A Spring of Joy

131. Grape jelly smile smeared across chubby cheeks.

132. Time. Breathing life together.

133. The sound of Brian’s voice reading to our children.

134. Bathtub rings. Remnants of fun-filled days.

135. Growth. Tossing the wigs to wear my very short hair.

136. Music filling the walls of our home with its thousand harmonies.

137. Stumblings as Asher reads on his very own.

138. Learning from my mistakes. So many lessons.

I think I could have come up with my one thousand gifts just in this past week alone. Here are some highlights.

106. The quiet hours of the morning. Time with Jesus.

107. From the rising to the setting sun, His love endures forever.

108. Delight mingled with terror as small ones watch the crash of ocean waves from the safety of Daddy’s arms.

109. The deep sleep that accompanies a fruitful day.

110. Playing in the “big sand box.”

111. The Lord inhabits my praises.

112. Naps on the beach drenched in sunny warmth.

…of one thousand gifts.

79. The madness of packing, the sweetness of anticipation, the imaginations running wild as we prepare for a week at the beach.

80. Prayers answered “yes” in the lives of friends.

81. Deep thoughts by saints gone by pointing me to Christ.

82. Re-evaluating beliefs… solidifying convictions… knowing where I stand.

83. Faith. The assurance of things hoped for.

84. Hot showers after long, grungy days.

85. The land of the free, because of the brave!

86. Chocolate fudge cake made with special dark cocoa… dripping sweetness.

…that make me thankful.

66. First licks of ice cream in a pink cone. Delight. Joy.

67. Warm snuggles after bath.

68. Vacation Bible School. Learning about Jesus. Worshipping together.

69. Cousins.

70. “Funderstorms!” Watching hail bounce. Awed by God’s power.

71. The way Grandma’s eyes light up each time she sees a grandchild.

72. Watermelon bites and drips and messes and fun.

73. Chick-Fil-A. (Need I say more?)

74. Late night talks with Sam & Alan. Sharing hearts. Crying together. Eating yummies. Laughing together. Praying together. Being together.

More thankful bits of my days…

58. Kissable toes that run barefoot through summer’s grass.

59. Story time at the library. Making new friends.

60. Sweet snuggles. Arms that are never empty. Hands never too full to hug.

61. Coffee in a mug half-full. Thank you that my life is even fuller.

62. Going on a bear hunt…

63. Water. Refreshment. Drinking life. Quenching thirst. Do I thirst for You?

64. Heroes.

65. Thoughtful meanderings through dandelion remnants. Hands bringing me weeds. Eyes seeing flowers.

49. Learning to do cartwheels. Falling. Laughing. Picking ourselves back up again.

50. Posies in the yard. Pink blossoms filling my home with their sweet fragrance. Am I the fragrance of Christ?

51. Sunny days. Climbing on swing sets. Riding on bikes. Time together just being.

52. Playing peek-a-boo. Somehow it never gets old.

53. Voices floating down from the loft: Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace…

54. The faces of my children. I could gaze at them all day.

55. Breathing prayers with my nurses before treatments. Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayers together.

46. From Ash while holding my hand and walking through store aisles:

Mom? When I can read better, I know what I’m going to do.

What’s that, buddy?

Read Narnia all day long!

47. From Micah while eating his bagel and oatmeal:

Mommy? Let’s pretend our whole house is a ship and there’s no roof on it and we got hit by lightning and we sank and now we’re eating underwater.

48. From Audrey while holding new play-doh canisters we bought at the store today:

Mommy? Baby happy! Pway!

Last night we went to my nephew’s baseball game, and despite the wind making it feel like it was fall instead of spring, it was good to be out enjoying the evening and the fresh air and my family. I drank it in and am grateful for another day, another time to revel in all God has given me…

35. The stinging crack of bats resounding in the air.

36. Little voices cheering and encouraging one another in their efforts to win.

37. Sunshine on distant mountains. Breathtaking beauty of God’s creation.

I continue on my quest to see the beauty in every day…

21. Watching bunnies in the yard. Awestruck. Held breaths lest she move.

22. Dishes in my sink. Evidence of God’s provision of our daily bread.

23. Sunday School crafts covering our walls.

24. Tiny hands lifted in praise with me… learning the postures and freedom of worship.

25. Bright green buds on the sidewalk underfoot pushed out by new leaves. Growth.

26. Eyes to see differently this world around me.

27. Siblings. Sweet kisses for a baby sister.