One Thousand Gifts, 976-1000

976. Watercolors outside with the munchkins
977. Watching the kids play together
978. Seeing the games they make up and how they include each other (when they aren't fighting)
979. Fresh fruit
980. The availability of any food item we desire
981. Our lovely home
982. Family time
983. Doing little things that make those I love happy
984. Seeing my niece dedicated at church
985. Celebrating birthdays
986. That, with God, even suffering has a purpose
987. It is Well by Bethel Music
988. Reading poems with the kids
989. The solid foundation for life in Scripture
990. Planning visits with old friends
991. Playdates with new friends
992. Library story time with all my babies
993. One on one time with each child
994. Trying out the Gent's favorite coffee shop with him
995. Welcoming Daddy home every evening
996. Making dinner for my family
997. Our awesome parents and extended families
998. Snuggling with Nora
999. Opening up our home to children who need a safe place and loving family
1000. "Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside."

One Thousand Gifts, 951-975

951. Fresh lavender on my desk
952. Checks in the mail
953. Continued good health for our family
954. Fresh ideas for school
955. Worshiping with our church family
956. Updating Nora's baby book
957. Saying yes to the munchkins
958. Singing Lavender's Blue with Annie
959. Talking about the elephants at the circus with Sophie
960. One last dream feed for Nora
961. Playing Guess Who with Jacob
962. Snuggling in bed with Nora for her morning nursing
963. A long hot bath at the end of the day
964. A big hot cup of coffee at the beginning of the day
965. Loyal doggies that follow me around even on days I have little time for them
966. The beauty of God's Word
967. Finishing three books this week
968. Preparing for Valentine's Day
969. Thinking about true love
970. God's love
971. Remembering the fun the Gent and I had during our dating/college years
972. Reflecting on how our love has grown in the almost-decade since
973. Attending the women's conference at our church
974. Shopping consignment sales
975. Looking ahead to spring

One Thousand Gifts, 926-950

926. Sunshine for outdoor play
927. A very relaxing Sunday
928. Football games where the good guys win
929. Watching Jacob and the Gent play catch
930. Telling my kids our goal this week is to laugh more!
931. Meeting other homeschool mamas
932. Nora's first birthday party!
933. Lollipop cupcakes
934. The joy Nora's big siblings found in teaching her all about birthdays
935. Our extended family gathered to celebrate our almost-one-year-old
936. Finishing a just-for-fun book
937. Beginning to plan Annie's birthday party
938. Hymns old and new
939. Nora went to the church nursery and didn't cry the whole time this week
940. God's abundant provision in all things
941. A day today to "be glad in!"
942. Daffodils and crocuses starting to pop up through the dirt
943. The librarian complimenting my well-behaved children
944. Teaching the munchkins that you don't always get what you want
945. And the ability to teach them so many other life lessons
946. That I can be home with them during the day
947. And that I get to be their primary influence right now
948. Text messaging keeping me up to date with friends
949. A cousin getting married
950. Praying for and with our church community

One Thousand Gifts, 901-925

901. Books about making disciples
902. Date night to the movies with the Gent
903. Nora napping on my chest during church (only happens when she's sick)
904. Coffee made by the Gent and drunk from my favorite mug
905. Books about teaching my kids
906. How much our munchkins love having Daddy home on the weekends
907. Hearing Sophie say, "Daddy not have to go to the office today!"
908. Sorting out the baby and kiddo gear and clothes for consignment
909. Focus on the Family's Option Ultrasound program
910. Planning the munchkins' spring and summer wardrobes, even if it's 27 degrees outside
911. Keeping up with friends and their kids through Instagram
912. Belonging to a local church that loves and supports and prays for each other and the world
913. Sleeping nine hours straight
914. The ability to provide short-term foster care
915. Fresh herbs growing through the cold and gracing my dining table in pretty cream pitchers
916. That God's Word is living and active
917. Even today, God is speaking to us
918. And He wants to know us, He is not willing that any should perish apart from Him
919. New framed family pictures on the piano
920. Friendship
921. Sunday naps
922. Football games I can enjoy but aren't emotionally invested in
923. Chicken corn chowder on a cold night
924. Fellowship with our church pastors
925. Making plans for spring family adventures

