Monday, October 3, 2016

Nine thousand gifts...


Next month I will be celebrating the seventh anniversary of the day I started gratitude journaling.  This past week, I passed the 9000th entry in my gratitude journal.  In under seven years I've written down over nine thousand of God's gifts in my daily life.  Nine thousand is just the tip of the iceberg, for each day there are a multitude of blessings that escape my notice.  The very air I breathe, the fresh water that I have readily available, my favorite comfy chair,  in under ten seconds I thought of three blessings that I take for granted every single day.  I could never write down all of God's blessings, never give Him all of the praise and thanksgiving that He deserves.  But at least I can, in this small way, keep on trying...

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Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.
 I continue to count my thanks
piling up gratitude day by day
in my journal.
(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#8976-#9005

9-26-16-
-no traffic and a beautiful drive to Portland for an appointment
-a visit with my oldest daughter and our two youngest granddaughters
-phone calls and texts from our youngest daughter who is in Iceland for one night
 before coming home from Europe
-texting with our girls during the presidential debate

9-27-16-
-talking politics with my husband as we ate breakfast
-two new towels for a total of $1.28 due to a great coupon
-a beautiful evening walk and sunset
-stopping by my nephew's house on my walk

9-28-16-
-healthier eating=feeling better
-a mid-week date since the hub's won't be home on our usual day off
-our youngest and her husband safely home from their vacation in Europe
-texts and phone calls and connecting with one another when our family is not together

9-29-16-
-precious time with Jesus
-having my friend from church over for coffee, talking and prayer

9-30-16-
-some very, very happy news!
-God's good timing in the big and the small things
-God's provision of small things that aren't significant in the grand scheme of things,
but are "just because" gifts from my good, good Father
-God's daily protection that is easy to take for granted
-the smell of pumpkin bread baking

10-1-16-
-It's October!
-the sound of rain on our roof
-a baby shower for our soon to arrive great niece-a miracle baby
-a God idea when I needed one
-talking through the hard stuff 

10-2-16-
-a peachy-pink sunrise early on this Sunday morning
-the faithful ones
-passionate worship, powerful preaching
-a house full for Sunday dinner, good food, wonderful fellowship
-a helpful young man from church stopping by with some help on a yard project we're working on

still following,


5 comments:

  1. You are truly inspiring. I love reading your gratitude list.

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  2. Lovely photos and I am glad for your good news. I envy you your changing leaves...we don't have that here.

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  3. Elizabeth, I enjoy reading your lists every week. I don't know how many of us "gift counters" are still hanging around blogland, but I know it has changed me and my focus. Thank you for continuing to list those gifts every week!

    P.S. Maybe we should have a "gift counter" search and find others still listing. ;)

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  4. With ALL your journaling, you must of learned a few things. Will you share a couple thoughts?

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  5. I love that you've included "talking politics" as a blessing, Elizabeth! There isn't much about our politic scene these days that feels like a "blessing" yet we should remember that we are blessed indeed to have the freedom of election in our country. I always enjoy and am convicted by your weekly gratitude posts. Well done!

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