One by One

1395.  A carload full of their friends

1396.  Listening to them chatter and be goofy

1397.  When my son taught me how to do a trigonometry problem just for fun...

1398.  ...and I successfully did one on my own!

1399.  Springtime weather in February

1400.  Grandparents' Day at the school

1401.  Singing patriotic songs with people who have served our country

1402.  Listening to my dad speak about his service during the war

1403.  Seeing his medals and uniform patches for the first time

1404.  That the class showed respect and asked good questions

1405.  A memorial service that beautifully honored a dear friend

1406.  The life and friendship of M.N.

1407.  The poignant reminder that life is fragile...

1408.  ...and every second is a special gift

1409.  The aroma of fresh baked banana bread

One by One

1380.  New home office furniture...

1381.  ...including a comfy chair I've had my eye on for years

1382.  Ferry ride to Catalina Island

1383.  Watching dolphins and seals play in the water

1384.  His expert driving skills in avoiding an accident

1385.  Another successful Whisperings All-Star Event

1386.  Conquering something technological on my own with no help!

1387.  Brisk walks in the fog

1388.  Her sweet Valentine's Day song that she made up for me

1389.  His written words of love

1390.  That she opens up to me when her heart is hurting

1391.  Glorious sunsets on the beach

1392.  A great group of kids on the yearbook committee

1393.  Surprising my kids with homemade cookies

1394.  Finding the perfect piece of fabric to complete a project

One by One

Continuing to get caught up on recording His gifts and blessings...

1366.  Taking my son out on his first Black Friday experience...

1367.  ...and the item he wanted was marked lower than the ad price

1368.  Standing in line for an hour with him, people-watching and chatting about whatever he wanted to talk about

1369.  The fun names given to colors on paint strips

1370.  Reminiscing about past Christmases...

1371.  ...while decorating this year's tree

1372.  Splurging on a special experience

1373.  Laughing until my cheeks ached

1374.  Evenings so fun it feels like a blur

1375.  Breakfast in an old, converted church

1376.  A newly painted office

1377.  Seeing Christmas lights at the Oregon Garden

1378.  Christmas Eve traditions

1379.  Christmas 2014

One By One

1351.   A safe flight and drive home

1352.  That my friends loved the photos I took of their wedding

1353.  The gracious people at Revell Books

1354.  How the Lord orchestrated her doctor appointment

1355.  Sweet-smelling candles

1356.  Spending a whole day just resting and being in the Word

1357.  She Reads Truth.com, a recent discovery!

1358.  When conversations go deep

1359.  A surprise visit from my parents

1360.  Receiving a gift...just because!

1361.  Enjoying a peek into her creativity

1362.  Dinner and dessert with a friend

1363.  An updated laundry room

1364.  A fresh new journal

1365.  Every seat filled at the Thanksgiving table

One by One

1326.  (private)

1327.  Sampling Prickly Pear ice cream

1328.  A beautiful outdoor wedding of dear friends...

1329.  ...and being asked to photograph the event

1330.  Chocolate fountains!

1331.  That M took such good care of our son

1332.  That we were home, and at the game when the football accident happened

1333.  Quick access to medical care at a medical facility that is always booked months out

1334.  How well he did with the MRI

1335.  Safe travel through torrential rain

1336.  Safe flight to Maryland

1337.  Being treated to crab cakes (a first!)

1338.  Such warm hospitality shown by her whole family

1339.  French Toast bagels from Panera Bread (another first!)

1340.  Roads with silly names ("Squirrel Level Rd.")

1341,  Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake at Olive Garden (yet another first!)

