1000 gifts

Last year my book club chose a book by Ann Voskamp entitled 1000 gifts


I was a bit skeptical at first. It's a christian book- NY times bestseller and, quite frankly, sometimes I'm a bit skeptical of mainstream Christian things... I can't quite explain it...maybe I'm just more hipster than I fear? however, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
-It can be a bit stream of conscience so it really isn't a before bed read and it can, at times, be overtly descriptive but other than the last chapter kind of weirding out some book club friends it was all around liked.

If anything it helped us realize how a paradigm can be shifted if viewed through the lenses of the gospel and the importance of the discipline of counting one's blessings (to sound a bit cliche).

I loved even more that she eventually talks about not just counting the "great" things in life as gifts but seeing the gift even in pain. That was a major selling point for me. She had a tragic thing occur in her life, so she didn't seem to be one of those happy-smiling-christians who see something sad and just cliche their way through the day to a smile.

She has a blog where every Monday she shares the gifts she records throughout the week.

This year, in an attempt to be more thankful I have started the discipline of writing down little "gifts" in my calendar.
There are blank pages before each month which is perfect!

Here are some of last weeks gifts:

2/6: A Bloom group leader who invites us over to her beautiful house, is real with us and makes THE BEST chocolate pie...... (grandma's recipe which she passed on to me)

2/8: Impromptu dinner with two of our married couple friends at our favorite low key restaurant, laughing till it hurts as we tell stories about our quirky families...

2/9: Speedy grace from the hubs after a not so graceful moment

2/9: a friend who texts you a website b/c she knows it'll make you giggle

2/11: A timely verse as I go through Proverbs reminding me what I should place my security in (Proverbs 18:10-11)

2/12: Sunday afternoon nap cuddles (GAH are they not the CUTEST little things you have ever seen?!)

Here's to a more thankful heart and not forgetting the sweet things God puts my way...

P.S my brilliant friend Hillary used her mad skillz to create these Valentine Day gift tags for all you guys looking to spice up some vday gifts! It's not too late!