11 More gifts, Only 978 left to go!

I have to admit...it's been a slow start toward the One Thousand Gifts goal I made. We'll keep truckin' though...

12. Moonlit walks after dinner. Listening to sounds of the crickets. Looking up to see the stars shining down on me.

13. Realizing that THIS moon is the same moon no matter where you are. Whether you're in New Jersey or California, Japan or Italy, South Africa or South America. All nights are brightened by the same moon.

14. Walking past the high school when "classes" are over for the day. Then, being surprised to see lights on in a few classrooms. Night Classes... I have the greatest respect for those people who work all day and then go to school at night. I don't know how they do it!

15. Dinner Date with a college friend. Cooking for two is so much better than cooking just for one.

16. Singing songs and making harmonies...sort of.

17. Co-workers. Truly working as a team to accomplish our goals.

18. A new ceiling in my apartment. I almost have my cute little kitchen back again.

19. Things I'm looking forward to (they keep me going on those longgg days) : Nicole's new apartment, seeing my parents this weekend (you know I had to say that mom and dad!), visiting college/church friends in VA, spending the summer in London (I know, I know, I'm not getting too far ahead of myself now)

20. Dinner Date #2. Making homemade pizza. Note to self: put pizza crust on pan before loading pizza up with toppings and sauce.

21. Making new friends at work. Talking as we work. Working as we talk.

22. Reality checks. Catching "dumpster divers" after hours at work. Realizing that dumpster diving is a way of life. Feeling extra grateful that I have what I have. Saddened that others resort to 'search and rescue' techniques, even if it means breaking the law.


22.

Dare You to Move...

A little over three years ago, one of roommate's father died in a terrible plane crash. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember being in my bedroom when my friend Kate knocked on the door. I thought she had just stopped by to say hello and such. But instead, she was there to break the news of our friend's father's death. I was completely and utterly shocked. How was that even possible?!? It can't be true. It just can't. I remember walking around the rest of day in a daze and stupor. Chemistry lab seemed so insignificant. Everything seemed duller and less important and less meaningful. I remember driving in my car and hearing the Switchfoot song, "Dare you to move." The song gave me some hope and drive. Yes, there would be a time of mourning and sadness. And this was necessary. But, the song then challenges you to "lift yourself up off the floor. Dare you to move, challenges the vocalist. Dare you to move like today never happened. I was not ready to move that day. Nor the next day. Nor the next week. But when the timing was right, I moved and I moved past the absolutely horrible situation. I moved on for my friend who COULDN'T move. Life changed forever for my friend. And it will always be changed and she will always miss her father. But, even she, even my friend dared to move. We have to move. Or we too, will pass away.

I am reflecting upon this subject because once again, I am speechless and I am in denial. A beloved professor who taught my classes last spring died last week from cancer. She was 38 years old, married, and with two young children. I keep thinking to myself, it cannot be true! It just can't. She had had so much energy and drive. She was a wealth of knowledge. She was so young. But, it is true. After a three month battle with cancer, she has passed. A mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, a physical therapist, and many other relationships she had formed. How can it be true? I think of her family and friends. Their new pain, a pain they never asked for. Will her children ever know what an amazing person their mom was? Their lives have changed forever. Willl they, one day, be able to move again? Will those who have experienced loss ever truly laugh again?

I don't know the answers to my questions. Thanks be to God, I have never lost a close family member or friend. All I know is that tonight I will say a special prayer for my professor and her family. And I will continue to say that prayer. This world is constantly changing. Time will not stop for us. The question is, how long can we stop, and reflect, and remain stagnant before the world become unrecognizable? Before our lives are no longer our own because we fail to move on and accept the change that is upon us.

Tonight, I dare you to move. I dare you lift yourself up off the floor and grab hold of your life. It may hurt. It may hurt a lot. But it might feel really good at the same time?. It's truly sad to say it, but the world will go on without you. Change is inevitable.

Will you dare to move?

One Thousand Gifts

In High School or maybe it was college, I can't remember, I started keeping my "best thing of the day" journal. And ever since, I have kept the journal on and off. Some months, I will be really good and excited to write in it. Other months, I lose interest altogether. It'd be interesting to look back and see if I can find out why I did or did not write it in during different periods of my life. Whatever the case is, I'd like to start sharing the good gifts in my life with you. Not just the big and obvious gifts, but also the everyday gifts of living, breathing, learning and growing. I know that it will be a lesson in gratitude. In living in the moment. A lesson in seeing the real and present person of God and His presense in every aspect of every day.

A "One Thousand Gift" Challenge was initiated in 2006. A fellow blogger and foremost friend, accepted the challenge in April of this year. And I too, now accept the challenge. A challenge of gratitude. Everyday, I am blessed with ATLEAST 1,000 gifts from God. Unfortunately, I admit that my eyes are closed to most of gifts. It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in my "situation" and dwell on my "problems." So, I accept the challenge. The challenge of counting of my blessings. Literally. One thousand, this year, is my goal. I hope that through this challenge my eyes will increasingly be opened to the every day, every moment gifts from my God.

Shall we begin then? Won't you consider accepting the One Thousand Gift challenge too?

1. I am thankful for Sunday mornings. Gathering with my sisters and brothers to worship together. Catching up with friends and asking about each others weeks.

2. For the man washing his little red Corvette on a beautiful autumn afternoon. Watching him take such care not to miss a spot. Thinking of my dad and how he loves making his Corvette shine!

3. The guy mowing his lawn. And mowing the side-walk at the same time. For the smell of freshly cut green grass.

4. Two younger girls chatting by the bus-stop. Their giggles bring a smile to my face.

5. For friends. For long overdue phone calls.

6. Walks into town. Stopping by the produce store with only seven singles in my wallet. I'll take one aspargus, a brocolli, and crunchy red grapes. Total = $6.50.

7. Thankful for my first pay-check from my new job. I'll deposit that tomorrow.

8. 4:00-5:00p.m. is favorite hour of the day. The sun shining straight into my apartment windows. Most of the day's work is just about done. Getting ready to prepare dinner. Maybe I'll try a new recipe.

9. For change. The leaves haven't started to change yet. But I know that it will happen any day now. And I'll wonder, when did the leaves start changing? They were green last time I looked!

10. For delicious fruit smoothies. Peaches. Pineapples. Strawberries. Yogurt and OJ. Blending them all together to create a refreshing treat.

11. Listening to Pandora radio and realizing that "it is well with my soul." For I am blessed with more than one thousands gifts. every day. every moment.