1342.  Allume Conference 2014

1343.  J and C who delayed their lunch to pray over me

1344.  When He reveals to me something difficult and unexpected...

1345.  ...and brings others alongside to minister to me as I work through it

1346.  Winning a beautiful door prize

1347.  Fun in the Smile Booth!

1348.  My new friends, Amy and Leta

1349.  Safety during the drive back to Maryland

1350.  Cream of Crab soup (yep, another first!!)

One by One

1301.  Finding great deals at garage sales

1302.  Taking photos of a wheat field at sunset

1303.  Watching an intense thunder and lightning storm with my son

1304.  Quiet candlelit conversations on the back patio

1305.  Gazing at the moon

1306.  Family hikes to our favorite waterfalls

1307.  Finding boots that fit her in time for horse camp

1308.  Tall majestic spruce trees

1309.  The stillness of the forest

1310.  Paths strewn with pinecones

1311.  Hiking in the mist

1312.  Picking up happy children from summer camp

1313.  Spur of the moment trips to the beach

1314.  First day of school, 2014

1315.  When he got his football number

1316.  Seeing him in his football uniform

1317.  That he was called in to play...

1318.  ...and that he played well!

1319.  That his very first game was a win!  (40-22)

1320.  Taking pictures of him at the fence

1321.  That his grandparents were there to celebrate with him

1322.  The beautiful red rocks of Sedona, Arizona

1323.  How patient he was when I struggled on the hike

1324.  A fun and informative Pink Jeep tour

1325.  Hanging out by the fire next to the pool

One by One

1276.  Two days in a beautiful vacation home on a lake

1277.  Old wooden boardwalks

1278.  Doing a photo shoot in Rocky Mountain National Park

1279.  Ice cream in a waffle cone

1280.  Serene mountain lakes

1281.  Clouds reflected in still water

1282.  Talking about heaven as we walked in the woods

1283.  Watching a storm roll in over the lake

1284.  Hearing the wind buffet against the windows

1285.  Ducks bobbing on the water

1286.  Pelicans silhouetted in a sunset sky

1287.  Alpine slides

1288.  The view from the chair lift

1289.  Rabbits on the hotel lawn

1290.  Roaming around on the UC Boulder campus...

1291.  ...listening to my son dream about his future

1292.  A day of family fun at Waterworld

1293.  Fiery sunsets that take your breath away

1294.  Watching both children participate in the July 4th parade

1295.  Spending July 4th with my family and friends

1296.  Mother-daughter weekend at the coast

1297.  Horseback riding with her on the beach

1298.  Our new car

1299.  Building Legos with her on the front porch...

1300.  ...on a warm summer evening

One by One

1251.  Watching him graduate from the eighth grade

1252.  Winning an award for volunteering at the school

1253.  Razzleberry pie a la mode

1254.  First day of summer vacation

1255.  That our cat (finally!) likes to spend time on our laps

1256.  Having coffee with my mom

1257.  Discovering a third baby bird in the nest!

1258.  Watching a baby bird try its wings for the first time

1259.  Finding important papers that were "missing" for about a month

1260.  Seeing her paint on the back patio

1261.  Taking him to his first football practice

1262.  Hearing him tell me all about practice

1263.  How hard they worked on a one-day job for a local tree farmer

1264.  Birdsong in the backyard

1265.  Fresh breezes through the screen door

1266.  Her eleventh birthday

1267.  Listening to her talk and laugh with her three best friends

1268.  When the cat burrows in wrapping paper

1269.  Successful dress rehearsals

1270.  Prayer circles before performances

1271.  Watching her dance beautifully while he plays the piano

1272.  When he smiled at her through the open lid of the piano

1273.  When she gets the giggles and can't stop

1274.  Teaching him how to solve a Sudoku puzzle

1275.  Doing a photo shoot in an old historic clock tower

One by One

1221.  All of the different kinds of palm trees

1222.  Hot tubbing under the stars

1223.  Watching him read Scripture to our children on a sunny bench

1224.  Date milkshakes  (a first!)

1225.  A day at the San Diego Zoo

1226.  Koala bears

1227.  "I love Pop" written in the sand

1228.  Father and daughter standing quietly, staring at the ocean

1229.  When you meet someone for the first time, and it feels like you've known them for years

1230.  Winning the table decoration contest at the Spring Tea fundraiser

1231.  Seeing the yearbook come together

1232.  Receiving "Mom, can you come get me?" texts

1233.  The grateful look on his face when I handed my cold, wet, muddy boy his favorite hot decaf mocha

1234.  Best Mother's Day ever!

1235.  The wise counsel my daughter's teacher gave her...

1236.  ...and that she prayed with her...