One Thousand Gifts, 876-900

876. A foster newborn to snuggle for a couple of days
877. Grace to parent five small children on little sleep
878. Being back in community group at church
879. A lazy weekend
880. Naptime for Mama
881. Favorite books to read with the munchkins
882. Helping the kids make their own books...
883. ...and write down their hilarious stories
884. Hot soup
885. Hot coffee
886. Hot tea
887. Hot chocolate (it has been cold here!)
888. Quiet evenings with the Gent
889. Catching up on NCIS
890. Letters from our Compassion children
891. Getting the laundry finished in one day
892. Thawing meals from the freezer and counting that as "making dinner"
893. Having a warm house and warm clothes
894. Insurance for the unexpected
895. My BSF discussion group
896. Truths God reveals as I study His Word
897. Classical music
898. The new Student Hymnal I bought for our family
899. Getting the downstairs nooks and crannies cleaned out
900. Celebrating birthdays with family members

One Thousand Gifts, 851-875

851. Lots of time for the kids and I to spend with the Gent these past few days.
852. Holidays we spent at home without a massive to-do list.
853. New year, fresh start.
854. Clearing out the clutter.
855. Silver bowls with fresh citrus fruit.
856. Brisker weather.
857. Cold sunshine.
858. Favorite recipes.
859. Sipping something hot.
860. Watching my munchkins play.
861. The imaginative games they come up with!
862. Reading new stories together.
863. Looking through Christmas pictures.
864. New memories made.
865. Old memories re-lived.
866. Reading Through Gates of Splendor
867. Jane Austen
868. My Bible
869. A final glance at this year's Christmas cards.
870. A letter from Feven, one of our Compassion children.
871. That our sponsorship provides access to so much for her: education, healthcare, food, and most importantly, the good news of Jesus.
872. Families who love us.
873. Families we love!
874. A friend's newly adopted daughter!
875. A good night's sleep in my own bed.

One Thousand Gifts, 826-850

826. Family gathered for Christmas
827. For tornado warnings to keep us safe...even if they interrupt Christmas dinner
828. Watching Annie and Jacob ride their new big kid bikes
829. Friends coming over to play on a rainy day
830. Daddy being home more over the holidays
831. Shopping with Honey
832. Pretty new clothes in my old size for Mama :)
833. Gearing up for a fresh, new year
834. Good neighbors
835. White chocolate peppermint bark
836. Real cranberry sauce
837. Old Trixie Belden books
838. Old Cherry Ames books
839. My laptop
840. New books to read in the new year!
841. Pictures of my sleeping babies
842. Watching rain drip into puddles
843. Bare oak tree branches against the sky
844. That I don't live in the long winter we're reading about in the Little House books
845. Loyal puppies who follow me around the house
846. Pansies
847. Bowls of fresh fruit
848. Christmas goodies stacked high on the counters
849. Bottles of red wine to share with the Gent
850. Bowl season

One Thousand Gifts, Christmas Edition: 801-825

801. Advent hymns
802. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
803. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
804. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
805. Christmas hymns
806. Joy to the World
807. O Holy Night
808. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
809. O Come, All He Faithful
810. Singing these hymns in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus
811. Christmas songs
812. Sleigh Ride
813. Jingle Bells
814. Silver Bells
815. It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas
816. Christmas movies
817. Christmas in Connecticut
818. A Christmas Story
819. It's a Wonderful Life
820. Sharing Christmas traditions--sacred and secular--with the munchkins
821. Christmas lights with cousins
822. Annual cookie decorating with Honey
823. Visits with family
824. The joy children find in bows and bubble wrap
825. The heart of Christmas: the Savior in the manger

One Thousand Gifts, 776-800

776. Rainy Mondays.
777. Catching up with friends who've moved away.
778. Friends who are doctors.
779. Homemade cheesecake.
780. The joy Annie and Jacob are finding in our Jesse Tree devotions.
781. Nora finally giving up her 5am nursing.
782. Putting together bikes for the big kids for Christmas.
783. Sounding out words with Annie.
784. Watching Annie and Jacob sing with the children's choir.
785. Seeing the zoo lights with cousins.
786. Watching Sophie give Santa Claus a high five...from the safety of her stroller.
787. Nora's crying at Santa picture.
788. Making memories and keeping up traditions.
789. Getting my Christmas cards mailed.
790. Sausage and white bean soup with homemade bread.
791. Planning Christmas menus.
792. Spending evenings reading.
793. Less television watching.
794. Trips to the library.
795. Trips to the science center.
796. Playdates with friends old and new.
797. An ice-cold Coca-Cola on a 72 degree December day.
798. Date nights with the Gent!
799. Preliminary thoughts on celebrating Nora's first birthday.
800. Reading Christmas stories with the munchkins.

