Last of May and into June Joy Dare Gifts

Last of May

Day 29

(a gift at 8h00, 12h00, 20h00)

552) @08h00, hugs from my sleepy boy on a cold winter's morning

553) @12h00 a happy baby waking after a nap

554) @20h00 wonderful family time and dinner at my in laws with relatives who are visiting from Holland 

Day 30

(3 gifts blue)

556) jeans my youngest wore today,

557) the blue jersey he wore,

558) and the smart blue shirt among the big bag of clothes he was blessed with from overseas!

&

559) kids sharing their Dutch Liquorice with me...yum!

560) leftovers from last night so kindly given to us and enjoyed for dinner after the busy day today

Day 31

561) my daughter and her baby cousin playing & laughing happily together early this morning

562) 3 different friends who popped by and encouraged me when I was finding things difficult

563) reading Ann Voskamp's writings...good for me

JUNE

564) hubby starting a new job today after 18 months of unemployment

565) encouraging messages

566) perfect morning walk in this beautiful place... lifting my spirits

567) eating the best savoury muffins that my sweet friend brought over to fill hungry tums after our walk

Day 2

(3 gifts funny)

568) laughing hard over breakfast with a friend

569) 3 teens in the car, chattering away and laughing

570) friends coming over and bringing dinner....good fun, good laughs, good times

Day 3

(3 gift's from today's conversations)

571) conversations with my mum...always a gift

572) conversations and encouragement from a dear old friend

573) laughter and cheer in a conversation with my brother

Day 4

(3 gifts found in Christ)

574) never ending grace

575) forgiveness and the ability to forgive

576) beautiful friends who are in Him

& more my own

577) receiving another wonderful cultural exchange package today,

filled with surprises and new learning experiences

578) heart to heart with my almost 17 year old son...where did the time go?

May Joy Week 4

I can scarcely believe it almost the end of May.

 Daily I remind myself to....

"Be strong, let your heart take courage, yes, wait on the Lord." Psalm 27: 14

I love what Ann Voskamp wrote on her blog today :

"Everything is being spun around and upside down and everything steadies with this: Practice gratitude to God to practice your Faith in God."

Yes,....it all steadies in giving thanks and having faith in Him

Day 22

(3 gifts that made you laugh)

523) a dear friend that I don't see too often, lovely to see her at a special friend's wonderful 40th birthday celebration

524) my daughter

525) my youngest, specially when we are learning to speak Afrikaans

&

526) hubby making dinner tonight

Day 23

(3 gifts found in community)

527) coffee break this evening with the neighbours... good to laugh and catch up

528) my kind neighbour sharing her fruit and veg purchase with us

529) shared lifts to extra murals, outings and exams

Day 24

(a gift in a plate, pot, package)

530) a plate...hubby's delicious chicken burgers tonight

531) pot...pots of popcorn made by daughter

532) package..that I found out about today, can't wait for it to arrive!

& thankful for more

533) coffee and a quick catch up with my friend

534) our eldest wrote his last exam for this session today

535) hubby had an interview today

Day 25

(3 gifts my own)

536) an early morning outing to a goat dairy with a friend, giving us a chance to catch up

537) supper cooked early so I could relax at the end of the long day

538) lying in my warm bed while the rain buckets down

Day 26

(a gift worn, white, whispered)

539) worn: a warm blanket wrapped Basothu  style around me,

 and a beanie on my head to keep away the chills today

540) white: a beautiful white fabric rose bookmark made as a gift by my daughter for a friend...saving pennies on buying another birthday gift

541) whispered: sounds of milk being frothed by the coffee machine my dad blessed us with this morning!

& my own

542) deliciousness of a day with no agenda....then relaxing with a roaring fire tonight

Day 27

543) enjoying the morning sunshine, chatting with a friend

544) encouraging conversations with my farm sister

545) enjoying celebrating a 13th birthday this evening

Day 28

546) a wonderfully fun filled school outing this morning to a bath bean factory

547) blessing of a borrowed camper-cot for my nephew

 (the same cot my almost 17 year old used to play in as a baby!)

548) a prize I won, waiting for me when I arrived home...

interesting jams....

