One Thousand Gifts - Post #1

Last week, a new friend in Madrid posted on her blog a recommendation for a blog that had been encouraging her recently - Holy Experience. I then spent the next few days digging around on Holy Experience and found quite a bit of encouragement myself.

You see, I've always wanted to be a mom - specifically, a stay-at-home mom. I've always felt that is what God has called me to do, so when Charlotte was born it seemed my dream was fulfilled, right? Well, sort of. To be quite honest, the past 5 months have been anything except what I expected my life as a stay-at-home mom to be. But I believe that's exactly where God has wanted me...because during this time of questioning and discontent God has been slowly showing me WHY he put the desire in my heart to be a mother and homemaker. I'm really just beginning to scratch the surface of the "why" so I'm not going to go into it yet, but the Holy Experience blog has helped me to begin the process of understanding and EMBRACING my God-given role!!

Something I found on Holy Experience that I could not wait to begin was a gratitude journal, a One Thousand Gift List. Today, I began keeping a journal (in list form) of thanks to God for all the gifts He has given me. And every Monday I'm going to share them with you. I don't know how long it will take me to get to 1000 gifts, a year, maybe less, maybe more, but I'm excited to see how purposeful gratitude to God changes my life. I'm sure it will help me be more content exactly where I'm at. So my list begins...

Thank you, Father, for....

1. friends

2. time during Charlotte's morning nap to have quiet time with the Lord

3. Hot tea :)

4. The Chronicles of Narnia

5. a fuzzy lion for Charlotte to cuddle with while I read her The Chronicles of Narnia

6. God's Word

7. a beautiful day...for a walk and for hanging out laundry

{On a walk at Parque de Berlin}

8. never being done with changing me, molding me...and that when you (God) are done, you have a place in heaven prepared for me

9. opportunity and ability to stay home with my daughter and take care of our family

10. my baby girl "talking" when she wakes up

11. Charlotte's sweet, funny giggles

{Giggling despite her first tooth coming in}

12. Brendan coming home early tonight

13. being more familar with my local mercado (grocery store)

14. staying connected with friends and family even though I'm thousands of miles away


Have a beautiful week, dear friends.