April 19, 2012: It's Good to be Square

3 gifts square:

• low sodium chicken broth in a carton with a pour spout.  Such a great idea--I can use just the amount I need and keep the rest in the fridge for another time.
• my kitchen window.  I'm so glad to have a window above my sink so I can watch spring come alive.
• my TO DO list.  Keeps me organized and on task.

April 14, 2012: I Lift Up My Eyes

3 gifts found looking up:

• a robin sweetly singing her Maker's praise way up in the top of a tree this evening.
• much needed rain.
• comfort and peace from knowing the Lord is watching those I love. 

 Psalm 121. A song of ascents.  I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
  where does my help come from? 
 My help comes from the LORD,
 the Maker of heaven and earth.
 He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
 The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

April 9, 2012: The Joy of Unexpected Gifts

a gift hiding, held, heard:

• a most enjoyable TV show watched tonight on PBS after I whined to my husband about how when I have a rare evening in which I might like to veg out in front of the TV, there is never anything on.  It was a documentary called "Being Elmo" about a puppeteer named Kevin Clash.  Touching and funny, it even made me cry.
• a cup of tea and One Thousand Gifts.  The electricity went out shortly after I arrived at work today so I received the gift of unexpected time at home and spent some time (re)reading chapter two.
• some good news shared by my son.  Those are the kind of phone calls I am always glad to get.

April 3, 2012: I Love Surprises :)

3 gifts surprisingly found:

• a bunch of daffodils from my husband
• time to finish a scrapbook I've been working on for months
• a fun (free) new game for my touchpad

March 24, 2012: The Power of Words

 3 gifts spoken:

• "Holy, Holy, Holy Adonai Almighty. You are worthy to have honor, pow’r and glory. Holy, Holy, Holy Adonai."  Lyrics from a favorite worship songs, Adonai Almighty © EarReverent Music 2001.  Holiness is my favorite attribute of God.  Blows me away every time.
• "See you then!"   Dinner plans with a dear friend.  I have learned the importance of having things to look forward to.
• "Look, I got the painting done."  Three cheers for my husband who touched up the paint in the laundry room--it looks great!

March 17, 2012: Gifts of Spring

a gift turned, a gift folded, a gift hung:

• forsythia bushes turned yellow. A gift of spring, of promise, of joy.
• sheets folded to make up a bed on the air mattress in my son's apartment.  Such a blessing to spend a weekend visiting him.
• a camping chair hung on the hook in my son's closet that I can take it outside to enjoy sitting in the sunshine.  Simple pleasure.

March 15, 2012: Gifts Both Given and Received

3 gifts given away:

• a homemade card for my niece's birthday.
• a hug to my husband.
• time with a friend at dinner tonight.

It really seems like I shouldn't count these gifts as something given away because I received something equal or better in return.  I received the joy of making the card for my niece since I love crafting.  I received a hug in return for the one I gave. I received my friend's time back, as well as the pleasure of her company and a night out.  I guess that's the beauty of a gift, when you give you also receive, often multiplied. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

March 13, 2012: Gifts All Around

3 gifts round:

• Easter eggs. Yeah, yeah, I know they're really oval, not round.  Nevertheless, I had fun today mod-podging paper on eggs (Pinterest, of course) to pile in a bowl on my kitchen table.  
• Tupperware lids.  Leftovers for dinner.  Three cheers for a no-cooking night!
• a spool of blue ribbon.  My daughter and I made invitations for her friend's bachelorette party.  They turned out so cute!

March 7, 2012: The Bond of Believers

3 gifts in the kitchen:

• a pretty little dish I bought in the Bahamas, a souvenir from our 25th anniversary trip. A reminder of the blessing of marriage.
• my tea kettle.  Because there's just nothing like a cup of herbal tea to comfort and refresh.
• new friends.  We started meeting tonight with a group of people from church to study and discuss the book of Ruth for the Lenten season.  It's such joy to have an instant connection with other believers because of the bond we have in Christ.

March 5, 2012: The Hope of Spring

3 gifts found:

• a sign of spring.  Spotted my first robins today.  The gift of hope.
• perspective.  (again).  When I was feeling sorry for myself this morning about having to go back to work after being on vacation, I logged into an online community that I am part of and read updates on some of the trials that others are facing.  Oh, that they had as little to complain about as I do.
• an idea. My daughter asked me to help her make invitations for a friend's bachelorette party and I found a cute idea that's not too difficult to make.

February 13, 2012: $10 Worth of Joy, Please

3 gifts found behind a door today:

• 4 fun, frivolous little home decor items.  I stopped at one of my favorite stores today after work.  It's an antique/secondhand/re-purpose store.  Always different and interesting to browse through.    Nothing I actually needed, but each one makes me smile.  For a total of $10, that's pretty good therapy!
• the makings for a delicious pot of vegetable tortellini soup for dinner.  Found dibs of this and dabs of that and managed to put together a great meal.  I really should go to the grocery store, but it was awfully nice not to.
• The comfort and peace of coming home.  I do love my house.  I breathe a sigh of relief whenever I get there.  It's the place where I can truly relax and be myself.  I'm especially grateful to have a home tonight when so many people don't. 

February 4, 2012: Looking for Good Gifts in Times of Trial

3 gifts found when bent down:  Not doing much literal bending down today because frankly it's painful, so I am counting gifts found when bent down with an injury to the muscle in my arm.

• the depth of my husband's love.  Not being able to get yourself dressed is rather humbling, but my dear husband truly is glad to help me in any and every way.  It's nice to know that's still true after 26 1/2 years of marriage. 
• contentment.  For the first couple of days, I thought I would go nuts just sitting around, not able to do much.  Today I find myself more at peace.
• single-mindedness.  I can't multi-task, so I am forced to focus on the one thing I can do at a time with one hand.

There is always blessing in suffering when we count it as joy, looking for the good, looking for God. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3

January 27, 2012: Gifts from Special Women

3 gifts that might never have been:

• the new felt Valentine wreath that I made today, now hanging on the mirror in my front entryway might never have been if it weren't for Pinterest.  I spend too much time on it, but it's just so fun!  It amazes me how many incredibly talented women are willing to share their gifts with others.  I've gotten numerous wonderful ideas from them, including this one that I adapted from http://www.theidearoom.net.
• the strength that I draw from my Moms In Touch sisters-in-Christ.  If I send out an email asking for prayer, they are the first to respond and I always know that when they say they'll pray, they do.  These dear friends enrich and bless my life and that might never have been if the first two didn't keep inviting me back when my children were in elementary school.  
• dinner out with my husband.  It might never have been if it weren't for the beautiful leaders I serve with in my Bible study.  They blessed me with restaurant gift certificates last Christmas and I've been hoarding this last one. I love those women more than I can express!