My 2021 Joy Dare

Posted on by Mary
Dare

Hey All! Who’s upper a little Dare?? I know I know 2019 and 2020 was the word JOY. However during the year 2021 my word is intentional, so I am focusing on INTENTIONAL GRATITUDE and Gratitude produces JOY!

So here’s the thing. In the past I have hosted a gratitude Challenge every Thursday (aka the Thankfulness challenge) because I believe that thankfulness should happen all year long NOT just November!

And since we are commanded to “give thanks in all things ” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) I decided that for 2021 I would participate in Ann Voskamps Joy Dare which you can find HERE.

Each week on Thursday I will post the weeks prompts with all that I am thankful for., and by the end of the year I should have well over 1,000 gifts to be thankful for (HAHAHA did ya see what I did there…Ann’s book is 1,000 gifts!) Actually I will end up with 1,095 gifts to be exact..

I will also post the image of the prompts though that belongs to Ann NOT ME. You can either join me in spirit and keep track in you journal in the privacy of your own home but I would really love it if you would share your gifts with me in the comments below!

Dare

Let’s get started for the week of January 1-7 2021

January 1- 3 Gifts Heard

  • The deep Rhythmic Breathing of 3 sleeping children.
  • Silence- Stillness as I spend time in God’s Word
  • Sweet murmurs from another child upstairs spending time talking to his dad.

January 2- Inside, outside, on a plate

  • Inside: The woodsy smell of a candle melt adding to the cozy feeling of our home in the early morning.
  • outside- Much needed rain
  • On a plate: many different tastes of the season- I am thankful for the days mostly I can stomach special treats because they are few and far between right now

January 3rd- 3 Graces overheard

  • hearing hubby encourage the kids as we have walked this journey of a health scare
  • the kids being real life friends to each other
  • giggles of joy as tickles and playing are unleashed in the living room.

January 4th- Old, New and Blue

  • Old-Two pretty little victorian doll ornaments- given to me from Nana upon her passing away.
  • New- Tupperware boxes I planned to buy but my friend gifted them to me ” because I needed some encouragement”. Her words not mine.
  • Blue- Extra comfy pajamas gifted to me by my hubby- both pairs are blue both perfectly warm and cozy!

January 5th-something I;m reading, making and seeing

  • Something I’m reading” Prison Letters by Corrie Ten Boom – Can I just say that this book really serves out a healthy dose of perspective.
  • I am not currently making anything- but I did make 6 pairs of PJs for Christmas and 6 neck warmers and there is nothing quite like taking the time to make something for your family.
  • Something I am seeing- our family all snuggled in and gathered for our morning devotions

January 6th- In your bag, in your fridge, and in your heart

  • In your bag- new fresh socks- I should say it’s in my hospital bag that is mostly packed in the kitchen. I have learned that in my new season I must be prepared and new socks for the hospital is amazing- sort are your own pajamas!!!
  • In your Fridge- a meal prepared in love by thoughtful friends.
  • in your heart- words of encouragement- those spoken in love to build up NOT spoken as a teaching moment.

January 7th- 3 Graces from people you love

  • a funny card from a friend- only they can make you laugh like that!
  • random check-ins and being asked how are you really doing?
  • Truth spoken in a moment of frustration at life’s circumstances- to heal.The point is to encourage. The point is to encouraged build unto show they really care- And it works!

How about you? Are you up for the Dare? Interested in One Thousand Gifts? You can check it out HERE

I Am Thankful For………

Posted on by Mary

Thankfulness Challenge

Here we are again….another Thursday, and another Thankfulness Challenge. This week is a little different though. As I have been writing ALL. WEEK. LONG. It has been quite fun, very peaceful and hard all wrapped into one! I have always written, ever since I was a teenager, but never this intensely! I have more journals than anything else and you can confirm that with my hubby. Its actually a point of frustration…..because I often don’t finish them. Truth be told, it frustrates me too but I have been working on filling up journals that I have started at various points, but a fresh new notebook just makes my heart skip a beat….maybe what I really need is notebooks anonymous….

Well I do have a lot to be thankful for as usual so let’s get started, shall we.

1. I know this is going to sound super cheesy BUUT, I DON’T CARE! I am so grateful for the man God gave me as a husband. He truly studies and knows just what my heart needs. He knew I needed this week and then he MADE me keep it. I tried to get out of it several times, but, yeah, he wasn’t going to let that happen and I am stronger for it.

2.I am most definitely grateful for a Christian place to park our camper and the godly teaching that I get with it twice a day. It’s safe, and affordable and within a few hours of home, and about an hour or so from other family. There is so much to do here and yet it is so quiet and peaceful….alhough it can be VERY wet at times!! (It’s pretty much rained for the last 3 days)

3.A warm breeze that reminds me it is still summer….people it was 48 degrees here this morning It was COLD. I joked with my husband that if it wasnt still August I would have turned the heat on!

4.That tomorrow I will see my four little munchkins and my hubby. I have missed them so much…..

5.That I get to come back on MONDAY with my whole family and that we will have two weeks of rest and relaxation before school starts….I’m anticipating an amazing 2 weeks!

How about you? What are you thankful for?

Blogging Within My Mission

Posted on by Mary

Hi all,

So it’s been no secret that I have not been around much. Life has been busy and I wear so very many hats!  And sometimes I have to throw off all my other hats in order to take care of a hat that grows exceptionally heavy…..usually it’s the one with a husband, four kids and a house crammed inside of it.

And over the last year or so I have become increasingly uncomfortable with all the…”this is how you should blog”. And the “you aren’t doing things right”. Critics out there.   I also have a lot of personal critics in my life wondering “why do you waste your time doing that” and “How can you possibly have time for all that you do?”   And to be completely honest I think that Satan has used those critics to spread seeds of doubt, and frankly I have come to the realization that I was letting him!    

Did I whine and complain….maybe on the inside a little convincing myself that I had nothing anybody wanted to hear.   And everywhere you turn, people are oh so concerned about numbers……numbers!  Ugh, I’ve always hated Math! It’s a necessary evil in my mind!   Anyway, over the last 8 months I have spent A LOT of time reading and praying.   And while we were on vacation in July , I stole away a few times and focused on me.  Ways to better me.  And one of those things that I did was write my own personal mission statement.

Each year I write out goals but rarely if ever meet them.  I pick books based on areas of my life in which I desire to grow…..along with knowing I will review some as well. I choose them according to the areas that are focus points in my life.  I then also choose fiction that maybe I either missed out on in school or something that strikes my fancy! (No none of them are Romance novels….ICK)

So I wrote this Mission statement….

It is my mission to live my life with the sole purpose to give God the glory in everything I say and do-to abide in Christ, to grow in my daily walk with Him.

 It’s nothing fancy and I know it’s not short and sweet like five words or less BUT IT WORKS FOR ME.

I then added action statements for each of my main focus area in my life.  These areas include

  • My Daily walk with God…it’s a relationship and like any good fruitful relationship it takes nurturing.
  • My hubby….I love him dearly
  • The munchkins…yep four smiling, funny, keep me on my toes munchkins!
  • My home…..I want it to be a safe haven for all who cross it’s threshold .
  • My ministry….which is 2 fold, the people of our church, and my readers here on my blog!
Here is what my action statement under Ministry says
To intentionally challenge fellow women who love Jesus to grow deeper in their walk with God.  To speak truth in love and encourage women to be bold in their faith.