A Weekend of Gifts

40. An Oasis, a small group respite for the both of us

41. A Grace FULL enthusiasm for little hearts in love with His word: 

Me:  Tonight is Koinonia and we will do more fellowship than Bible study
Grace: Aww...but I love the Bible study part

42.  Prayers of the saints
43.  Words of life
44.  Heartfelt hugs
45.  Grape salad
46.  Familiar, friendly faces at Parkapalooza
47.  Small town charm
48.  Country church steeples
49.  Growing girl branching out into Indiana Youth Ballet, scoring a role in the Nutcracker ballet
50. Uncle Randy chats for the girl growing up:  "I love her bunches!"
51.  Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks:  "I like reading. I'm thankful for good books to read."
52.  A lesson in joy; an introduction to Philippians
53.  The resident wellspring, drawing deep from the reservoir of His grace and goodness. He sustains me in all things.
54. Invitation to worship from an old friend
55. Connections to home so far from home
56. Pastors' candid talk about Love, Sex, and Marriage: it's about trusting God
57. Giggles and more giggles; laughter does good like a medicine
58. Love of languages - Gracie is delighted to dive into Spanish, teaching Papa George his name:  Abuelo
59. Singing Grandparents Day greetings.  I love her heart songs
60. A routine of bests, worsts, and thankful hearts before bed.

Eat, Greet, and Growing Up

I enjoyed lunch with Grace today at the school "Eat and Greet".  Nice, checked table covers and all. We chit-chatted about her day so far.  She's so tickled in her new place and I love making new friends who intuitively know my name, "Gracie's mom".  My heart melted when she squeezed me tight before she joined her classmates in line. She might be a blossoming third grader, but she's still tender enough hug this thankful mom; still little enough to adore these glitzy high heel shoes. Perhaps the latter is more likely an indication she is growing up.  Growing up too fast...too fast. Slow down, princess.  I need you little still.
37. sparkly shoes in brilliant colors and time to enjoy her visions of growing up
38. freedom and flexibility to enjoy lunch with Grace at school
39. hugs and squeezes unashamed

Untie The Knots

33 gifts, this one a reminder that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by a creator who wrote my name on the palm of His hand long before time began. 

  Dear God:

Please untie the knots
That are in my mind,
My heart and my life.

Remember the have nots,
The can nots, and the do nots
That I have in my mind.


Erase the will nots,
The may nots
And the might nots
That try to find a home in my life.

Release me from the could nots
The would nots and the should nots
That try to obstruct my life.

And most of all, Dear God,
I ask that you remove
From my mind, my heart and my life
All the “am” nots that I have allowed to hold me back
Especially the thought that I am not good enough.

In Jesus Name,
Amen!

Facebook post

34. Smiling, happy faces greeting my Grace on her first day at the new school
35. Friendly passerby stopping to see if I was ok while waiting for Grace - quite neighborly, I'd say
36. Cheery, chipper girl off the school bus

Glorious Love

I found this little note, gift #32, clipped to my new clothesline:

Glorious Love 
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John  3:16

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine.
Song of Solomon 1:2

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.  Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens. Song of Solomon 2:1-2

Giggling Gifts in Girly Packages

Gracie is hosting a sleepover with three of her bestie friends who just happen to be sisters. What a gift. What a blessing. I love that Grace has the opportunity to rub shoulders with these delightful kids. All different, they blend well and yet, sharpen one another. This is gift 24. Sweet girl friends for my Gracie.


Which reminds me, last time they were here, I overheard Grace tell them this: You know, we could stay friends for always and every year get together like, you know, a Roomie Reunion and then our kids could be friends, too.

Gift 25 has been a delightful find of a friend for me in their mother - kindred spirits with hearts rooted in love for missions and the wanderlust spirit of Abraham. Why am I surprised? She is a God friend, indeed.

Roomie Reunion 2012

Carriage House at 
Cornerstone Farm

 

26. Forever friends with hearts knit together by time, laughter, and even tears. Friends who love like family.  I'm thankful.  Every day I'm thankful.

27.  Summer breezes blowing my cares away and drying my sheets on the line. =)

28. A place of rest...He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He makes me whole and satisfies the deepest longing. He calms my deepest fears.

29. Babbling and bubbling water, washing clean my mind and calming my soul.

30. He loves us. Oh, how He loves us. Singing until this thought saturates my soul and drives the shallow echoes of any other voice from my mind.

31.  Oasis - worship, healing, and fellowship; most recently Italian Cream cake and Key Lime pie...wait, there's fellowship, worship, and healing. Cake and pie just make it all the sweeter.