the list grows

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."     — G.K. Chesterton

42.-96.

having lunch and spending time with Aunt Debbie

quality time with Andrew and forgiveness

Easter Sunday -- resurrection --restoration -- renewed life

Easter service at Crossbridge

my mom coming to church

Hannah coming to give me a hug before the service had ended

preparing Easter lunch with my mom

lunch with my side of the family/time spent with sisters

Easter dinner with Andrew's side of the family

a new dress

substitute teaching and loving every minute of it

seeing old friends and colleagues

being able to teach, yet leave by 2 and be in the gym by 2:45

learning I am more capable than I thought

relating to Ann Voskamp's struggle with time and death

Andrew's sweet massage before I fell asleep

feeling encouraged through failure

knowing Sonia is in the U.S. receiving medical care she desperately needs

dinner with Andrew's parents

playing with Maddy Bell

taking care of the toddlers at BSF

having lunch with Andrew

driving through the trees on Ludlum

watching Andrew play with baby Sonia

taking care of Sonia through the night

Sonia's night nurse was wonderful

Hearing Emelyne's story of her calling to work at the orphanage

the texts passed back and forth between my mom and I

getting much needed rest and sleeping most of the day

Trinity napping right next to me or on me

community group of great people

pillow talk

spooning

Knaus Berry Farm cinnamon rolls

smooth drive to Tampa

catching up with Adriana on the phone

talking with and playing with Alexa

holding Lucas

laughing with Becky and Brian

hearing Alexa call for me

a hair stylist who has become a friend

the chilly morning air in Tampa after the heat in Miami

being in Orlando

spending time with Brian and Rachel and their boys

the mad dash to get ready for Leah's shower/the guys helping us

meeting Leah's friends/seeing her so happy at the shower

talking with Wendy

getting a sweet fb message from a colleague and friend

going to City Church --great church, great message, great people

having lunch with new friends

spending time with Uncle Bob

hanging out with the Key family and playing with 2 very cute little boys

a safe trip back home

laughing before bed

what i am not saying

Past 1% change updates:

1. The Elliptical - we hit a snag. I was doing great. I was so impressed with my own resolve and gained endurance, and then Tuesday I made myself finish out the last 30 minutes even though I thought I might end up losing my right foot. My toes were numb and the soles of both my feet were burning. SO I worked out at home with corny workout videos just so I'd be doing something in order to give my feet a break and to figure out how to fix the problem. I am glad to report that I have missed the elliptical. I really have.

2. Gluten and sugar free for a week - I did quite well. However, I did not even try Easter Sunday. I had two homes in which I would be sharing a meal and I was not about to bring my own food or request a menu change so I ate some glutened dishes and I chose to have a small slice of chocolate cake. The rest of the week I did great, except for the 2 Ritz crackers I ate at BSF when I was taking care of the toddlers {I plumb forgot about my own challenge.} and the chocolate Easter candy I ate when I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't go to the elliptical {Try making sense out of that one. I know!} Other than that I rocked it and I impressed myself. So I am going to continue the challenge. {After I eat a cinnamon roll from Knaus Berry Farm. They are closing up shop until November people!}

Jessi over at Naptime Diaries has challenged her friends and readers with a new challenge this week in her 1% change campaign. She asked her readers these questions, "What is the thing you've struggled with that you've stopped talking to the Lord about? Maybe you don't talk to the Lord about anything, why not start? If we have a loving Father who wants His absolute best for us, why do we stop asking Him for help? Why do we stop telling Him what's on our hearts?" 


I let her know that this is my favorite challenge yet. These very things she brings up are so true for myself. I definitely keep things from Him. Not in the way of a child trying to cover up a mistake or a friend trying to keep a secret. I just don't think to go "there" in my prayers because it never really occurred to me that I needed to. And if it had occurred to me then the right words or approach seemed to be lost on me so I never put in much effort.


But when I think of these things that I am not talking to Him about. These things that I am not searching His heart on. I realize how deeply they affect me and how much they weigh me down and I am truly dumbfounded that I simply never put in much thought about it before Jessi posed the questions.  So I am really going to make an effort each day to start uncovering those places in my heart that I've kept hidden from Him for such a long time. I am really excited about this 1% change because in my experience with God, He is always so faithful to listen and tend to a sincere cry for being known, challenged, and changed.

