"one thousand gifts"

Haste makes Waste...so I'll be slow about this.

I was gifted the book "One Thousand Gifts"-Ann Voskamp
I'm not as open and receptive as one may think, instantly I cast my judgement upon this book and rolled my eyes upon receiving it...surly it would be another dusty add of Christian feel goods that collect somewhere on my bookshelf behind my poetry, my dark short stories, and my own journals on life and oddities...

but when it's snowing, and when you only have one book on hand, one does get desperate. As the snowflakes fell heavier, I sat at my Grandmothers long wooden table and forced myself to be still and read...three hours later I'm on chapter 3 and already feeling this might be one of those books that truly messes me up- in the best way possible.

It also has prompted me to start my own list of a 1,000 gifts...how trivial they may seem...read the book-then you will understand the list...these are things that cause me to be thankful, in no particular order.

I'll make it to a 1,000 on this blog and start recording them as the come...

1. Conversations with Faye
2. Snow
3. Reading in the bath...
4. Bubble Baths
5. Candlelight
6. Grandmother time
7. Room mate snuggles on my twin sized bed
8. our neighborhood deer
9. Hazelton house on the hill
10. Hot coffee in big mugs
11. Laughing till you cry
12. Window seats with a good book
13. Sand between my toes
14. My mothers hummingbird feeder
15. Ocean spray hitting my face on the jetties
16. Sounds and smells of the ocean
17. "Quad-ualting"
18. Naps in sunshine
19. Swimming done not in a pool
20. Morning hikes
21. Sunrises
22. Sunsets
23. Stargazing
24. Boldering
25. Tomato soup and grilled cheese
26. Campfires
27. Friendship without words
28. Hand holding
29. Walks
30. Receiving snail mail- handwritten
31. Love letters
32. Small spoons, and big bowls
33. Ice cream in big coffee mugs
34. Long body pillows
35. Bare toes in early morning light
36. Clean, fresh smelling clothes
37. Hairdye...seriously.
38. Early mornings, quiet and alone
39. My mother's choc.chip oatmeal raisin cookies
40. Early workouts or runs
41. Guitars
42. A new journal
43. A solid pen
44. Sharpies
45. Art and art museums
46. Pottery
47. Matinees alone
48. Popcorn- Granddad's 3tier canister
49. Unexpected visitors that just come to say hi because they love you
50. The ocean painting in the pink room
51. My father's mosaic
52. The transitions of weather and seasons- storms rolling in
53. Climbing trees
54. Finger painting
55. Library books
56. Foreign films
57. Firm hugs
58. Hot tamales
59. Handmade, homemade jewelry
60. Monster Toast with Danny
61. The smell of my parent's house
62. Old worn jeans
63. My sibling's uncanny connection and humor
64. Onseens in the winter and outside
65. The first drop off of the roller coaster
66. The REAL cowboys of old
67. Daydreaming with headphones on
68. Reading the newspaper in the mornings
69. Staring up as the snowflakes descend down
70. Tractor rides
71. Hammock time
72. Rocking chairs
73. Scrabble games
74. Porch swings
75. Falling asleep after an exhausting day of working outside
76. Sharing stories
77. Handmade scraves
78. Crying out of joy
79. Warm toes on a cold day
80. Japanese Festivals
81. Cousins
82. Worn out sweatpants from a boy
83. Friends exchanging music and making mixes
84. Tweaking the recipes
85. Waking up and being able to see...clearly
86. Handheld jumbo shower heads
87. Children when they laugh and play
88. The smell of fresh cut grass
89. Yoga stretching
90. Dirt between my fingers when working outside
91. The heat of a fire on my face
92. My mother's heartfelt prayers
93. Free refills of coffee and extra punches on a stamp card
94. Kids that tell knock-knock jokes...incorrectly
95. Small trinkets from loved ones...Milmo
96. Postcards
97. The stamp book of my Papa
98. Dogs that lay with you and mirror your mood
99. Impromptu dance parities
100. Opening my eyes underwater
101. Wind-chimes
102. Lightning storms in the valley or near the Sandias
103. Love seats that are shared with one person over the limit
104. Picnics that aren't planned
105. Whirlpools
106. Coconut Conditioner
107. Double rainbows after rain
108. Seeing multiple shooting stars
109. My father's study always cluttered with scripture and books
110. Greetings among strangers
111. Doors that men open for a lady
112. Whispering in church, class, or a movie
113. Popcorn shared
114. The bright light of morning bouncing on fresh snow and ice
115. The crunch of snow underneath my boots
116. Frantic hummingbirds fighting for a spot on the feeder
117. Humor in tense situations
