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Do you ever feel STUCK? In 2000, I began looking for answers to some tough questions in my life. I'd searched high & low and finally conceded to search the promises found in the Bible. Those promises have sustained & guided me through the loss of a parent, the struggle with anxiety & depression, the loss of a valued relationship and so much more! I've found joy amid the pain. And, I want to share it with you!

01 April 2014

2014 March ONE THOUSAND GIFTS #JoyDare

MARCH 2014 
One Thousand Gifts (by Ann Voskamp)
#1000Gifts #JoyDare


Buy book here...      

I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012...
I continued in 2013...
I'm now into 2014! 
GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS!

Today I find JOY in...

3/1/14 Sat
2350. was able to publish my February #JoyDare list on MARCH 1st - wooooohooooo!
hoping pride doesn't precede a fall
2351. grocery shopping & Dilly Bars from DQ
2352. surprised by the LOML with a nice dinner when I returned from shopping :)

3/2/14 Sun
2353. 2nd service & "FAMILY" at our church

2354. not getting the snow amount which was first forecasted!
2355. having my attitude "checked" by the Holy Spirit
(often not that enjoyable - but, always a blessing that God loves me that much)

3/3/14 Mon
2356. BIG SURPRISE when I went on this blog to insert my weekend's #JoyDares... I noticed there've been over a 1000 views on one of my posts?? Praying that eyes were drawn to Christ through it!
2357. writing, writing, writing
(probably should be cleaning, cleaning, cleaning)
times when I just don't know what to say to God
2358. benefit for Stripped Love

3/4/14 Tues
2359. my yearning for paradise
"My desire for Paradise is a good indication it exists." ~ CSLewis
"That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

2360. cell phones - I'm old enough to remember when long distance calls were expensive and rare
2361. surprise presents for both girls from Florida

 3/5/14 Wed
2362. the beginning of Lent

2363. confetti on the floor


3/6/14 Thurs
2365. solving a mystery!!
When you are a "nobody blogger" and you wake up one Monday morning to see over 1100 views of a recent blog post, you wonder what in the world happened here!?!?! Then, finally on Thursday you figure out that YOUR POST was one of the "Only the Good Stuff: Crazy Happy Multivitamins for Your Weekend" from the Ann Voskamp community, you say WOW... what a blessing & may God be glorified!

2366. the ugly beautiful - it's not always about me!
The Bible says, "in everything give thanks." Sometimes the toughest times & most horrendous situations bring about changes in us that would happen no other way OR bring us closer to those around us OR bring us closer to God. It's not being thankful FOR these things (in & of themselves) as much as acknowledging that good can come from everything if we are open to it.
2367. allowing myself to be one day late on Lent - sometimes grace is the only way to operate :)

3/7/14 Fri
2368. new found fun
2369. a blessing volunteering for Worship Arts at my church for almost 20 years now
2370. Art's subs & Netflix w/3 of my favorite loved ones :)

3/8/14 Sat
2371. YELLOW yolks - farm fresh eggs are da bomb!
2372. making our family room ready for our niece's social club meeting

2373. cousin time w/Aunt Bamber, Mommy & A.

3/9/14 Sun
2374. extra sleep in an attempt to catch this cold before it catches me!!
2375. our new normal

2376. an unexpected friend - who feels like a sister
"From where the sun rises to where the sun sets,
the name of the Lord should be praised."
Psalm 113:3
3/10/14 Mon
2377. when my kitchen & great room are relatively clean by 9am on a Monday... that's a #JoyDare for sure!!!

2378. someone is in a chill mood this morning
2379. Cheerwine & Goldfish after walking country roads!
a cold Cheerwine from a glass bottle & Goldfish
what a way to enjoy some time in the sun on the patio swing)
3/11/14 Tues
2380. being challenged to reflect Christ better
"As water reflects the face,
so one's life reflects the heart."
Proverbs 27:19 NIV
2381. working out w/weights

2382. back porch swingin'

3/12/14 Wed
2383. being renewed & reminded of God's faithfulness along life's path
Our daughter painted this to be auction off at a women's retreat
to benefit a ministry for women in sex trafficking & adult entertainment.
The theme of the retreat was REJUVENATE
2384. comfort food on a snow day in March

2385. snow on the ground (again... yuk!) and a fire in the fireplace (HOORAY!)

