one thousand gifts

Let me first start off by admitting that I am an awful writer. I have only gotten one A+ on a paper in my entire life, and it may even have just been an A but I hold onto that + just incase I need to make myself look good. I feel like I have great ideas but just cant seem to get them across in the way I would like. I mention this for two reasons, 1. I will try really hard to convince you to read this book, but since it was not my persuasive essay that got the A (+) I know I will not do a great job, because of that I will rely on quotes and examples from the book to do the persuading for me. 2. I feel like the author is great with words and artsy phrases, and I am not, so I am going through this book pretty slow to take it all in, you might want to too.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. A friend of mine has been reading, read, this book months ago and sent out an email encouraging others to read it as well. As usual it took me some extra time to get it and then get into a schedule of reading it. Soo glad I finally got around to it!

This book is a woman telling her story of trials that she has gone through in her life. She begins a challenge to come up with 1,000 gifts she recieves from God. 1. Morning shadows across the old floors. 2. Jam piled high on the toast. 18. Wind flying cold wild in hair. (see what I mean, Cold wild?). 22. Mail in the mailbox. She goes on through the book, through the trials adding blessings that God has given to her. Focusing on LIVING IN THE MOMENT.

There are just a couple of things that I have marked that I wanted to share.

"Wherever you are, be all there. I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry, pounding back in regrets, terrified to live in the present, because here-time asks me to do the hardest of all: just open wide and receive."

"Stay calm, enter the moment, give thanks." Something I might want to put on my wall and look at everyday.

"Life is dessert-too brief to hurry....I want to slow down and taste life, give thanks, and see God."

There are so many beautiful pictures written about her and her family. If you have kids read this book, if you dont have kids read this book. If you feel like you are always go, go, go read this book.
I have started my own 1000 gift list and I encourage you to do the same, go get a journal or open up a word document and start listing. I know you are already thinking of a few right now.