One Thousand Gifts, 751-775

751. Plenty of dinners in the freezer.
752. Christmas cards arriving in the mail.
753. Annie and Jacob's enthusiasm over all things Christmas.
754. Wonder in their eyes as they stare at the tree.
755. Hearing them tell our visitors the story of as many ornaments as they can remember.
756. A family Christmas celebration with Nana and her clan this weekend.
757. That this week's to-do list is more manageable.
758. Watching Annie dance at parent day.
759. Seeing how much she has grown since our last dance class foray.
760. Hearing my kids' teachers compliment them.
761. All this hard work of parenting is paying off--or at least God gives me glimpses of it!
762. A slower season at work for the Gent.
763. Family day to see the model train display and eat lunch at Moe's.
764. The long list of family and friends to address Christmas cards to.
765. Homemade bread.
766. Clean dishes. Even if they do still need to be put away.
767. The internet, my laptop, and my smartphone.
768. Spending time with other foster parents.
769. Catching up with old friends and seeing their babies growing up!
770. A sweet hubby who gets up early to make from-scratch biscuits and bring them to me in bed on Saturday.
771. Holding a sleeping baby.
772. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.
773. Joy to the World.
774. Handel's Messiah.
775. Advent services at church.

One Thousand Gifts, 726-750

726. Real mashed potatoes.
727. Thanksgiving with family.
728. The smell of our Christmas tree (even if it doesn't have any decorations yet...).
729. The first cards of the season arriving in the mail.
730. Sweet pictures of my parents and all their grandbabies.
731. Listening to the stories Annie makes up about our Dickens Village.
732. Jacob asking, "Mama?" over and over again.
733. Because I get to be his Mama. :D
734. I'm even thankful for Sophie's exhibitions of her "two-ness."
735. Extra night time cuddles with Nora. But I'll be even more thankful when she is sleeping through the night again.
736. My to-do list/schedule hybrid that is keeping me mostly on track this school year.
737. Pretty wreaths to hang on the front door.
738. A nativity in each room.
739. Lots of fun holiday activities ahead.
740. Quiet family time planned, too.
741. Looking ahead to visits with family.
742. Finished with my Christmas shopping!
743. Almost finished with the gift-wrapping.
744. Waving bye-bye with Nora.
745. Playing "so big" with Nora.
746. Listening to Annie sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."
747. That our kids know the landmarks between our home and our happy place.
748. Nick puppy is having a birthday this week!
749. How much Jacob loves our dogs.
750. Sophie's sense of rhythm!

One Thousand Gifts, 701-725

701. The fun Jacob has had playing soccer this fall.
702. Also that the end of soccer season is approaching.
703. Coffee in my favorite mug, made by the Gent each morning.
704. A morning to spend mostly at home.
705. Shopping with Honey.
706. Sunday afternoon nap while football plays in the background.
707. Looking forward to a weekend in my happy place.
708. Studying God's Word...even when I can't comprehend all I'm learning.
709. Hearing the joy my munchkins find in their siblings.
710. Playing and snuggling with a sweet little boy in the church nursery.
711. Opportunities to serve others (may I have a more grateful heart to do so).
712. Learning more about the Holy Spirit.
713. Reflecting on the true Light of the world.
714. Listening to Jacob's chatter.
715. That he is our boy forever and ever and always!
715. Watching Nora try to figure out crawling.
716. Teaching Annie to pray.
717. Singing with Sophie.
718. Smart phones.
719. A stack of library books for Mama.
720. Teaching my munchkins.
721. Planning Christmas parties.
722. Music.
723. Lunch dates with the Gent.
724. Help from Honey!
725. Jacob's framed adoption portrait hanging in the family gallery wall.

