day 177. 2015

6.29.2015

A Gift Small, Big, Just Right

1. Small Dumplings. I should say 20 small dumplings. The girl loves her dumplings!

2. A two hour patio sit talking and laughing with a friend.

3. My 16 year old becoming a man, Zach. He has always loved building with Legos. When he has down time or is watching a movie, he'll get out a box and put something amazing together. Last night he came and sat next to me to share something that he built. It is so cool! And just like he did when he was small in years and height, he explained each part and its purpose. My heart was exploding and I just wanted to squeeze him.

day 176. 2015

6.28.2015

3 Gifts Eaten

1. Steel cut oats with walnuts, blueberries and honey.

2. Turkey burger and spinach salad with dates, goat cheese and zucchini.

3. Tuna and avocado. It was so delicious.

Tonight our small group met at Shelter Gardens to enjoy the Missouri Symphony Orchestra. Oh how I wish I had some musical gift! I love the violin and the cello and have always wanted to play. I have dreams where I am playing the piano or a violin as if I am a true pianist or violinist. In the dream I'm aware of my true inability to play but I'm playing with ease and passion. Maybe it's a picture of heaven.

What a beautiful evening in the garden.

day 175. 2015

6.27.2015

3 Gifts Framed by a Frame

1. Rachel and I. It was taken while we stood in a Kansas prairie. We were gathered with beautiful women laughing and celebrating our unique beauty and one another. Burgundy Shoes  . . . Patty Griffin . . .  I smile just thinking about that evening.

2. Accidental wedding photo. One of my favorite pictures from our wedding was an accident. Our friend Tim took the photo as Todd whisked me in his arms and carried me through the doors of the church. The film had holes in it and when he developed the photos it looked like fireworks were going off around us.

3. Me and the girls. Next to our bed is a framed photo of me and four lovely women that we shared life with in Korea. They gave me this photo after our first year. Every Thursday we met for coffee and a late breakfast to love, encourage and pray with one another.

day 174. 2015

I'm back on schedule. It's nice to update the blog and have 5D back in my hands. 

My plan is to get back to pictures accompanying each daily post. 

3 Gifts in Fabric

1. Fresh clean sheets on a hot summer day . . .  cool on my skin.

2. I was on my walk/run today when the skies opened and the rains poured down. Soaking wet clothes and shoes=awesome! I had about a 1/2 mile home so I just kept running and smiling the whole way. When I got home the kids were concerned and were there to meet me at the garage. Seeing how much I had, they joined in.

3. Big pink. Sweet Lia still has her blankey. It hasn't been pink for years but the soft fabric still comforts her when she's stressed or tired.

day 172 & 173. 2015

6. 24.2015

day 172

A Gift in Water, in Words, in White

1. Swimming with friends . . . learning to dive, underwater flips, I'm a dolphin

2. words that bring life, encouragement and strength. Thankful for Phil's teaching today.

3. White fluffy puppy . . . needy but so cute.

6.25.2015

day 173

3 Gifts Found in Someone Older Than You

1. Steadfast faith.

2. Forgiveness and Grace.

3. Reminders that life is worth living and loving and serving.

day 170 & 171. 2015

6.22.2013

day 170

3 Gifts Difficult

1. Trusting

2. Waiting.

3. Resting.


6.23.2015

day 171

3 Gifts Found Around a Table

1. Laughter.

2. High and Lows of the Day.

3. Belonging.

day 168 & 169. 2015

6.20.2015

day 168

A Gift Bent, Beautiful, Loved

1. Swimmers bent over diving for colored rings.

2. Women gathered sharing their stories.

3. My friend Mattie. Mattie wrote and published a book, The Queen of Sheba. Today she had a book launch party surrounded by her family and friends. A whole lot of love and celebration.

