One Thousand Gifts (continued)

 '"I know the plans I have for you, " declares the LORD "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

She carefully puts the pieces where she thinks they should.

Sometimes she tries to put a piece where it doesn't belong.

God puts the puzzle pieces of our lives in just the right places.  Sometimes we try to control things and put the pieces in places where they don't belong.  God sees the completed puzzle and He knows exactly where the pieces belong.  He has a plan for our lives "to give us hope and a future".  

Continuing to give thanks...

#3437- #3453

-the plans God has for our lives

-that He puts the puzzle pieces of our lives in just the right places

-her concentration and skill at puzzling

-how she has encouraged us in her 3 year old way to hold hands while praying

-his diligence with his homework

-his new interest in drawing people

-her hugs when she gets off the bus

-how she entertains herself (using different voices) outside

-Paul taking the girls to the park

-his excitement when surprised with an early birthday gift

-having fun with his little sister at Veggie Tales Live

-the interest of others regarding adoption and fostering

-her amazing teachers at Story Hour!
-her friends at Story Hour

-how she put herself to bed for a nap!
-days with no plans
-signs of spring

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share" 

 (1 Timothy 6:18).

She loves to give gifts to others.

She loves to give me notes.

She loves to share her things with others.  

Giving her hair to support help cancer patients is another example of her generous heart.  

Continuing to give thanks...

#3424-#3436

-her generous heart

-the many notes and pictures that I have received from her

-a beautiful, healthy baby girl born to our niece and her husband

-talking for hours in a little restaurant with friends

-a successful men's evening last night

-fellowship and eating together as a church community

-a break from school routines

-Paul's many workers, accomplishing much work in the greenhouse

-his excitement to have his children (and his wife too, of course) watch his game

-our super star (winning 2 games on Saturday in shoot outs)

-two Pauls playing together

-how he lights up to show me things that he makes, like his little igloo

-a very fun day with my brother and 9 children at Lego discovery centre

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" 

 (Ephesians 5:1,2).

She wears her fake glasses, just so that she can be like her siblings.  She loves to imitate them in what they say and do (sometimes good, sometimes not so good!!).

I ask myself, who do I try to imitate?  Who do I want to be like?  Ephesians 5 reminds us to be imitators of God and to live a life of love.  It explains further in the chapter and in chapter 4 how we ought not to live (4:25 "speak truthfully"; 4:25 "do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths"; 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another; 4:31"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger"; 5:3 "there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality" etc.).  We are to to put off our old selves and put on the new self, created to be like God (4:22-24).  This is not an easy task and certainly can not be done on our own.  It is my prayer that the holy spirit will help me become more like Christ and be an "imitator of God".

Continuing to give thanks...
#3403-#3423
-God's Word and how it teaches us how to live
-the work of the Holy Spirit helping us be more like Christ
-the good examples that her siblings are to her
-eating lunch outside yesterday
-a fun, relaxing night out with hubby
-tea with friends
-her excitement of trying every single peanut flavour at the peanut store
-getting some work hours over the March Break
-Nicole's companionship and how she so easily makes me laugh

-Christian concerts

-inspiring, fun music

-a fun night out with friends

-Nicole's love for her music (and lots of other Christian music)

-my fun loving, energetic girls

-wrapping my arms around my sweet boys

-her goofy smiles

-my hard working husband who loves his job and takes pride in his work

-her love for her daddy's flowers

-the beauty, the details, the colour

-how it always feels like spring in the greenhouse

-our family

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19, 22).

As I sit in the emergency room with my daughter, we wonder what the doctors will say and what procedures will need to be done.  

As we wait and wait for a referral for a little boy from Ethiopia, we wonder when we will be blessed with that addition to our family.  

As our niece and her husband await the arrival of their first born, they wonder what his/her birth date will be.  

As my brother sends out resume after resume, he wonders what God has in store for him and his future.  As seasons change, we wonder when the weather will start to get warmer.  

As we wake up in the morning, we wonder what the day will bring. 

When there is so much uncertainty around us we can be assured of this:  Jesus' blood can make us sinners clean and through His death on the cross, we are given eternal life!  

Continuing to give thanks...

#3385- #3402

-the blood of Christ

-the certainty of eternal life because of grace and Christ's death and resurrection

-friendly, empathetic nurses

-caring doctors

-that her injuries weren't worse than they were

-Mom, who kept me company in the emergency room with Nicole

-awesome report cards

-visit with an old friend

-meeting and connecting with other adoptive mommies

-how he eagerly took notes as he was trying to learn the Amharic language

-the beautiful blanket of white snow

-how he still wants to be near her despite how she treats him

-the excitement of building a fort

-bedtime stories

-how she loves books, especially "Bunny my Honey"

-her microphone and how she sings (and does all the actions) to the African Children's Choir

-family breakfasts (including the pets!!)

-easy hair styles and other blogs to glean ideas from