One Thousand Gifts, 676-700

676. Making lists.
677. Hot tea on a rainy day.
678. Library story time.
679. New library books for the kids.
680. New library books for me.
681. Dinner made before 8am (yay crock pot).
682. A good workout makes a good start to the week.
683. Heartwarming stories about my alma mater.
684. More time with the Gent.
685. Celebrating the 12th anniversary of our first date!
686. Visiting an assisted living to hand out candy with the munchkins.
687. Jacob's outgoing and friendly personality as he brought lots of joy to the residents!
688. Milky Way candy bars.
689. Sophie's rapidly expanding conversational skills.
690. Nora learning to get from tummy to sitting.
691. A family wedding!
692. Annie, my deep thinker.
693. Safe travels.
694. DVD player in the van.
695. Zeke's thyroid medicine giving him an extra pep in his step.
696. That Annie and Jacob are continuing to love school.
697. Planting new azaleas in a formerly-empty flower bed.
698. Helping Annie and Jacob spell and sound out words.
699. Hearing Sophie spell her name and find the letter "s" all over the place.
700. Baby books.

One Thousand Gifts, 651-675

651. Daddy not having to work over the weekend.
652. Getting the front yard all cleaned up and ready for fall.
653. Carving pumpkins as a family.
654. Four little pumpkins sitting on our front porch.
655. Playing outside.
656. Kids' joy over being outside.
657. Sweet pictures of my babies.
658. Nora's grin and leg kicks when she gets excited.
659. Listening to her babble "mama" and "dada".
660. Sophie's decisiveness.
661. Listening to her sing lullabies to her baby dolls.
662. Jacob's goofy boy side.
663. Hearing about his shenanigans at church.
664. Annie's half smiles.
665. Hearing her recite poetry.
666. Freshly-planted pansies.
667. The Gent's homemade buttermilk biscuits.
668. Brie with my fig jam.
669. Having a supply of homemade dinners in the freezer.
670. A clean kitchen sink.
671. Annie asking, "Mama, will you cuddle with me?"
672. Catching up on magazines.
673. A morning at church with our whole family.
674. Rain, rain, rain after a dry spell.
675. Fun plans for the week ahead.

One Thousand Gifts, 626-650

626. A good night's sleep.
627. Heated mattress pad!
628. Cute clothes.
629. Comfy clothes.
630. Boots!
631. Marking a book off my "to read" list.
632. Going to church with our whole family.
633. Worship music.
634. Fun family morning at the pumpkin festival.
635. The Gent.
636. The limited family time we are squeezing in to the Gent's busy work season.
637. Annie
638. Jacob
639. Sophie
640. Nora
641. Mailing birthday cards to cousins and friends.
642. Celebrating birthdays.
643. Starting my Christmas shopping.
644. Jacob's birth mother.
645. Emails from my grandmas.
646. Fall.
647. Faith.
648. Family.
649. Football.
650. Sunshine.

One Thousand Gifts, 601-625

601. That my children are--for the most part--healthy and happy little munchkins.
602. That Annie and Jacob are loving school!
603. Hearing "can we do school now, Mama?"
604. Hearing Sophie say, "yes, I want to color, Mama!" (that's her "school")
605. Sophie recognizing her name written down (and wanting to write her name--with my help--on all her coloring pages)
606. Watching Nora play happily by herself when we are occupied with school.
607. Being Nora's favorite person right now.
608. Joining in Annie and Jacob's imaginative play.
609. The "concert" they hosted this weekend.
610. That our current "A-A-Apple" unit requires making an apple pie. (this was an optional activity, but I find it very important)
611. A little bit cooler weather.
612. Wearing fall clothes.
613. Planning fun weekend activities and trips.
614. Getting ready to begin Christmas shopping in earnest.
615. Reading chapter books with the kids.
616. Zeke's 11th birthday!
617. That Zeke got a professional grooming.
618. And that his thyroid supplement seems to be giving him some energy back.
619. A weekend away to visit the Gent's family.
620. Wedding shower to celebrate my soon to be sister-in-law.
621. Chik-fil-a.
622. Really good milkshakes.
623. Time to catch up on my magazines.
624. Our super-comfortable couch.
625. A crop of fall tomatoes.