1237.  ...and spoke words of life and encouragement into her hurting heart

1238.  End of the school year ice cream parties

1239.  Celebrating 25 years of marriage!

1240.  Surprising my "summer birthday girl" with an early birthday party in her classroom

1241.  Balloon bouquets

1242.  How well she danced in the local talent show

1243.  Hay bales dotting the fields

1244.  Watching birds build a nest in the eaves

1245.  How quietly the mama bird sits each day

1246.  How alert and watchful she is over her nest

1247.  Seeing two tiny baby birds peek their heads over the edge!

1248.  Hungry beaks open wide

1249.  My mom, an expert at altering clothes and costumes!

1250.  Photo scavenger hunts

One by One

Hello to my readers, after a very long break!  It has been nearly nine months since my last post. This break in posting was not intentional, but just the result of being a busy mom and living life!  As Christmas approaches, it seems a fitting time to jump back in with counting His gifts, and naming them one by one.  I have quite a backlog to get through, as I continued to count, even though I wasn't blogging.  Won't you join me for a look back at how He has blessed me this year?

1196.  His first smile without braces!

1197.  Buying him a caramel candy bar because he could eat it!

1198.  Waking them up to watch the lunar eclipse

1199.  Bundled up in blankets on the back patio

1200.  That the sky was clear that night!  (not always a given in Oregon!)

1201.  Watching the moon slowly disappear

1202.  The stillness that night brings

1203.  When someone speaks His truth directly into your life...

1204.  ...and they don't even know it

1205.  Words of wisdom scribbled on scraps of paper so they won't be forgotten

1206.  Watching the children wander down the beach together

1207.  Watching them chase the waves...

1208.  ...and the waves chase them!

1209.  Finding a new favorite beach spot

1210.  The drive to Palm Springs

1211.  Hiking on San Jacquinto mountain

1212.  The smell of a Jeffrey pine tree

1213.  Family horse ride

1214.  The different perspective you get when horseback riding

1215.  Riding through the desert...

1216.  ...and into an oasis, complete with palm trees and a stream

1217.  The coolness of shade

1218.  The gurgle of water in a dry and dusty place

1219.  Gourmet milkshakes...

1220.  ...with a mini doughnut around the straw!

One By One

1181.  Birthday doughnuts for his classmates

1182.  My son's 14th birthday

1183.  His healing touch on my aunts

1184.  Rollerskating

1185.  Her sweet friends who spend the night

1186.  How they make a "nest" out of blankets and pillows

1187.  Resolution to a stressful situation

1188.  Receiving my passport

1189.  That they think about what it means to be a true friend...

1190.  ...and are choosing friends wisely

1191.  Vacation countdowns

1192.  His encouraging words when I am unsure of myself

1193.  The wonderful ministry going on at Sole Hope

1194.  Her growing understanding of how the Word of God applies to her life

1195.  The vibrant colors of spring

One By One

1166.  The unique, rhythmic call of guinea hens

1167.  Feathery roosters

1168.  Celery and peanut butter

1169.  Friends who stay for the weekend

1170.  Getting my ticket for Allume 2014

1171.  Perusing travel booklets

1172.  Discovering Journibles

1173.  Journaling through Psalm 119

1174.  Grandparents' Day at their school

1175.  That she remembered making applesauce with them

1176.  Their love and guiding presence in the lives of my children

1177.  Working as a team to win the group project in his classroom

1178.  Planning with them for an upcoming event

1179.  Planning a special retreat for my daughter

1180.  Deep cleaning the house

One By One

1151.  Sitting next to my friend M during worship

1152.  Being an adviser for the yearbook

1153.  That my "techie" husband solved my computer woes...

1154.  ...and did so with incredible patience (with me and the computer)!

