One Thousand Gifts

I have followed Ann Voskamp's blog for a long time now and have wanted to read her book, One Thousand Gifts, since it came out but never got around to it. About a month ago a sweet co-worker and I were talking about the book over lunch. The next day she surprised me with the book on my desk. What a blessing to work among such precious ladies.

I have just practically inhaled this book and all its truth and goodness. I cannot encourage you enough to go out and get this book. If I had to sum up what I have learned from this book so far in one word it would be thankfulness. Eucharisteo.

As Ann explains, "the root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning 'grace.' Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks."1

"But there is more and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds as its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning 'joy'."2

"Deep chara joy is found only at the table of euCHARisteo - the table of thanksgiving. I sit there long.. wondering... is it that simple? Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks? So then as long as thanks is possible.. I think this through. As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible."3

I hope it's okay that I quoted Ann (proper credit given), but this thought has completely transformed my way of thinking about joy. Not that I ever consciously thought that joy was out of my control, but by my attitude and the way I lived - unthankful - I was unconsciously preventing myself from experiencing true God-given joy. This thankfulness that she talks about isn't just thankfulness for the big celebratory moments in life - but in the everyday, God gifts. And true thankfulness is also present in the difficult, trying moments. But while this concept has completely grabbed my attention, I need a practical way to put this - eucharisteo - into practice. Ann introduces the idea of an ongoing journal where she writes down one thousand blessings. And as one who often "thinks through my fingers", or through writing if you will, I can totally get into this. As I picked up pen and paper to begin my list, I excitedly began writing thanks. Thanks to God for things that I so often take for granted. Little things and big things. Exciting things and hard things. And as I continue writing in the days, weeks, months, and years to come of 1000+ gifts (because I know they are there), I encourage you to write along with me. The list will continue as life happens and I'm sure some days there will be more to add than others, but if someday all we can add is the fact that we have air in our lungs, well that is still something to be thankful for.

One thing I have noticed about myself as I continue my list is that I am seeing things as gifts from God that I usually overlook or simply do not give credit to God for. Like these beautiful deep purple hydrangea blossoms that are decorating the front of our house.

 Or fresh clean clothes, warm from the dryer.

Uplifting, christian music playing from our local radio station.

These beautiful ladies, inside and out, that God has given me as co-workers.

Sweet puppy kisses after a long day at work.

Smiles on sweet two-year-old patients' faces.

Fresh grown strawberries and creamy gourmet chocolate. 

Andrew getting to come home from work a day early. 

A season of growth for our marriage.

Live oak trees standing tall on either side of our driveway.

Fresh cut grass and a husband who mows.

And the list goes on. What kinds of things can you add to your list? Thinking on these things has created new depth to my relationship with Christ. For as Ann says, "is there a greater way to love the Giver than to delight wildly in His gifts?"4

1-4. Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 32-33, 219.

Our first Thanksgiving

At what point in a girl's life does she make the transition from simply feasting on Thanksgiving goodies to actually partaking in the preparations? Although I have always helped my mom in the kitchen on Thanksgiving (okay, maybe not as much as she would have liked), I decided that since I was a Mrs. this Thanksgiving that it might be time for me to contribute a little more.

I made sweet potato casserole and green bean bundles and had to take a few photos as evidence.

Now I'm no Pioneer Woman, but I will do my best to share the recipes... This sweet potato casserole is my favorite - and I have had lots of sweet potato casseroles in my 24 years.

Start with boiling 3-5 sweet potatoes, depending on size - you should end up with about 3 cups of sweet potatoes. I peel them after I boil them and mash them up.

 Add 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 3/4 stick butter (melted), 1 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp. vanilla flavoring, 1/2 tsp. salt, mix it up and pour into an oblong casserole dish

Now make the topping -

1 stick butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1 cup chopped nuts 

Pour topping over sweet potatoes 

Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes. After 20 minutes, put marshmellows on top (I like a lot of marshmellows) - I added more after I took this picture - and then finish baking for 10 minutes until the marshmellows are melted.

This isn't the prettiest picture ever but they are awesome!

 I also made green bean bundles but I was too preoccupied to remember to take pictures at this point (I could never been a professional). I did remember once I put them in the oven..

Use whole cut green beans and wrap in half slice of bacon. Mix up 1 stick of butter (melted) and 1 cup of brown sugar with 1 tsp. garlic salt and pour over the bundles. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

...

We have enjoyed four Thanksgiving meals this Thanksgiving. We spent Thanksgiving Day at home in Louisiana and ate with Andrew's parents at lunch, went to one set of his grandparents Thursday evening and then to his other grandparents Friday at lunch. Then we were off to Mississippi for Thanksgiving with my parents this weekend. 

Andrew has fried turkey after turkey this year with our new oil-less turkey fryer that some of our sweet friends gave us as a wedding present and they were all delicious. I meant to take pictures of the process but as it turns out, I am a terrible photographer. And honestly, I am so sick of turkey at this point that I don't even want to look at another turkey for at least two weeks.

Here we are (a little squinty eyed) Friday outside Andrew's grandparents' house on the bayou. 

We have so much to be thankful for, but I am especially grateful for the new family that I gained this year. I could not imagine a more loving family that I could have possibly married in to. They are absolutely wonderful and mirror my own family in so many ways. I am thankful for how much our families are alike and how we were raised with the same values. I am also thankful for a patient and loving husband who is teaching me how to become a better person everyday.

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17