Abundance : 1000 Gifts

Coming off of a weekend full of family and remembering his abundant gifts,
my gift list continues...

0161
My parents. Here with us.

0162
The bustle of the grocery store Thanksgiving week.

0163
A cart full.

0164
Abundant food to nourish and enjoy.

0165
A Thanksgiving morning 10K.

0166
Our church's Thanksgiving worship service.

0167
Hearing the testimonies of His provision.

0168
Running with delight through the field of Christmas trees.

0169
Apple cider doughnuts.

0170
A deep inhale of cold, crisp air.

0171
Smoke rising from chimneys. That wonderful smell.

0172
Decorating the tree with my three exuberant children.

0173
Ornaments that remind us of years past.

0174
Lighting the first Advent candle. Beginning our Advent celebration.


Great is Thy Faithfulness...

Thanksgiving

O My God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing sense to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrow and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou are to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.



Praise and Thanksgiving from The Valley of Vision,
a collection of Puritan prayers arranged by Arthur Bennett

My Favorite Cookies

These cookies stay soft, freeze well, and look lovely stacked in cellophane bags. They are a holiday staple in our house. Simple and delicious.

Big Soft Ginger Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup butter
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup additional sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the 1 cup sugar. Add egg and molasses; beat well. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture.

Shape dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, using about 1 heaping tablespoon of dough for each. Roll balls in the additional sugar to coat. Place balls about 2 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350 degree oven about 10 minutes or until light brown and still puffed. (Do not overbake.) Cool cookies on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.

from Better Homes and Gardens, New Baking Book

Delight to Praise : 1000 Gifts

I think we delight to praise what we enjoy
because the praise not merely expresses
but completes the enjoyment;
it is its appointed consummation.

-C.S. Lewis, from his Reflections on the Psalms

Delighting in His gifts, my list goes on...

0152
Dancing in the kitchen with Hannah.

0153
Her love for the piano. The recital piece in process, filling our home with music.

0154
Our leaf piles at the curb. The wonderful husband who got them there. And the wonderful leaf-vacuum truck that takes them all away.

0155
Hot Chocolate. Daily.


0156
Simple toys.


0157
A walk to the library. Beauty along the way.


0158
Saturday evening soup. Delicious recipes shared.

0159
Time to get down on the floor and play. Just Peter and me.


0160
A fine art gallery of their own. Gathered. Created. Enjoyed.



Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise...

A Few Turkeys

Coffee-painted turkeys.
We used sharpie markers instead of paint for the red and yellow. Sprinkling the coffee painting with salt created a neat texture pattern.

Hannah likes her coffee a little stronger than Will's.

Peter's hand-print turkey...

and another little turkey... and F and G.

Clear November : 1000 Gifts

Wrapped up in His grace, my list of gifts continues...

0141
A slower season.

0142
Wrapped in blankets.

0143
Space heaters and books.


0144
Our dinner club. Many years of friendship around a table.

0145
Slow food.


0146
Lunch dates. Pizza you have to fold.


0147
When we can walk instead of drive.


0148
The brightness that comes when the last leaves fall.


0149
Quiet trees showing their beautiful frame.


0150
He crowns me with steadfast love. Psalm 103.

"...and the crown must be far more precious than if it were made of corruptible things, such as silver and gold; it is studded with gems of grace and lined with the velvet of lovingkindness; it is decked with the jewels of mercy, but made soft for the head to wear by a lining of tenderness." - C.H. Spurgeon

0151
And mercy. New every morning.



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Faithful : 1000 Gifts

I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

-Psalm 13:5-6


My gift list continues...

0128
His imagination.

0129
My gatherer. Needing to carry a beautiful river stone all the way home.


0130
Quiet, peaceful games.


0131
Just up from his nap snuggles.

0132
Baby showers.

0133
Warm homemade bread and butter.

0134
The things she will do for him.


0135
The children's choir. Sweet songs of praise.

0136
The quiet and constant falling of leaves.

0137
Walking beside another.

0138
Mourning with those that mourn.

0139
Prayers for a heart-weary friend. Perseverance and petition for all the saints.

0140
Pulling old prayer journals off the shelf. Looking back, remembering, seeing clearly His faithfulness.




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