Recently, I read a book by Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, of her walk through gratitude towards joy. She is a lyrical writer, well read, and earthy. I'd recommend the book, though the end of it was heavy in the bearing.
Anyhoo, reading One Thousand Gifts gave me the idea to launch my own list of "1,000 Happiness-es or 1,000 Thankfuls."
Then yesterday, I thought about posting the list as an ongoing blog – one that would invite you – friends – into the wandering conversation.* I wrote "wandering" because it is true that "all who wander are not lost" and this conversation is for us – the wanderers, misfits, beauty queens, dunce-cap-wearing geniuses, and seekers.
Add your voice and insight to the conversation. Share the love. You may bring life to another in the posting of your days' gifts. And before we begin, I'm going to add the verse that is in the front of my book (see photo above): Psalm 63:5 "My soul shall be satisfied…and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips."
1. pink of a geranium that made it from Kansas through winter 12.10.11
2. realizing I don't turn my friends or cares over to God – I TURN TO HIM & he guides me home like a dad telling his scared kiddo, "Don't look down. Watch me. Look at my eyes. I've got you."
3. Time people took to create a great event (& penguin olives for the Adventures in Missions Christmas party)
4. Savoring a $4 treasure of Americana inside of a book, Americans at Home
5. Something risky that worked
6. wind chimes & train whistles and birds that sound of home
7. Sparklies!
8. "Christmas Lights" surprises
9. God- when you speak, heal, release, redeem, restore, & refresh your kids
10. fuzzy curl of a warm one-eyed cat in the hollow of my sleeping self
11. A story of God's faithfulness on a drive when we got to J's bank with NO TIME to spare
13. How & what will I be emptied today? Ann Voskamps, 1,000 gifts, p.85
14. Joyful birdsong on a warm December day. Thank you.
15. Fresh tears during "It's a Wonderful Life"
17. "God is always good and I am always loved." & "Take the pain that is given; give thanks for it and transform it into joy that fulfills all emptiness." A.V. p.100
18. Eucharisteo
charis: grace
Eucharisteo: thanksgiving
chara: joy
19. The honey of a genteel older southern matriarch's drawl, "Now come here and give me a hug" and giggling white-haired women
20. "As the surgeon would cut open my son's finger to heal him, so God shooses to cut into my ungrateful heart to make me whole." A.V.
21. Thank you that I have laughed and known laughter & have the crinkly eyes to prove it
22. The horrible times, those abusive years and desperate moments may have scarred, but they did not last. You heal all things. Amen.
23. The sweet face and curly tail of a fuzzy one-eyed allergen when I'm crying.
24. That I made it to the gas station.
25. Tasty Tasty morning coffee
26. nap in own bed
27. peace rolling in like a fog in the valley
28. miracles yet to be seen & known
29. bills paid
30. free falling into God's grace (ref: last scene of Sherlock Holmes 2)
31. Meeting Kirk, the checker, at Publix: quiet, kind, & using a walker far too soon for his age
32. Thank you for ReportWatch.net
33. A starry night walk with friends & dinner with wine, a comfy red floor, and an old movie (White Christmas)
34. Hot coffee on a cold day
35. Safe driving & conversation
36. Eventually NO RAIN on the road
37. Made it – did not end up with FogHorn Leghorn in my windshield outside of Joplin
38. Madi being nearby & Kenan on his way
39. Seeing Kenan tomorrow & maybe Rhonda
40. Hummable Christmas carols
41. Kansas wind refreshing my face (cold & biting though)
42. Dance party in the Vibe with the kids on the way to Lawrence
43. Quiet Time 12.24.2011
44. dog hanging out of car in Emporia
45. Early a.m. climbing on Mimi & Moe's bed with the kids, giggling & goofiness & Mrs. Beasley's creepiness
46. Wide expansive sky
47. roadtrips in good company
48. Meeting Madi's Zach
49. "We know most days will be ordinary days"
50. "Focus not on the worlds tragedies, but on the world's hope"
51.. Popcorn & Cranberry garlands at the Coffee House on Cherry Street, Tulsa, OK
