A Cup Overflowing, 981-1000

Today's blog marks a sacred moment as the whole idea of counting, based upon Ann Voskamp's challenge in her bestseller, One Thousand Gifts, was to reach 1000. As you will see, I made my goal. It was a solemn juncture on December 15, 2013 as I carefully wrote "1000" in my journal. I waited to pen anything on the line because I wanted what came next to sum it all up. It had to be special. It had to capture my life. .... And, what I thought would be the most difficult journal entry to date, was actually the easiest thing I have ever written.

#981  favorite books and getting to read them over and over and over again

#982  a daughter-in-love's offer to help get a Christmas tree

#983  a first duet with my grandson

#984  the beginning of Advent -- and the anticipation that precedes it

#985  a grandmother's first drawing by her first grandchild

#986  Advent prayer

#987  for my comfy recliner that has become a sanctuary (post surgery)

#988  a daughter-in-love who gives up a Saturday to help me decorate for Christmas

#989  White Santa Christmas ice cream

#990  a huddle of praying "Tigers"

#991  running into my dearest friend Vicki at Barnes and Noble on a Sunday afternoon ... such "a happy place" for us both

#992  Christmas candles that speak of the Light of the World

#993  staying in my pajamas until noon ... and not feeling guilty about it

#994  a UPS order waiting for me at the door first thing -- and the books within

#995  a cat crouched in wait

#996  bare trees and exposed nests

#997  fruit from Mrs. Ann ... Mrs. Ann Smith was the pianist at the Presbyterian Church for decades. Now blind, she sits on the 5th row and blesses this pianist with her encouragement in the form of fresh oranges and grapefruits 

#998  a Chick-fil-a peppermint chocolate-chip milkshake and my husband who made it happen    

#999  the peace and presence of Christ on this 3rd Sunday in Advent

#1000  GOD'S GRACE ... Yes, I swim in it

A Cup Overflowing, 961-980

I'm still counting. In fact, my gratitude journal says "1366." But as I look over the following list, I realize that I'm almost a year behind in blogging them. However, as I approach that year mark, I'm reminded once again of God's faithfulness and presence during those days of surgery, recuperation, and wholeness. I remain so thankful for ...

#961  peace that passes understanding

#962  my daddy's gift of presence ... yes, in the day's following my surgery, I would awake to find my daddy just sitting in the chair in my bedroom

#963  a husband committed to the "for better or worse" ... and I do mean worse

#964  a strong leg to hang on to

#965  a mother's touch

#966  meals unending and friends and family who don't let us go hungry

#967  God's presence in the hard places

#968  His manifold grace

#969  the first walk outside -- all the way to the privet and back

#970  the chimes that have played music and the feeling that I'm being sung over

#971  plumbing that works

#972  silence

#973  my mom's whole wheat biscuits -- buttered and toasted for breakfast

#974  two weeks post surgery and a good post-op visit complete with color

#975  a daddy's phone call

#976  Gabe's gift of presence ... he found his place right next to my bed and held vigilance

#977  a cold November morning and the ability -- luxury -- to stay inside and go slow

#978  simplistic beauty -- wheat in an earthen vessel

#979  Cathy and Dick's visit 

#980  having all my children home at one time and the 22 feet under the Thanksgiving table

I count it all joy ...

A Cup Overflowing, 941-960

"The man who forgets to be thankful 
has fallen asleep in life." 

Robert Louis Stevenson

#941  a caring and kind nurse-practitioner: Julie Conway

#942  homemade applesauce made just for me by my #1 girl

#943  Debra Willis and the way she is always so thoughtful in the small stuff -- which really isn't small at all

#944  the sun bearing down on my face on a cool November afternoon

#945  a skittish squirrel with a large acorn in his mouth

#946  that Jesus welcomes sinners (Luke 15)

#947  my pastor Don Caulley calling to pray 

#948  both a husband and a friend driving me to get haircuts

#949  a surrogate daughter cleaning my house for me

#950  for Hope, Ruby and Tara -- pre-op angels

#951  a day slap-filled with gifts from my Father

#952  warm milk and honey ... at midnight

#953  silence

#954  a restful night

#955  that I can actually FEEL the prayers of the saints

#956  for all that God is teaching me about the Body of Christ

#957  for the skill of a surgeon's hands

Prepped and ready to go

#958  a prayer list -- and each request ultimately answered

#959  a daughter's care and joy

#960  and Adrianne -- the best little nursemaid God could have sent

Entertaining those in the waiting room, I'm sure,
with a shameless selfie on MY phone

Wake up! Laugh! And count...

A Cup Overflowing, 921-940

When I look back over my life's journey, I can now see that things I once thought hindrances were actually gifts. Those things and situations (people included) which I thought inhibited my growth often turned out to be avenues to press me in closer. Is there any recourse other than thanksgiving?

