{One Thousand Gifts}

Some of you may have heard of this book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

I confess I've never read the book, but I intend to.

My Pastor has been preaching an amazing series on hospitality, generosity and thankfulness.

On Sunday, he challenged me so deeply, quoting some of Ann's first thanksgivings.

I got home and started my list.

I'm going to share it with each Sunday, all the gifts I choose to receive each week.

I hope it will uplift you, challenge you and help you to see your circumstances in a different light; in the light of Christ and the light of His sacrifice.

{1} thick red hair

{2} wind blowing through the blinds

{3} eight tooth smiles

{4} a basket full of folded laundry

{5} the hydro bill

{6} dishwasher full of dishes

{7} captured moments

{8} puddles on a rainy day

{9} long distance conversations

{10} the promise of a rainbow in a wet sky

{11} tiny, distracted footsteps

{12} a red light

{13} the mess left behind after all the guests leave

{14} cake smeared on little faces

{15} a terrible night sleep for the reminder that all my strength comes from HIM

{16} morning cuddles

{17} hands covered in pumpkin goop

{18} hearing "ba" but knowing she means "book"

{19} unexpected vistors on a special day

{20} big prayers from a little mouth

Carvin' & Slicin'

What follows a gorgeous, warm and sunny fall day at the pumpkin patch?Goofy faces carved into picked pumpkins, of course!Denay wouldn't have any of touching the smelly, sticky stuff inside, by Mr. and I had a great time.

::: Gettin' Lost :::

mud.

corn.

hay.

tractors.

pumkins.

pigs and goats.

friends.

sunshine.

that's how you make a perfect fall day with a little family.

we wandered through the corn maze, and tramped through mud. sat on hay bales for a bumpy tractor ride and brought our pumpkins home.

{Thanksgiving 2011}

Thanksgiving weekend, six years ago (before I was even engaged) P&S announced that they were pregnant with Bebe L, who turned out to be Jacob, who is now five.Four years ago on Thanksgiving weekend, after watching Shawna and little Jacob (who was 15 months at the time) we decided to try for a baby, who turned out to be Denay, who is now three.On Thanksgiving weekend one year ago, we proudly attended church on Sunday morning at a family of four for the first time, with our one-week-old Paisley, who is now one-year-old. It struck me while spending a lovely weekend with my inlaws, how much one weekend can mean.

{busted in the kleenex box}

{making tim-bit acorns with auntie shawna (Y.U.M.)}

{some pre-dinner portraits}






{turkey hats!!}

{#2's, #1}

Yeesh, talk about being a little behind.My not-so-little-anymore Paisley turned one almost three weeks ago and we had any evening dinner with a house stuffed full of family and friends.{started the morning with a skype call with grammie}

{we spent the morning out and then came home to start the prep. just after lunch, I was expecting my mom over and when the knock came at the door, I got the best surprise of the day, because in ran my two nephews and close behind them, my amazing SIL Shawna. needless to say the tears started falling (mine) and Denay was ecstatic}

{birthday baby!}

{all the cousins}


{the cake. my plan was for a simple, one layer "flower" cake that Shawna turned into this......}





{i love this, it's even cuter now that Paisley just starting saying "Oooohhhhhhbaa"}

{gorg. eous.}


{this is face she made during the entire birthday song. as soon as everyone started singing she froze still with the biggest ol' smile on her face}





{happy birthday paisley}