multitudes on monday ~ march eighteenth

these are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have

given by the Giver of all

216.  Mr. Turkey on the side of the road

217.  lunch with a sister to get caught up and hear how God is working in and through us

218.  pastoral visits filled with White Shoulders

219.  first digging of the new Spring

220.  the smell and feel of dirt

221.  da baby at the beach in her chair

222.  celebrations of a godly life

223.  days working in the yard

224.  weeds or a glimpse of spring

225.  sharing a steak sandwhich on the road

226.  trees beginning to bloom

227.  Ephesians 4.25 lived out

228.  words that “shout” to a sister

229.  a boy soaring like an eagle

230.  love in a proud mama’s eyes

231.  knowing Philippians 4.13 is true

232.  dinner fresh from the farm

233.  grieving together as the family of God

234.  a sister checking in because I have been too quiet

235.  the boy spending his day with his three girls

236.  praying for little ones at the altar

237.  exuberant youth in church

238.  realizing as full as this ama’s heart can get, there is still more love to give

239.  sharing the chocolate kind of kisses last thing at night

240.  resurrection breaking into Lent

Multitudes on Mondays

these are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have

given by the Giver of all

184.  baby cows playing tag

185.  buffalo along the interstate

186.  funny audio texts

187.  daffodils on the road

188.  horses wearing jackets

189.  people from the past breaking into the present

190.  a safe place to just breathe

191.  gathering with colleagues for worship

192.  my silly puppy’s happy noise when mommy and daddy both come home

193.  making the choice for community rather than isolation

194.  the continual reminder that it is harder to love than to walk away sometimes and knowing that loving is the greater gift in the end

195.  that this broken me is a beloved child of God who is loved even when I am a hot mess

196.  remembering that sometimes being tired is just about being tired

197.  spiritual midwives and words that flowtalking about them

198.  da baby running

199.  cuddling with my puppy on a Sunday afternoon

200.  crawling back into bed after exercising and hearing the rain outside

201.  homework again

202.  Grit & Grace

203.  parables about prodigals

204.  thinking I am getting to go to bed early because of the time change

205.  sharing the joy of da baby’s walking with folks on the journey

206.  teddy bears for those who need them

207.  good news about a loved one’s daddy

208.  a hero commenting on my blog

209.  becoming part of an art tribe

210.  losing time watching birdies play outside

211.  the realization that the gifts are endless

212.  1 Corinthians 10.13

213.  seeing my words as I read the psalms

214.  planning for holy week

215.  spring blooms

multitudes on monday ~ march fourth

These are my gifts,

Not that I want,

Those I already have

Given by the Giver of all

161.  a whole lot of cheese

162.  meeting lots of new people who believe in children

163.  fresh raspberries in the winter

164.  organizing cabinets

165.  help remembering that I am healthy

166.  silly puppies who greet me at the door when I am sad

167.  warrior princess on wheels

168.  (in)spired studios

169.  questions that encourage new priorities

170.  brave words that remind me I am brave too

171.  phone calls from a sister at just the right moment

172.  words pouring out so fast they fly

173.  watching the birds feasting on holly berries and racing the wind

174.  tracks in the snow

175.  kintsugi

176.  birdies checking out new feeders

177.  small snows

178.  tidal waves

179.  manicures

180.  field trips to explore new directions

181.  novels that make my heart smile

182.  balcony people

183.  these words:  “If God seems distant or uncommunicative these days, maybe you’re simply not listening. God doesn’t shout: God’s first language is silence. Maybe in your prayers you are doing too much talking and not enough listening.”  – Br. Geoffrey Tristram

Multitudes on (Monday) Tuesday ~ February twenty sixth

here are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have

given by the Giver of all

141.  da baby giggling on the phone when Ama says “funny”

142.  hearing someone say, “love” rather than give up

143.  seeing art find its way home

144.  mending with other women

145.  brave words being heard

146.  soup suppers

147.  finding treasures

148.  opening doors and letting God lead

149.  owies that lead to a dream

150.   almond macaroons

151.  twenty seven minutes and fourteen seconds on skype

152.  doc visits that feel like visiting home

153.  yellow flowers in unexpected places

154.  coffee shop hugs

155.  independent baby girl

156.  birds beginning to nest

157.  making bread

158.  watching twins remember Sunday School with grandma

159.  Psalm 51

160.  being unmasked

multitudes on monday ~ february eighteenth

here are my gifts,

not that i want

but those i already have

given by the Giver of all

121. modern day heroes

122. this outside my window

123. blueberry pancakes

124. my last prayer with a beloved reminding them they are dust

125. imposing ashes with clergy colleagues in a coffee shop 

126. a sister's hands on my shoulders in prayer when i have no words

127. burning palms with one who "gets it"