 Chunky Orange & Whiskey Marmalade

Plum Walnut & Brandy Jam

Apricot Cardamom & Orange Jam

Black Cherry & Amaretto Jam

Peach & Passion-fruit Jam

Yellow Cherry & Roasted Almond Jam

549) receiving our cultural exchange pack full of surprises from Canada today

550) my happy girl returning from art lessons with a good grade for her project on Monet

551) laughing hard with the family tonight

May Joy Dare Week 3

The last week seems to have come and gone in a blur. Our eldest has been writing IGCSE exams, our daughter had a minor procedure, hubby worked through the night for three nights

(meaning I didn't sleep too well), migraines for me and the list goes on...

 I could complain about it all or choose to find blessing in the midst of all and give thanks....

Day 15

(3 gifts about me)

wow..this is not easy when one is looking at oneself but here goes...

494) I have a love for cooking and trying out new recipes so I think I am all right in that department. I am thankful that cooking is not always a chore, but often fun for me.

495) I love to make my children laugh by being silly...hopefully making some "crazy mom memories" for them to pull out and laugh at in the future.

496) I am growing in faith even though at times I stumble...

& some my own

497) thankful for exams that exams went well for my boy today

Day 16

(2 gifts found in His word)

498) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorder each one in your book.When I cry unto You, then shall my enemies turn back: 

this I know, for God is for me Psalm 56:8 -9

499) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives,

give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid John 14:27

& more my own

500) calls from two of my siblings today

501) happy children laughing and playing cards this evening

502) thankful our eldest could help hubby on the job he is working on tonight

503) hugs from my youngest

504) thankful for my mom in law who makes her car available when we need a second car

Day 17

(my own)

505) thankful to have my sweet baby nephew for the morning

506) thankful my daughter's minor surgical procedure went well

507) thankful for a chat with my dear friend via our cell phones this afternoon

508) thankful hubby got someone to help him work on the job that he worked all through last night

509) thankful for leftovers in the freezer and last night's desert still in the fridge at the end of this very long day

Day 18

( gifts my own)

510) happy , sweet baby nephew riding up my path early this morning with outstretched arms

511) my boy going to his science club with a friend and then being invited to spend the afternoon....

happy boy delivered home again

512) busy yet peaceful afternoon

513) enjoying my daughter's home made hot chocolate with a touch of chili

and a movie night at home...

all snug and warm

Day 19

(3 gifts from my childhood)

514) precious memories of family times:

 holidays, family walks, tea time in the garden, Easter,

my mum leaving sweet notes on my pillow and

 getting up to mischief with my siblings and so much more!

515) parents who loved me well and cared to teach me right from wrong

516) having shared a room with my younger sister for many years...

forging a strong bond between the two of us

Day 20

(a gift sweet, sour, salty)

517) sweet ginger & carrot muffins shared with my hubby when he came in from working...

 at 4h00 this morning

518) sour words turned sweet with apologies and hugs

519) salty and delicious chicken soup shared with the family at lunch today

Day 21

(3 gifts found in little people)

520) open mouth, closed eyes kisses from my baby nephew who is just learning to give kisses

521) giggles and high fives from the same sweet little thing

522) hugs from my youngest whenever he thinks I need one!

May Joy Dare week 2

Counting on and giving thanks to Him....

Day 8

(3 gifts my own)

465) having my oldest boy lean his head against my shoulder as we spent time together, working to prepare him for Thursday's exam

466) my youngest boy taken on a school outing by friends today...

then an afternoon of play and him coming home happy

467) hubby making homemade pizza tonight to satisfy the kids cravings for pizza..dough and all

Day 9

(3 gifts found in the dark)

468) comfort as my daughter and I lay chatting after lights out last night

469) some days darker than others but there IS ALWAYS something to thank Him for

470) knowing this in dark times...“I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Day 10

(a gift outside, inside, upside down)

471) salad greens growing outside in my garden: mustard greens, basil, spring onions and rocket... picked fresh almost daily to enjoy

472) inside the newly redeveloped mall my boy found a backpack he has wanted for a while and he used his  gift voucher from Christmas

473) lives turned upside down by exams but first one is over and thankfully my boy thinks it went well

Day 11

(3 gifts about your parents)

474) finding out yesterday that my Mum is ok...thankfully not cancer

475) my Mum's ever encouraging words

476) the way my dad just pops in from time to time for an early morning coffee and a chat

& more my own

477) early morning surprise of a box of products from the Home Tester Club...