  

night watch and a prayer request

A few weeks ago, I learned of a baby girl from Haiti, named Sonia, who lives in an orphanage and is in need of a life saving heart surgery. Friends of ours were asking us and others to pray for Sonia as they did what they could to see to it that she received the needed surgery. A group of doctors, along with a local hospital board, agreed to perform the surgery and provide Sonia's care free of charge! And so began the campaign to provide our friends with the things they would need to care for this sweet girl as she will stay with them in the months following her surgery. Sonia arrived Monday afternoon and was admitted to the hospital the very next day due to an unforeseen complication. She has an infection in her foot that must heal before they can give her the heart operation she came here for. She may need to be on IV antibiotics for weeks in order to heal the infection and that would hold up her heart surgery which she desperately needs. Please pray for her!

 As of now she is in a part of the hospital that does not have a one-to-one ratio of nurse to patient so our friends asked if I wouldn't mind staying the night last night to care for her through the night. I was happy to oblige. I'd get to actually hold and care for this baby girl I'd grown to love in my many prayers for her little life these last few weeks. She is precious! It was the first time I'd been on my own, alone, and responsible for caring for an infant since my high school babysitting days. Crazy, I know. I was apprehensive, but excited about it. I wanted to serve in this way and the hard-to-explain-it-but-nevertheless-true part of me that is sentimental about the hospital ever since my stay in 2004 was happy to be back in that environment chatting it up with the hospital staff.

The night was great. Yes, I lost sleep due to the whirring machines, the snoring father to the baby in the bed next to Sonia's, the TV he left on, the constant flow of nurses and assistants checking on her and taking her vitals, feeding her, and moving to a private room down the hall at 3am. But I got to watch her sleep and pray for her, read through the passages in my Bible that had meant so much to me when I was in the hospital, sing to her, rock her back to sleep, and take in for the first time James 1:27 in a very real way. It was a beautiful night. One I would be happy to do again if needed. It was the closest I've ever been to understanding on some tiny level what mother's mean when they wake to make sure the baby is still breathing and OK, just want to watch them sleep, and the joy felt at feeding a baby in the middle of the night while a pair of eyes look deep into yours with trust and affection. The first thing I said to Andrew when I got in the car this morning was, "I want a baby of my own, like tomorrow." :)

So if you read all of that, could you do me a favor and just pray for Sonia. Pray that this infection would heal quickly and that they would be able to give her the heart surgery she needs very soon. She's had so many pray for her and love her these last few weeks. Please join us! She is a very precious and blessed baby girl.

the main event

I still have Easter heavy on my heart. I thought the chance to blog about it had passed, but shouldn't we live Easter Sunday daily really? I am not talking about the Easter bunny here. I am talking about the real reason for the most important holiday in a Believer's year -- Christ died with my sin on His perfect shoulders and 3 days later rose from the grave and conquered sin and death forever. Now that is something to celebrate!

Do you ever feel like the holiday comes and goes without much thought even though it is the most significant? I think it's really easy to go to church and get caught up in the picnics, the egg hunts, the services, the activities, and never really take in the weight of what we are actually celebrating.

A man came from Heaven to earth to live, love, and die! He was seated on a Throne and He got up and walked away from it with the intention to usher me into that very same Throne room one day. He lived a lowly life. One that many would scoff at then and still do now. He was simple. He was not a man people would flock to for His charm and good looks, yet thousands would crowd cities and hillsides to spend hours and days basking in His Words and in His Presence. He came on a mission, to preach the Good News, to heal, and to set people free.

Free.

Yet many were out to kill Him from the moment they heard Him speak. People outraged at this Man who would heal and love on the Sabbath broke laws themselves to see to it that He die quickly. Law keepers and abiders chained by their own hatred and sin would break their own laws to see an innocent Man, who came to set them free, die a gruesome death.

All the while He quietly, calmly, gently drank from the cup that the Father gave Him. He stood silently before His accusers and took the insults of the mob. He was beaten, spat on, lashed, and humiliated without a complaint. Did He think of me when He thought He couldn't bear one more single blow? Was it my face and my heart that kept Him on the path leading to Calvary as He carried the very Cross on which He would die?

He endured more physical pain than I can imagine or will ever know. So that I wouldn't have to.

But what is worse, He endured a separation from the Father because the weight of all mankind's sins sat on His tender shoulders. The Father turned His face away from the Son He loved because He could not stand to look at Him any longer.

