Beyond Blessed
'Pieces of Gratitude' excerpts from my 2011 Gratitude Journal
~Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary~
~Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary~
THANKING GOD FOR:
24- Flying the girls in the air on my legs like Superman 247- Hot steaming tea 339- Harry saving Gabrielle’s life when she choked and fell unconscious 484- The Free American History Picture Study from Nat’l Endowment For The Arts 483- Richard’s faithful generosity in tithing and blessing others.
486- Abigail reading the Bible aloud every morning 490- My big brother 493- Adventure Group 499- Coupons from Patsy & Judy, the Callahan’s, and Allen’s. 501- Learning about the heart in Anatomy 507- The sunrise I can see peeking in through the kitchen window each morning 517- Emergency room stopping Gabrielle’s cough so she could breathe 518- Richard’s new handsome glasses 538- Found money in 2010 of $28.16 553- Reading aloud to the girls; my great great great grandfather, Robert Watson’s, Civil War Journal 554- Reading aloud my grandmother, Alice's, published genealogy books 572- $5 Bang bang shrimp 594- Planning a skiing trip 647- Write2Ignite; Writers Conference with Jessica 653- Girls starting their 1000 gift dare in Keepers Club
654- Williamsburg, VA with the Herndon’s 671- Romeo peeking out the dining room window when we pull up in the driveway 695- Learning... that authentic “Thanksgiving precedes the Miracle” & 696- The way to praise God is to thank Him. 697- Jessica’s picture winning the Wizard of Oz contest and being made into a program and poster advertisement.
731- Planning for Jessica in high school, Abigail in middle school, and Gabrielle’s Kindergarden for 2011-2012 734- Gabrielle saving the squirrel’s Whole Entire Life. 741- Abigail making brownies all by herself 750- Both girls performing in The Wizard of Oz (Munchkin, farmhand, Winkie, & Ozian) 756- Jessica being asked by director to help make-up artist 771- Ruth’s testimony
772- Abigail's bravery 793- Making stained glass crosses with residents of The Little Flower 798- A visit from Unkle Harry 799- Abigail’s Drama Queen birthday party 820- Finding a snake while hunting Easter Eggs 832- Gabrielle reciting the Gettysburg Address all by herself at the Award Ceremony (272 words and only 4yo! ) 840- A friend trusting us enough to pray for her when she found a breast lump 847- Tea Party on the Delta Queen River Boat with Aunt Sandy in TN 870- Richard's safety in auto accident 876- Jessica’s first babysitting job
869- Watching Twilight Zone with Jessica 898- Going to “Hello Dolly” play with the girls and singing all the way home 899- Swimming at The YMCA for the summer 915- Abigail’s Easter Lilies blooming 944- Jessica’s first day volunteering at the library 964- No complaints
972- Double rainbows on the beach
1000- Ann Voskamp’s 1000 gifts (buy & read!!!) 1032- Abigail babysitting her lil' sis 1039- Taking Jessica and her girlfriends to the final Harry Potter movie premier at Midnight 1049- The She Speaks Conference 1050- 1st annual She Speaks Clothing Swap 1059- Richard’s beautiful wood shelves he built for my washroom! 1069- Kay’s ‘grandma camp’ for the girls 1104- Gabrielle learning to write her name 1112- Abigail’s dance team audition
1174- Richard’s best ever shrimp dinner on the deck listening to the ocean
1176- Abigail’s Festival in the Park dance team performance 1192- Daddy buying Gabrielle her first hermit crab, Henry 1236- Jessica’s first Gavel Club speech 1259- yard sale treasures 1260- getting published in The Old School House Magazine & Proverbs 31 magazine 1270- Boot camp with Jessica 1273- Christian yoga and lavender oil 1287- Gabrielle teaching herself to ride a bike without training wheels
1288- Finding Richard’s love notes 1289- The visit to TN to see Sandy and Tom 1304- "Ellie’isms’’ 2011: “glubs” (you wear on your hands), “Pop pop party” (potluck party), “Sub-er-way” for Subway 1320- Gabrielle getting her 1st library card! 1406- Attempting to remember, “Life is not an emergency.” 1407- Catching falling leaves w/ Gabrielle. 1408- The best husband ever! 1422- Spying deer on a morning run 1423- Learning about birds. 1432- Jeannie’s letters 1435- My shoes 1446- Tradition of eggnog & tree decorating 1447- God's gift of Christ................
Now on to infinity...
“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. “ John Milton
We pray you have a blessed CHRISTmas, a Grateful New Year, and that you encounter everyday epiphanies!
“And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:13
Learning the art of thankfulness,
The Brown's
The Brown's