1155.  Blankets of snow...

1156.  ...and the hush it brings to the world

1157.  Impromptu lunch with a friend

1158.  Eating DQ Blizzards in a snow storm!

1159.  Trees full of plump, red-breasted robins

1160.  Being snowed in...

1161.  ...which meant more family time together

1162.  That we only lost power for a minute

1163.  Watching the Olympics with the family

1164.  Breaking in my new popcorn popper!

1165.  Finding the lid to my favorite casserole dish that got 'lost' in the move six months ago!

One By One

1131.  Christmas 2013

1132.  Sampling my brother's cooking for the first time (yum!)

1133.  The first day in six weeks she said she didn't have a headache from her concussion

1134.  Playing Scotland Yard with friends on New Year's Eve

1135.  Making a special breakfast New Year's Day

1136.  When my pastor put his arm around my son and said, "Come with me, I need your help."

1137.  Little lambs with their heads poking out of the tall grass

1138.  Being a guest speaker at their school chapel

1139.  Mint chocolate chip ice cream with hot fudge sauce

1140.  Reconnecting with my friend Caryn

1141.  That the first Whisperings All-Star Award show was a success

1142.  Sitting on a sea wall in the sunshine, talking with my husband

1143.  Wandering around Laguna Beach, espresso in hand

1144.  Watching the sunset on a deserted beach with my husband

1145.  When she asked her Grandpa if he could make blueberry pancakes...

1146.  ...and he made it seem like a great idea (even though it was already on the menu)

1147.  That she's learning at a young age the importance of keeping your word...

1148.  ...even under intense peer pressure

1149.  Watching my son play a piece written by his father...

1150.  ...and that he did a beautiful job!

One By One

1116.  A next-day appointment with the specialist

1117.  Being awakened at 5:56 a.m. with an excited whisper..."Mom!!!"

1118.  Holding her hand as we tiptoe downstairs to look out the window

1119.  Snow on the valley floor!

1120.  Going back to bed knowing we can sleep in (no school!)

1121.  The kids' "No School Because of Snow" dance!

1122.  Hot chocolate with extra marshmallows

1123.  Eaves lined with icicles

1124.  Choosing just the right Christmas tree

1125.  Watching the children decorate the tree

1126.  Going outside in sub-zero weather, just to feel what that is like!

1127.  A toasty warm house to retreat to!!!

1128.  That our pipes didn't freeze

1129.  Beautiful sunsets several days in a row

1130.  Walking together in the snow

One by One

1101.  Discipleship night with my daughter

1102.  Hearing my husband create new pieces

1103.  Getting in and out of the after-hours clinic so fast

1104.  Laughter around the dinner table

1105.  Her recent interest in cooking

1106.  Her willing compliance with activity restrictions due to her concussion

1107.  The two hot side dishes she made for Thanksgiving

1108.  Thanksgiving 2013

1109.  My new counter top roaster oven

1110.  That she still catches frogs...

1111.  ...and names them (Phineas)...

1112.  ...and then releases them

1113.  Slow but steady recovery from her concussion

1114.  Coffee and a recipe exchange with my friend

1115.  Peppermint Mocha scented candles

One By One

1076.  A principal with an open door policy

1077.  That she stood strong in the face of a threat because she knew the truth and wasn't afraid

1078.  Family portraits under an old oak tree

1079.  Playful puppies in the pet shop window

1080.  Cotton clouds stretched low across the foothills

1081.  Having peace about a hard decision

1082.  A sunny afternoon at the pumpkin patch

1083.  Tromping through the corn maze

1084.  Hay rides

1085.  A big hug from my friend Jacque at Mercy Found Me

1086.  Safe landing in Greenville, SC

1087.  Discovering I was the hotel's "Guest of the Day"

1088.  When he texts me to let me know he's praying for me

1089.  Allume 2013

1090.  Receiving a long awaited answer to prayer...

1091.  ...and the answer was more than I asked for

1092.  Family Fun Night at church

1093.  A flock of wild turkeys

1094.  Speckled feathers

1095.  Watching my son earn his black belt in Taekwondo

1096.  That he avoided serious injury during the four hour test

1097.  Celebratory dinners with the whole family, including grandparents!!

1098.  How my brother makes me laugh

1099.  Maple bars

1100.  Little girls holding hands in a prayer circle   

One By One

1052.  Seeing improvement and confidence in how she handles a horse

1053.  Singing camp songs together in Subway

1054.  That she made fresh squeezed lemonade...

1055.  ...and it was pretty good!