6.21.2015

day 169

3 Gifts Found in Light

1. Warmth.

2. What's hidden is seen.

3. Shadows.

day 166 & 167. 2015

6.18.2015

day 166

3 Gifts from My Heavenly Father

1. He made a Way.

2. Always Faithful and True.

3. Provider


6.19.2015

day 167

3 Gifts in Serving

1. I let go of my own way to honor another.

2. I become aware of my own need.

3. Joy.

day 164 & 165. 2015

For the past week I have been writing my daily gifts in my journal. I have had not space to spend blogging and my camera, 5D, was still with Canon repair. Thankfully, 5D has returned and I am going to catch up on my entries.

6.16.2015

day 164

3 Gifts Moving

1. Hummingbird at the feeder.

2. Flicker of the flame in the candle.

3. the kids cleaning and vacuuming . . . this is truly a gift.

6,17.2015

day 165

3 Gifts in your Dad

1. Faithful.

2. Hard working

3. Quiet strength.

My Dad and Mom married when I was around 10 years old. He fell in love with my Mom and us three girls. Honestly, that always amazed me. He has loved and served us with quiet strength and faithfulness. Thankful.

day 163. 2015

3 Gifts from God's Word

1. Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear?

2. John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

3. Isaiah 53:4

Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . .

day 162. 2015

3 Gifts Unexpected, Unwanted, Unlikely

1. I haven't left our house for 5 days.

2. I have not felt well for 3 days. Though I don't want to be sick, the rest has been a gift.

3. It's unlikely that this house full of boy-men won't eat and drink everything that's put in front of them. What a gift to have Z and his friends hanging out watching basketball, eating snacks and laughing. 

day 161. 2015

06.13.2015

3 Gifts Smelled

1. Homemade salsa.

2. English Breakfast with honey.

3. Lilac blooms.

day 160. 2015

06.12.2015

3 Gifts Full

1. The veggie crisper in our refrigerator. Fresh veggies from Farmer Deb. Radishes, onions, lettuce, broccoli.

2. The flowers that I planted in pots. Full and growing.

3. GRACE.

day 158 & 159. 2015

06.10.2015

Day 158

A Gift at 8AM, 12PM. 2PM

1. Sleep. I slept until 9:00

2. Laundry. Washing our camping, playing in the sand clothes.

3. Nap. Vacation hangover.

06.11.2015

Day 159

3 Gifts Painted

1. The world map above our bed.

2. You Make a Way Prints by Joelle for the youth trip to Colorado.

3. The pieces of calligraphy that hang in our living room. Stories of friendships, adventures and generosity.

day 157. 2015

06.09.2015

3 Gifts That Really Made You Smile

1. Making our flight in Seattle. It was questionable. My attitude was also questionable.

2. When I apologized for my attitude my sweet Darlin gave me his cute smile that he does when he's pleased and said, "It's ok. It all worked out." 

3. Dinner with Rachel and Loren. It was a short sweet hour but a gift to share a meal with people we love after another long travel day.

day 156. 2015

6.08.2015

3 Gifts from the Final Day of Vacation

1. Exploring the Public Market in Downtown Seattle with an old friend, Christina and her sweet baby girl.

2. A short but sweet visit with Melissa and family. They moved to Seattle two weeks ago from COMO.

3. The Losee Home. Two sweet nights in their home on the Pugent Sound. We grilled scallops that we bought from the market and then walked to the shore to light our lantern to release across the Sound. Absolutely perfect final night.

day 154 & 155. 2015

06.06.2015

San Juan Islands, WA

3 Gifts from this Day

1. Awakened to a chorus of toads, roosters and birds.

2. Paddle boats, row boats, long boards on the water with friends.

3. The circle of friendship, love, and belonging surrounding Josh and Kel as the married today.

06.07.2015

3 Gifts in what I'm Reading

1. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power of God and not of us. I Cor. 4:7

2. "Dear old world," she murmered, "You are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you!" Anne of Green Gables

3. . . .  friendly signpost from a heavenly Father who is seeking to love me through each directive so that I might experience His very full and forever love. Gospel Primer

Bonus
4. Dinner at Delancey with Charissa, Joy, Karin, Bestin and the family.

day 153. 2015

06.05.2015

A Gift of PEACE, of HOPE, of LOVE

1. 1049. Aaron and Julie's home.