118. Fingers that work their way through my hair
119. The overlook at Pedernales
120. Floating backside up
121. Beads of sweat that brim on my crown and run down my face in summer
122. The first plunge into cold water
123. Waving grain in the fields
124. How the house smells when the crockpot has been cooking all day
125. Barbecues with beer, friends, and family
126. When someone sits and starts to play the piano in the Coffee Pot as if no one is listening
127. Children's faces when they're consentrating
128. A kid's honesty...particularly a two year old
129. Communicating...without words
130. Finding arrowheads for my mother in the red sands of NM
131. Tree houses that were built by friends
132. The shortcut through the park in Kuwana and the concrete animals near the baseball field
133. My father's Mirrored Movement Syndrome...or whatever the heck that is with his hands
134. Warm gooey jam on toast and English tea, the memories of friends overseas
135. Making my family laugh
136. The clock in the hall chiming on the hour
137. My great grammy's quilt with the patterns of the past
138, The "jeweled" vintage Christmas tree that was handmade
139. Stomping in puddles while wearing rain boots
140. Crunching down on fall leaves
141. The feeling you get when you finally made it to the top of a peak/lookout point
142. Spontaneous and unexpected gifts
143. Acts of kindness from a stranger
144. Realizing that I read the bank statement wrong and I actually saved, not lost
145. My mother's gum drawer being fully stocked
146. Real Chai tea with a hint of milk
147. The encyclopedia collection we own
148. Photo-booths and the collection of faces that have shared those silly freeze framed moments
149. Splitting a far too pricey dessert with a good girl friend
150. Reminiscing and listening to stories of yourself from someone else's perspective
151. Brushing my teeth in the shower
152. Hanami, and spreading a blanket wide under those wide open skies peppered with pink and white
153. When my jeans fit a little looser
154. Barefoot in summer, especially in the soft grass
155. Holding hands when praying
156. Waking up with a prayer in my heart, a song in my head, or joy nestled within me
157. The familiar creaks and groans of an old home
158. Homemade ice tea on the back porch in the sunlight
159. Forgiveness of a friend
160. Conviction and confession, and the change that comes
161. My car, despite the many scratches, bumps, and mishaps
162. Sunday mornings when Dad made the breakfast, Danny was always late, and we raced to church in separate cars.
163. Witty exchanges with clever- quick-minded pals
164. Old classic movies- particularly Westerns
165. Public transportation in the city be it subway, train, bus...favorite is the train
166. Kickball. As a kid. As an adult.
167. Honest answers, and pure motives
168. People who use hand gestures
169. Reading books aloud to close friend
170. Swapping writings with a friend
171. Mouthwash swishing and flossing
172. Hands that are strong, weathered, and worn...like my Grandfather's
173. Wide open spaces to explore, be it a Green space, national park, or just the Texas country
174. Dinner mints that they give out at weddings
175. Sharing an umbrella during a downpour
176. Building sandcastles
177. Late night talks with my father and the wisdom that comes quietly
178. Tee shirts so worn that they're soft and familiar
179. Accidental snoozes that when awakened leave you feeling buzzed with refreshment and newness
180. The farmer's market
181. Fireworks ... especially summer time in Japan on the TSU beach
182. Dress up with friends, and a camera on hand to document the event
183. Themed parties where the guests truly embrace the mood and let loose
184. Neighbors who bring over homemade danishes
185. Reading the Word right before I fall asleep
186. Waiting up for my brother to get in, and the late night snacking around the marble island
187. Wed morning early prayer time with the girls
188. 242 of dooooom
189. Rain falling quiet on the porch and running down the back windows
190. Sword fights with cardboard tubes where Christmas paper once was
191. Puzzels with my parents on every holiday
192. Warm cherry pie, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream
193. The Christmas mixes my mother makes
194. Candlelight service
195. Handed down jewelry, the shell bird and my grandfathers turquoise
196. Rinding a horse
197. Being the only one in the gym and taking my time
198. Finding a book, or collection of stories that you can always come back to and still feel like you learned something new and fresh
