Counting to One Thousand Gifts on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful 451) my daddy is a preacher man, and this Christmas 452) he gave my brother and me each one of his study Bibles.

Mom & Dad, Christmas 2012

Chocked with tears of gratitude, I hugged my dad for sharing this most deep and precious gift of his learned walk with Jesus Christ.

As a youth, I remember dad preaching to be “teachable” by God’s Word and Spirit. 453) I am thankful for sitting under dad’s teaching, helping my heart to be tender towards God, His Son, Jesus, and the Spirit’s presence in my life.

One of dad’s many notes on the inside of this Bible reads, “This is my Bible. This is God’s word speaking to me.”

Another note says, “We are filled with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”

Dad’s faith has bolstered my faith, helping me do impossible faith adventures like go to Africa to minister to orphaned children, and to be bold in my daily walk with God, lived out before others, contrary to culture. 454) I am thankful for dad’s frequent risks of faith lived out before me. He too went to foreign lands, such as India and the Philippines to share Christ’s love, as well as preached God’s Word from California to Texas.

I’m a visual learner, and as an older youth I took frequent notes of my daddy’s preaching. Now to see his preaching from this side–scripture and text underlined, notes taken, dates written, is a treasure 455) I will always be grateful for.

456) My daddy has truly given me a spiritual legacy I will not depart from.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Counting to One Thousand Gifts on this Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday, I encourage you to go throughout the day picking flowers of blessings in your life.  Maybe you have a small blessing as I have of being thankful for 433) dark chocolate.

Or a large blessing like 434) my body and it’s organs functioning like clock work, as a dear friend lies in the hospital receiving dialysis, praying her kidneys start functioning again.

I’m picking my flowers throughout the day, one by one,  until I’ve gathered enough to make a beautiful bouquet of thanks to my Lord.

435) A husband who is generous in love and support. And he cooks too! Bonus!

436) Sons who have a tender heart towards God.

437) Both sides of our families dine and celebrate special holidays together, as one family.

438) Friends we call family.

439) The opportunity to travel to Zambia to find our special boys to support: 440) Kenneth, 441) James, 442) Gift, and 443) Edward.

444) Special women and children I work with every day. They make work meaningful and fun.

445) A mani/pedi in a massage chair.

446) Apple pie.

447) Pumpkin Crunch Cake

448) A walk in fall weather.

449) Sleeping-in a few days in a row.

450) Salvation and God’s continual presence in my life.

With a grateful heart, I will offer my bouquet to God, my Savior, the giver of all good gifts, both great and small.

A special chorus from my youth in church is resounding in my heart today. If you know it, sing it with me:

“Give thanks, with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.

And now, let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’

Let the poor say, ‘I am rich.’

because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give Thanks.”

Counting to One Thousand Gifts on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for:

432) being published in the e-book That Works for Me!

The blog carnival, Works For Me Wednesday has been a hub of helpful tips for every area of a busy woman’s life over at the blog We are THAT Family. Thousands of tips have been shared over the past years and this e-book offers a categorized, organized place for more than 800 practical, “aha!” tips from that blog.

One of my very own gift tips (Valentine Love Box) is featured on page 90 in this e-book! That Works for Me!

I’ve only scratched the surface on reading this chalk-full-of information e-book! I can’t wait to dig deeper! This e-book is so interactive and useful.

A website called That Works for Me has also been launched and is running a contest thru the month of April for a gift card for house cleaning ($150 value). They are asking people to “submit a tip” as an entry.

You can also purchase the That Works for Me! e-book on the website and a portion goes to Mercy House, a maternity house in Kenya, Africa. The regular price for the e-book is $8. But you can use this coupon code: SAVE1 for $1 off.

The authors, Kristen and Jennifer, have allowed me to giveaway one e-book. You can enter my giveaway by:

• Following my blog and commenting below that you did so.
• Commenting with a That Works for Me! tip of your own! [Hint: Now that I'm working outside the home, I need quick cooking tips!]

This giveaway ends on Wednesday, April 18th!

Counting to One Thousand Gifts on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for:

425) Springs nature in bloom.

426) The whimsy of a clothes line.

427) My gas dryer (allergies).

428) The cardinals song calling to stop, look, listen, and learn to slow in God’s nature sanctuary.

429) A cool evening breeze as I walk. A stressful day brings tears. The breeze enveloping brings more tears. It catches my breath. I feel God’s comfort in His lovely, breezy dusk wrapping His arms around me. His favor upon me. I want to twirl in the breeze as I feel his presence (but might get tangled in the dog leash). Stress melts away.

430) Psalm 147:18 “He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.”

431) My Mama is out of the hospital and mending.

Counting to One Thousand Gifts on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for:

422) Baby chicks, sheltered from harm.

423) Hens that lay eggs and eat bugs.

424) Charming hen houses where they seek shelter each night.

“He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Psalm 91:4

Counting to One Thousand Gifts on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for:

419) Spring

420) Streams

421) Sharing Friends who allow us to enjoy their nature reserve in the Texas Hill Country.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7,8

Counting to One Thousand Gifts on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful that:

406) “I’m Alive! I’m Alive! I’m alive in You!” There is a Christian song with these lyrics going around and around in my head. I’ve searched the World Wide Web over and I cannot find it. If anyone knows, please tell me. However, it doesn’t negate the fact that I am truly thankful to be alive, after being involved in a five car accident yesterday.

407) I’m thankful for my husbands calming voice on the cell phone.

408) I’m thankful for the man who stopped his busy life and stayed with me until he knew I was physically and emotionally okay.

409) Quick response emergency workers.

410) With five cars involved, no one was seriously injured, although four ambulances were needed.

411) For “2am friends” (meaning they come at any time to offer support): 412) Mom and Dad, 413) Eric and Carol, 414) Don and Kitty. I love y’all with tears in my eyes even now!

415) For God’s protection while my car spun round and round out of control (moments I keep reliving), and eventually landing in the ditch facing the opposite direction I was traveling.

As my car careened backwards, leaving tire tracks on the ground, I pumped the brakes until the car finally stopped.

416) Joy!

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!

Make room for Him today! For we don’t know our tomorrows.