More Joy!

So here we are in November.  And I'm not even up to 500 yet. I don't think I'm going to make it to 1000 by December 31. I'm a little disappointed to not reach the goal, but I do not plan to stop. Looking for the joys in everyday life has been such a blessing that I can't imagine stopping. So I will celebrate when I get to 1000, but I do not plan to stop there. I will continue to look for the blessings in the everyday.

287. I have a reputation at work for not being a gossip
288. Starbucks coffee with Rocky
289. The awe of every fall morning, of the beautiful sun ruse, pink clouds and baby blue sky
290. The vibrantly colored leaves. The red contrast against the yellow
291. Dinner ready when I get home from work
292. Maggie's whispered I love you
293. Maggie wanting to snuggle "I just want to touch you."
294. Jessie's giggles with Papa
295. A fun work celebration
296. New paint in our office
297. Dinner out with friends
298. Laughing a silly things
299. A beautiful evening for a walk downtown
300. Fresh donuts
301. Watching a cattle drive through downtown Billings
302. The corn maze with Girl Scouts
303. Watching the girls enjoy the slide
304. Jessie telling me I'm pretty, she loves me, and singing in my ear
305. Fetch with Rusty in the morning
306. Quiet evening at home
307. Singing with the choir
308. Girl Scout leadership training & sharing ideas
309. The Girl Scout mission: courage, confidence & character
310. Watching Halloween shows with the girls
311. Maggie in costume 4 days before Halloween
312. Planning a Halloween themed supper
313. Going to Boo at the Zoo
314. Maggie & Ellie running together & Jessie playing on the playground
315. Jessie falling asleep on the way home
316. Snuggling with my girls
317. Breakfast in the kitchen while watching Treehouse of Horror
318. Halloween candy after breakfast
319. The courage & opportunity to speak up at work.
320. Maggie taking Jessie trick or treating
321. Jessie telling Rocky & me to kiss
322. The sounds of Jessie playing
323. All the Halloween parties!
324. The Girl Scouts bobbing for apples
325. The Girl Scouts in costume
326. Watching The Great Pumpkin and listening to the girls giggle
327. Jessie "getting" Halloween: saying trick or treat, thank you, hanging on to her bucket, pouring out her candy when we got home
328. The girls' excitement when a trick or Treater would come to the door
329. The full moon hidden by clouds making the night extra "spooky"
330. Maggie singing in the shower
331. Jessie's laughter when she licks someone and says "I lick you me!"
332. Andre memories if when Maggie used to do the same
333. The attempt to imprint each girl into my memory -- their voice, their smell, the feel of their hand in mine
334. A quiet weekend to look forward to.
335. Jessie asking to watch the "Panna an a sneek!" (Kung Fu Panda)

The Many Parties of Halloween 2012

Party #1, Boo at the Zoo with Ellie

Sunday, it was off to the church!  Jessie feel asleep before we left, so just Maggie & Mom went to the church party.

On Monday, we had our Girl Scout party.  Maggie & Tori helped make the punch.

Tonight we went Trick or Treating in the neighborhood.  It didn’t take Jessie long to figure out going to another house meant more “canny.”

 

She spread it out on the window sill as soon as we walked in the door!

 

Pumpkin carving

After our trip to the pumpkin patch ended in a hail storm that blew in before we could pick out our pumpkins, we made an impromptu trip to Wal-Mart today to get our pumpkins. Both girls were so excited! Maggie picked out designs for both and even carved most of hers!!

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#JoyDare

I'm getting closer to the end of the year and while I'm getting closer, I'm not quite as far along in my list as I expected to be able to hit 1000 gifts by December 31.  Perhaps that's what I will be doing on December 31: looking back on 2012 for the gifts I may have missed.

It is interesting what this is doing to my train of thought.  I was feeling frustrated at work earlier, so I made myself come up with 4 gifts in my job.  I didn't allow myself to go on to anything else until I completed that task.  Coming up with just 4 small things was easy.  And that's really the point of this exercise.  To make seeing the gifts easier.

226. Jessie pooped on the potty!


227. Jessie wanting to tell Grandma that she pooped on the potty

228. Shiraz!

229. Jessie picking out her own clothes

230. A picture of the 4 babies, who aren’t babies anymore!

231. Celebrating another 2 year old’s birthday (happy birthday John!)

232. Maggie buying her own Halloween costume

233. Onions carmelizing, soaking up flavor

234. Smell of beef roasting

235. A crockpot with a timer

236. Chicken soup & grilled cheese

237. Blue skies against a snowy field

238. The first snow fall, so pretty, but quickly gone

239. #joydare: 3 gifts baked, stirred, eaten: Euchrist, the bread, my soul, my mind

