Having undergone many hardships in life, Ann is challenged by a friend to write down 1,000 gifts graciously given from God. And not the 3-day vacations, $25 Starbuck gift card, or 2 dozen roses kind of gifts. No, the iridescent soap bubbles in a sink full of dishes, baby toes, calloused husband hands, smell of fresh-brewed coffee, finger-smudged walls kind of gifts. The kind we usually miss. The kind I have learned to notice.
" Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
The Greek word for thanksgiving is Eucharisteo.
Charis = Grace
Eucharisteo = Thanksgiving
Chara = Joy
All given to us through Jesus' work on the cross. All captured in the breaking of bread and drinking of wine. The Eucharist. All ours to be had through surrender to Him.
So, this Christmas, I'll be forgoing a traditional Christmas letter. (Don't let me fool you, I haven't written one for 5 years at least anyway). Instead I'll be using pictures to capture, examine and express thanksgiving to my Father. I guess you could call in my own 1,000 Gifts. Except for there are 51 (and counting...).
January
Brown eyes (1) and toothy grins (2)
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| Sam. 3 years old. Ready to go outside. |
Baby chuckles (3), finger food (4), new kitchen curtains sewn by my mom (5)
Cousins! Eve (6), Zoe (7), Wedly (8), Gabe (9). Four of my boys' favorite people on the planet!
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| Levi. 11 months. Spaghetti. |
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| Eve, Wedly, Zoe at the Levi's birthday party. |
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| Freshly bathed Kellar boys |
Beds to jump on (13), garden beds resting before spring planting (14), cozy flannel sheets (15)
Spring break (read more <here>) (21), Grandpas who dearly love their grandsons (22), downy baby hair (23), mullets (24)
Sweet spiky-haired 5 year old boys (25), with button noses (26)
Budding artists (27) creating life-size monsters (28), hung with Costco supplies of tape (29), given by two fun Aunties (30)
April
Stormy days at the beach (31), healthy bodies for hiking (32), baby carriers (33)
Time and energy to work outside (34), wood supply for the winter (35), (much of it supplied by my Dad (36)), free swingset from our neighbors (37)
Daffodils (38) and blue glass (39)
Life long friends (40) with beautiful smiles (41)
Wardrobes drawers full to overflowing with artistic creations (43)
Big back yards (48) with fluorescent flowers (49)
Loving Grandmas (50) who give large portions of ice cream! (51)
A daddy that works 50 hour weeks as a teacher (16), yet still musters up the energy to wrestle every day with his boys (17)
Good books, read again and again! (18)
Nate's trip to Anchorage (19) to celebrate this young man's life (20). Read the story <here>
March
Sweet spiky-haired 5 year old boys (25), with button noses (26)
Budding artists (27) creating life-size monsters (28), hung with Costco supplies of tape (29), given by two fun Aunties (30)
April
Stormy days at the beach (31), healthy bodies for hiking (32), baby carriers (33)
Time and energy to work outside (34), wood supply for the winter (35), (much of it supplied by my Dad (36)), free swingset from our neighbors (37)
Daffodils (38) and blue glass (39)
Life long friends (40) with beautiful smiles (41)
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| The Langelier's kids |
May
Sick days to slow down and snuggle (42)
Wardrobes drawers full to overflowing with artistic creations (43)
June
Chubby-thighs (44) helping in the green, green garden (45) on bright, shiny days (46)
Big brothers playing patiently (47)
Big back yards (48) with fluorescent flowers (49)
(Part 2, found here)
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