Saying Thank You

I'm slowly savoring one of the most beautiful books I have read in recent memory.  The book, One Thousand Gifts:  A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp is without question one I will return to again and again.  It is a book that will have a permanent home on my shelf and is one I have already given away to beloved friends.  While I do not know Ann personally, she is an amazing writer and I have long been a fan of her incredible blog.  In reading her writing, I feel I have gotten to know her as a woman, a mother, a wife, a writing mentor, an encourager, an inspiration and if we were to meet in person, hopefully a friend.  Hers is a book that causes you to pause, ponder, and see with renewed vision the beauty of the life you have been given...right now.  Right where you are.  It teaches and reveals her journey toward discovering and uncovering the wonder in the ordinary and the abundance in the simple.

I have had the book for several months and only today did I finish reading chapter three. I want to savor every word as I'm reading it- often rereading just to enjoy how she has described something, or reading just a little bit at a time so I can truly think upon what she has said and what it means for my life.  It is so lovely.  Here is a passage from what I read today that reminded me that practicing gratitude requires effort, intentionality and courage.  A great reminder for me as my days of late often blur together in a whirl of "sameness"...
     
- "I know there is poor and hideous suffering, and I've seen the hungry and the guns that go to war.  I have lived pain, and my life can tell:  I only deepen the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks for early light dappled through leaves and the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that a good God gives.  Why would the world need more anger, more outrage? How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us?  Rejecting joy to stand in solidarity with the suffering doesn't rescue the suffering.  The converse does.  The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world.  When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows.  How can this not be the best thing for the world?  For us?  The clouds open when we mouth thanks." 

                          - Chapter 3: First Flight, p. 58

 In my beginning of practicing this new rhythm of thanks, I confess my tendency toward seeing and being thankful for only what is most obvious. I ache to see with renewed vision all that God has waiting for me hidden behind the veil of deep gratitude.

Thank you, Ann for daring me to seek Him with new eyes. It is changing my life for the better.

I'm One Month Old Today!

 

I am growing sweeter and cuter by the day!

Sometimes I get a little cranky when our photo shoots take too long...

I go to the doctor next week to see how much I've grown!

xo

love,

Lily

Blessings

I've been thinking a lot about the past year of my life.  Where we have been, the road we have traveled to reach these days of blessing.  Grief, loss, heartbreak, fear, tears, anger, unemployment, disappointment, pain, weakness....all along the road to gratitude, abundance, overwhelming love, life, laughter, job prosperity, hope...blessing.  Even though I did not enjoy the journey every day, I know without a doubt that my heart's ability and capacity to appreciate all that we have today, was carved and shaped by those seemingly endless days of struggle. My hard times exponentially increased my ability to enjoy the good ones.

What I have learned from this journey is that it is possible (although difficult) to both honor where you are on your journey- being present in your struggles and sorrows- while also seeking and looking hard for the blessing in the midst- finding reasons to be thankful.  By keeping a wide open heart, you open yourself to fully experiencing life. The good and the bad. 

I was listening to the radio the other day and I heard this song and its message just resounded with truth in my heart.   I know that God wants only the very best for my life. Sometimes the reality of what that looks like in my life feels impossible to understand (why did Luke have to die?) but part of faith is trusting that there is beauty in the suffering and purpose for everything that we experience.  We get to choose how we respond.  We have to have faith and believe that if we just open our eyes and our hearts, no matter how dark the days, if we continue pushing forward with love and gratitude, we cannot help but eventually discover the blessing...and it may look different than what we expect.

Hold on to hope, step forward in faith, push forward into what feels impossible...He promises there is purpose for where you are and what you are facing today. 

Here are the lyrics...

Laura Story - "Blessings" Lyrics

Send "Blessings" Ringtone to your Cell

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Gratitude Project · Week 20

Our New Family Tradition- The Angel Baby 5K

A couple of Saturday mornings ago, our little family began what we hope will be an annual tradition.  Earlier in the spring, some friends of ours contacted us to see how we would feel about them gathering a group of people to participate in Luke's honor in the first running of the Maguire Davis Gilner Angel Baby 5k.  We were completely blown away by their thoughtfulness.  This 5k was designed to completely honor in loving memory of all of the babies who left this earth too soon.  The race was held a few short days after Lily's birthday, so unfortunately we were not able to physically compete, but we (on about an hour of sleep thanks to Miss Lily) made an appearance to cheer on the runners.

The original plan had been to bring Lily out to cheer everyone on who were running for Luke, but sadly, the day dawned cold (high 40s- in MAY!) and very windy.  So we opted not to bring tiny Lily out- she stayed home with Nana.  We were so inspired by everyone who showed up- and by the huge turn out for the inaugural race.  It was a fantastic event- lots of fun for the entire family- all ages!

The hub of the race- packets, snacks, inflatables for kids, vendors....

Prior to the race, they let off hundreds of balloons- sent straight to heaven where ALL angel babies live...

another glimpse of the balloons as they continued to fly away (and some shots of the crowd)

the racers as they headed for the starting line.... (the race was off road)

Our amazing friends had Luke's name added to the list of Angels...every year the race is run, more banners like this will line the course...it meant so much to see his name on the list.  Never forgotten- always loved.

A close up of his name...

All along the course were these signs with different angel baby's names....seeing Luke's sign brought tears to my eyes...so deeply touched by our friend's thoughtfulness and love for our sweet little guy....

Although Luke's little sister had kept us awake for most of the night before, we could not wait to join in the community of incredible people honoring all of the beloved angel babies- our sweet Luke included.  This race was an event both Joe and I were thrilled to be a part of in any way we were physically able.  We hope to lend our full support next year and in the years ahead as we plan on making this special race honoring sweet Luke a rich family tradition- a special day of loving, honoring and remembering him and his sweet angel friends.
 
With all of our hearts, Joe and I want to thank everyone and especially our friends who ran in this race on that cold morning! John, Corey, Chrissy, Shannon, Laurie and especially Angie!  Our hearts are bigger because of all you did and the efforts you put forth- we are deeply humbled by the way you all continue to love and honor our beloved Luke.  We can't wait to join you out there next year! Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you!!

*Note: For some reason, we do not have a team photo from race day! We know we posed for some, but I guess not with our own camera!  (sad!)

Be Still My Heart

Gratitude Project · Week 19