I did that. I do that. Everyday the Serpent brings me a shiny new apple and I bite into it.

But Jesus did that for me. He took my place so that I would never know a single moment in which the Father would refuse to look at me. And so now while I still have the juice from the apple dribbling down my chin, all I need do is come into the Presence of the Father and say "I repent" and He accepts me.

Jesus died on an ugly cross, he was laid in a dank, dark tomb, and 3 days later He came forth. He rose from the dead. He rose from the dead and He gave me life.

Life.

He came so that I might have life and have it abundantly. Not just life in the day to day, but life in the moment to moment. Joy in places that seem dark. Peace in places that seem turbulent. Grace in places that seem insurmountable. Love in the places that seem unlovely.

I love Him. I've never loved anyone more and I never will. He is good to me. And I can't wait for the day when I will tell Him to His face what Easter meant to me.

and so it begins

I was bummed that I wasn't able to post this yesterday, but better late than never. I am linking up with Ann Voskamp's blog today for Multitudes on Mondays {even though it's Tuesday}.  This past week I wrote down and kept track of the things I was thankful for each day. This is the beginning of the 1,000 and more.

1.-42.

good morning kisses

conversation as we get ready for church

spending time in worship with a great church community

watching my very favorite movie with Andy

a tidy house

having my family over for dessert and a movie

the facebook study group for 1,000 gifts

working out at a free gym

napping with Trinity curled in the crook of my arm

talking with Holly on the phone

grocery shopping with Andrew

Isaiah 59:21

Kellie and Jorge

writing a blog post and reflecting on friendship

Lucas passed hearing test

Isaiah 60 and Revelation 22

increasing time on elliptical

prayer time

line dancing class with Andrew, my MIL, and his grandpa

video for ch 1 of 1,000 gifts

interacting with ladies in facebook study group

being challenged spiritually by my BSF discussion group and lecture

lunch with Lisa

being asked to be a leader for something dear to my heart

dinner with Lizzy

hearing that my words encouraged dear friends

getting called in for subbing jobs

being married to a great guy

praying to the God who listens

my verse cards

The Word

Maundy Thursday service at Crossbridge

singing How Deep the Father's Love for Us

singing Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners

sitting with Maddy on the floor

Good Friday -- Jesus' sacrifice

sun beams and cool breezes

a good workout

a long awaited package on the doorstep

cooking a new meal

playing with Trinity

Reading at Barnes and Noble

It was good for me to go back through my week in this regard. It was a hard week, yet look how wonderful it really was!

homework

Last night Andrew and I went to Barnes and Noble and I did some gluten-free homework and Easter reading. That children's book, The First Easter, has gorgeous illustrations! I started reading The G Free Diet and I like it so far. Andrew found me the Gluten-free, Sugar-free Cooking book. When he took it off the shelf and handed it to me the heavens parted, beams of light streamed in, and the angels began singing. I thought I might be stuck eating brown rice and egg whites for breakfast for forever. {I know! Gross, right!?} So if you look really closely at what I have written down in the notebook you will see where my priorities lie...pancakes.

Andrew did this while we were there. Work! That he claims was "fun" to do and not really work. Oh my!

this one's gonna hurt

Jessi over at Naptime Diaries has suggested committing to a time sensitive challenge for the better to see how it makes us feel and how it improves our quality of life for this week's 1% change. So I have two huge changes that I am going to make...

I have fought with myself over the idea of going sugar free for forever. I am addicted to sugar. It has been proven to be more addictive than cocaine! Hence, the reason it has been a really hard decision to cut it out of my diet. But I think it's for the best and I have to go cold turkey. I am going to go refined sugar free for one week to see how I feel, but I'd like to make it much longer than that.

I am also going to go gluten free. I have had my suspicion regarding this one for awhile. I don't feel well most of the time and most meals and snacks consist of something with gluten in it, so I am going to just test this one out for one week also. I think I will need to do it longer in order to really see if that's what makes me feel less than awesome all the time.

I'd really like to make these changes for a longer period of time, but I am honestly afraid I will fail, so I am going to take it one week at a time! And allow me to give a disclaimer, refined sugar or no refined sugar I will have the occasional piece of dark chocolate. End. of. story.

My first 1% change is going well and I am still on the wagon. I went to the gym faithfully this week and even increased my time on the elliptical. Holla!