JULY 2014
One Thousand Gifts (by Ann Voskamp)
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!
I continued in 2013...
I'm now into 2014!
GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS!
Today I find JOY in...
7/1/14 Tues
2716. adapting my plans to meet her needs :)
2717. praise God... I'm legal now!
2718. taking after her MOMMY
 |
| It was a CRAZY LONG PROCESS... but, I finally got to the right person & am no longer "illegal" at Chautauqua... and, it did NOT cost me $4000 - like so many had told me it would! |
2718-BONUS. first outing OFF the property & then getting help putting away the groceries
7/2/14 Wed
7/2/14 Wed
2719. visiting with my friend from "stuckinindiana" at her homestead in Maple Springs, NY
2720. seeing places I've heard about for years - being a part of my friend's story for a day
2721. an evening walkabout with BOTH of my girls
7/3/14 Thurs
2722. visiting Debbie on Gebbie - possibly our home for week 7 of CHQ
2723. hugging the LOML - after 14 days of being away with him
2724. talking into the wee hours of the night & enjoying a top floor balcony to ourselves - which I rearranged before he got into town :)
7/4/14 Fri
****4th of July****
2725. passing out American flags to people we don't know
 |
| Here, Mister Man Whom We Do Not Know... take this American flag & wave it like you mean it! |
2726. experiencing special moments that God planned for me ages ago...
today that was celebrating the 4th of July with my accountability partner
& friend of 19 years
& friend of 19 years
 |
| I like to call this photo "Heads on Fire" since the LOML could NOT figure out how to step to the side before taking the pic so the fire would NOT be coming out of our heads |
2727. fireworks on the dock by the Athenaeum w/the LOML & our sweet little g-baby
7/5/14 Sat
2728. turtle rides
2729. spending all day with the LOML
 |
| This is Packard Manor in CHQ - 2 Packards sitting right outside it when the LOML & I walked by today |
2730. Madame Butterfly from the 3rd floor balcony of The Vera...
WITH THE LOML!!!!!!!
WITH THE LOML!!!!!!!
7/6/14 Sun
2731. loving our son's girlfriend... like she's our own daughter
2732. art in the park
2733. dinner with the Rosenthals & safe travels for the LOML
7/7/14 Mon
2734. clean laundry!!!!!!!
1st time in over 2 weeks :O
2735. Hey Squirrel! Hey Squirrel! Come here!! Come here!!
 |
| She pronounces it more like "sgirl" though :) |
7/8/14 Tues
2738. reminders that God's promises (ALL OF THEM) are faithful & true
2739. a wonderful meal from the care package that the LOML brought us
7/9/14 Wed
2740. comfort foods - black bean combo
2741. boxes, bags & baskets = hours of fun for little ones!
2742. juggling PEOPLE
7/10/14 Thurs
2743. a lazy start to the morning for all THREE of us -- rare, indeed
2744. good books
2745. night concerts followed by long walks under the moon with our little sweet blessing
7/11/14 Fri
2746. just a workin' on my fitness...
by carrying a sleeping 22lb baby & an arm FULL of laundry from the basement laundry room to our 3rd floor tree-top apartment
by carrying a sleeping 22lb baby & an arm FULL of laundry from the basement laundry room to our 3rd floor tree-top apartment
2747. getting to experience so many fun things with my sweet g'baby!
 |
| A putting her feet up & enjoying Jennifer Nettles at Chautauqua Institution. |
2748. clean sheets!!!! these 2 beds might be the cleanest they have been in YEARS!
7/12/14 Sat
2749. little pieces of HOME
2750. reminder to set my sights on things above
2751. reminders written on stone
7/13/14 Sun
2752. the sound of pouring rain through open windows as I woke
2753. strollering along sides streets & drinking in the sights
7/14/14 Mon
2755. calling upon friends for prayer
2756. baby wipes & disinfectant wipes!
poor Baby A got sick today while we were out shopping :/
poor Baby A got sick today while we were out shopping :/
2757. bubble bath, sleeping baby & Bach
7/15/14 Tues
 |
| after a rough day... she fell asleep to Bach |
2758. something borrowed
2759. strollering around a sleeping baby
2760. NOT building walls
7/16/14 Wed
HAPPY HALF-BIRTHDAY Baby A :)
2761. morning snuggles from my favorite 18-month old & blankets
2762. adventures throughout the day
2763. eating OUT!!
