One Thousand Gifts

I realize I have not blogged in quite a while, so I think I will take a swing at it again.  I want to share a book with everyone that I would highly recommend.  Jessi and I have been reading it, and I feel like it has been relatively life changing.  It is called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  It is a wonderful read.  I love the way Ann writes the whole book.  It is about living a life of thanksgiving--she challenges the reader to start a journal as she did and start a list of "gifts" that God has given us that we may not see in our everyday life.  The goal is to start looking for the little things in life that we can be grateful for--from the smell of freshly cut grass, to a great conversation with a friend...things that may otherwise go on unnoticed.

She quotes John Piper and states that moving the ink across the page opens up the eyes, that he may not understand how it sheds light, focuses its lens, but he only knows, "There are eyes in pencils and pens. " There is something about writing down what we are truly grateful for that makes us appreciate it more--Ann states its like "unwrapping God's gifts" to us.

Jessi and I have been keeping little "gratitude journals" or journals of all of the things we have been given as gifts.  We were discussing how easy it is to find little gifts in days off work, or days that are beautiful out, but becomes a little more challenging at work, in the midst of stress of every day life.  That has been my challenge...to look for gifts in these times as well.

Yesterday I was able to go to Chicago with my hubby and meet up with Jessi and Luke Uran to go to the Need to Breathe concert and out for dinner.  It was so wonderful to spend time with great friends and enjoy wonderful music!!  Lots of gifts were received!!  I am so grateful...

Today I am leaving for Arizona with my parents and their foreign exchange student, Minsu, and am looking forward to a week of seeing God's little gifts in my life.  Its amazing when you start looking for the things we can be thankful for, it really does change your whole outlook on life!!