Eucharisteo

35. A discipline that is working on my heart! --finding beauty everywhere and feeling thankfulness grow
36. A job.
37. That I generally love.
38. my Mom
39. a whole-long-nearly-eleven-hour-day with her on Saturday
40. celebrating my birthday with the one who gave it to me
41. new clothes!
42. mom's generosity
43. neverending things to talk about with her
44. understanding --getting-- each other
45. remembering difficult years and reveling in grace!
46. a tremendously authentic, difficult, and piercing sermon this weekend
47. B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l (this is why I live in FL) weather!
48. Tim Keller in Orlando
49. fellowship with family in Christ -grateful for joy that I feel anticipating it!
50. organization, yes, it makes me so happy

Four Years

I sat on the couch, all comfy in PJs and enjoying the company of old friends and new, and stared at my phone.

The text read, "Can we meet somewhere and talk?"

I looked up, caught the eyes of my roommate, and, well, I may have let out a little scream. I showed her the phone screen. She screamed.

We both knew what this meant.

I had spent the last week on board a cruise ship, aptly named by fellow cruisers the Love Boat, with around 100 of my fellow ministry partners; one of which, in particular, held nearly all of my attention.

I had spent the last month on the phone with this fella nearly everyday, sharing our lives and getting to know each other.

I had spent the last several months emailing him jokes, comments, and interruptions to his day.

I had spent the last twenty-five years praying for him.

So, when the text rang from my phone, my roommate and I knew: now, my prince had come!

He came over to my house around 10pm, all snuffly and sick, and we walked around the neighborhood putting words to feelings and throwing around questions like "what about Japan?" and "what about my timeline?" and " what could this mean?" The answer to all of that was "I just don't know." We walked in silence.

The only answer I could find was: "I do know I don't want to walk away from you." We held hands and prayed and asked God for direction.

And God blessed! What followed was the most incredible year of adventures and memories and hard discussions and growth. What delight we had in being together! Neither of us could believe the joy God gave in our relationship.

Four years later... what a sweet Valentine I have! He is a treasure. He is grace - the loving gift of God for my good, a daily reminder of God's tender care for me, and a place of safety for my heart. Love grows more, richer and deeper. We're still learning each other - what he/she likes, how he/she gets irritated, and (the hard one) how to bless in the midst of irritation. I'm learning how to really pray for someone and how to trust God with someone.

An adventure, to be sure, and one I'm most grateful for. What could He have for us? We're not sure, but definitely praying and dreaming and holding fast together.

I'm so glad that dashing young fella called and asked to talk!

One Thousand Gifts = Eucharisteo

Let me just start this post by saying that I am really being blessed by reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts! It's such a good read packed with descriptive examples and piercing summaries of what's really happening in our hearts. It's scrumptious. Read it.

The premise is that our lives are so busily focused on earthly things that we fail to see the great gifts of Love showered upon us all day everyday by our Heavenly Father. To combat this ungrateful symptom of the imperfect life, the author welcomes us into her daily habit of recording moments of joy on a list that she calls One Thousand Gifts. She is well past one thousand...and I am well on my way! She keeps a journal with her at all times (and often a camera, too) to never miss a moment to record. The physical habit has transformed her spiritual habits to reflect a heart of worship.

The word Eucharisteo is the greek word that led her through Scripture to embrace a life of gratefulness, a life that says thanks at every moment. (Read more in chapter two!) So I will retitle my posts Eucharisteo and you may just see them a little more often.

18. Flowers. Delivered. Shock and awe! Feeling loved.
19. Valentines Day dinner with friends!
20. A reason to decorate the table all pink and red, light candles, welcome friends, and dine together.
21. Dan & Tawnny Kramer
22. Ken & Crystal Mauger
23. Making Valentine cards
24. Sending Valentine cards and boxes with joy, imagining my loved one receiving it!
25. Sleeping in
26. Naps
27. the Bahamas :)
28. Tour guides happy to tell me about their home
29. the 24-hour buffet
30. boats on clear, turquoise seas
31. Quiet moments reading with a cup of tea overlooking calm, dark waters
32. HOME! So grateful for the home I have with my husband.
33. Teaching at VCC - love my students, love my time with them, loving helping them grow
34. sunshine

One Thousand Gifts

7. Sickness last week that brought a forced slowdown
8. St. Paul's Mission Conference - so very blessed! Thank you, Dr. Oh!
9. Barbie & Sarah who worked so hard and did such a tremendous job with the organization of the conference
10. a whole day with Amy on Saturday, serving together
11. fresh fruit and vegetables at our table after a weekend of busyness/eating out
12. shopping my closet and finding new combos
13. anticipation for blessings ahead
14. Sunday afternoon naps with Husband
15. A husband who serves joyfully
16. A treasured book arrived - my copy of One Thousand Gifts!
17. Newfound hours of pleasure reading - no longer required to give a reading report :)