128. da baby's first day of school

129. transforming a space into a holy place

130. heading into the desert with Jesus

131. connecting those who have gifts with those who need them

132. re-remembering i need not "copy" someone to be an artist

133. learning new tricks

134. Lent Madness

135. my first ever attempt at spreecast

136. blankets fresh out of the dryer

137. remembering it is about true love 

138. unexpected lunch plans

139. words that help me remember why i do what i do

140. reality checks that stretch in the best of ways

the joy dare ~ february eleventh

here are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already haven,

given by the Giver of all

101.  being silent in community

102.  sunsets on the mountain

103.  morning naps 

104.  Isaiah 54

105.  epiphanies about sacred space

http://thecommunity.anglican.ca/liturgy/1402/making-a-splash/attachment/salisbury-cathedral-font-2/

106.  art in silence

107.  learning to "speak" again non-verbally

108.  Hebrews 12.12

109.  robins hunting

110.  labyrinths

111.  the valley waking up

112.  "do not fret"

113.  food made in love

114.  turning back to THE "default setting"

115.  permeable barriers

116.  being liminal

117.  letting God get in the way

118.  silent hugs

119.  burying hallelujahs

120.  journeying with brothers and sisters

multitudes on monday

here are my gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have,

given by the giver of all...

61.  this inside...

62. a full day of nothing but art

63. brave words

64. calls to pray

65. sunny drives on a winter day

66. checking in with a sister

67. embellishments

 68. being with the wider church

69.  beds that are a foretaste of heaven

70.  having to many invitations for June

71.  seeing story tellers moving into the next chapter

72.  river views

73.  re-remembering how small the church is

74.  being filled to be sent again

75.  banner processions

76.  hearing Words that are new again

77.  pimento cheese made in love  (thank you KS)

78.  marching during Sunday School sing alongs 

79.  seeing a sister excited about being organized...in a Christmas morning kind of way

80.  citrus vanilla bought to free others

multitudes on monday ~ november 26th

here is my list of gifts,

not that i want,

those i already have,

given by the giver of all

380 seeing the boy become a husband

381 being told someone wants to know me because she loves my laugh

382 four generations gathered in prayer

383 dancing

384 being imperfect

385  Saturday breakfasts

386 shopping local

387 unexpected church

388 taking a real holiday

389 getting lost in the studio

390 the Psalms on a hard day

391 phone calls just when i need them

392 feeling peace fall down like a blanket

393 knowing others are loving community

394 new leaders

395 anticipating Advent

396 finishing a series and really, really loving it

397 knowing that background i "had" to do was for a specific purpose

398 hot baths on achy nights

399 middle of the night time with Abba when sleep won't come

multitudes on monday ~ november nineteenth

this is my list of gifts

not that i want,

those i already have,

given by the giver of all

400  a daddy's voices as he talks with a boy missed

401 birthday dinners prepared with love

402 long days in the studio to play

403 "aw" pics

404 da baby taking steps

405 seeing da baby take steps and da mama in tears

406 learning two of my fav artists will be an hour away in april

407 a la comita

408 phase four of a school funded

409 clergy shirts that are heavenly

410 connecting over lunch with one who speaks the same language

411 speaking the truth even when my voice shakes

412 driving to the wrong city

413 hearing my sister's voice 

414 birthday blessings

415 kind words affirming a big risk

416 prayer answered in a way that is obvious and immediate

417 talking sharks with a sweet boy

418 the smell of a wood fire

419 knowing God has this

multitudes on mondays ~november twelfth

this is my list of gifts...

not that i want,

those i already have,

given by the giver of all

420 blue skies after lots of gray days

421 second chances

422 grace, lots and lots of grace

423 boys who are found

424 celebrations of ministry

425 boys named Samuel who find important things that were lost and return them

426 helping build a legacy

426 being woke up to breakfast on what is going to be a long day

427 coming home after a long day to a clean house

428 the sound of new wind chimes made by da bear

429 watching da baby do new things on skype

430 becoming brave enough to begin sharing hard stories

431 being fed in new ways

432 interacting with new friends

433 new faces on Sunday mornings

434 remember He holds all things together (Col. 1.17)

435 knowing Spirit led words spoke to the heart of another

436 taking God sized risks even when it doesn't feel safe

437 birthday backgrounds

438 Veteran's ~ past, present, and future

439 boys who learn hard lessons as they break old chains

multitudes on mondays ~ november fifth

this is my list of gifts...

not that i want

those that i already have

given by the giver of all...

420  visits with old friends 

421 baby horses

422 first hard frost

423 boys who visit

424 skyping with da mama, da baby, and godparents

425 reading my story written by others

426 thirty nine million brave people and one who cheer them on

427 driving the Natchez Trace

428 da bear hitting a home run with the smoker

429 watching a boy who can really eat

430 seeing the prayers of many being felt by the one in need of them

431 da bear playing with his boy while a sister sings

432 saints who go unseen

433 World Series champion sweatshirts

434 incense rising to heaven

435 taking art off my wall to send to its new home

436 puppies who wait for something to come down the chimney

437 finishing the first letter of paul i ever studied once again 

438 remembering i have a special assignment

439 assistants who "get" it