January Joy

Taking the Joy Dare from A Holy Experience.  Three gifts for each day for one year:

During the month of January:
1.  Three things about yourself that you are grateful for:
      that I get to be mother to these young ones * that I get to be wife to this husband * that He goes  with me.
2.  a gift outside, inside, on a plate: 
     cardinals playing in the yard * sweet baby niece all swaddled up * carrots from the garden roasting with dinner
3.  3 lines you overheard that were graces: 
     blood tests look good * "You're my best friend" * "Aunt Amanda"
4.  one gift old, new & blue: 
     van that's in the shop - a gift from family * my new cricut and new creative ideas * our wedding quilt - pieced and quilted by hand by very dear ones
5.  something you're reading, you're making, you're seeing: 
     Jane Austen Made Me Do It * projects for the kids' bathroom * trees all around
6.  one thing in your bag, your fridge, your heart:
    camera to capture moments * milk for my growing men * love for my best friend
7.  3 graces from people you love: 
    Jeff putting up with my craziness* Skid cuddling with his cousin * Cap watching out for the younger ones
8.  light that caught you, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely:
     steam turned purple in the sunrise * glass chunk mountain glittering * bright sunlight interrupted by "the broken house" (what Skid calls the dilapidated barn)
9.  a gift in your hand, a gift you walked by, a gift you sat with: 
    the ring on my finger - reminder that our love is a promise * precious boy falling asleep on the floor * his head resting on my shoulder as we sit together for lunch
10.  a gift that's sour, a gift that's sweet, a gift that's just right: 
     diapers to catch the stinky stuff * my nephew's adorable laugh * Skid singing "I can love because God loves me" as he lays in bed
11.  3 yellow things that strike you as fresh mercy: 
       sun shining unseen, keeping us warm in all this rain * yellow juice dripping from fresh oranges from Florida * lines painted & roadside signs providing guidance
12.  something above you, something below you, something beside you:
      snow falling - first of the season*  tiny bootprints and snow angels * red-cheeked men, big & little drinking hot cocoa around the table
13.  3 sounds you hear: 
      young ones leading us in spontaneous praises at the table * his absent-minded beating out of rythms * boys playing with their grandparents
14.  3 ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God:
      everything is ok even in the most down-hearted moments * love poured out even when I'm ridiculous * an invitation when I felt friend-less
15.  one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared: 
      pink burp rag on my shoulder * time preparing for a spur-of-the-moment party * yummy food with family and friends
16.  3 ways you witnessed happiness today: 
      son cheering on his father * boys falling asleep together on the couch * relaxing together in our jammies all day long
17.  one gift that made you laugh, one gift that made you pray, one gift that made you quiet:
       little guys chasing each other around the house * time to stroke the blonde hair in my lap * big responsibility and honor in cleaning little faces
18.  3 gifts from God's word:
      "Do not fear, for I am with you." Isaiah 41:10 * "God is love." 1 John 4:8b * "When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him...?" Psalm 8:3
19.   a grace in the kitchen, a grace in the weather, a grace that might never have been:
      a quiet kitchen from a day of celebration * dry weather when it's this cold * time for a friend to visit
20.    3 gifts you saw only when you got close-up:
     familiar words I could have skimmed over which led me to a feast * tiny seeds in a tiny hand * saucer under a tea cup - act of love
21.    one thing in the sky, one thing from your memory, on thing that's ugly-beautiful:
     geese flying overhead & Skid yelling hello * remembering them all so tiny as we look through baby clothes * stains on little outfits that tell stories
22.  one grace wrinkled, one grace smoothed, one grace unfolded:
      that newborn skin I'll cuddle soon * pages of my Bible * blankets to keep us warm
23.   3 gifts found in Christ:
      brother love * shepherd love * sacrificing love
24.   3 things blue:
     deep blue of their eyes * blue flakes of plaster cleaned off walls in preparation for rennovation * artwork he is so proud of on the fridge
25.   one grace borrowed, one grace found, one grace inherited:
     clothes for our girl, pre-loaded with memories * some thing to make them feel special * my Grandma's familiar phrases coming from my mouth
26.  a gift before nine am, a gift before noon, a gift after dark:
    extra rest while he takes care of things * time at the table with my Bible, journal & a cup of hot tea * sitting around the table with the girls
27.    3 gifts that might never have been:
     lots of quiet time to write * confirmation that we made the right choice * tent in the living room
28.    3 graces found in your friends:
       always eager to help * generous gifts * that they came down to spend the day with us
29.    a song heard, a soft word, where you saw light:
    little boys singing letter sounds * whispers and sighs to my new baby niece * sun streaming in windows
30.    3 old things seen new:
  old song sung today as a prayer just for him * the green frog in our tub - silly little reminder of our wedding night * new delight as his brother teaches him an old game
31.  a gift found on paper, in a person, in a picture:
      reminder that the next time I hear baby's heart will be Valentine's Day * Sunday School teacher concerned she hasn't seen us * picture of the boys similing together over a year ago