3/13/14 Thurs
2386. friends... for a long, long time
What made us friends in the long ago
When we first met?
Well, I think I know.
The best in me and the best in you
Hailed each other because they knew
That always and ever since time began
Our being friends was part of God's plan.
~ George Webster Douglas
2387. a Dilly bar from my sweet daughter :)
2388. lyrics like...
"When dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him, still." 
~ Fernando Ortego


3/14/14 Fri
2389. a walkabout on a very blustery day!

2390. the moon playing peekaboo behind the clouds
2391. holding a baby while she fell asleep under the stars...
quietly swinging on the back porch swing

3/15/14 Sat
2392. lazy morning before a full day
2393. yard work in a sun dress
2394. clean pillow cases

3/16/14 Sun
2395. writing notes of encouragement
2396. breakfast for dinner
2397. not wondering if 2 certain loved ones were safe at the end of a day
- unlike 1 year ago today

3/17/14 Mon
2398. Johnson's lavender baby lotion 
2399. new words like golly, golly, golly
(how our sweet little 14-month old calls the cat aka Sollie)
2400. a softer side of the LOML
as he embraces being A's PapaBear :)

3/18/14 Tues
2401. my hairdresser :) she's a Christian sister-friend
Today, I got to the root of all evil!
2402. Take One
2403. sit-down family dinner
(we've did this when the kids were younger all the time -- nice to be back to those days!)

3/19/14 Wed
2404. taking the long way home
Decided to take "the long way home" this morning
while a little one snored in the back seat.
Revisited on our our local cemeteries
for this pic :)
Click HERE for another post about taking the long way home :)

 2405. a quick photo shoot

2406. our nieces babysitting our g'baby
"Glasses never distracted from the true beauty of any woman."

3/20/14 Thurs
2407. the search for peace
"Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of God." ~ Author Unknown 
This picture was taken on New Smyrna Beach in August of 2009. I was walking on a broken foot!
2408. hearing words I've waited almost FIVE YEARS to hear
TODAY WAS A GLORY DAY!
2409. Aunt Bamber over for the evening

3/21/14 Fri
2412. reaching for goals
Our daughter's studio -
in full preparation mode for her
Senior Show :)
3/22/14 Sat
2413. fashion shows - from the comfort of my own bed :)

2414. loved ones visiting

2415. tangible reminders of when I was the young mommy :)

3/23/14 Sun
2416. Sunday morning excited to go to church & Sunday afternoon crashing for a nap

2417. a gift lovingly crafted by A's great-grandmother

 2418. lingering thoughts of God's faithfulness
while thinking back on this morning's sermon
great quote from Corrie ten Boom
used this morning at church 
3/24/14 Mon
 2420. encouragement from my day lillies

2421. fresh air and a brisk walk w/my neighbor (friend)

 3/25/14 Tues
2422. honest brokenness & stories of God's faithfulness shared among a small group of women
2423. paper party hats & teething babies - never a dull moment

2424. naming & proclaiming

3/26/14 Wed
2425. trapped under a 20-pounder

2426. seeking a newer world

2427. voting for something that matters -
Dove Harbor to receive 1 of 4 grants

3/27/14 Thurs
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOML :)
2428. early morning surprises for the birthday boy
2430. going to sleep with a heart that is spilling over with joy & thanksgiving

 3/28/14 Fri
2431. looking for things to fill a 14-month old's Easter Basket
2432. finding time to volunteer for our Worship Arts ministry
while a little one naps
2433. the constant reminder that God is working
in the good times & in the bad

 3/29/14 Sat
2434. literally woken up (for the second time, mind you) with breakfast in bed delivered by the LOML - I should have taken a picture but it was gobbled up too quickly!
2435. saved Big Bunnies at Bernard's
(back story - when our kids were little, they sang Menard's theme song, "Save big money at Menard's as SAVE BIG BUNNIES AT BERNARD'S. All these years later we all think of that when we shop at Menard's)
DeeDee tried to get Ayla to ask PapaBear to buy these
for the back patio. He didn't fall for it 
2436. a washer & dryer
(to clean up all the throw-up laundry from our little 14-month old.
WOW, that was a surprise!)

 3/30/14 Sun
2437. sermon notes from a friend
(missed church due to 3am clean-up & laundry)
2438. reminder that even though you have winter into late March - you should take the outdoor wreaths down before the birds build nests in them!!

2439. house cleaning from 6 to 10pm
Have I mentioned... Nehemiah 8:10!!!

 3/31/14 Mon


2441. my big pale white self!
(wow... my skin has missed the sun)
2442. contemplating lighting the house for April Fools tomorrow
- since all of our Christmas lights aren't down yet 
WHAT A WAY TO END THE LIST - HA HA!!

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