A Gift Given, Made, Sacrificed...

252.  a gift card (with card) to Nicole at her 'kitchen themed' bridal shower at the Smith's Creek Hall

253.  made 'time' to talk with the farmer about potential plans for the future... exciting...

254.  Sacrificed $ so Jared could have his hair cut at Solutions, for his trip, instead of the buzzer system at home...

...but a gift of sacrifice... do we ever sacrifice? really sacrifice?  Shouldn't I have been thinking about the gift received rather than what I might sacrifice?

Perhaps time with our kids doesn't allow us to do everything a body would care to do.  But is it truly a sacrifice?  Haven't we chosen to grow these little bundles of offspring and really, think about it, how much joy comes from these gifts that God has blessed us with, at our request, no less.  So, no sacrifices here that I can see, only more blessings from the one who sacrificed it all... with the greatest gift of all (: 

3 Gifts Orange ~ 3 Gifts in Dirt

246.  our beach cups for InRL

247.  new orange PJs for growing youngest

248.  the orange T shirt she wore for 'Dumb Jokes' preformance at school production of 'Fools'

249.  fresh, plowed garden, strawberries and a couple raspberries spared

250.  hooves in dirt, waiting for the grass to grow

251.  boy in his sandbox

3 Gifts 'Ugly Beautiful'

243.  Joker, the white 'almost horse', white beautiful potential... rolled in the muck

244.  Cheezies on his face, pure delight

245.  Internet connection during InRL, a beautiful thing, meant to be seen... silly rain interference

3 Gifts Moving...

240.  friends moving to a 'new' house, building this summer... what a gift

241.  life moves continually forward... Mem calls this afternoon to tell that her pastor and his wife welcomed their first, a daughter, in to the world (:

242.  how these daily devotionals, a holy experience and Incourage, move me, move my heart and emotions ~ bringing peace, utmost peace.

3 Gifts Fragile ~ A Gift Cloth, Steel, Wood

234.  little 6 year old in her monkey hat, sicking her thumb, looking like an infant...

235.  little Molly after her first floating of teeth...

236.  mother's emotions ~

237.  cloth cast on his hand, camo, healing

238.  steel for roof repair? last longer, maybe?

239.  wood all around, woods... a place to walk in peace (:

3 Gifts Close ~

228.  feeling close to God in morning worship

229.  close friend, tea by the fireplace

230.  close call of a broken arm, xray & sling for Jaden

3 Gifts found in Christ

225.  a quiet Saturday morning, a very rare occasion in this household, time to really listen for His gifts

226.  in Christ alone... you are my strength

227.  the love of a family, together (:

A Gift Stacked, Stashed, Stilled

222.  clean towels stacked, dried on the line... country air scent

223.  Bible CD's stashed for better understanding His word

224.  ...stilled the mare (light sedation) to measure follicle, prep for foal next spring (:

3 Gifts Inherited ~ 3 Gifts Square

216.  ~ her father's happy, silly soul...

217.  love of the outdoors in spring... fishing, in particular

218.  farm life...

219.  the 9 patch squares on my bed quilt, called Breakfast in Bed

220.  four-square fun at school

221.  square edged windows in fun new car (:

3 Hard Eucharisteos ~ 3 Gifts Woven Together

210.  mud on floors but so thankful for outside days

211.  my compulsiveness to work but thankful that I am able

212.  short sleep but thankful for my bed and home

213.  God weaving himself in the lives of our children at Christian School

214.  weaving through the grocery store isles and having the means to buy them

215.  and through a busy, happy day, filled (:

A Gift in a Bag, in a Box, in a Book ~

207.  Jaden's goody bag filled with treats and hockey cards at the year end party

208.  Papa John's pizza and Ranger cupcakes, in a box, for our family's Sunday lunch

209.  Wanda Brunstetter's, The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club... on the farm cottage porch with sun & tea (:

3 Gifts Found Looking Up...

204.  ~ fuel bill looking up, it's about time, with new, fuel-efficient Focus
205.  ~ looking up the cub car ramp to watch the cars compete... fun in community
206.  ~ looking up to Him this spring... new life with His presence... and ladies walking (:

3 Gifts Worn ~ 3 Gifts Bright

198.  ~ worn hair from winter shedding...
199.  ~ worn from book trials... now balancing
200.  ~ worries worn, now turned to hope

201.  bright future for friends after job interview...

202.  bright children, parent-teacher conferences today...

203.  bright Hope... all is His grace (:

3 Gifts Opened Up... 3 Gifts Budding/Blooming...

192. ~ opened up the farm cottage to check on progress of the play set... fun coming

193. ~ opened a pkg. of bran muffins... morning hunger after a quick breaky and rush to school

194. ~ opened up our imagination for the future after a phone call...

195. ~ 42 years of marriage blooming, Mom & Dad's wedding anniversary

196. ~ young dairy couple's journey budding

197. ~ Daffodill's fat buds nearly blooming... remembering what they stand for and praying for Aart

A Gift Hiding, Held, Heard

187.  ~ almost man hiding from "doing"... stayed home to rest and unravel from a tiring work weekend... enjoyed the house to himself, a good thing

188. ~  held our youngest girl when her face hit the barn floor, gift of comfort

189. ~ heard the laughter of boys in the snow, pitching snowballs in good fun

190. ~ heard the conversation of a little farm boy giving a tour to our little farm girl.  When his almost 5 yr old self opened the door to the milk parlour... she said in 6 yr old awe "It's Gorgeous!"

191. ~ heard the voices of our family, an afternoon together (& day mostly off) to celebrate Easter, knowing we were put together by Him (:

3 Gifts Waited for and 1 more, 3 Gifts Rising Up...

180. ~ waiting for the calm, peace after hungry children uproar...

181. ~ for raptor and CRF100 to bring boys safely back home...

182. ~ delicious, as usual, meal with hockey friends at the Gasthoff...

183. ~ for His return after three days in the tomb

184.  rising children... "Can we Mom?"... 6:30 a.m. hunting for the eggs

185.  milk truck thankfully rising up the driveway after being stuck... storm day today

186.  Jesus has Risen... all for us (:

3 Gifts Nailed Together ~

177. ~ His hands and Feet nailed... all for us

178. ~ our children at the Passover Meal, our very first one... tastey meal, great meaning

179. ~ watching Jesus in the "Jesus" film at the little Wesleyan church at the Head of Millstream (: