Sunday, February 5, 2012

The January Joy Dare

Last year I read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I really feel like it was a huge catalyst in my continually growing relationship with Christ. The premise is counting all your blessing and gifts from God from the simple thing like the flip of your child's hair to new jobs and answered prayers. I have her app on my iPad and I made a weak attempt last year on the blog to count to one thousand. For 2012 she is setting up a monthly dare on her blog. You count just three gifts a day in a given format. I am going to take the challenge and post each month's blessings.

Here is January:

1st- 3 things you about yourself you were grateful for.....

1. Jesus in me 2. patience in traffic and in line 3. mothering

2nd- A gift outside, inside and on a plate......

4. sunshine 5. photographs of my family and friends decorating my wall 6. cheesecake, creamy and yum

3rd- Three lines you overheard that were graces....

7. Noah's innocent prayers 8. Miller's laugh 9. Papa and Noah having a conversation

4th- one gift old, one gift new, one gift blue....

10. a candle in my Granny's mason drawer 11. new fun makeup 12. Noah's bright eyes

5th- Something you are reading, something you are making, something you are seeing...

13. How to Tuck in a Superhero 14. lots of casseroles to freeze 15. Adam's face

6th- One thing in your bag, your fridge, and your heart....

16. a matchbox car 17. prepared meals and leftovers 18. joy

7th- 3 graces from people you love.....

19. Adam's patience 20. unasked for hugs and kisses 21. generosity of our parents

8th- Light that caught your eye, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely....

22. sunshine pouring through the clouds 23. my hair looking healthy and long 24. sunlight and shadow in the foyer

9th- A gift in your hand, a gift you walked by, a gift you sat with.....

25. Miller's small hand 26. my neighborhood 27. Adam at dinner...ALONE

10th - A gift that is sour, a gift that is sweet, a gift that is just right.....

28. candy 29. chocolate kisses 30. God's timing in my life

11th - 3 yellow things that strike you as new mercy

31. cracked eggs in a frying pan 32. bright bright sunshine 33. new daffodils in bloom

12th- Something above you, something below you, something beside you....

34. bright blue sky 35. driving over the river 36. laughing running boys

13th- 3 noises you here

37. laughter 38. alarm clock 39. praise music

14th- 3 ways you glimpsed the grace of God

40. thing after thing about Adam's new job 41. the way His word speaks to me 42. opportunities to speak about His grace to others

15th- One thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared....

43. New shirt, flirty and cute 44. time 45. food with a good friend

16th- 3 ways you witnessed happiness today....

46. joy over play 47. laughs from little ones 48. attempt and pride over Miller's communication

17th- One gift that made you laugh, one gift that made you pray, one gift that made you quiet...

49. Noah's knock knock jokes 50. Miller's tantrum 51. Adam's love

18th- 3 gifts from God's word

52. Sermon on the Mount 53. the whole gift of James 54. "The Lord will fight for you. You only have to be still."

19th- A grace in the kitchen, a grace in the weather, a grace that might never have been....

55. the crockpot 56. 68 degree weather in January 57. hug from a struggling student

20th- 3 gifts you only saw close up.....

58. brown spot in Noah's eye 59. wreath on the front door 60. comfy desk chair at school

21st- One in the sky, one thing in your memory, one thing that is ugly beautiful

61. colors in a sunset 62. smile from a stranger 63. football

22nd- 3 gifts found in Christ

64, forgiveness 65. freedom 66. abundant life

23rd- One grace wrinkled, one grace smooth, one grace unfolded

67. My Granny's face 68. Miller's baby skin 69, the layer's of blessings in Adam's new job

24th- 3 things blue

70. Miller's eyes 71. Mr. Bears 72. bright sky

25th- one grace borrowed, one grace found, one grace inherited....

73. tent for camping in the backyard 74. lost shoe 75. love of God

26th- a gift before nine am, a gift before noon, a gift after dark

76. library time 77. healthy lunch 78. story times

27th- 3 gifts that might never have been

79. Noah 80. light in student's eyes 81. miracle babies that I love

28th - 3 graces found in your friends.....

82. creativity 83. wisdom 84. ways to relieve the stress

29th- a song heard, a soft word, a light seen

85. "You are good when there is nothing good in me" 86. "Don't let the school bugs bite" 87. light at the end of the tunnel

30th- 3 old things new

88. outfits 89. friendships 90. old frames for decorating

31st- A gift found on paper, in person, in a picture

91. note I found in my Bible 92. a undeserved compliment 93. joy captured on the faces of friends at the birth of a new baby


There they are! Looking forward to counting even more gifts from God this month. If you'd like to take the dare here is a link to the month's gift list.


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