7/17/14 Thurs
2764. getting a "happy" ...Glam Gloves!!
2765. meeting up with an artist by the Miller Bell Tower
2766. walking & talking w/Aunt K
7/18/14 Fri
2767. having the beds made before noon
2768. strollering by secret gardens
2769. an entire concert w/J, K & A
7/19/14 Sat
 |
| Wilson Phillips |
a hard day - stuck inside due to rain :(
2770. oatmeal for breakfast
it reminds me of home & normality
it reminds me of home & normality
2771. droplets of rain in the lacy pine outside our TreeTop Castle
2772. a breakthrough in painting for J
7/20/14 Sun
2773. almonds & Black Spice Chai :)
2775. overwhelming feeling of the presence of God
 |
| selections of Handel's MESSIAH for the Sunday Night Vespers COLD CHILLS AS WE STOOD TOGETHER AND SANG THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS!! |
7/21/14 Mon
2776. bathing in the joy from yesterday
2777. great quotes
2778. a pitch-in dinner with strangers... who can become friends - even if only for their 1 week here in CHQ :)
 |
| "The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of our own ignorance." ~ C. H. Spurgeon |
7/22/14 Tues
2779. a clean kitchen
 |
| Once you find a spot for everything you need to last you for 54 days in your tiny 8x8 kitchen (aka living room, family room, parlor)... it's not too hard to keep it clean... IF YOU PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN PLACE EVERY FEW DAYS!! |
2780. making memories & getting to LOVE ON my g'baby like I did my own children
2781. being brought up on left-overs
has made me a lot easier to please as an adult at mealtime
has made me a lot easier to please as an adult at mealtime
7/23/14 Wed
2782. reflections
 |
"A little reflection does wonders for the soul."
I'm reflecting today on the faithfulness of God.
In times of waiting, it's good to remember the answered prayers :)
|
2783. 2 washers & 2 dryers
makes doing 6 loads of laundry SO MUCH easier
- even if they are in the basement
2784. making a meal with a twist
black bean combo w/saffron rice & slow cooked chicken w/tomatoes
 |
| My office today as I wait for laundry to cycle. Thank you Lord that the second washer is back in use!! |
black bean combo w/saffron rice & slow cooked chicken w/tomatoes
7/24/14 Thurs
2785. days when you get to go back to sleep when you're tired
2786. overhearing the voice of a loving mom guiding her young son back into shore after a sailing lesson - reminded me of God's lovingkindness all of for His children
2787. pondering life
7/25/14 Fri
 |
| outside the Hall of Philosophy |
2788. entering The Danger Zone
 |
| The times... they are a'changin! We've entered THE DANGER ZONE!!! The Pack N Play is no longer secure! She crawled OUT yesterday to get a toy that had fallen &tried to crawl IN today to watch Peg+Cat!! |
this will be a blog post soon, I'm thinking!!
2790. a sing-a-long concert
had to walk outside the gates of the Vince Gill & The Time Jumpers concert
when A. decided to SING-A-LONG with the steel guitar!!
had to walk outside the gates of the Vince Gill & The Time Jumpers concert
when A. decided to SING-A-LONG with the steel guitar!!
 |
| who me - singing too loudly? |
7/26/14 Sat
2791. hidden talents
2792. afternoon naps
I decided to take one when the baby did. How refreshing!
I decided to take one when the baby did. How refreshing!
2793. beans, rice, cheese & tomatoes
7/27/14 Sun
7/27/14 Sun
2794. double church
Protestant then Catholic :)
Protestant then Catholic :)
2795. artist in the forest :)
2796. Christmas in July - "Ding Dong Merrily on High" Sunday Sacred Song Service
7/28/14 Mon
2797. 57 degrees & rain... why?
because I know that the weather doesn't slow down the work of MY LORD!
because I know that the weather doesn't slow down the work of MY LORD!