199. Poetry
200. Grammy's early release, and health
221. Doctors who take their time and listen
222. A friend who just listens when you need to cry and just unravel
223. Diving under waves and the sensation when you come up
224. Hospitable friends who truly make you feel at home and cared for
225. The Ladies of P.31 group and Little TX lane- their prayers, laughter, and friendship
226. A true Sabbath...
227. The music box that sits on our large wooden shelf and plays only when the sun hits it...
228. Time spent on the Rust Ranch
229. How time really does heal
230. An unlikely friendship
231. The generosity shown to me this year through so many
232. The way it feels to get a pedicure
233. Hands that are slow and steady, able to create and mend
234, A full year with no heart trouble and no anxiety attacks
235. Planning a vacation with the family as adults, and realizing we all still love each other's company
236, The excitement of new beginnings
237. Re reading old journals and seeing that you have grown, and are learning
238. Receiving a thank you card from a person who you though didn't notice the act of kindness, and weren't expecting recognition
239. The feeling I get when I sit down to write in a brand new journal
240. A really, really, really good book
241. Scabs finally becoming scars, and scars that slowly start to fade...
242. Spooning
243. Learning words in a new language from a friend who is eager to share their native tongue
244. Being silent with someone, not because it's awkward, but because your that comfortable to not have to speak
245. My great Grandfather's book of the world, and how it created in me a curiosity of the world
246. Meditating on a particular scripture, and then having it come to the mind much later for a friend's encouragement
247. The wind blowing gently and the breeze that comes of the bay
248. The way the airplanes sound as they fly overhead
249. The trains of San Marcos during the night, they way it jogs memories of living in NM mountains
250. Instant friendship
251. Sitting cross legged and eating with chopsticks looking out over the Kyoto countryside
252. My brother sitting close and still pulling my hair and pestering me until I give in
253. Mischief in the night that involves swimming and my girlfriends
254. Hoisting myself up on the rope swing and being pushed to the water
255. Contagious laughter
256. Text messages from 242 girls with revelations and excitement as they discover and uncover new depths, the joy and the sobering that it brings me
257. Parachute army men, and when we watch them get stuck in the tree limbs below
258. Water guns and water balloons on a hot summer day
259. Meandering in the meadow and picking flowers to adorn a vase in the house
260. Surprising a room mate with a "sessy", or being the receiver of one
261. Watching the clouds roll by and naming their shapes
262. Playing M.A.S.H.
263. Teaching the next generation the silly rhymes and riddles you were taught as a child
264. Jumping rope- with lots of people
265. The feeing you get when you finally break in your new sneakers
266. Waiting until it feels like you can't wait any longer, wanting it so bad- finally getting "it" and the wave of accomplishment knowing it was all in God's perfect timing anyways
