May Joy Dare

As you know, I've been counting the gifts, and each month Ann Voskamp throws out a challenge to find 3 gifts each day that reflect God's gracious love as we live life, taking time to see the gifts God is placing around us.  Here are the blessings I found in May.

(Blessings #746-839)

3 Gifts Tasted
- Chicken taco during lunch with a friend at La Hacienda
- TCBY with my kiddos
- Farm fresh eggs, in exchange for grass clipping to feed the cows

3 Gifts Flat
- orange wings on the butterfly that fluttered past my face as I mowed the yard
- the plains where we live, very very flat, making driving from point A to B faster and easier than the curvy/hilly roads in neighboring states. 
- college dorm sheets; washed, dried, and folded flat until fall.

3 Gifts Found In Difficult People
- a reminder that they are dealing with their own battles
- an opportunity to practice patience
- a reminder that Jesus went to the cross for that person too

3 Gifts Before 9am
- waking up to the symphony of birds, outside my open window
- the great mood everyone was in before school today
- sharing a fresh blueberry bagel with my teenage daughter, who toasted them for us.  And then I made one for my hubby too.

A Sign - "1st Grade" - the spot back stage where Jillian's ballet group lines up before taking stage
A Smile - Jillian's joy over completing her first dance recital "rehearsal" and practicing on stage.
A Snack - soft chewy chocolate chip toffee cookies (made with white whole wheat flour)

Found In Christ
- my identity is found in Him, not in things or others
- my confidence rests in Him.  There is nothing I need that He cannot provide.
- He is my light, in whom there is no darkness at all

About My Home
- hardwood cherry floors - love them!
- stability (when other homes are filled with violence and pain, as reminded by the news recently)
- lots of memories, having lived here 16 years

Inside A Closet
- my wedding dress, in my mom's closet (her house is bigger than mine)
- school boxes holding treasures of each school year for each of my children (that's a lot of boxes!)
- winter coats, tucked away until next winter, as we welcomed an early spring

Found in the Dark
- millions of stars, twinkling in the depths of the sky
- our faithful owl, alerting us to his presence each night
- a soft warm bed for my tired body

Outside - flowers blooming, sun shining
Inside - MyBridgeRadio playing non-stop
Upside Down - Jillian working diligently on her handstands and cartwheels

About Your Parents
Philippians 1:3 - "I thank my God in all my rememberances of you."
- they gave me roots and wings
- their generosity and giving of themselves to lend a helping hand.  They sacrifice much.
- their love and support, and the way they cheer for their grandkids and attend as many of their activities as possible.  Their grandkids feel their love and support in a big way.

Held In Your Hand Today
- bread dough, being formed into dinner rolls
- Big, happy, colorful, beautiful "Happy Birthday" flowers from my mother-in-law and father-in-law.  So sweet of them!
- buttery theater popcorn, brought home from work by my favorite son

Found in My Mother
- She generously gives of her time to others.
- She loves the Lord.  For as long as I can remember, she regularly read her Bible (the one with the dark green cover)
- She's a great cook, and taught me how to bake many, many yummy things from scratch.

me and my mom

Picked Up - my girls from school, always fun to hear about their day.
Put Away - Put away my worries with prayer
Put Back - Helped put back my daughter's fears by reminding her of God's protection.

About Me
- I am nothing without Him.  "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from Heaven."  John 3:27
- I love everything about nature . . . AND the mountains!
- I am weak, therefore the strength that shines through me during trials isn't from me, it's from the Lord.

Found in His Word
- Philippians 4:4-7 (peace that surpasses all understanding)
- Proverbs 27:17 (lunch with a good friend, and a long walk in the morning with another)
- Deuteronomy 31:6 (God is always with me, so there's no reason to be afraid)

In a Box - strawberries, happily dipped in chocolate for Jenica's 14th Birthday party
In a Bag - Subway lunch with Jake after he rototilled the garden for me (without complaining or procrastinating)
In A Book - Jillian received her last book order of the year and has already started reading them

Unexpected
- As my daughter and 5 friends were getting ready for their last Jr High dance, 2 of Jenica's friends asked me to fix their hair for them.
- That Jillian's fear of losing didn't keep her from participating in the elementary field day with smiles on her face today.
- That Jillian tried a strawberry for the first time and discovered that she likes them!

From My Childhood
- Spending time frequently with my grandparents, since they all lived close by.  Not everyone gets that blessings.
- Regular family gatherings for all the holidays, birthdays, and out-of-state guests.
- Growing up on a farm, searching for treasures in the pastures, making tree houses and teepees.

Sweet - snuggling in the hammock with my girls
Sour - lemonade leftover from Jenica's slumber party
Salty - Matthew 5:13-16 (we are called to be salt and light)

Found In Little People
- excitement about life.   Oh, and lots of giggles.
- joy in simple things
- unconditional love and honesty

That Made Me Laugh
- Erin's experience with the "service bird"  with the beady eyes at the grocery store
- At Jake's baseball game, when a friend cheered for the boy up to bat, thinking he was her son, but finding out later that he wasn't.  (They all look alike in their uniforms and hats)
- Jillian's contagious belly laugh - for no other reason than she's happy.

Found In Community
- Softball parents taking turns supplying water bottles for the team at each of Jenica's (many) games.
- 8th grade parents, working together to organize an end-of-the-year cookout for all 8th graders as they move on to high school in the fall
- Facebook community giving shouts of encouragement when someone needs it and joy when celebrating.

On a Plate - an antique plate that cleaned up well after being rescued from an old run-down farmhouse
In a Cup - pretzel bites from the mall
In a Package - new hiking boots for our trip to Estes soon

Hard Giving Thanks For
- going to bed late, getting up early - all so I can head up to the Rockies with my hubby for a long weekend
- saying goodbye to our kids, as Chad & I leave for a little getaway in Estes Park
- days when I don't feel the best

Worn - new hiking boots, thankful to hike on the "rooftop of the Rockies" of Rocky Mtn National Park at 12,000 feet.
White - snow, clouds close enough to touch, white water rushing over boulders and rocks at RMNP
Whispered - gentle wind whispering throug the fragrant pines.

Found In Church (God's Outdoor Sanctuary in RMNP)
- majestic mountains, shouting God's grandeur, full of His handprints, as they were created by Him for us to enjoy
- Biking, Hiking, and Surviving
- Hummingbirds, Elk, trout, chipmunks, butterflies, and other wildlife we found in the mountains

Found In Today's Work
- Sadness in leaving the mountains turns to joy as we travel back home to see our kiddos after 4 days away.
- cheap gas at Big Springs ($3.31/gal)
- Safety as we travel on a busy interstate

At 8am - Filling in for our church secretary today.
At Noon - hearing Jillian's excitement as she told me about her first day at summer school, and the hug she gave me as I got home for my lunch break.
At 8pm - attending Jake's baseball game - watching as he patiently coaches his team - he does such a great job with them.

At the Jack Waller Tournament - they got 3rd place in the U14 age group

Blue
- Blueberry bagels leftover from Estes
- dark blueish-gray rain clouds, moving towards us, filled with rain (and hail)
- the calm after the storm exposing the pure blue sky behind the clouds

That I Gave Today
- provided water bottles to Jenica's softball team at a double header in a nearby town
- cupcakes made for Jake's team, in celebration of his bookkeeper's 40th Bday.  (Keeping book isn't an easy job.  I've tried it.  Once.  And was quickly replaced.)
- Hugs freely given to Jillian who has told me 100 times that she's gonna miss me when Jenica and I are in Washington DC next week.

Click here and print out the "June Joy Dare," and join me in counting the gifts. Praising the One who fills our cup.