christmas week (# 212 - 226 of 1000 gifts)

212. Ann's book on my Kindle app. (So very good to read the story behind 1000 Gifts, to discover the inner desperation that sparked Ann's search, and to have my eyes opened to the potential of habitual gratefulness.)

213. Christmas pies that leak sticky goodness all over the floor of my oven.

214. Tin foil on the bottom of that oven.

215. The person who invented tin foil.

216. The holiday smell of hubby's cabbage rolls.

217. Our peaceful, twinkly livingroom on late afternoons in December.

218. Teachers who learn from their students.

219.  My friend's words about Christmas:

Though it’s easy to see God as harsh and judgmental, even dangerous, in the Old Testament, think about Christmas.  What could be more tender than a baby? ...When God intervened in our messy world, he came as tender as tender can be.  He was handing us his baby.
(Read all of "That's Christmas" by Jill Hoskyn).

220.  Scent for me under the tree (Estee Lauder, I *heart* you!).

221. Hubby is liking his gift (but then, who wouldn't like an iPad).

222. A super-special gift to me from son (love that kid!!)

223. A safe drive through a mountain fairyland, to Christmas No.2.

224. Being part of a special act of worship -- the dedication of our grandbabies.

225. Christmas No. 2 with the two most handsome and lovable grandboys on earth.

226. A crystal-shiny and cold  walk this morning beside the North Thompson -- with my best friend.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

Ann's book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are is releasing in January. But you can get the Kindle version -- even give it along with a gift card from Ann --  now!

humiliation

My sister made this little potpourri bag manger scene for me some years ago. 

It is one of my favourite Christmas decorations.

"'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.*'" Luke 2:11-12

*"Feed trough" is how my Bible footnotes "manger." It's a bassinet painted with animal drool, and decorated with cobwebs. What a contrast - Savior, Lord — lying in a manger! This is a sign indeed.

But it is consistent. For throughout His life, Jesus characteristically associated with  humble things:

• He spoke easily and graciously with women, even socially despised ones (John 4:5-7; John 8:2-11).

• He ate with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:13-17).

• He taught the dignity and worth of the poor, humble, needy state (Matthew 5:2-12, 11:29; Luke 9:58)

• He welcomed and blessed children (Mark 10:13-16).

• He washed His disciples feet (John 13:5).

• He was "numbered with the transgressors" (Luke 22:37) when He was "crucified..." and, as if that way of death was not bad enough, "between two robbers" (Matthew 27:38).

I have two reactions:

1. Amazement, that the exalted, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of heaven and earth chose to identify with us in this way. The contrast is almost inconceivable.

2. Thankfulness. Paul expresses that the reasons for our thankfulness so eloquently in 2 Corinthians 8:9.

"You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich." Message

Wishing you, dear reader, a rich and blessed Christmas!

Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) - Chris Tomlin

merry christmas eve!

Here's a Jacquie Lawson greeting to go along with your eggnog, popcorn, and "It's a Wonderful Life."

Hat Tip: @VerlaKay

toys

Getting acquainted with Grandma's stick horse

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: LIGHTS (Holiday Lights, Candles, Street Lights, Fireplace, Fireworks,...)

love those lists, lunches, letters & lights (#199-211 of 1000 gifts)

Woven straw ornaments on the North Shore Polish Association tree 

(Dundarave Village Festival of Lights)

As Christmas nears, my calendar can breathe again. It is most crowded at the beginning of the month — not so much any more. I love it that way.

Now for the gifts collected during the week just past:

199. Lists, which make Christmas shopping ... not so hard — actually fun.

200. A little timing miracle. I needed to be somewhere but the clerk was taking extra long to explain things. so I was late. But it didn't matter (not that it ever does, I'm just so obsessive about being on time) because everyone else was delayed too.

201. Christmas lunch with girlfriends.

202. Reconnecting with friends who moved back into town.

203. Christmas cards and letters; we're all thinking of each other!

204. A magic evening with Michael W. Smith (and thousands of others). Love his humble attitude: "It's all a gift." Yes, but what a gift!


205. Gift bags.

206. My local dollar store (how do they afford to sell those sturdy giant bags for $1.00?!)


207. Spending time with friends at the Dundarave Village Festival of Lights.

208. The sight of some old friends...well, they feel like old friends. We saw these Barrow's ducks from the West Vancouver seawall. We used to see a big variety of ducks and waterfowl on our Elgin Park, Serpentine River, and Mud Bay Park walks. Where we walk now we see mostly mallards.

209. Tree whimsy.

210. A creche on public display.

211. Charles Price, whose Living Truth talk on "The Doctrine of Christmas" put the whole season in grand perspective.

Now I'm off to make some more lists, of odds-and-ends to round out the shopping, and food for the feast!

