I have been inspired by fellow blogger, Ann Voskamp, who is an amazing writer with the gift of encouragement – especially in giving thanks. She has written a book called one thousand gifts. Her life was transformed by the simple act of giving thanks in all things. She encouraged me to keep track of the things in my life that I am thankful for. Please visit her web site at www.aholyexperience.com for more information…
1. I am more than thankful for my Lord Jesus who would have died just for me and who forgives me daily, encourages me through His Word and blesses me with all good things.
2. I am oh so thankful for my parents who dedicated their lives to raising me and my siblings to know and serve God.
3. I am thankful that I have been given a beautiful family – husband and 8 children to love and care for.
4. I am thankful for the home that I am sitting in right now that is warm and dry and safe.
5. I am thankful for the many friends that God has put into my life to encourage and strengthen me.
6. So thankful for the happy sounds of children playing nearby.
7. Thankful for the priviledge to mother my beautiful children today.
8. Thankful for the mild weather so we can play outside.
9. Thankful that I can teach my dyslexic kids in just the way the need.
10. Thankful for the freedom to homeschool in the USA.
11. Thankful to be able to hear my baby cooing happily behind me.
12. Thankful that Lydia and Katherine want to pray every night and can’t sleep unless I have prayed with them!
13. Thankful that my soon-to-be 13 year old daughter still calls me mommy.
14. Thankful for the amazing mom blogs that I read and the amazing way God is using them to encourage me in my walk with the Lord.
15. Thankful that with God’s Word to comfort me – I can very nearly laugh with joy in my trials knowing that He’s got my back.
16. Thankful that while waiting on the Lord to provide this week (no gas and dwindling groceries) a unexpected check came from an unexpected source – the State of California. {Some unexpected refund!}
17. Thankful for it being peppermint mocha season.
18. Thankful for being able to hear Christian music {Christmas music} playing in non-Christian stores.
19. Thankful for my daughter Jessie – 13 years old today – a total blessing and joy in my life.
20. Thankful for Toby’s Boy Scout leaders who make all of these amazing things happen for him.
21. Thankful for my trials as they draw me closer to God and increase my faith.
22. Heartfelt worshipful prayers with my 7 year old daughter – watching her learn to worship her Creator!
23. Coming through struggles that seemed so painful I would die.
24. Using those struggles to encourage others.
25. God’s faithfulness in all things.
26. Bible prophecies that show God is real.
27. My mother’s unquenchable spirit.
28. Hope.
29. For prayer and a house of prayer.
30. That God is patient with me.
31. That my husband loves me.
32. That God can use the ‘foolish’ things of this world – like me.
33. That God gives me what I need to become the person that He has called me to be – trials and triumphs alike.
33. That I don’t need to worry – just trust.
34. For prayer.
35. For fellowship.
36. For God’s Spirit living in me.
37. For the love of a little child.
38. For life and health today.
39. For working side by side with my husband.
40. That my marriage has not only survived but grown.
41. For stories of believers from the past that encourage me.
42. For missionaries that reach out to the poor and suffering around the world.
43. For a good book and a rainy day.
44. For friends around the world.
45. For my kids’ coaches, teachers and Boy Scout leaders that volunteer their time.
46. For a rare, lazy day.
47. For my toddler’s great love for me.
48. For my toddler’s sing songy babble.
49. For wisdom from God and other’s who have followed Him throughout their lives.
50. For a friend who stands up for me in a battle.
51. Sounds of children playing happily outside.
52. Blessing my husband
53. Spending sweet time with God
54. Baby {18 months} cried out, “Mama!”
55. Husband’s laugh
56. Beautiful worship at church
57. Finding common ground between and a female writer that lived over 300 years ago
58. Finding a solution to a problem while reading on line.
59. Blessed by preparing for my Sunday School class.
60. New clothes for my growing boys
61. A repaired roof.
62. My older daughter reminding me of me – our lives are interwoven now – seamlessly.
63. Warmth and brightness for a weary heart.
64. Buds on the almond tree – for the first time!
65. Lazy, little chicks.
66. Valentine’s M & Ms
67. Ahhhh, yes! Found my dry erase pen!
68. The blood of Jesus.
69. A toddler’s {many} new words
70. A {young} dyslexic reading on her own!
71. A child’s heartfelt prayer
72. Needs met in abundance
73. Knowing God works all things for the good
74. Sweet fellowship with my mother
75. Looking forward to and preparing for and overseas visitor
76. Beautiful weather
77. Living near the ocean
78. The love of my children
79. A daughter who has become a young woman
80. A boy learning to become a man
81. New growth
82. A perfectly timed message
83. God’s Spirit moving in me.
84. Community
85. A favor returned
86. Gifts unexpected
87. Everyday miracles
88. Amazing grace
89. Hope in Christ
90. Watching my children grow
91. How my husband always loves me
92. Believers who have gone befroe me documenting their journies for others to learn from
93. Spring in the air
94. Walking with the Spirit in freedom
95. The sights and smells of home after a long day out
96. handmade birthday cards from my sweet kiddos
97. emails and messages from good, old friends
98. the tender kindness of a busy husband that opened my heart to love even a bit more
99. a trip with my lovely British mother-in-law to the Gardens of the World
100. my neighbor Dave bringing me {my favorite} tulips on my birthday
101. my blossoming 13 year old daughter running the house so that we caould attend the wedding of a dear friend
102. bags of baby clothes given to bless
103. bags of toddler clothes received!
