One Thousand Gifts

When we were going through our trial with cancer, I was challenged by Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience to record One Thousand Gifts by cultivating a heart of gratitude with the intentional counting of my daily blessings - or gifts - from God.  This challenge opened the eyes of my heart to the simple but profound blessings in everyday life which encouraged me to persevere through my husband's cancer and death and even now through widowhood and single parenting. 

The title of her gift list is now the title of a highly acclaimed and best selling book that released today. If you're seeking contentment and joy in the midst of the mundane of everyday life or even in the heartache of a trial, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are is a great book. It's about Ann's life and how contentment and joy in it started with gratitude. Check it out!

J & Basketball

J's first basketball game of the season was this morning. It's his first year playing and he did great!

First Snow

Even though it has snowed three times so far this winter, our first big snow storm arrived last night. The boys are always eager to shovel the porch, deck and sidewalks while I plow the driveway.

It's a lot of work for them but helps me quite a bit. They have fun too, though, especially when they pile enough snow up to build igloos and tunnels.

Of course, Belle, like most Labs, likes to play in the snow too.

J turns 9!

My oldest son, J, turned nine today! He had fun celebrating this weekend with some of his classmates and a neighbor at the Big Apple. Afterward, they ate pizza as well as cake and ice cream, played Wii and watched a movie at our house.