New Year : 1000 Gifts

When it comes to life the critical thing is
whether you take things for granted
or take them with gratitude.

-G. K. Chesterton

A new year begins... and with a heart full, my list continues...

0750
Friends that feel like family.

0751
Beginning our fourth year of Dinner Club.

0752
Productive school planning sessions.

0753
Health.

0754
These past two weeks of restful vacation.

0755
Hours of imaginative play.


0756
Will's sweet compliments.

0757
Sunday morning muffins.

0758
My sweet, handmade, Christmas gift... smiling at me next to the kitchen sink.


0759
Vacuum cleaners.

0760
Mild winter days.

0761
My running trail clear of ice.

0762
New Year's Eve with good friends.

0763
My very talented friend bringing her calligraphy tools for Hannah to use... and spending so much time with her on New Year's Eve. And the next day, Hannah (still practicing)... "Mom, I REALLY want to be a calligrapher when I grow up."


0764
Cheers to the New Year! ... with sparking apple cider : )... and shrimp cocktail the kids all begged me to get at Whole Foods.

Prayer for the New Year

O Lord,

Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in Thy presence,
in Thy service, to Thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from Thee,
but may rely on Thy Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth Thy praise;
testify Thy love,
advance Thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbour,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me Thy grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.

May Thy fear by my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.

{from Valley of Vision}

Bible Reading Plans

Justin Taylor has a great post today highlighting several Bible Reading Plans.

For 2011, I plan to use the M’Cheyne One-Year Reading Plan along with D.A. Carson's For the Love of God, a daily devotional based on the M’Cheyne Bible-reading schedule. I have the book, but Carson's daily devotionals are available online at The Gospel Coalition - For the Love of God.


{happy new year, friends}

Just Lego-ing

I had to share Peter's proud moment. His first, all-by-myself, Lego creation...

Will stayed close to offer counsel if needed. : ) While on-call, Will created this weapon-equipped segway.
I hope to never see one of those zooming around DC.

Hannah, eager to see what all the fuss is about,
spent her birthday money on her own Lego set.

It's so quiet here with all this building. Now I should get back to my
year-end cleaning/organizing extravaganza.

Hope you all are enjoying this last week of the year!

25 : 25 {joy}

Hope you all had a joyous Christmas day.

See you in the New Year!
Jennifer

24 : 25 {shepherd}

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord
has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what
had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up
all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:15-16

{merry christmas, everyone}

23 : 25 {botanic garden}

A visit to the U.S. Botanic Garden holiday display and garden railway has become a yearly tradition for us.
Washington landmarks constructed entirely with natural materials.

My parents with the two that agree to photos (with the Lincoln Memorial).

Along the Garden Railway this year, there were world monuments...
Hagia Sophia was my favorite.

And right outside, the real thing... with the Wyoming-themed Capitol Christmas tree.