240. My beautiful daughters

241. Finally finishing reading “One Thousand Gifts” (the book that started this all)

242. Picking up with the Psalms online study

243. Psalm 41:9 Though people may betray me, God never will.

244. A prayer group for Rocky

245. Lunch with Diane at Uberbrew

246. Smell of pine which can take me back instantly to summer camp

247. 9 years of marriage

248. Rocky putting the phone charger in my car

249. Watching Rocky play with the girls

250. A husband with a sense of humor

251. Knowing my husband will be there when I get home.

252. That even in the exasperating times, he still chooses to love me.

253. Time in my prayer journal

254. A cool, foggy morning

255. Getting out the good china, Grandma’s chine, for dinner

256. God has saved the best for NOW

257. Dinner with Tim & Diane

258. An evening with our church group, times too far and few between

259. Pumpkin bread

260. An adorable picture of Jessie, John & Eli

261. Lots of laughter with a new game

262. Jessie’s first haircut

263. Jessie playing with Eli & 2 year old giggles

264. Maggie watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and knowing all the songs

265. A cool afternoon with the windows open

266. Playing Battleship on the iPad

267. Playing Life with Maggie

268. Making the video of Jessie’s first haircut

269. Social media, the ability to share Jessie’s and Maggie’s milestones with everyone in an instant

270. Watching the Avengers, again.

271. Great wine!

272. Taking the Girl Scouts to Scott’s to learn about bees

273. Scott’s wonderful ability to interact with the girls

274. Sweet, golden, candy-like honey

275. Maggie’s delight in the honey

276. The girls playing in the leaves, 7 year old laughter

277. Family photos

278. Jessie’s determination to do things for herself, putting on her own clothes

279. Blowing kisses

280. Jessie wanting to give dog treats to Rusty

281. Maggie wanting to take on more responsibility

282. In laws coming to visit!!

283. Work: given responsibility over the recruitment ad budgets

284. Work: job scope has expanded beyond recruitment

285. Work: Flexibility in work hours to be able to participate in Girl Scouts

286. Work: A manager who does care about me as a person.

John 2:10b

...but you have saved the best till now.

And He did. 

Happy Anniversary, Rocky.  I thank God for you every day; every day I choose to love you; thank you for choosing to love me each day.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the man’s heart,
But it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

A good thing to remember when I am struggling. My list of gifts continues.  We had 2 difficult weekends in September and I struggled with my list of gifts, but when I took the time to sit back and look I saw many gifts that I would have overlooked if I hadn’t sought them out.

181. Maggie reading “The 3 Bears” to Jessie
182. Watching Maggie find that one special item to purchase with her birthday money.
183. Making freezer meals.
184. Good friends we can call at 9 p.m. for help [Nikki bringing an overnight back to Maggie & me in the hospital]
185. The nurse taking time to wrap Maggie’s bear’s arm so it looked like her arm.
186. The OR staffing giving Maggie’s bear a bandage.
187. Nikki & Becca taking Jessie for the afternoon.
188. Kailey, Camille & Elle bringing Maggie a balloon, and her first smile of the afternoon.
189. All of the prayers for Maggie!
190. Dr. Hancock & the OR staff, such a quick & smooth operation!
191. Maggie’s good attitude during all of the waiting.
192. Maggie’s first smile after anesthesia.
193. Maggie’s fast healing.
194. Walking around the hospital with Jessie.
195. Modern medicine – going home only 6 hours after surgery!
196. Nikki bringing us meals.
197. Watching Maggie turn back into her old self.
198. Baking chocolate cupcakes for Maggie’s birthday
199. Listening to Maggie sing Beatle’s songs
200. Chuck E Cheese on a Monday evening [not many people there at all!]
201. Maggie & Ellie playing games at Chuck E Cheese and being happy for the other girl to win! [And the Manske’s being able to join us there at the last minute!]
202. Watching Jessie enjoy Chuck E Cheese
203. Maggie back to school only 2 days after surgery.
204. Maggie & Jessie playing so happily together.
205. Aspen trees just starting to turn yellow
206. Talking about Girl Scouts with Renee, a far away friend & planning stuff for the girls
207. Helping the Krieger’s by taking the kids for the morning to Saturday Live
208. Date night with my husband at Ales for Trails – and running into so many people!
209. Sunshine on the fall leaves
210. Pumpkin Spiced Frappacino!!
211. A walk with a co-worker
212. Maggie’s response to her teacher’s question “If I were Principal” “I would put up a sign that read ‘Fish Welcome’.”
213.  A cupcake BEFORE lunch
214. Lunch at the Burger Dive with Rocky
215. Clothes dried outside
216. The crunch of fallen leaves
217. Little girls with colored hair spray
218. Watching Jessie mimic Maggie
219. A surprise cookie!
220. A quiet weekend to look forward to
221. Trusting the Lord in the trying times. A calm that everything will be alright. God will provide for all we need.
222. My lilac bush, bright red and ready for all
223. Planning a puppy, person and parent play date
224. Compliment from my VP
225. SNOW!!!!