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

Ann's book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are is releasing in January. But you can get the Kindle version -- even give it along with a gift card from Ann --  now!

Frivolous Friday - A Social Network Christmas

A Social Network Christmas | Igniter Media
This is too clever!




Hat tip: @angiehunt

food

 Strawberry Tart

A Salmon House (West Vancouver) dessert in June, when strawberries were in season.

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week:TOYS (Dolls, Games, Stuffed Animals, Athletic Equipment, Construction Toys, Art Supplies,...)

music and lights (#190-198 of 1000 gifts)

 The stained glass windows of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Langley, BC

Collecting these gifts is doing a good thing inside me. It's helping me slow down and pay attention. As I notice and name it is making me mindful of the myriad good things that fill my life. I am happier, more peaceful and content. The week just past was characteristic...

190. Finishing. Last week we finished our ballroom dance lessons and Alpha. For someone who gets frequent temptations to quit early, finishing anything challenging is a high.

The Alpha dining room - ready for our Christmas feast

191. Kind words of encouragement. A couple came in emails from a colleague and a friend. When I reflect on how much they lifted me I challenge myself: Encourage others more often.

192. Hours in the kitchen. In our household where hubby does most of the cooking, last week spent stirring kneading, whipping, spreading, baking, freezing — I got totally into it!

193. Which segues naturally into the tastes of Christmas: spiced apple cider, toffee, chocolate, mint candy canes, sage dressing, eggnog... cookie dough!!

194. Our church's Christmas production, which I enjoyed this year from the audience. This is the first time in about five years that hubby and I haven't been in the choir. We invited friends and managed to get excellent seats all together!

Maria Whelton played the harp in the "Cal's Christmas" production at CLA.

195. Music. The choir songs were fabulous! So was the harp.

196. A house party afterwards. At our house. I had so much fun preparing this spread.

Wrap sandwiches, spinach dip with French bread, veggie and fruit platters with dips, spiced apple cider. Not pictured are Cracker Toffee, Seven-Layer Bars and cheesecake with blueberry-cranberry topping.

197. The computer, email and a printer, which make the tradition of writing the Christmas letter way less work than when I first started doing it eons ago.

198. An evening walk amid the lights. After a busy weekend wherein we also had a Pineapple Express (warm temperatures and a deluge of rain), we got home to find the rain had stopped and the lights of our little town beckoned. So we took a walk in the dark and enjoyed the Christmas ambience.

 MacBurney Lane, Langley, BC

Casino Plaza, Langley, BC

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here. 

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construction

Lego Maple Leaf structure 
Langley Canada Day celebration, July 1, 2010

Thursday Challenge

Next Week: FOOD (Farmers Market, Vegetables, Meat, Cooking, Restaurant,...)

one week down, three to go (#181-189 of 1000 gifts)

Now that we're into December, Christmas feels very close indeed. Even though I promise myself after every hectic yule season that next year will be different, I never seem to change my drifting along ways, so that the month of December continues to catch me by surprise and feel like a sprint to the 25th. But I'm realizing too, that the busy times bring so much good with them. Many of the items on this week's list of 1000 gifts come out of seasonal busy-ness.

181. Our church's women's ministry put on a beautiful Christmas event on Wednesday night. "Dwell" was all about dwelling in God's presence. Every attendee left with a crystal ring-holder and perfume dispenser, along with the gift-tag reminder: "For we are to God the AROMA of Christ among those who are perishing." What a fabulous way to begin December.

182. I have an article due at the end of the month. I thought of making it an interview, my interview subject answered "yes" and sent back my questionnaire within 24 hours. So my article is already written!

183. On Friday I wrote the last of a whole year's worth of devotions. I didn't miss a day! It feels so good to have completed this challenge to myself. (If you're interested, they're here.)

184. The December 2010 issue of Good Times arrived with a poem of mine in the poetry section. How sweet is that!

185. The banquet and house party season is upon us! I love to get all dressed up in sparklies and go out to sip, munch and eat with friends.

186. The door prizes at the banquet we went to were legion. I didn't win one but hubby's ticket was drawn for a sparkly poinsettia!

187. The house is decorated. (The blog's new banner is the busy little village on my mantlepiece — in candlelight of course.)

188. Curling has begun! We watched the finals of the Canada Cup this weekend. How about that Stephanie Lawton! Those prairie girls sure know how to curl.

189. Water at the twist of a tap or touch of a lever. I'm appreciating that more than ever this morning as ours is off. We had notice, so collected a couple of soup pots of it.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here. 

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brown

Mallards

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: CONSTRUCTION (Houses, Streets, Commercial, Equipment, Vehicles,...)