One Thousand Gifts (905 - 923)

 3/10/24

905 Saturday night church. Worship is amazing!

906 Funeral services for Berry (squirrel)

907 Ali’s friend (Matt) who not only didn’t think it was dumb to honor the squirrel,       but he wrote the eulogy. Now that’s a good friend!

3/23/24

908 Google. Seriously. I don’t know how I lived without it.

909. Ali’s squirrel, Twig who passed away. He was only here for a few weeks but he sure had an impact on our lives.  We will miss him.

910 The weather is warming up (between cold spells!). Spring brings that same feeling in my heart that anything is possible. I’ve felt this same thing since I was a child. It’s more a time of new beginnings than New Years

911Butterflies are back 😊

3/26/24

912 Talking to Kellie last night. I sure miss her but her voice made me so happy!

913 Going to the gym. Actually getting there is so hard, but once there I’m happy, then afterwards I feel so good.

914 New couches.  Now that they are here, I realize how ratty the leather couch looked, and how much more comfortable these are.

3/27/24

915 Sam’s job at Taco Mac

916 Doing a Bible study with Sam

4/10/24

917 Sam and Dylan are ok after the car accident.

918 Ali’s new job at Red Robin. Praying her first day goes well.

4/11/24

919 The Lord kept us safe in the storm

920 The Lord kept the baby birds safe. I’m impressed that the nest held on those winds!

921 Bob is having time with his family

4/13/24

922 proud of the “lipstick on a pig” that I did in the basement kitchen

923 Bob comes home today!

One Thousand Gifts (896 - 904)

 3/4/24

896 Helping Ben long distance to make food

897 Those silly little squirrels and how much Ali loves them

898 More frequent glimpses of life as empty nesters as the girls are out living their lives more often.

3/5/24

899 Heaven started her first job at CFA

900 My hubby, who drops everything to come rescue me when the car died.

901 Aaaand he didn’t get angry or frustrated (I’m sure he was, he just didn’t show it)

3/9/24

902 One of the squirrels died, but thankful he was warm and loved until the end.

903 Birds nesting right outside my living room window where I get to watch them go from egg to adult!

904 Trees are starting to bud out. Spring is springing!

One Thousand Gift (886 - 895)

886  Bob and his movie lines. And the fact that I get each and every one of them. 

887  25 years of marriage.  It hasn’t always been easy but I’m so thankful we both         

        dug our heels in through the hard times.

2/27/24

888. The smell of rain

889. Warmer temperatures 

890 Chatting with a friend

2/28/24

891. Gray days

892. Reading the account of the Israelites rebellion and disbelief as they                          wandered. Their mistakes helps to bolster my faith.

893. The early pink blossoms of those beautiful trees that seem to be everywhere here.

3/1/24

894. Remembering and missing Kristen on her birthday.

895. Ali’s soft heart in rescuing 2 orphaned baby squirrels. She named them Twig and Berry.

One Thousand Gifts (878. - 885)

 10/2022

878 Heaven has many good friends

879 The kittens I didn’t want but now make me smile everyday 

880 Autumn colors on the trees

11/6/22

881 My coffee cup that Kellie gave me. It’s my favorite and I think of her every time I use it. It’s a little chipped now but I still love it.

882 The leaves raining down

883 My morning quiet time 

2/25/24

884 New church (Victory).

885 Saturday night services

886Standing date night with Bob every Saturday 

887 Heaven’s first job. I’m so proud of her. This is such a scary part of growing up.

888 My annoying animals. The way they climb all over me. 

889 Ali is driving.  Still scary for me when she drives away in my car but I love this next step toward adulthood for her.

890 Friendship with Crystal. Our Bible studies together. 

One Thousand Gifts (861 - 877)

 2020

861 Millie joined our family.  Not sure this is a good thing. She is VERY vocal and she hates everyone but Ali.

862 Staying healthy during the pandemic 

863 A slower pace to life

864 Chelsea and Heaven only had a mild case and no one else got it

865 Bob works from home

866 Chelsea was accepted into YWAM for the fall

2021

867 Bob gets to work from home permanently 

868 We get to move!

869 Found a house in Georgia

870 Offer was accepted

871 Safe, even somewhat fun, trip across country

872 Green!!!!

873 Rain!!!!

874 My hair stopped falling out….mostly

875 Loving my new town

876 Love my new home

877 Heaven chose to stay home for school

One Thousand Gifts (841 - 860)

 ALOT has changed in the 5 years since that last post.  A lifetime of changes - good and bad.  That’s life, right? I’ve still been keeping my list of gifts (sporadically) in the notes app on my phone but I’m transferring them here now. Unfortunately, there are very few pictures. 

So finishing up 2019….

841. Canadian geese - they make me think of dad

842 The adorable white, fluffy dogs I saw on my walk today

843 A cool breeze on a warm day

844 An afternoon nap

845 Laughing with my husband - seems like a rare thing these days.

846 The softest part of my dog’s ear 

847 The way my dogs look at me with absolute love and trust (In reality they probably just want food )

848 The silly selfie that my youngest put as Lock Screen on my phone. Makes me smile every time I look at it.

849 Lunch with my estranged son.  It hurt to see him leave again but maybe communication can begin.

850 My C-Bug called me when she was feeling bad and needed to talk. Out of all the people she could have dialed, she chose me. ❤️

851 Helping hubby put up Christmas lights

852 The peanuts tree skirt that hubby surprised me with

853 Seeing my Boo with one of her bffs. Such a sweet and healthy friendship.

854 Rocking out to music from back in the day - fun memories!

855 Church  - Especially when I don’t feel like going

856 My prodigal boy is coming home!

857 My hubby who usually does our laundry ❤️

858 A lazy, relaxing Sunday

859 11/2019 Remembering Dad on his birthday.  He would have been 83. Miss him and mom so much.

860 Sweet note that Boo left on the window

One a Thousand Gifts (831 - 840)

831  My boy is graduating this year! I have no doubt he will accomplish great things. His determination, love for Jesus and work ethic are amazing!

832.  Softball queen got her first job. She didn’t want to give me a picture.  😊 Now she comes home smelling like cookies!

833.  When dad was alive, he would often say that someone was smarter than the average bear. (A yogi bear reference). Sometimes it was said with admiration, sometimes with sarcasm.  I haven’t heard that phrase in about 5 years.  When my sister came to visit about a year ago, she brought me my mom’s old hope chest. I placed it in the hallway and went on with life.  A few weeks ago I opened the lid for the first time. I expected it to be empty but I found this shirt inside all folded nice and neat! What a wonderful surprise that brought so many happy memories of my dad. 

834.  Yet another beautiful reminder that God is still here and still in control.

835.