Just a glimpse of me...

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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!

09 January 2016

2015 December 3of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

Three Gifts A Day: DECEMBER 2015
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 :) GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...


December 2015... 3 of 3 

Mon 12/21
4234. finding a warm spot

4235. "5 tickets to The Force Awakens please"

4236. Holiday GNO


Tues 12/22
4237. Barb's Brook

4238. brotherly love

4239. safe flight for Aunt Cooah from North Carolina

Wed 12/23
4240. Fort Wayne Christmas with Mom & her 3 daughters and more - here are 3 of 4 of the generation there

4241. a good doctor's visit 

4242. ring around the rosey 


Thurs 12/24
4243. having the LOML home from work 
4244. sitting in the sun with my sister

4245. Christmas ham on Christmas Eve


Fri 12/25
4246. morning joy around the tree

4247. eggs & ham for Christmas brunch 

4248. safe flights for our kids... from here to Atlanta

Sat 12/26
4249. playing catch-up on a lot of things... dishes, laundry, housecleaning, etc. 
4250. family members in my home
4251. pizza party and Beauty & the Beast

Sun 12/27
4252. new Senior Associate Pastor at our church
4253. Skyline Chili and To-Go containers
4254. relaxing times at home

Mon 12/28
4255. our talented little

4256. Red Lobster & traditions
4257. finding flights after my sister's were cancelled - CREDIT GOES TO THE LOML!!!

Tues 12/29
4258. getting to do my outside chores with crazy hair & no make-up (well, make-up from days ago)

4259. the Little making the kitty into a mountain for her My Little Pony

4260. his and hers new books


Wed 12/30
4261. my big sissy - it's been so nice to have her here
4262. the game of Tap Tap on Instagram & selfies

4263. bedtime story time with PapaBear


Thurs 12/31
4264. sleeping in late with the LOML
4265. braving the cold so that the hens can hunt for worms & get a little green grass
4266. traditions - that other people might find boring, but that I find wonderful (and, the pic below was another New Year's Eve when we stayed home but put fancy clothes on)


2015 December 3of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

There are more blessings to come! GOD IS FULL OF THEM! Search for other daily blessings from us by searching for the blog labels of: #1000Gifts #JoyDare #1KGiftsJoyDare


30 December 2015

New Year's Resolutions and Friends You've Never Met

November and December of every year prove to be a blur for me. It's mainly due to so many good things that we celebrate as a family (Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.). And, if you know me... I'm using this hashtag all the time on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest... #Family Matters because I hate to mess with quality family time!

22 December 2015

2015 December 2of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS


Three Gifts A Day: DECEMBER 2015

Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 :) GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...

December 2015... 2 of 3 
Fri 12/11
4204. Snow Bear dishes out :)
4205. Bonge's w/new friends 
4206. an old James Bond movie w/the LOML

Sat 12/12
4207. a warm, warm December day - mid-60's and yard work!!
4208. more decorating for Christmas
4209. a tradition for our family - A Christmas Carol
(Second Spirit this year was Mary Poppins!!)


21 December 2015

Going to Church in Your Pajamas


'Tis four days before Christmas and all through the house... not a creature was stirring... we hope NOT a mouse!!! There I sat in my jammies planning my day... scheduling my posts, wondering just what to say...

I could go on but, I won't bore you :) 

This, for so many of us, is an extremely blessed and yet, busy time of year. I don't have time to write... or do I... just a few words.

15 December 2015

2015 December 1of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

Three Gifts A Day: DECEMBER 2015
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 :) GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...

December 2015... 1 of 3 

Tues 12/1
4174. starting the countdown for our 2 Colorado kids to come home... 14days...
4175. sunset walkabouts on my country roads
4176. our "little" shagbark hickory tree on the northwest

Wed 12/2
4177. the strong belief in LIFE after death (RIP dear friend Karen)
4178. memories of a kind - but very strong - woman who spoke into my life
4179. white chicken chili in the crockpot; lights on the house & cold weather

Thurs 12/3
4180. giving gifts when they aren't expected :)
4181. dental chair selfies

14 December 2015

2015 November 3of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

Three Gifts A Day: NOVEMBER 2015
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 :) GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...

November 2015... 3 of 3


Sat 11/21
4144. drum solo
4145. playing outside with the Little
4146. first snow of the season
Sun 11/22
4147. what sunrise can do to the color of snow


13 December 2015

2015 November 2of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

Three Gifts A Day: NOVEMBER 2015
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 :) GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...

November 2015... 2 of 3

Wed 11/11
4114. Jackie Corn - she's a real blessing!
4115. veterans... their service, their sacrifice

11 December 2015

2015 November 1of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

Three Gifts A Day: NOVEMBER 2015
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 and almost to 2016!!! GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...

November 2015... 1 of 3

Sun 11/01
4084. met goals - ALL THE TITLES FROM the 2015 #write31days challenge :P)
4085. after-church adventures
4086. enjoying a GORGEOUS 1st day of November outside

10 December 2015

2015 October 3of3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS



Three Gifts A Day: OCTOBER 2015
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 :) GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...

October 2015... 3 of 3

Wed 10/21
4051. memory card full - seriously write31days

4052. leftovers for lunch

4053. my tireless joy when watching the sunset behind our shagbark hickory tree

Thurs 10/22
4054. sunrise selfie

4055. a cutie patootie (is that how to spell that word?)

07 December 2015

From Death Into Life

Today I, along with many in my corner of the world, will celebrate yet another wonderful, loving woman who has stepped from death into life. As I was talking last night with the LOML (aka my hubby) about her, I told him:
"The wonderful things that I could stand up & proclaim about Karen as we celebrate her life are the very same words I would have stood up & proclaimed years ago & throughout the years that I knew her. She was a remarkable woman."