Seeing the Gifts

"The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now, joy might be -- unbelievably -- possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now." Ann Voskamp (One Thousand Gifts, pg. 22)

I begin to feel a change in myself.  It's refreshing, it's exciting...A more peaceful house, because Mama begins focusing on the things to be grateful for.  Less yelling, more patience.  It's work.  Hard work.  And I need more practice.  But after one week of counting the gifts, I begin to feel a change.  Finding the gifts in the here and now, seeing God in the here and now...in my mess...I believe this is the start of a great journey.  And I continue to count...

6. Boy running from doors of school, big smiles, arms open wide for hug.
7. Sleeping until 8 a.m.
8. Rain to nourish the earth in expectation of spring.
9. Hot shower, uninterrupted by the pitter patter of little feet.
10. One child, quiet and content in grocery cart.
11. Jelly beans
12. Husband working hard to build playset, joy of children playing when it is done.

13. Butterfly in swimsuit twirling circles through house.
14. Imaginations wild -- house filled with firemen, policemen, superheroes, ballerinas, doctors, astronauts, and more.
15. All the orneriness in just one look.

16. Promise of spring seen in sprouts of green pushing through brown earth.