January's Joy Dare

Ann Voskamp is on my Reading List for 2012.

Her book, One Thousand Gifts is supposed to be a true blessing.

I have recently started following her blog, and this came across a few days ago. . .

the January Joy Dare.

You can read all about it here:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/01/the-1-habit-your-new-year-cant-do-without-giveaway/

I have to do this.

I.  Have.  To.  Do.  This.

I HAVE TO DO THIS!!!

By counting a small number of gifts daily, by the end of the year you should have your own one thousand gifts.

I got started a little late, but I am going to start with today & work backwards. . .

January 9, 2012
     ~a gift in my hand:  my constant reminder that I married one of the greatest men in the world

     ~a gift I walked by:  Mrs. Kim, one of the Princess' teachers at daycare. . .she is soooo great with the kids, always smiling, always loving. . .I just appreciate her sooo much!

     ~a gift I sat with:  my lunch-mate, teammate, and friend Marti. . .

January 8, 2012
     ~light that caught me--the full moon. . .always sooo beautiful rising out my front window

     ~a reflection that surprised me--my Princess in the mirror getting ready for church. . .her giggles always surprise me and tug at my heartstrings!

     ~a shadow that fell lovely--the shadows cast by all of the people on their knees at church praying for lost loved ones or other needs. . .especially the shadow cast over Tyler as his mommy & daddy knelt over him to pray.

January 7, 2012
     ~three graces from people I love
          --an unexpected milkshake from CookOut delivered from a sweet friend of mine at work

          --a midday nap with no guilt whatsoever, compliments of my hubby!

          --a great big hug from my friend Kristina while I was waiting for Tyler's game to start

January 6, 2012
     ~one thing in my bag--it's better than my American Express--I never leave home without it!

    ~one thing in my fridge:  Breyer's vanilla ice cream (need I say more???)

    ~one thing in my heart:  my desire for God to send me a true friend.

January 5, 2012
    ~something I'm reading

    ~something I'm making:  notecards on a ring to help me start to memorize Bible verses.

    ~something I'm seeing:  that I need to spend more quality time with my kids, just hanging out and getting to know one another

January 4, 2012
     ~one gift old:  God's word.  Withstands the hold of time.  Still alive and the best counselor ever to be found.  I am so thankful that God gave me a set of directions for life--I wouldn't have a clue otherwise!

     ~one gift new:  finding a blog that one of my former teachers has begun.  She says it, says it well, says it to the point, and leaves no room for debate--just the way I like it!!  Feel free to check her out at http://www.suemacslife.blogspot.com/.

     ~one gift blue:  a Duke loss to Temple (can't help it--those are so rare, they have to be gifts from God!  After all, He chose to paint the skies Carolina Blue!)

January 3, 2012

     ~3 lines I overheard that were graces

          --"Hello.  This is Debbie Kincaid calling for Burke County Schools.  Due to inclement weather, Burke County Schools will be on a two-hour delay for students and staff."  (I love waking up to her!)

          --"I hope you have a really good day today, Mrs. Mull"  --as spoken by one of my students, Jamie, almost every single morning.

         --"You should never argue with your mother. . .she loves you to pieces."  from Randy to Tyler :)

January 2, 2012
     ~a gift outside:  COLD weather!!!  The kind of COLD weather that produces S.N.O.W.!!!!!  And the next day, it did!!!

     ~a gift inside:  a huge "Thank You!" from a friend a co-worker, Sondra, for the devotional I gave her for Christmas.  She is one of my biggest prayer warriors, and for Christmas I surprised her with a copy of Jesus Calling.  I had no idea it would mean so much!

     ~a gift on a plate:  mozzarella sticks for lunch!!!  (My favorite school lunch!!!)

January 1, 2012
     ~three things about myself that I am grateful for
        1)  I know that I am saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and that in Him and ONLY Him I am redeemed!
        2)  My ability to organize activities or just "stuff" in general. . .especially when I have the time to really do it right!
        3)  The fact that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a healthy 36-year-old TarHeel with lots of life left in her unless Jesus wants to call me home sooner!


WOW!  That was tough--I had to go back through calendars, journal entries, texts, and blogs to remember what happened on those days!!  Now that I am caught up, I want to genuinely focus on looking for my small blessings that Jesus sends my way each and every day!