One Thousand Gifts

466.  Sun hats

467.  Seeing something new in a familiar Scripture

468.  Teaching my daughter how to look at sewing patterns, read the back, and find the fabric

469.  That his computer died when it did, giving us time to deal with it

470.  That the computer was still under warranty

471.  That no critical data or family photos were lost

472.  Wild sunflowers on the side of the road

473.  Deer grazing in a meadow of yellow wildflowers

474.  Attending the evening lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore

475.  Singing the national anthem

476.  Seeing veterans fold the flag

477.  Watching prairie dogs poke their heads out of their holes

478.  Ice cold cream soda after a long, hot hike

479.  Going on cave tours and seeing evidence of God in creation underground!

480.  The random way in which family jokes get started

Beyond

It has been a while since I have participated in the Five Minute Fridays over at The Gypsy Mama.  This past Friday’s word caught my eye because it was such a unique word, and it immediately evoked a memory from my early days of motherhood.  Even though it is Monday, I’d still like to participate, so here goes…

Beyond

When my children were infants, I worked very hard to get them on a schedule.  Every now and then, due to illness or life circumstances, the schedule would get interrupted.  They would either not nap long enough in the afternoon, or skip the afternoon nap altogether.  If they had a short nap, by around 3pm they would get to the point where they were beyond their ability to cope, and get fussy.  I could usually distract them with a toy or taking them out in the stroller for some fresh air.  On those days when the nap just didn’t happen, by early evening they would get to the stage that I termed “beyond, beyond.”  They were inconsolable no matter what I tried to do.  On those occasions, I discovered that the only way to calm them down was to sit in the rocking chair, place their little heads on my chest near my heart and rock, and rock, and rock.

Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes we may feel as if we reach a point where we are beyond our ability to cope.  Then there are those trials in life that are excruciating, whether due to length of time or intensity of the situation.  It is very easy to feel overwhelmed, and like we are “beyond, beyond” our ability to cope.  What a great reminder that if we draw close to the heart of our Father during difficult times, we will find Him there…

…even in the “beyond, beyond.”

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen."  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

   

One Thousand Gifts

451.  Finding the camera

452.  Hearing the kids talk about their "dream car" in the back seat

453.  Mosquito repellent

454.  A surprise night in a cabin in the woods

455.  Spending time at the lake

456.  The rhythmic lap of water against the shore

457.  That my son saw a need for firewood and spent four hours cutting up a small log with a hand saw

458.  A perfectly toasted marshmallow

459.  S'mores by the campfire

460.  The freedom America enjoys

461.  Watching him wave to me from the parade

462.  Watching her dance and write her name with a sparkler

463.  Seeing fireworks explode against the backdrop of a golden moon

464.  Going out for breakfast

465.  Quirky cafes

One Thousand Gifts

436.  Holding her while she cries

437.  That she scooted her plate and chair a little closer to mine, and started a conversation about something on her mind

438.  Frozen yogurt with fresh, seasonal fruit on top

439.  A long, leisurely lunch with a friend

440.  Walking in the rain

441.  Playing Imaginiff with the family

442.  The earthy smell of a strawberry field

443.  Picking strawberries with my daughter and one of my dearest friends

444.  Talking about the Lord while we picked berries

445.  Hearing my daughter yell "Jackpot!" every time she found a big cluster of bright red berries on a bush

446.  Yummy ice cream after working in the sun for so long

447.  Getting all of the dirt and strawberry stains out of her new shorts

448.  Listening to sermons while I washed and prepped the berries for the freezer

449.  That she stood next to me for an hour and patiently handed me berries while she watched and learned what I was doing

450.  Putting 13 quarts of berries into the freezer