when we remember to be free

We are no longer slaves to problems, but instead are freed by His promises.

 

 

For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20

 

 

And we no longer live on a teetering edge, bound by fear, desperate for hope. We live our lives on the solid Rock-

 

rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as we were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7

 

 

One Thousand Gifts

Please pray for friends of my daughter.  Their child, four months old, passed away last night around six oclock from a heart problem.  Gratitude for lifting them up in love, please.

My thousand gifts continue . . .

before Christmas baby Jesus was stolen from Sandra's manger - yesterday he was returned to her yard - believing a change of heart of the best kind

sleeping late on Saturday

late nights on Friday

soup and salad with friends

free board games - thanks, rosana

Christmas still not put away - but knowing I have eleven months left

anticipating upcoming events planned with friends

ziplock bag of blueberry muffins

a daughter turning twenty

oldest daughter's 100 on chem test

mixmatched socks

valentine tree

friend whose heart is broken brings gift to me - a humbling day

letter from sponsored child, Christian, in the mail

My list, #'s 798-901

I got a bloggy award.  Nice little surprise from my dear friend, Donna, over at Mississippi Mama.

Blessed is me, Donna's not just a blog friend - she's a real-life-but-don't-see her-enough kind of friend.

In Germany, Liebster means favorite or dearest, this award showcases bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.

Thanks, Donna.

Passing on the award to -

Paying for my Raising

Handwoven Dreams

Making it Our Home

Unto Thee O Lord

Sug Cakes . . . southern sugar

Check 'em all out, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

One Thousand Gifts . . .

And it is a Monday.  I don't even need a calendar to feel it.

I'm already behind in my new year.  I haven't been on the computer in days - so I missed all communication between the other moms in my homeschooling group to plan out the first few months of the year.  Now all that is available are months I cannot do because of bible school preparations.

I feel like a sloucher and a slouch.

Christmas still sits in corners packed away but not packed up.  The tree sits empty by the window looking as dark as my mood's been the last two days.

I had to put socks on this morning - I'm a barefoot kind of girl - 'cause my floor's too dirty to walk on - sticky and grimy and nasty lazy feeling.

Like me.

But I read Vicky at Having Some Work Done and she speaks of how I feel this year and after each Christmas and once again God sends a blessing in another's words.  Thanks, V.  Maybe not next year?

Thank you, Father God. 

For the joy of your blessings can be as simple as everyday not feeling like Mondays.  Everyday not bringing troubles or sorrows or sadness or confusion or frustration or hurt in a friend's eyes. 

But more than this.  For the absolute contagious joy that comes even when a day is like a Monday.

My gratitude list continues . . .

chubby cheeks

a surprise in the mail

gathered around the table telling him what we each love the most about him

delia crying cause only he can make her really laugh right now

strangers wishing him a happy birthday

smiles from other moms

telling birthday wishes in secret - to everyone

finding my glasses in just the nick of time

laundry folded and folded and folded - maybe tomorrow put away - the promise of the maybe?

bonus checks

moms who plan and love me in spite of my ball juggling dropping

rice krispy treats

sleeping beautiful nephew

shout spray

free cupcake wrap templates

prayers for Shelby

$1 value drinks

lesson that I hope she learns because of another's mistakes

prayers for job seeking

homemade soup and pound cake and pimento cheese

excellent on a resume and cover letter - so proud

the sound of ruben's voice on the computer and the reassurance it brings

My list, #'s 776-797.

One Thousand Gifts

Christmas is never gone.  As Easter is not.

And shouldn't everyday be a celebration of birth, life, death, and life again?

And we have days to celebrate the birth and the death and gloried resurrection of our Lord. 

But what about our life in between?  This life that is hard and easy and all in between.

And He is never far away and it is not just a celebration but a relationship.

And how do I get to God?  Not by rules and giving up though rules are necessary and commanded and sacrificing is cleansing

but how is my relationship?

I lean in and write quickly and listen as our pastor tells me that seperating myself from the world does not have to mean giving up things and people around me.  It means I do not look to the world that I am as bad as but I look to Jesus in the midst of all the things that make me who I am.

