My One Thousand Gifts

I've taken the challenge to think of 1,000 (and beyond) things to be thankful for.  To read what this is all about, read my previous blog post here.

1. The one and only true God:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit
2. The Bible
3. Kevin
4. Little Mister                                   
5. Family
6. Friends
7. Forgiveness
8. Home education
9. Many moments, fleeting as they are, with my son
10. Crockpot meals
11. Cell phones
12. Cozy house
13. Large windows through which to gaze upon the seasons of creation
14. White daisies in winter
15. Liquid sunshine of oranges
16. Candles flickering
17. Bible study
18. Second chances
19. Good music
20. Family mealtimes
21. Family prayer
22. Family devotions
23. Cozy winter evenings
24. Warm clothes
25. Heat of the furnace
26. Bread machine to make the dough
27. Giggling girls
28. Strings of white lights
29. Scrambled eggs
30. The library
31. Sales at a store
32. Penguin pajamas already too short for growing legs
33. Always enough
34. SGC
35. Fluffy white rice
36. Crispy green salad
37. Mechanical pencils
38. Christmas carols whenever
39. Good workouts
40. A chivalrous husband
41. A helpful son
42. Computer keyboard for my fingers to fly over, expressing thoughts
43. Date night
44. Family game night
45. Laughter
46. Accountability
47. Netflix streaming
48. Rain's pitter-patter
49. Opportunities to help my son grow, and to grow sometimes myself in those times
50. Bottles of toilet bowl cleaner that can eventually be opened
51. Restored relationship between mother and son, when both have erred
52. Refreshing, healing tears
53. Wisdom freely given by God
54. Sweet, tangy pineapple
55. Tylenol/Ibuprofen
56. Fresh-smelling laundry
57. Crumbly toppings
58. Redemption
59. The of hope of spring
60. Focus
61. Hair products
62. Warm to hot showers
63. Fluffy pillows
64. Boy being diligent
65. Nerf gun darts found in funny places
66. Our big lug of a dog, Theo
67. Lego creations
68. Solid, trustworthy neighbors
69. Child's newly cleaned room
70. My girlie red Bible cover
71. The calming of anxious thoughts
72. Theo's amusing howls at the tornado siren tests
73. Mild winters
74. Memories
75. Furrowed brow of boy pouring over open Bible and concordance
76. Happy songs of sweet little birds
77. Sweet-but-not-too-sweet blueberry buckle
78. New, fresh days with no mistakes in them (yet)
79. Check marks
80. Best effort
81. My white board wall in the school room
82. Bursts of warm golden sunlight
83. A comfortable toothbrush
84. Husband or son whistling cheerily
85. Son ready for spelling test
86. Wisdom and fun to "like" on Facebook
87. Photographs, old and new
88. Father-son time--precious to see
89. Newborn babies
90. Liberty
91. Stars in the clear night sky
92. Texting
93. The light at the end of the tunnel
94. WoW Connect! writers
95. Flexibility
96. Chattering of busy squirrels
97. Clinking of clean plates stacking in the cupboard
98. Wintery pine scent of flickering candle
99. Post-it notes
100. Laughter after tears
101. Medical advances
102. Chick flicks
103. Warm gloves
104. Helping someone figure things out
105. Pinterest--Oh, the ideas!
106. A balanced budget
107. Cartoons for a sick boy
108. Possible snow
109. Fixed mistakes
110. Kind words spoken
111. Valentines for Mommy, lovingly created by 9-year-old boy's hands and heart--does it get any sweeter?
112. Composers of old
113. New hands to play the music
114. An unexpected treat dropped off for sick boy
115. Healing
116. A library full of life stories, real or imagined, free for the reading
117. New recipes
118. Old recipes, handed down through generations
119. Light snowfall against midnight sky
120. Sound of Daddy reading to son
121. Surprises to plan for my guys
122. Heart message on paper
123. Quiet afternoon--son studying, candle flickering, God's Word saturating my heart and mind
124. Far-away friends--memories carry me through the missing of them
125. Kay Arthur--such a wise and strong example, helping to bring the Word into focus
126. Dear son's opening heart
127. Love poems from husband
128. Celebrating, even in the mourning, a precious life lived for Him
129. Boy hunched over microscope, discovering the mysteries of the world
130. Comforter on our bed lopsided because sweet son surprised me by making it for me
131. "Grampy Bumps"--when one person high fives while the other knuckle bumps
132. Finding and listening to CD I forgot I had
133. Changes
134. Kevin's strong hand grasping mine across the table
135. Date Night Challenge
136. New friends
137. The testimony of one grieving in the comforting arms of Jesus 
138. Family game of Twister--hilarious!
139. Comfortable silences
140. Deep questions
141. Always more to learn
142. The sound of precious son writing song lyrics to the Lord
143. The day after a disappointing election.  The golden sun still rises.
144. That God is still in control
145. Fluffy scrambled eggs for breakfast
146. Light of all kinds
147. Warm November days to get the Christmas lights ready!
148. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; sweetest name I know
149. My husband of strong character
150. My sweet son, sho toddled into my life at just the right time
151. God's never changing, always life-filled Word
152. The family of 7 I grew up with on Elm Circle Drive
153. Elim
154. Miss Margaret
155. My brothers-in-law--best brothers I ever had! :)
156. My loveable nieces and nephews
157. Photos--capturing memories
158. My family-in-love
159. Friends, old and new
160. Saturdays!
161. Music:  songs of praise, a chorus of birds, a great band, 80s music, the crooners of old, a child's laughter, a symphony orchestra, a favorite hymn, a powerful pipe organ (thanks to Dad)
162. Warmth
163. Memories
164. Quiet moments
165. A day set aside to give thanks
166. Extra long weekends
167. A washer and dryer
168. A weekend family getaway
169. An anticipated phone call
170. Chores that keep us humble
171. Feeling better after being sick
172. A new opportunity
173. The chance to grow
174. Grace
175. Mercy!
176. A kiss on the cheek
177. The antics of 10-year-old boys
178. Legos
179. Decorating for Christmas
180. Finding the perfect gift
181. Christmas sales
182. Christmas baking with LM
183. The book of John
184. Puffs Plus
185. Cousins
186. Sleepy yawns at night
187. Family reunions
188.