52. A quiet moment in shorts wrapped in a blanket in a pink-sky morning (Tulsa, 12. 30.2011)
53. A good day with a new friend & Plan B Chihuly…getting chased off 3rd floor like teenagers!
54. Birdsong in the first morning of the new year.
55. Sharing an end of the road hotdog with Paul
56. Sunrise & skies over the wide open road (prairies)
57. Finding a container of frozen delicious homemade soup for lunch
58. Hearing from Madi & Kenan during the day
59. Reading the interview of Frosty Troy, editor of the Oklahoma Observer, in the OKC magazine
60. Clean sun & air fluffed sheets & comforter & pillows in mid-winter
61. Flannel sheets fresh on an aired out bed 01.02.2012
62. "God will provide rain for the seeds you sow." Isaiah 30:23
63. Finally! Funky tights & stocking weather!
64. Not going as planned, but after a long dry spell, going better than hoped
65. Prayers offered in community
66. A Writing Feast
67. A little courage and an abundance of grace given
68. Reading Luke 10 in the Message & seeing how God's gift to us in Jesus' prayer as he thanks his dad for giving a peek of his power through "innocent newcomers" – us. That's like a first time triathlete winning the Kona Ironman! How cool is that sort of grace?
69. Blind one-eyed cat that is more dog than diva.
70. Neighbor's old beater Ford truck that sounds like a train rumbling by when it fires up
71. Getting cheaper copies of "No Impact Man", "Amelie", and "Tree of Life" from a shuttering Blockbuster
72. Prompt to pray specifically for a friend – text them to find out how good God's timing is! Wowzer.
73. Message translation of Luke 11, "Father, reveal who you are. Set the world right. Keep us alive with 3 square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves & the devil."
74. The Far Side
75. Luke 11 (Message) "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in…This is war and there is no nuetral ground."
76. Luke 11 (Message), "All the same, the great triumph is not in your authoritiy over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for god, but what he does for you – that's the agenda for rejoicing!
77. John 1 (Message), "The Word became flesh & blood and moved into the neighborhood."
78. Orthotics that seem to be working! Thanks Johanna & Eddie in Aggieville's Cobblers Lane!
79. Chance to see Katie soon!
80. Hopes for a mid-winter feast of friends in Missouri
81. Lou's "one thing"
82. Babies born to loving families
83. Thoughts on the difference of "doing good" & "doing well"
84. Black beans & green salsa with Landsharks & lime in good company
85. Forgiveness and laughing that makes you snort!
86. cheekiness in unexpected places
87. IT guys who are patient and effective when computer crashes in the middle of preconference last minute details and defcon 4 shenanigans
88. serendipity…kindness…Chris Basden
89. Hearing the song "Amen". I've been hearing it all morning in this once-crusty heart, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn6w255CGkk
90. Zach made breakfast & lunch Friday for anyone at Adventures who was there to enjoy it. Curry…Breakfast…YUM! Sometimes good curry is an answered prayer.
91. Home frozen raspberries in mid-winter.
92. I am second, http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/#most-viewed.
94. When something written connects with another – totally humbles me & brings me to my knees
95. joy in unexpected places & new friendly laughing friends
96. getting things done
97. connecting with people i admire
98. freedom
99. Skype with the kids
100. Weekly calls with Mimi, my heroic sister, on the way home.
101. rain saturating a dry land; filling empty spaces
102. song silently sung during a long night
103. Busting out into a morning chorus of SPAM SPAM SPAM with the Adventures Serve Team, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8huXkSaL7o
104. Mamahope.org, "Stop the pity. Unlock the potential."
105. sun after a long rain…
NEXT STOP, 1,000 Happiness-es, Part 2.
*(Please note: any published blog by me is an invitation to you to join the conversation.)
Wow! What a list. I get more grateful just reading it.
Now put it to music like “Raindrops on Roses” and you’ll be humming it thruout the day.
You inspire me. I think everyone should do this, starting in grade school….and continuing into adulthood. Can you imagine how it would change??? Thank you for doing this.