God's gifts 990-1007

I've been dreading the writing of this post.  I don't really want to reach one thousand gifts.  I don't really want this part of the challenge to be over.  I know... I can keep recording.  I hope and plan to.  (Scott says I should add a One Thousand Gifts tab along the top of the blog and keep recording my list there.  Stay posted to see if that's what I do.  :)

But somehow, a momentous part of the undertaking is over.  And it has been a life-changing undertaking.  I feel myself being different.  I still need grace for each moment: grace to not yell at my children or react in frustration when things don't go my way; grace to be thankful rather than ungrateful.  But I feel God's hand shaping my moments into those that capture gratitude.  I feel less focused on the later -- the future -- and more focused on finding God's next gift in the next moment.

I have so far to go.  I am so grateful for how far I have come.  I want more gratitude.  And I know it is what God wants, too.

Funny enough, I have not finished reading One Thousands Gifts yet; I do  hope to before the school years starts in August.  I know I will glean far more about gratitude by learning from Ann Voskamp's journey.

As is the way with spiritual lessons, I have found words of contentment, thankfulness in my other readings lately.

From reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter to Adrianna:

"This life is a difficult riddle,

for how many people we see

with faces as long as a fiddle

that ought to be shining with glee.

I am sure in this world there are plenty

of good things enough for us all,

and yet there's not one out of twenty

but thinks that his share is too small.

Then what is the use of repining,

for where there's a will, there's a way,

and tomorrow the sun may be shining,

although it is cloudy today."

And from Grace Notes, by Alexandra Stoddard, first she quotes Abraham Crowley: "Nothing is there to come, and nothing past.  But an eternal now does always last."

"I have a fascination with now.  Everything is alive and real to me as I live it.  Now affects the nows that follow, so when we get now right, everything has a chance of falling into place."  

And, "We don't remember ordinary occurrences.  What we remember are the touching, moving, joyful moments.  Virginia Woolf wrote about 'moments big as years.' Now, what are you going to do to make of this moment an eternal now?"

And now, it must be time to complete my one thousand gifts.

From yesterday...

990. Taking Abel to the park to meet our play group while Adrianna went to Vacation Bible School

991. Abel happy screaming across the park bridges while playing chase with his play group friends

992. Abel going up the ladder and down the slide over and over and over with his friends

993. Adrianna going through her desk to find new school supplies to add to the ones VBS is collecting for children in need

994. Adrianna playing with the Hooked on Phonics set in her bed during rest time

995. Adrianna putting on a puppet show for Abel and me

996. Adrianna searching under the couch for change to take to VBS (she did, indeed, find some)

997. Scott using the opportunity to move the couches and vacuum up the crumbs and pet hair

998. Adrianna choosing to use her bonus time before bed to make zucchini muffins with me instead of watching "Wheel of Fortune"

And from today...

999. Being blessed with three extra helpers (that I didn't know were coming) for the VBS I'm coordinating at church

1000. Walking from classroom to classroom, watching joyful, capable volunteers teaching children about Jesus

1001. Adrianna using her "Proof" VBS dog mask to be a dog

 1002. Adrianna helping Abel using her scooter on our walk

1003. Adrianna filling up her own water pail

 ...and watering her own tomato plant

1004. Hearing a bird outside and recognizing it's call from Adrianna's bird caller machine

1005. Adrianna designing her own puppet, with the extra too-small puppet I made for VBS last night

1006. Playing tow truck push with Abel in the kitchen (Ruthie seemed totally unfazed)

1007. Adrianna reciting Bible verses to Abel as he fell asleep, and singing, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower..."