267. The sound advice of wiser and more discerning teachers and mentors, my mothers recliner chats
268. Handmade blankets, the special one that I made and hope to pass on
269. Witnessing a friends surprise and joy as she realizes she's being proposed to and all her friends set her up
270. Weddings, especially if there's dancing at the reception
271. How my father always takes my car out for a drive and then "magically" the gas tank is full
272. Wii with Danny
273. The way my mother keeps each bathroom stocked with a "hospitality" bucket or drawer
274. The sounds and smells of the coffee pot in the morning
275. A new loofa
276. Painting a new color on a wall
277. Rearranging the furniture
278. My stomach growling
279. Homemade Valentine's cards
280. Scavenger Hunts with a friend
281. Caves
282. A clearing in a forest
283. Gum that doesn't lose its flavor fast
284. Homemade Pasticho
285. Having a friend with an iPhone or GPS for the traveling
286. The Stampede
287. Banff Park
288. White Sands New Mexico
289. Desert air
290. Roadrunners on the adobe ledge
291. Fresh, new starts...the first of a month, the beginning of a new year
292. Watching the last quarter of a football game with my Dad
293. Being able to run a ten minute mile...and looking forward to making it 9...
294. My knee being better
295. Fresh coat of nail polish
296. A "monica" clean kitchen, for that matter house
297. Finding bird's nests in the most unlikely of places
298. Tall Tales
299. Make believe and the magic of an active imagination
300. Kindred spirits
301. People who believe in me and push me to do better and learn more
302. Teeth
303. My senses being in tact
304. Short films
305. The ability to research a subject by way of my computer
306. Everyday graces
307. My first bible with my declaration of my understanding and decision to choose Christ, marked April 15, 1990
308. Ellipticals on days when running outside isn't a great option
309. Skim boards, and friends to share the fun with
310. Animals, especially in their element
311. Arriving home after a long trip to a clean home and no hurry to unpack
312. People watching, un noticed of course
313. Inside jokes
314. Bollywood films
315. Korean Dramas
316. Kung fu movies
317. The desert flower that blooms in the harshest of conditions
318. Trekking a new path and finding new places to explore and make your go-to place
319. Night swimming with friends
320. Floating candles
321. Friends that call or txt for prayer, and knowing that I can count on them to stop and pray with me when I need it too
322. Movies with the room mates
323. The four large windows in my room and how on a sunny morning the light pours in and my room looks as if everything is glowing because it's so bright
324. Kimberly Skype dates
325. Josh Gromahn, pro skater, letters....with song references
326. Hearing an old friends voice and realizing that though everything has changed, the thing that hasn't is the single most important thing, that they love the Lord and are looking to Him in the midst of all the changes
327. Reunions of family, or friends
328. The freedom to worship without restraint here
329. The right to speak my mind freely
330. That I can write and pen down my emotions, releasing them and understanding more than just what I feel
331. 67 partners whom I love and pray for
331. Giftcards
332. Time with Danny
333. My dad's logical mind and how it's saved me from many irrational moves
334. My mother's archeological collection
335. Collin's humor and our ability to get lost in a joke and end up in fits of laughter that results in us crying even
336. The quiet street of Hazelton
337. Walking through the Greenbelt area just a mile from my house
338. Spotify allowing me to track down old bands and missed CD's of my youth and compile playlists for rainy days
339. Painting at night for a friend
340. Live music on the patio
341. Nights walking on the beach and sharing your heart with an old friend
342. Having someone write a song for you
343. Sitting on the jetties with Amber and singing out over the sea
344. Homemade jam and jelly
345. Bible study
346. Concordances, Greek and Hebrew translations, and commentary when studying the Scripture
347. Playing SPIDER at the park with friends
348. Knowing that Dan, Kim, and the Grandfather's are better off...
349. Old Hymns that are revised musically and brought back to life
350. Modern dance
351. Old fountain shops and pharmacy's
352. A Drive-In movie theatre
353. Roller rinks and themed parties
354. Coded letters
355. History lessons from someone who was there, and is passionate about what happened
356. A fully charged phone
357. A new, fresh calendar
358. Car beepers that actually work
359. Walkie talkies
360. Being a camp counselor and seeing kids come to an understanding of who Christ is
361, Hand-me-downs that actually prove useful
362. Scrapbooks made by friends to me...thank you Dani
363. Welcome home parities
364. Welcome parities
365. Goodbye parties
366. Getting more than you expected back after taxes
367. Fresh, ripe and ready to eat fruit
368. Chocolate milk
369. Discovering a truly great band and watching them live pre the hype and crowd, and well before the tix get to expensive
370. An honest and helpful mechanic, who cuts you a deal
371. Answers to hard questions
372. Walking the dirt trails and remembering I'm not quiet home...yet
373. Straying from the path and rediscovering a beautiful hideout
374. Blowing bubbles with kids
375. Face-painting, you're never to old, and it's even better when you can do a child's too
376. A goodnight's sleep
377. Warm feet in bed
378. Prolonged hugs when weary and sad
379. Finding old verses written on backs of notebooks and in between old books
380. Re-reading the Giver
381. Counting in Japanese, still remembering how to
382. Flexing my toes
383. My Dad's willingness to always serve me without ever having to ask, be it changing my oil, fixing a broken oddity, or helping me with taxes...I may never grow up