Things that have shaped my family into the people we are.  That have formed us over the years.

And Jesus is the beginning of our Christmas and the end.  The bringing in of the holidays and the closing of the season.

And we gather around the table and open our mouths and we gather around the tree and open our gifts of love and in the center of it all -

In the very reason why these days are not just days -

we gather around the manger and open our hearts.  To a remembrance and a celebration and an honoring of our King.

And as we close this season that is a celebration of a birth I once again open a new year to the life of my King.

To my daily walk of worship to my King.

I pack up and I clean up and in this I have given the ones I love memories.  I have given gifts that are as dust on the same wind that carries my love to the days in between. 

And I pray to have given my children a gift of knowledge.  That it is not just a day, it is a life.

And I know it is all good.

For good things happen when we celebrate and good things move us forth into a dwelling of days in the presence of our Lord.

Till we celebrate Him as a babe again.

My gratitude list continues . . .

remembering the babe

friends who take my children to a winter wonderland - complete with glowsticks

living nativity

preparing for santa

reindeer food

telling santa why we celebrate

pallets under the tree

a thank you from santa

Chrismas Eve communion

Christmas morning breakfast

christmas with church family as max and izzy light the center candle

it's a charlie brown christmas -

gift to grandma -

nana's christmas

super max

remembering distance is only in body

max reading the christmas story

remembering the light of the world, Jesus Christ, for whom we are to be example

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

My list, #'s 757-775.

One Thousand Gifts . . .

She has her first cake testing.  She worked hours on six small cakes, all filled with lucious sweetness. 

Lemon filled, mocha filled, coconut filled . . .

She plans on showing photos from her laptop of her wedding cakes.

 Blubird, is your laptop clean?  No smudges or crumbs?

Mama, what would I do without you?

Ditto, my sweet maker of sweets.  Ditto.

My gratitude list continues . . .

teaching - and still learning - that it's in the details

clean computer

cloth napkins

soft music

bride's flowers and our plates matching - sweet unexpected goodness

another friend taking a leap of faith

sparkling glasses and silverware

cold bottled water

sweet tea

his little self reading the Sunday School lesson to the class

Ready, Set, Go . . . Jesus Loves Me music

spare hats when favorite is lost

fixed car

Christmas music

discovering a new song

leftover pizza

grace when I need it

always grace

My list, #'s 739-756.

One Thousand Gifts . . .

I am married to the only man that captured my heart - and loved me enough to keep it. The only man that was willing to mold himself to fit me perfectly. Who was willing to gently mold me to fit him perfect.

I have - and yes, I'm going to say it - the best kids in the world. And that love that appears the first moment you know you are pregnant and grows till it bursts from your womb to your heart and into your every moment of life has been with me for over twenty-two years now. And it's not going anywhere.

I look around this house and like where I am. I like the colors on the walls and the wood on the floors. I like the way my bed feels at night and the sound of no alarm clock in the morning.

I'm in love with stretching my legs out at night and touching him. Crazy about waking at two in the morning to peek in on them.

And in all of these good things I cannot forget to scour my life hard for bad habits to break, good habits to start, and better and more ways to love my neighbors.

And in each breath I must adapt myself to be more like Christ.

And expectant for blessings . . .

My gratitude list continues . . .

hearing the wind through the screens

kind bankers when you make huge mistakes

thanksgiving crafts from Donna kind enough to share

shoebox shopping with my proud heart watching them love

shoebox packing party lovingly planned by Jennifer

laughing sharing potty-training tips

the joy of being over potty-training

the turning of the leaves

remembering that even in the death of leaves God shows beauty, which reminds me how much more thought and care He puts into loving me

painting.  when I get passed being too lazy to get started I'm always revived and refreshed

remembering to thank God for gifts and talents

how my love completely balances me

understands me

forgives me

loves me

anticipating the holidays with Janice and Penny - waiting is already pained

watching my baby sister be a mama

and the joy this new little boy has brought

My list, #'s 721-738.