The Joy Dare in 2012

I’m joining The Joy Dare in 2012.  This is hosted by Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts.  This page will list the gifts as based upon the monthly calendar for the Joy Dare.  I will be doing some tweeting via the 1000gifts app, but wanted a more permanent place for the record. (Click the month name to open the coordinating calendar page of gift dares…)

January

1. The gift of insight;  the gift of laughter;  the gift of hugginess…
2. The feathery-falling snow;   one last day of family togetherness before “normal” sets back in;   my mother-in-law’s egg casserole…
3. My sister-in-law expressing her love & gratefulness on the anniversary of her marriage to my brother;  my husband telling me “You are so beautiful” a half dozen times =) ;
4. My grandmother’s beautiful china plates;  the pearl & onyx choker from my husband; The moon/star pin that I got from Roy about 15 years ago.
5. One Thousand Gifts;    Spaghetti;    Little Man standing by the couch without any help!
6. My pretty journal and matching pen & pencil set;   Vanilla soymilk;   Thankfulness for the glorious sunshine on a January day.
7. “Mom, you make the best beans ever!”;  “That’s my woman!” after I cheered very loudly for the home team;   “I missed you Mommy” from my 4 year old after coming home from the basketball game.  sigh…
8. The sunshine brightly lighting our way to a new church;  Little Man & me smiling in the mirror after his shower;  Our bare-leafed Bradford pear trees in our yard.
9. The vanilla scented ink pen from Roy (!);   My Keurig coffeemaker brewing my 2nd cup of coffee…;   my 10 month old son, Little  Man!
10. The sticky sweet-tart from my daughters; the cake mix cookies my mother in law made;  ahhhh, my white chocolate caramel coffee (Just. Right!)
11. The handpainted yellow mug that holds my morning coffee;  The sunflowers on the little gingham totebag that  remind me of my 6 year old – pure sunshine;  the new chalkboard easel that both of my girls love to write & draw love notes on.
12. A new ceiling fan & light in the living room that keeps the living room fresh & light;  the cold, wet puddles of melted snow in the kitchen after my girls came in from playing outside;  my handsome hubby.
13. My baby boy smacking his lips together;  my girls singing the theme song to the movie “Tangled”; the timer going off to signal that the cupcakes are done baking.
14. Ibuprofen for teething baby;  snuggling my cranky boy on my chest in our recliner;  hearing my oldest read to her younger sister.
15. Comfy gray slacks;  my buttered roll;  lunch with my Taylor family.
16. My girls home from school – playing together;  my husband home after just a couple of hours of work;  steaming pot of afternoon tea.
17. My Little Man walking along the couch without help; my family returning to normal routines – school & work;  a surprise morning nap…
18. The Flight into Egypt;  fulfillment of prophetic declarations from Jeremiah & Isaiah in the God-Man Yeshua Mashiach; Luke 3:5 & 6
19. Bread dough rising in a slightly warmed oven;  perfectly white falling snow; our 3 children…