Italian herb paste, Chilli Soya Sauce, Appeltiser, rice and some Kleenex wipes

478) a beautiful little tea pot card and note from my sweet sister

479) freedom to ditch traditional lessons and enjoy nature study in the garden with my younger two on this beautiful autumn day

480) a call from far, giving me something to look forward to

481) celebrating my dad in law's birthday....delicious dinner and family time

Day 12

(4 gifts held in hand today)

482) my phone...allowing me to receive messages from my far away mum and sisters even if their land lines are down

483) a borrowed text book which has helped my son revise for his upcoming geography exam

484) an early gift from my neighbour for mother's day.... she says I am her boy's other mommy

485) delicious plate of food at dinner...salads from the garden and fish, a gift from my brother, grilled to perfection over the coals by hubby

Day 13

(3 gifts found in your mother)

486) her patience with me as a teen

487) her soft, kind and words....soothing my thoughts and always encouraging me

488) her faithful and continual offering up of prayers for me and mine

& more my own

489) being mom to my precious three

490) spoiling of a delicious breakfast in bed by hubby: soufflé omelette and coffee...

 home-made cards and  flowers from the garden, 

chocolates from the boys, 

a beautiful, colourful tray cloth made for me by my daughter,

 and pretty charm bracelet she made too,

  voucher from my youngest for 5 million hugs, a car wash and massage- too sweet and thoughtful! 

Feeling so blessed by them today.

Day 14

(a gift picked up, put away, put back)

491) picked up... some lovely orders today

492) put away to savour again and again.... the beautiful letter my daughter wrote me for mother's day

493) put back...mmm can't think of that... so one my own instead - a bunch of recipe books passed on to us as a friend didn't want them any more!

May Joy Dare Week 1

May's Moments of Thanks

Day 1

(3 gifts tasted)

427) coffee hubby served me with a dash of left over cream

428) soft serve chocolate ice cream savoured and shared with my daughter at the end of her long day at the teddy fair

429) left over dinner, thankful not to need to cook tonight

Day 2

(2 gifts flat)

430) large flat fish fillets, a gift from my brother's catch of the day

431) my panic at the messy house flattened... helpful kids and hubby who helped get it right again

& more my own

432) hearing my mum's calming, encouraging voice on the other end of line

433) enjoying a simple soup and freshly baked bread dinner with friends from about 40 years ago - wonderful people who have watched me grow up and have known me just about all my life- laughing and sharing memories of days long gone and rejoicing with them at the birth of their first grandchild

434) unexpected call from my farm sister....good to hear her voice

435) hubby and I sitting up late and connecting with our two teens....
sharing stories, tea and hot cross buns

436) meds starting to make me feel a little better

Day 3

(3 gifts my own)

437) knowing that my mum has my sister visiting while she is facing some medical tests...
but also wishing I could be there for her too

438) long chat with sister and mum and later farm sister too

439) popping in at my brother and his wife on my afternoon errands....
sharing cold drinks and conversation and laughing at my little nephew's antics

450)  finding that my sales for last month were not too shabby...every little bit helps

451) my neighbour who just feeds and cares for my youngest when he ventures over there....
sometimes I wonder if he lives here or there lol!

Day 4

(3 gifts before 9 a.m)

452) steaming cup of coffee warming me up on this chilly morning

453) a kind friend taking my youngest on a school outing...

giving me uninterrupted time to work with my high schoolers

454) easier, less congested breathing...

thankful for the treatment my neighbour gave me for my sinusitis last night

Day 5

(gifts my own)

455) friends dropping by for coffee unexpectedly

456) a day with few plans

457) the blessing of having my sweet nephew sleep over for the night....

watching him laugh and play with my big kids, bathing his cute chubby baby body,

 him wanting a snuggle before sleep time and going to sleep happily

458) knowing my eldest is looking out for his sister at the party tonight

Day 6

(3 gifts found in Christ)
459) thankful I am never alone
460) strength when I am weak
461)  peace that passes all understanding

Day 7

(3 gifts about your home)
462) warm and comfortable, thankful that we have a home
463) wonderful aromas wafting about the house...my daughter baking up a storm in the kitchen today
464) thankful for our garden and eating dinner out there tonight on a perfect windless autumn evening