answer in a way we expect/desire/need, what are we supposed to do, how should we react.  He is asking us...

                    Do you still believe? 

                    Do you trust me?

He is showing us Mercy when we are not looking for it.  He is working miracles in the midst of the chaos our lives.  Look close for the miracles.  When you were walking through the mess...

                    Did you learn something new about yourself?
                    Did you grow closer to Him?
                    Did your faith grow?
                    Did you help someone else suffering?
                    Did you make a new friend?
                    Did you share your faith with someone else?

He may not have responded as we wanted, but He did respond and you were blessed.

We do not walk these trials alone.  The One who walked trials on earth and died for us all, walks beside us.  We can rest assured ALL things work to our good.

"These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. It will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return." -1 Peter 1:7

 

JOY DARE

 

 I've been slow at it this summer, but here are a few of the gifts I counted.

 

234.  Lazy days at the lake

235.  Sweet watermelon

236.  Sun rays

 

 

 

237.  Swans on the lake

 

 

238.  Evening boat rides

239.  English cottages

240.  Country roads

241.  Golden hay fields

 

 

242.  England coastlines

 

 

243.  A London sunset

 

 

244.  Walks through historic villages

245.  Star-filled nights

 

 

246.  Snow-capped mountains

 

 

247.  Horses in the pasture

  

 

248.  A doe feeding in the meadow

 

 

249.  River drives

 

 

250.  Soothing heat of a natural hot spring

251.  Smell of dried leaves 

252.  Colors of fall

 

 

 

253.  A new friendship

254.  Encouraging words

255.  Candle light

256.  Orange pumpkins

 



 

257.  Wind in the trees

 

  

258.  Warmth from a fireplace on a cool morning

259.  Laughing so hard you cry

260.  Mercy

261.  Feeling of accomplishment.

262.  Magnificent skylines

 

 

263.  Ebony

 

 

 264. A new kitten snuggled in your arms

 

 

 

 



Nags Head - Counting the Blessings

Counting my blessings as I sat in Paradise!  We spent a week in Nags Head, North Carolina, with the sun on our face and the wind at our back.  It's the kind of vacation you never want to end, time to relax and enjoy life.  My favorite part of the day was sitting on the beach in the mornings before most had gotten up, before the crowds descended, watching the surf and the birds at play.  We had a wonderful time visiting with and catching up with John's family.

 JOY DARE

205. Waterfalls

206. Lazy turtles

207. A day in the park with friends

208. Little boy silliness

209. Eternal life

210. Baby cardinals-getting to watch them grow

211. Goldfinch at play

212. An evening to say good-bye to friends
 

3 Gifts that made me smile

213. Jack, Maelyn, and Lily

214.  The smell of ocean air

215.  Sea shells
216.  Crashing waves
217.  Sun sparkling on the water



 

218.  An ocean sunrise

219.  Sand between your toes

220.  Seagulls

221.  Crabs on the beach

 

 

222.  Playing in the rain

223.  Seafood

224.  Catching up with family

225.  Thunderstorms over an ocean horizon

226.  Lightening bolts

 

227.  Watching a sunset above the clouds

228.  Cottonball clouds

 

229.  Playing in the waves
230.  Super moon
231.  Walks on the beach

232.  Dolphins swimming by

 

 

233.  Whale sightings

 

 

 



Perfect Love

There is no other love more perfect than that of God's love.  In a month of showing love, it's important to remember that God is Love.  For without Him, there would be no love.  His love endures, bringing with it peace and joy.  Just look around at the world He has given us, the gifts that surround us.  And it's easy to see Him...the creator in it all.  I can never understand those that say there is no God.  The universe itself declares the existence of a creator.  We must only have eyes to SEE and a heart willing to BELIEVE.  In Him we find our TRUE LOVE!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    His love endures forever.     Psalm 106:1

 

Joy Dare

54.  Holding hands.

55. Coconut cream pie.

56.  Warm breeze blowing on the deck.

Three gifts in working:  

57.  My husband for making the sacrifice and making the money.

58.  Cherry pie.

 59.  God working in the lives of my grown kids--He will never let go.

60.  The first sign of Spring--baby buds!

 Well, we aren't quite to the flowering stage yet, but we do have the beginning of buds showing up on the trees and shrubs.  I can't wait for the warmth and the color.

63.  Velvety soft roses.

Three things blue:

64.  Blue sky.

65.  Blue birds.

66.  My blue coffee mug given to me by a friend.

Three ways I feel God's Love
67.  The warm sun shining on my face and another day to thank Him.
68.  Promises and reminders whispered in my heart at just the right time when I need it.
69.  As I count my gifts, His love speaks,

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."  Jeremiah 31:3