384. Taco stands, with wheels..you say "roach coach"- I say "yes, please."
385. Thrift store "hunting"
386. Scoring a bargain at Buffalo Exchange
387. Bubble tea in Montrose after eating dumplings upstairs at Auntie "Chang's"
388. Giving my friend a sack full of red fairy wings, glitter, candy, and a disposal camera at 360 bridge, to remind us both we don't have to be so serious
389. Getting to leave work early just because the boss thinks we need to enjoy the day
390. A waiter who lets you in on a secret that makes the meal that much better
391. An honest person chasing you down to give you the correct change back
392. Talking to a brother serving in a war
393. Friends that pick up where we left off and don't wear the mask of everything is peachy, but jump into the "meat"
394. Processing with students about what the Lord is doing in their hearts
395. Reading scripture to my room mate
396. Getting a discounted hotel rate
397. Views of the city from atop a very, very, high building
398. Rooftop adventures
399. Being in a funny skit
400. Meeting, making, and loving a new friend
401. Boys that can really amp up the energy of a group
402. Unlikely heroes
403. Tumble press, so that I never have to really iron
404. A child telling you why they love Jesus, and realizing that they are more on target than you
405. Being helpful in stressful circumstances
406. Free APs, particularly a bible ap for when I forget mine
407. Not getting lost and being on time for work events
408. The rush when we launch off into an event, seeing students arrive and hearing their stories
409. Cancer that no longer comes back
410. Trusting God and rejoicing even when the cancer is present, and eventually when God calls the person home
411. Finishing a task that has been daunting, and realizing it wasn't that bad
412. Turning over the last page of a book and being satisfied with the ending
413. Memorizing scripture and praying it into your life and others
414. Text messages of a student telling me they are praying for me and want to pray specifics for my life
415. Crying over heart ache with a student and then recalling a passage of scripture on that very issue- seeing them encouraged
416. Finishing a good friends sentence, having them finish mine
417. The light how it bounces and reflects on the sea and how it looks like a million, trillion, diamonds sprinkled out over the water
418. Eating healthy
419. Doing the right thing...the first time
420. A stranger buying me a cup of coffee for helping him edit his book he just finished...sharing the Gospel with that very man
421. Room service and painting nails, the opportunity to just embrace being super girly with a good sister
422. Speaking to a large audience of how God has changed my heart, and how He loves us so much
423. A broken dryer and enough places to drape and hang all the wet clothes...
424. Leftovers when you really don't feel like cooking
425. The convince of the red box on a night when you're dead tired and just need some good movies in
426. The map of the world that hangs over my bed and helps me pray more pointedly
427. Friends who answer the Lord's call on their lives to uproot and move to a foreign land, and trust Him, and just watch Him work
428. Phone calls with my mom, and still being the one who calls her cell the most
429. The MOO
430. J bar X...being a part of something so unique and special
431. My mother's hip being better
432. My fathers life being spared and his healing after such a traumatic surgery
433. Danny's humor
434. Triple threats
435. The red bird perched on the tree outside my mother's backyard on the snowy day in Dec, a reminder of God's promise to me
436. My family getting down on the floor with me and praying over me as I wept on an air mattress a few days after X-mas
437. Kisses on the forehead
438. Teaching a kid cat's cradle, and watching the excitement when they get it and can do it alone
439. Instruments that come from an unlikely source, or should I say the common objects that can be transformed into instruments