1056.  Seeing her hair in pigtails

1057.  When her friend said that we were an "awesome family."

1058.  First day of school 2013

1059.  Pictures on the porch

1060.  When she listed me as one of her heroes

1061.  "Up" and hot chocolate with the kids

1062.  A husband who has integrity

1063.  Walking the loop with my friend, M

1064.  The wonderful meal P made for me when I was sick

1065.  My pastor who is faithful in his study and teaching of the Word

1066.  When people operate in their gifts to bless others

1067.  Birthday, 2013

1068.  Birthday dinner with my parents

1069.  That our old house sold quickly and without incident

1070.  Attending a Precept Bible Study on a weekly basis

1071.  Phone conversations with my brother

1072.  Listening to my son's monologue for drama class

1073.  His maturity in being able to accept constructive criticism

1074.  When he received positive feedback from his teacher and peers for his performance

1075.  A warm, dry home on blustery nights

One by One

(These are gifts that I recorded during the summer while I took a break from blogging.  I'm listing more than usual in an attempt to get caught up to date!)

1026.  Bumpy truck rides up a mountain

1027.  Mining for quartz crystal

1028.  The deep, earthy red color of jasper

1029.  Arriving home after four plane rides and 15 hours in the airport system

1030.  Friends who helped us pack and move...

1031.  ...and did so with cheerful hearts...

1032.  ...that made the process joyful and fun!

1033.  Our new home

1034.  Discovering that we had already met our neighbors through a mutual acquaintance

1035.  Three different families who warmly welcomed us to the neighborhood

1036.  Potlucks in the park on a warm summer evening

1037.  Visiting our friends in Washington

1038.  My new rice cooker

1039.  That my daughter curled up next to me in bed while I listened to a podcast on Psalm 120

1040.  Moonlit wheat fields

1041.  Learning about the Psalms of Ascent

1042.  Her excitement over decorating her new clubhouse

1043.  Eating dinner on the patio

1044.  Watching the sun set with friends

1045.  Slices of cold, crisp watermelon

1046.  that he packed for camp by himself...

1047.  ...and did a great job!

1048.  Sending care packages

1049.  That the old house went to "pending" status

1050.  Running into friends at the coast...

1051.  ...and being treated to a lovely dinner overlooking the ocean (even if it was fogged in!)

One By One

Up until I now, I have been counting His gifts and blessings under the title "One Thousand Gifts."  I am continuing to count, and will post a list each Monday under the new title "One by One."  I chose this title based on the chorus of the old hymn "Count Your Blessings."

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

1001.  Sunsets over the Rocky Mountains

1002.  Wild rabbits nibbling grass

1003.  A sunny day at the zoo

1004.  Learning how tea is processed and packaged

1005.  Meadows full of wildflowers

1006.  Gelato

1007.  Playing miniature golf with the kids

1008.  The beautiful photo he was given

1009.  One dozen red roses

1010.  Browsing at the bookstore

1011.  A fun day at Waterworld

1012.  His calming and reassuring voice on the other end of the line

1013.  Safe arrival home after a drama-filled day of travel

1014.  Getting lost in a good book

1015.  The balloon animal my son made for me

1016.  The drone of bumblebees...

1017.  ...in a patch of lavendar

1018.  Singing about His grace

1019.  Keys to the new house

1020.  Thunderheads against a coral sky

1021.  Inchworms

1022.  Colorful crepe myrtle trees

1023.  Meeting a lovely young couple...

1024.  ...and their families...

1025.  ...and being a guest at their wedding