#921  a cool night ride on the Agri-Lift with my man

#922  clouds ... and their amazing pattern and beauty

#923  that God is expressed through the whole realm of nature as witnessed at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Atlanta -- including a bald eagle circling overhead

#924  hayride with my favorite little man

Burt's Pumpkin Farm

#925  apple season and a trip to Merciers

#926  the way little boys love trains 

#927  learning to live "slow"

Blue Ridge, GA

#928  162 years of friendship

Jeannie, Cathy (mother of the bride), me

#929  bed linens fresh from the dryer

#930  a long-awaited phone call

#931  cutest little Spiderman this side of Comic Con

#932  a cross in a doctor's office window that says, "I've gone before you."

#933  a husband by my side

#934  warm water and a good soak

#935  the journey and the gift of pain

#936  cookies left at the door that lets me know someone is thinking of me ... and cares -- this someone being Mary Ann Weik

#937  a groom's face when he kisses his bride for the first time ... sweeter than honey

#938  grace to make it through

#939  accompanying my brother Thomas singing The Lord's Prayer

#940  leg massages

Pure grace....

A Cup Overflowing, 901-920

It has been said that when we give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, we make a place for God to grow within us. Isn't that a lovely thought?

#901  the creaking of a boat tied to the harbor

#902  a canine companion

#903  morning breakthrough

#904  blue

#905  thousands of birds taking to the morning sky above the Trent River -- and then there were none

#906  mid-morning snack ... the best carrot-raisin muffin ever

#907  moss-laden branches

#908  the weight of God felt on the grounds of Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern, NC

#909  new friends

#910  3 days of Sabbath

#911  one shaded parking space -- and it was available

#912  a big, fat cardinal sitting on my deck rail announcing that winter is coming

#913  that God controls the present, uncontrollable moments

#914  pine "helicopters" spiraling downward through the air

#915  sirens that break morning's symphony

#916  unexpected joys -- getting to take Jude (and his parents) to the parade and the GA National Fair!

#917  Sunday morning evidence that a little boy was here the night before

#918  my Daddy (83 years old today -- Oct. 8)

#919  that God is in the business of tearing down idols

#920  an evening spent with my favorite daughter = pure joy

Ordinary moments turned holy because the heart took notice...

A Cup Overflowing, 881-900

It has been months since I've posted my gratitude list. But I'm still counting. These particular numberings go all the way back to September of 2013. But in order to stay faithful to the task of counting to 1000 -- and recording them -- I list them now.

#881 early morning propped up in bed with a cup of coffee in my hand and the first sounds of the day awakening outside my window

#882  that God directs us in our praying

#883  a little boy re-united with his Fred (Yes, Fred was misplaced in Wal-Mart. How could we have ever had another nap time? But after much searching and a lot of prayer, we found him tucked safely on an end shelf. Whew!)

#884 the sound of geese on an early Friday morning

#885  long conversations with my middle child while the rest of the house sleeps ... and the way God gifts him with wisdom

#886  "at home" in Bible study once again with 29 wonderful women

#887  Jude's first boat ride

#888  a tinge of fall in the air that allows me to open the window to early morning

#889  bedtime and a new book: David and Goliath!

#890  quality time spent with my best girl

#891  finding a "broom fairy" had come and gone (undercover), leaving my front porch clear of cobwebs

#892  a hand on the back

#893  a new screened door

#894  a shade opened

#895  a Tinker Bell piano student

#896  first cotton of the season

#897  my husband next to me in church

#898  a steeple-dotted horizon

#899  morning quiet places

#900  an evening walk ... and a host of ducks

Just ordinary moments turned holy because the heart noticed ...

A Cup Overflowing, 861-880

Contrary to what it may appear from the lack of postings, I have in no way fallen off the gift-counting bandwagon.  In fact, not only did I hit #1000 in mid December, last week I passed the 1,100 mark. But I do want to be faithful to my posting of them, and thus I continue...

#861  homemade strawberry cream pie

#862  fresh pears picked from a tree my grandfather planted decades (if not a century) ago

#863  fig season ... complete with beautiful beetles

#864  summer's last attempt at green

#865  rays of hope in difficult seasons

#866  a "light" rain

#867  generations

#868  that during hard seasons, God's grace is enough and His power is fulfilled -- 2 Cor. 12:9

#869  for the consolation God brings through nature's waking -- the morning's sun, the bird's song, the cicada's humming, the squirrel's play, the tree's green

#870  a reuniting after a season apart

#871  a small sparrow braving breakfast in the rain

#872  a glistening web

#873  random outdoor church service under the shade of an oak

#874  living in a small town

#875  experiencing much needed Sunday community while standing in line for lunch

#876  morning light high in the pines

#877  that I said "yes" 35 years ago

#878  hearing "G-Nan!" again after such a long span of not

#879  rainbows -- does anyone ever tire of such?

#880  a break in the storm -- and light shining forth

Just ordinary moments .... all worth counting.