440. My mother's photo albums
441. Paint by number kits for kids
442. Clay
443. Watching the glassblower create beautiful pieces of glass art
444. Painting pottery and then firing it in the kiln, the excitement as you remove the finished piece
445. Old surf documentaries
446. Instant coffee packs
447. Saving money and gifting it to someone at the perfect time
448. When a student doesn't back down from asking the hard questions and being okay with wrestling with God
449. Honest and loving answers
450. Talking with a friend and realizing you are both learning the same lessons
451. Unplanned phone calls from an old friend
452. Cutting your hair yourself and realizing that it's not that bad...
453. Singing loudly in church and actually clapping a whole song through
454. People who can keep rhythm
455. My hardworking father and the example he models for me everyday
456. My mom's unique and quirky personality and creativity, being the most resourceful woman at times
457. Amber's passion
458. Holding a child who is crying and them taking comfort in the embrace and attention
459. Breakthrough's in communication with a child you are trying to teach that cannot understand your native tongue
500. Waking up to rain
501. Coffee time with Leona...best if at "Cafe Leona"
502. Sprinklers with kids on a hot summer day
503. Vina cafe, finding my Vietnamese coffee stashed away and sipping it down slowly as i watch foreign films
504. Dancing in the train
505. Dancing ON the train!
506. Vancouver pubs with the "6PACK" before we are all about to head out...
507. Falling asleep on the train with your best "mate" and waking up somewhere both of you have failed to recognize
508. Facial scrubs that leave your face feeling vibrant, tingling, and softer than when you started
509. Being gifted someone's favorite book...realizing that it was their copy
510. The way my homemade feather earrings feel as they tickle my neck and cheeks
511. Bumpy, dirt roads, where as kids we all sit on the tailgate of my Grandfather's truck-taking turns jumping off and back on as we return from working all day in the fields
512. Henna hands
513. Deep green eyes
514. When the leaves and flowers start to regrow and bud after the harshness of winter or after the passing of a drought
515. My Dad singing Bohemian Rhapsody with Amber and I as he drives us to our 5:30AM barista job by the shoreline
516. Working with Amber
517. Big, oversized, fluffy towels that smell like Bounce
518. Coffee with your pastor and his wife
519. Adoption- fighting for what we know is right
520. Long walks with the neighbor
521. The basil plant I planted...and hopeful that it won't turn out like the Aloe Vera plant
522. How the moon hung suspended and a deep yellow with golden haze that wrapped around it tonight
523. Finding Orion
524. Trips to the planetarium
525. Greenhouses and the way they smell
526. Strawberry picking in Japan
527. Overflow group, the kids always being there and the warmth as we let down and worship
528. Wisdom from women who delight in speaking truth and even more than that, they delight in doing truth
529. Sleeping in unintentionally and realizing that you had no where to be and you needed the extra rest
530. Coffee from the neighbor and talks about life
531. Clean, fresh, sheets
532. People who lead less in word, and more in deed
533. The sleepy-time timer
534. The sound of the wind as it blows through the fall leaves on the trees and rattles them into the river, how they swirl as they float by
535. A spent on the porch reading next to a good friend
536. Love letters on Valentines Day, rather than a card
537. Getting to the end of the finish line
538. The rhythmic pattern of my breathing when I hit the zone of a run and am finally focused and feel the stresses drop off my shoulder, and break from my feet
539. Duck diving under a wave
540. When one drop of water gets trapped in the neck of my wet suit and trickles down my back
541. Building a tire swing
542. Swinging over the gully as a kid
543. Eskimo kisses/ Butterfly kisses
544. Finding the canteen you though you lost by way of a stranger
545. The whistling of the wind as it turns around my house and sweeps the leaves in the yard
546. Songs sung in French, by the French
547. Having to many cooks in a much to small kitchen, and all the joy and mishaps that go along with that
548. Taking turns to shut the door of the Coffee Pot with a stranger, and laughing at all the unexpected customers who leave it ajar
