1000 Things

I don't even know where to begin...
I love blogs! There. That seems like a good place to start! I love blogs because one link on one blog leads to another link on another blog, and so on and so forth. Somehow, through blogstalking, I wound up face to face with this book staring at me. I ordered the book and I can hardly stand to put it down! The online book club that goes along with this book starts this Sunday, February 6th. However, they are only going to discuss Chapter One, so I don't want to get too far ahead of the book club! But I want to keep reading!!!! I URGE you to please buy this book and inhale it! BAM does NOT have it and can't even order it. In Auburn, you can order it from Lighthouse or Hastings. (I ordered mine from Lighthouse and received it within 48 hours). The book is called "1000 Gifts" because, on a dare and in a very "dry" spiritual season for this author, she was asked to list 1000 things for which she is thankful. God's gifts. 1000. As she began making her list, her life changed. She woke up each day with an excitement, a giddiness, that truly changed her life. Writing down, naming God's gifts, in the ordinary day-to-life, she discovered just how blessed we all are right where we are. Her excitement is contagious. The happiness that flow from God's gifts in the day-to-day is ours if we will just look at them as God's gifts! After reading Chapter two last night, I could hardly fall asleep because I was busy making my own list in my mind.
I have a feeling that the author will challenge us to make our own list of 1000 Gifts. However, I haven't read the entire book (yet), so I'm not entirely sure of the challenge. Regardless, I am beginning my list today! I don't need a challenge - I just needed a little inspiration.

My list of 1000 gifts is in no particular order, but I took these pictures yesterday (before I began my list), and I can't look at them without thinking of God's gifts and thanking him for them!

1. The smile of a seven year old with a kool-aid mustache and big front teeth, and not a care in the world that her teeth are big or that she has a red kool-aid mustache.

2. Freckles sprinkled on the nose of a little girl (specifically, these freckles sprinkled on this little nose).

I've blogged so infrequently lately that I'm not sure I have any readers left! But I am still going to host a give-away for this incredible book! Leave a comment and I'll choose a winner by this Thursday, February 2nd. Even if you don't enter the give-away, "pretty please with a cheery on top" order this book and be blessed by it!!!

2010 was a sad year for me. The timing of this book (God's timing!) is so good. I am so ready to focus on God's gifts/blessings and and thank Him for every bit of it!