104: beauty and style found, not purchased
105. flying ducks!
106. spiritual growth discovered in looking outside myself
107. peace that passes all understanding as I seek the One who gives real peace
108. too much chocolate given in birthday blessing
109. little kittens: sleeping, playing, growing
110. new persepctive gained by reading on the blessings of Dyslexia – The Dyslexic Advantage
111. prayers not answered how I would have liked {understanding that God knows what I need more than I do}
112. forgiving and loving my enemies only possible by following the example of Christ who rules my heart
113. for trials unfolding {knowing the masterpeice of my life story is yet incomplete}
114. the love of my mother at all times
115. the acceptance of my heavenly Father
116. that God is the Father of the fatherless
117. that thankfulness is the secret to joy
118. that my hearts loves to give thanks
119. that God has given me a desire to encourage others
120. health and happiness
121. old friends that remain steadfast
122. love that increases
123. that I don’t have to understand everything
124. that God is all-knowing
125. lazy Saturday mornings
126. prayers of the saints
127. that I have a future and a hope
128. that I do not need to fear death
129. my baby’s hugs, squeals and smiles when I enter the room
130. the priveledge of being a stay at home mom
131. crumbs in my car that remind me that we have food
132. finger prints on my windows that remind me of the little hands that look with wonder
133. a beautiful weekend to look forward to
134. a pain-free day
135. successful school day
136. looking forward to summer
137. fellowship with like-minded women
138. freedom to worship
139. persecution for worshipping
140. God giving me glimpses of my husbands heart
141. looking forward to my early morning alarm that wakes me for my time with the Father
142. getting up earlier for more time with Him
143. staying up later for more time with Him
144. kids playing happily
145. a letter from overseas
146. a gift prepared to send
147. planning birthday blessings
148. a hot cup of tea
149. beautiful music
150. an encouraging word
151. Happy toddler sounds
152. an injury not too serious
153. sincere faith talks with teen son
154. summer vacation
155. freedom to homeschool
156. freedom to worship
157. that I have been given all good things
158. God’s spirit living in me
159. cafe mocha, in bed, with love!
160. corn on the cob
161. watermelon
162. a good book
163. encouraging blogs to read
164. clean floors
165. confrontation that brings wisdom
166. digging deep for peace from God when others seek to steal it
167. sunrise
168. morning sounds before everyone gets up
169. smell of coffee brewing while I read the Word
170. clean windows on a sunny day
171. our cleaning lady {thanks mom!}
172. ceiling fans on a hot day
173. miracle car still running with 168K+ miles on her!
174. early summer beach days
175. early summer excitement for the potential
176. abundant life
177. assurance of salvation
178. God’s word
179. candles lit during power outage
180. family snuggles during power outage
181. God’s protection
181. God’s provision – daily
182. God’s promises
183. summer garden flourishing
184. happy chickens in the coop
185. eating from the garden
186. Mom’s faithfulness to God and family
187. Dad’s faithfullness to family
188. the hand of a child in mine
189. joy of homemaking
190. friends in Christ
191. godly women in my life
192. friends going overseas for missionary work
193. Lindquists in Entebbe, Uganda – what a great work!
194. the body of Christ
195. barefeet
196. warm summer evening breezes
197. solid sleep after a long day
198. having all my chicks home in the nest
199. hope in Christ
200. beautiful worship music
201: God is faithful
202: God never grows weary
203: God supplies all of our needs
204: His grace is sufficient
205: God has promised victory over sin and death
206: that all things work together for good
207: that I don’t have to rely on man
208: a garden growing
209: lessons from that garden
210: fruit from the garden
211: fellowship
212: hope in Him and Him alone
213: family
214: children growing in grace
215: cool breezes on warm summer days
216: a summer garden bursting with life
217: quiet mornings in the Word
218: coffee!
219: a young daughter who loves God’s Word
220: lessons learned that draw me nearer to God
221: learning to be an imitator of Christ
222: hard truths that bring joy
223: a random ‘volunteer’ of Freesia just outside my kitchen window
224: the realization that God is in those tiny details
225: serving family
226: building a godly legacy
227: that walking by faith, as an imitator of Christ, brings hope
228: victory through the cross
229: a boy, just 2, who brings joy
230: the faithfulness of a husband
231: wisdom from above
232: the joy of the Lord bringing strength
233: trials that cleanse the heart
234: climbing out of the valley
235: looking back at the valley with hindsight
236: a new day
237: freedom
238: the faithfulness of the Lord
239: morning light
240: a teen son who loves his mom {and isn’t afraid to say so}
241: a daughter becoming a young woman
242: watching my children’s gifts and talents emerge
243: watching the slow hand of the Lord move in difficult circumstances
245: summer garden harvest
246: answered prayers
247: the love a little boy who calls me Mom
248: the blessings of the Lord
249: a husband who loves me like Christ loved the church
250: that we fight from victory not for victory
251: highchairs 
252: knowing that their is Truth
253: Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A
254: the family of believers
255: a spare moment of quiet
JOINING THE COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS IN GIVING THANKS FOR ALL THINGS