549. Stretching your body after being in a car during a very long road trip
550. The way the sun pierces through the cold, grey, afternoon and warms the pane of the window I am resting against
551. The colors and patterns, how detailed and different they each are of the birds that nest just outside my window
552. Homemade salsa
553. Runny noses from the cool weather, and the warmth that washes over the body as you enter the warm threshold of home
554. Songs written together and sung off key
555. Chicken salad with walnuts and cranberries
556. My mother's precision and willingness to always proof read each letter, memo, email, and resume
557. Headphones and the perfect playlist for those when the coffee house music just isn't cutting it...
558. Watching your friend perform in their element- be it the theatre, the band, or the ballet...
559. Layers, lots and lots of layers when the weather turns cold
560. Dinner by candlelight
561. The eclectic array of the artists studio
562. My Father, still being the man I respect and look to for advice
563. Dishes that fit nicely in their place, and hot water to wash them with...the feeling of getting them done
564. That my body heals so quickly from cuts and pierced skin...even if it means that a piercing won't last
565. Peeling tangerines and my fingers smelling like the citrus
566. Buoyant yellow, fiery orange, vibrant pink, billowing purple, and calming blue smashing together as a Texan sunset unfolds on the drive home
567. Scripture taped to the red and cream tile inside the shower wall
568. Planning a visit to the parents and realizing Danny planned the same time off
569. Persimmons in Japan
570. Grapefruit spoons
571. Marking my map full of friends that are going, and friends that are already in it- praying and expecting great things