2. My HOPE that Jesus makes all things new. He mends, heals and restores.

3. Treasured friendships from a sweet and beautiful season in our lives. Korea 5 year reunion.

day 152. 2015

3 Gifts Found in Christ

1. Acceptance.

2. No Guilt in Life, No Fear in Death, this is the Power of Christ in me . . .

3. Kindness. He is kind and tender and fierce and strong and mighty.

A very long travel day. Only a few hiccups along the way but considering the length of travel and extreme tiredness we only had a few attitudes.

COMO--KC--LA--SEATTLE

We stayed at Kel's friends Julie and Aaron's home. What a gift to have a sweet and comfortable place to stay after such a long day. Grateful.

day 151. 2015

3 Gifts from Today's Conversations

1. Breakfast with my friend, Rie. Thankful for years of friendship, healing, restoration and hope.

2. Gathered with a group of friends to discuss meals for the upcoming youth trip to Colorado. I love when people gather to collaborate and serve. These ladies are servants and lovers of Jesus and people.

3. Conversation and prayer with Hope. A few tears and laughter and hugs and a whole lot of celebration for she and Brian as they head to Australia.

I mailed my camera off today. That was a little scary to entrust Zach, the UPS guy, with my sweet little 5D. He assured me that he would take good care of packing it and getting it sent off.

Tomorrow we head West. It feels like a dream.

day 151. 2015

3 Gifts Funny

1. Lia passed me a note today and it read, "I love CAKE!"

2. Awkward teenage moments. Too many to name or describe. They are funny and sweet and awkward.

3. Fanning myself . . . all the time! Every thirty minutes or less I have an intense wave of heat or the feeling of fire rush over me. It's only funny because I don't feel old enough to have hot flashes with this intensity. I need to carry a personal fine or ice pack with me.

day 150. 2015

3 Gifts Orange

1. Cuties. Those small, delicious, juicy oranges. They bring me back to little trucks lined on the streets in Korea.

2. One of my former students favorite color is orange. Backpack, shoes, shirts . . . all orange!

3. My flip-flops. I usually stick with the traditional black but this time I broke out and got a deep orange strap.

Only three days until we leave for our trip to Seattle. It feels like a dream. 

day 149. 2015

149 days x 3 Grace Gifts a day = 347 Grace Gifts

3 Gifts Given Today

1. A friend texted me the sweetest little note today. She told me I have the most beautiful hair. Seriously, it was the sweetest encouragement. I don't usually think of my hair as beautiful. Fun and easy maybe but not beautiful. Beauty is typically associated with long flowing hair. Thank you sweet Rachel for making me feel warm and fuzzy and beautiful today.

2. Another friend texted and offered me her Canon 5D for our upcoming trip to Seattle. I have been so sad about my broken camera and not having it for our trip. Thank you Amy for your generosity. Thank you, Canon for repairing and replacing the part for FREE.

3. DarIin. He is always serving and giving with kindness and patience. I want to be more like him.

I was thinking of today's treasure hunt from the view of how I have given today. I honestly couldn't think of what I had given. Perhaps the encouraging word or hug shared. Maybe the cheers for a friend who faced a fear today--a fear she bravely overcame. Maybe it was words to Zach that he can come to me in the middle of the night any time he needs to and I would be happy to help him (which happened the night before and my first reaction from my sleep wasn't very positive). Maybe the long conversation around our table tonight while sipping wine and eating Todd's fresh baked bread. It was communion--remembering, giving thanks, longing and waiting for more. "

Lia's Piano Recital was today. She has a love/hate relationship with piano recitals. She argued and fought and stressed about it all morning. As she waited for her moment she chewed on the corners of her piano book, looked at the program again and again and emphatically tld us this would be her last recital . . .EVER! When it was her turn she played strong and beautiful. Afterwards we walked to Sparky's for some celebratory ice cream and found this old piano sitting at the corner of 9th and Broadway. A sign was painted on the piano that read, "Play ME"--and so she did! 

The paradox of Lia. She is brave.