2798. being created to be resourceful & relentless at times
(emailed almost every "church" contact I could find here at CHQ)
(emailed almost every "church" contact I could find here at CHQ)
2799. evening walkabout - just me :)
 |
| walking, water & wild flowers! |
7/29/14 Tues
2800. the community of faith
(see No. 2798... I got such support!)
(see No. 2798... I got such support!)
2801. dinner at a new friend's home
 |
| we felt at home |
2802. walking so much that my legs ache for hours after I'm done |
| and had ice cream for dessert! |
7/30/14 Wed
2803. a gift from a new friend...
a yummy, fresh, juicy MANGO with breakfast!!!
2804. caregiver instincts at an early age
a yummy, fresh, juicy MANGO with breakfast!!!
2804. caregiver instincts at an early age
2805. a 2-3-hour prayer walk over the entire property
7/31/14 Thurs
2806. The Disciples of Christ :)
HOUSING UPDATE: I'm trusting & praying as I wait to hear back from TWO places this afternoon...
* One is a 2nd-floor porch apartment (with only screens & mini-blinds for windows) at a denominational house here on-site (shared kitchen & bath; no AC); priced VERY reasonably - but, ONLY available for 7 of the 10 days
* One is a close, but off-site, hotel suite (with a free daily shuttle to/from CHQ; but, no cooking facilities at all); reasonably priced for what it is... still a bit much for 10 nights.
HOUSING UPDATE: I'm trusting & praying as I wait to hear back from TWO places this afternoon...
* One is a 2nd-floor porch apartment (with only screens & mini-blinds for windows) at a denominational house here on-site (shared kitchen & bath; no AC); priced VERY reasonably - but, ONLY available for 7 of the 10 days
* One is a close, but off-site, hotel suite (with a free daily shuttle to/from CHQ; but, no cooking facilities at all); reasonably priced for what it is... still a bit much for 10 nights.
2807. classical music in the open air
2808. God's crazy timing :)
UPDATE: Thursday, 7/31, 11:15pm... 7 of the last 10 nights have been set up...
UPDATE: Thursday, 7/31, 11:15pm... 7 of the last 10 nights have been set up...
I've taken the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2012, 2013 & 2014... click on the links below to see specific months...
1000 Gifts 6/14
1000 Gifts 5/14
1000 Gifts 4/14
1000 Gifts 3/14
1000 Gifts 2/14
1000 Gifts 1/14
1000 Gifts 12/13
1000 Gifts 11/13
1000 Gifts 10/13
1000 Gifts 9/13
1000 Gifts 8/13
1000 Gifts 7/13
1000 Gifts 6/14
1000 Gifts 5/14
1000 Gifts 4/14
1000 Gifts 3/14
1000 Gifts 2/14
1000 Gifts 1/14
1000 Gifts 12/13
1000 Gifts 11/13
1000 Gifts 10/13
1000 Gifts 9/13
1000 Gifts 8/13
1000 Gifts 7/13
Hi Stuck in Indiana girl,
ReplyDeleteSo, is Chataqua a region, or a city? I'm feeling naive right now, sorry. :) Congratulations on the new card now though!
Smiling along with you as you count gifts here, skimming them... ahh sweet baby sleeping moments, mmm, comfort sweet potato food, and times with family and friends. Precious, huh? I have picked up my list and started counting again too this year after a slight pause. My notebook pages climb and my peace mounts too.
Nice to be here again,
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Thanks for the visit Jennifer :) Chautauqua is a city, a region (since there's a big LAKE CHAUTAUQUA in western New York), a school, a school of thought, etc. It's VERY HARD to describe. We were at the Chautauqua Institute in Chautuaqua, NY for the 8 weeks so that my daughter could participate in their summer program.
ReplyDeleteCounting & keeping track of 3 gifts a day is a life changer. It makes the sweet times sweeter & the tough times less tough :) God is always working on our behalf - in the good & not so good times!!
Love getting your notes in my inbox!!
c