One Thousand Gifts, 576-600

576. A calmer weekend where no one got sick.
577. Homemade blueberry muffins.
578. Honey and Poppa (and free babysitting).
579. A night out with friends from church.
580. Graeter's ice cream.
581. Family dinners.
582. The joy on Sophie's face at the football game.
583. Nora's strong preference for Mama. She'll go to the church nursery someday.
584. Snuggles from my munchkins.
585. Library time.
586. Watching Annie and Jacob enjoy their chosen activities: ballet and soccer.
587. Good memories of my Pap Paw.
588. The extended time we get to spend with family during football season.
589. Chili in the crock pot.
590. Lots and lots of dahlia blooms.
591. Making plans to be social again when the Gent's trial is over.
592. Almost time for Christmas shopping!
593. Looking ahead towards the fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and trick or treating.
594. Field trips for school.
595. Fostering a love of learning in my kids.
596. Picnic lunches in Daddy's office.
597. The Gent making me coffee every morning.
598. The relationships my munchkins have with their grandparents and great-grandparents.
599. An upcoming wedding.
600. Listening to Jacob wake up in the morning.

One Thousand Gifts, 551-575

551. A return to health for our family after we were wiped out by the stomach bug.
552. That Daddy stayed strong to take care of us all!
553. That our family and tailgating guests were gracious as we succumbed one by one...
554. My awesome hubby who finishes planting my azaleas in the dark after helping get the kids to bed.
555. A fridge filled with leftovers--no need to cook this week.
556. That we never have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. We are abundantly blessed, I know.
557. Sustaining grace to carry on while I wait for Christ's glorious return.
558. Being able to bring my cares and concerns and worries before the Lord in prayer.
559. Praying whenever and wherever--ongoing conversation with Jesus. What an amazing gift.
560. Great introduction to BSF's Revelation study.
561. Sleeping in my own bed on clean sheets after a hot shower.
562. Expanding my flower cutting garden.
563. Pulling up weeds--literally and figuratively.
564. An excellent start to school with Annie and Jacob.
565. Little girls in smocked pumpkin dresses.
566. Little boys in football jerseys.
567. A new phone.
568. A mechanic who went above and beyond when I got my oil changed last week.
569. Hints of fall becoming more abundant.
570. Loyal fur babies.
571. Our fabulous dog sitter.
572. Extra snuggles from my sick kiddos.
573. Baby story time with Nora.
574. Watching all my munchkins grow and try new things.
575. Reading chapter books as a family.

One Thousand Gifts, 526-550

526. Rainy mornings.
527. Visiting with the neighbors.
528. Cinnamon bread.
529. Blueberry muffins.
530. Singing with the worship team.
531. Divide and conquer parenting.
532. Date nights and really good burgers.
533. A good night's sleep.
534. Getting rid of a headache.
535. First BSF class of the year!
536. Jacob's first soccer practice.
537. Consignment sale!
538. Swapping out the munchkins' summer and fall wardrobes.
539. Seeing what Annie dresses herself in.
540. Phone calls with old friends!
541. Completing our first 4K unit in school.
542. Multiple trips to the library.
543. Brushing the goats at the zoo.
544. Nora sitting up like a big girl in the stroller.
545. That Sophie likes to wear her glasses.
546. A schedule to keep us on track and make sure my to-do's get done.
547. Answering 2,439 questions asked my preschoolers each day before 9am.
548. Finding amusement in said questions.
549. New photos of the munchkins.
550. Zinnias are still blooming.

One Thousand Gifts, 501-525

501. A good night's sleep.
502. Our first home football game.
503. Nora's first game!
504. Sophie learning praise songs from her big brother and sister.
505. Hearing a recap of Annie and Jacob's comedy routine from their Sunday school teacher.
506. Finishing our first week of school.
507. The sweet curriculum we are using this year.
508. Watching Annie's mind grasp new concepts.
509. Observing Jacob's growth in so many ways since he came to be part of our family.
510. Field trip to the farm.
511. Baby turkeys. Who knew they were so cute?
512. Making new acquaintances as we begin our homeschool journey.
513. Fall weather.
514. Wearing jeans without getting hot.
515. Story time at the library.
516. Finally getting caught up on some of my big projects.
517. Favorite coffee mug.
518. Chatting with Mrs. Ella in the church nursery.
519. Nora going to the nursery pretty successfully now.
520. Being able to listen to the sermon uninterrupted.
521. The gift of prayer.
522. And intercession.
523. That God still speaks to us through his Word.
524. Tailgating with family and friends.
525. A manageable family schedule.