572. Best friends getting married
573. Toasts to the newlyweds
574. Notes of encouragement that friends save
575. Unexpected visitors that come bearing hammocks in my backyard
576. Free lunch after church with loved ones
577. Missed calls from Mom and her way of always reassuring me that it's not an emergency
578. Jumbo curling irons for outta control hair days
579. Good friends pulling together to make it work
580. Playing the game "Make, take it, or break.." and coming up with the most absurd, and outlandish prospects
581. Nouvelle Vague radio for a cloudy, drippy day indoors
582. Pain in the sacrifice, but knowing that you'll be blessed if you will but hold on with faith
583. Sitting on the floorboards in the Hazelton house while room mates clean rooms and linger in their laughter
584. Sal's new car!
585. Tonya's amazing hair skill
586. The Barista bringing my drink to the table, even when it's really crowded
587. Sal's chalkboard messages on the massive chalk board in the dining room
588. Cooking dinner for a friend
589. Making my very own special "secret sauce" and it being a success
590. Finished decks
591. Reading, and finishing the book before the movie comes out
592. Carnivals, and having more than enough tokens
593. Lite-Brite's
594. Playing basketball with kids
595. Impromptu games of Sardines in the Quad at night...
596. Catching the show you missed on Hulu
597. The way micro beads in face wash pop on your skin and help wake up
598. Peacocks not in a cage, free to roam
600. Spearmint
601. Adding cacao nibs to black coffee
602. Napping in Kelsey's bed as she diligently studies next to me
603. Meat from the crockpot
604. Homemade stew and cornbread on a chilly day
605. Black and white photos...old family albums and heirlooms passed down
606. The feeling of getting a fresh, new, haircut
607. Prayers for friends for a much needed job, and the call coming soon after with a new opportunity
608. The faint smell of the ocean
609. Wed. prayer with the brothers and sisters
610. The Lord being JUST and the JUDGE
611. Remembering. I am NOT forgotten.
612. The burn finally healing
613. Homemade chicken poppy seed casserole shared at 9pm
614. Letting go, and trusting that God is at work
615. Almond milk lattes
616. Brown eyed girls with earnest and willing hearts
617. The feeling as you approach the beginning of the end to a season, semester, or chapter
618. Windy roads up the mountain, and the way you slide closer together on the seat when making the drive up, up, up...
619. Room mates likes sisters, who help you finish a look by letting you borrow the perfect accessory
620. The names of God being His character, and how one day He will tell us our new names reflecting our character
621. Friends who show wisdom in their decision, and seek counsel before making moves
622. The sounds of Sal in the kitchen the night before an event...her chatter to herself
623. The calm before a storm, how the whole world seems to still
624. God the ROCK. consistent-stable: reading Deut.32
625. Genealogy
626. How a sting ray effortlessly glides over and sand and dances in waves
627. The freckles on my nose
628. Growth spurts
629. How God loves poetry and uses it to communicate powerful truths
630. Homemade crayons
631. Unexpected dirt piled in the corner after knocking over the basil
632. Fire pits on a friends deck and making smores with friends
633. Trail runs
634. Celebrating as a friend rests and you hold their new baby
635. Baby showers of a good friends
636. Light pouring through all 4 windows of my room and making the floor dance with bright shine
637. BFD- Breakfast for Dinner
638. All three room mates lying in the bed and practicing our Russian accents while we drift into sleep..
639. Spontaneous prayer moments when you stop with a sister and bow in need and eager anticipation
640. Leftover pizza
641. Being called "sister"
642. Sharing your lap with a little one
643. Victory dances done without shame
644. Slicing tomatoes with the perfect knife
645. The way a home gathering starts small and builds until the laughter pours forth and the voices are a joyful roar
646. Skilled surgeons
647. Men who cheer and holler while singing praises with the church
648. Lists made with thought, prayer, and care shared with Kimberly and the encouragement we fan into one another...as we walk through fire..
649. Volunteers
650. Realizing that it's been only a few days, and there is an unending supply of grace, and the LORDS loving kindness doesn't cease, and still His compassion never fails- lamentations 3
651. Realizing He never left you, nor did He forsake...and that it was you that just needed to see that and remember
652. RR donuts with the feisty, fiery Katie
653. Cool weathers chill when it looked to be hot
654. Crushed ice
655. A dear sister reading my own words back to me and expressing gratitude for their value and meaning capturing her heartbeat and of course, mine
656. Acquaintance"s becoming deep friends
657. The characteristic of God that you wrestle to know and hear better suddenly presenting itself to you as an invitation in a time of need...the Lord my ROCK
658. The first light of a new day reaching my eyes
659. The way a baby explores and uses their hands, especially when eating and grabbing things
700. Making a child smile...even when they seem so resistant
701. 4 square, as a kid. As an adult
702. Finishing the painting and being satisfied that you did the best, but maybe next time you'll be better
703. Puffy cheetos and how they make your fingers orange and messy
704. Spray painting my shoes gold
705. The freckle on my left ear mirroring my brothers
706. Taking my time to eat and enjoying the meal with people
707. The thrill of walking across a less that sturdy tree limb and launching out into the perfect summer watering hole
708. Naps in the park
709. The intro to 'Tokyo Police Club's' BE GOOD starting up...
710. Waking up to a thunderstorm
711. Homemade sweet potato fries
712. After storm couds and the way they peel back and reveal golden hues of sun
713. Eyes being the window to one's soul
714. Wed devotionals...psalm 77
715. Cake balls...
716. Falling asleep on a raft in the beach
717. Perfectly ripe bananas
718. Sore arms
719. Being filled with courage and speaking up for another
720. Being able to feed the hungry
721. The skyline of a small town square in the early morning, the odd tops to old historic buildings and their rustic story
722. Unexpected Valentine cards
733. Bunk beds
734. Friend slaps, the slap game...
735. Ducks at the lake
736. Time in the Word at the Lake in the early morning quiet
737. Family time, which is really time spent with my staff
738. The tingling in my legs when they fall asleep from sitting to long and pondering things outside
739. The way my mom calls me "dear daughter" and "lovely daughter"
740. The way my father prays for me and calls me "baby" though I'm all grown up
741. Large chocolate dipped strawberries
742. Dancing in church and singing in creole
743. Sketches of dreams and visions
744. Distant rolls of thunder and the birds returning back to their song after a night rain
745. The smell of wet grass after rain
746. The feel of cool, soft sheets as I stretch under the covers
747. Glasses of red wine, homemade artichoke dip, and real conversations on the pain and beauty of life with the neighbor sister
748. Being invited into an intimate family discussing, and being heard
749. The way the inside of my mouth feels after chewing/eating anything peppermint
750. Fingers and toes
751. Pea colored mornings and the thick air of a looming storm
752. Being held and feeling secure
753. Stretching the first leg over the rock and hoisting up to the final lookout point
754. Dangling feet because the chairs that tall
755. Musical chairs
756. Hot baths when it's snowing outside
757. Sea salt on chips, sea salt in drinks, sea salt on your body
758. Mini rainbows that dance through window panes and remind you to look harder
759. Stained glass panels that tell a rich history and an even richer future
760.