Friendship Bread

I know some people cringe when someone approaches them with a bag of yeasty batter, but I was so excited when one of our students brought a friendship bread starter to our house last week.

I would post the recipe, but without the starter, it's kind of useless.  I'm sure you could google how to make the starter; I've never been that brave/I like the joy in the surprise when it finally comes my way again.  And now I get to share that joy with someone else.

It's a treat I remember from my childhood and look forward to that cinnamon sugar deliciousness that comes after ten days of mushing the bag.  It's one of the many gifts of grace that I'm counting these days.



friendship bread
the man who does the 4am diaper duty
real life friends
songs in my head and my heart
fresh peaches
23 years of sisterhood
remembering to turn my eyes to Him when life is tough
growing families
a marriage of forgiveness
predictable naptimes
a dip in the lake
german chocolate cake (for lunch)
central air-conditioning
cousins meeting for the first time
seven straight hours of sleep
that He doesn't give me what I deserve

Humble Beginnings

My husband and I began our marriage in a rather unconventional way. The day after we returned from our honeymoon we packed up our cars and moved to camp. God had called us to work with teenagers for the summer, to love on them, teach them truth, and serve alongside them as they came to camp two weeks at a time. Our home for that summer was pretty swanky by camp standards. It had a kitchen, a queen size bed, and we even had our own shower. We didn't have to walk outside to a bath-house and had a little more privacy than most of the summer staff. However, compared to what I always imagined my first married house to be, our little fifth-wheel trailer was a bit of a let down. I almost cried the night we first moved in, but over the course of the summer, our little shady spot in "Maple Grove" became home.

This particular camp has become one of my favorite places on the planet. God works so mightily there and I love connecting with him through his creation in ways that aren't as easy in the city. This past weekend we got to go back home. We took 70 high school students and leaders to camp for a weekend retreat. And we saw the Spirit move big time. There was a great speaker, wonderful times of worship, meaningful small group conversations, and lives were changed. We're praying that the Spirit continues to move in the lives of our students now that we've returned to reality and that the commitments they made will be lasting.

Hubby and I visiting our first home this past weekend.

Gifts of grace that I'm counting this week...
65. a day of rest and worship

66. baby movements while Daddy was talking to my tummy

67. a weekend at "home"

68. lunch with our mentors/friends

69. vulnerability of our students

70. knowing we can't fix their lives and turning to the one who can

71. sleep in my own bed

72. popcorn for dinner

73. a sassy new haircut

74. the dish fairy and her light hanging husband (aka my mom and dad)

75. the anticipation of seeing inside my belly (tomorrow!)

76. hopes to one day see our little one encounter God at camp

Gifts of Grace Taken for Granted

The begining of this list is from the week of December 20th. I just never got around to hitting publish.

33. health insurance
34. encouragement for my husband
35. a full refrigerator
36. no more lease payments
37. friends who understand when it's one of those days
38. my "nieces" and the joy they bring us
39. singing the Hallelujah Chorus
40. mornings when the Father knows best
41. a Friday night with my hubby, candles, the Christmas tree, and card writing
42. a willing, obedient Savior

The second half of this post is in response to the reading I've been doing the past couple of days. I'm about halfway through "When Helping Hurts: How to Allieviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor and Yourself" by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert. I'm really enjoying the book as it's a biblical perspective on my social work training. I'm also surprised by how much the authors emphasize that the Lord created us to be stewards, he created us to work. Adam and Eve weren't just to hang out in the garden, but they were there to tend to the garden. I currently work in workforce development, helping people find and retain jobs but I hadn't given much thought to the God given purpose of my work. Needless to say, this book has been an inspiring and enjoyable read for me the last couple of days.

It has also brought me to a humbled place of realization today, recognizing many gifts that I have been given throughout my lifetime that I have completely taken for granted. Here's the second part of my grace gift list for this post.

43. Never having to wonder if I would eat today
44. Never wondering if I would go to college, but rather where
45. Never lacking for a shower, soap, shampoo, toothpaste
46. Access to huge grocery stores and the means to buy most anything I wanted
47. A pantry and two refridgerators filled with (mostly) healthy food
48. Clean water that I can drink right from the tap
49. The ability to wash and dry my clothes with machines
50. Never having to choose between medication and food
51. Never worrying about having to live on the street
52. Heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer
53. Electricity that's on all day
54. Access to information
55. The ability to read and enjoy it
56. A solid support system
57. Never worrying about if my baby will be loved and accepted by our family
58. A bed to sleep on and a pillow under my head
59. Hot water when I want it
60. Shoes on my feet and pairs to spare in my closet
61. Laundry detergent, dog food, a hair dryer, paid vacation days
62. So much more than I need or deserve
63. The appreciation for what I've been given
64. The desire to share it with others

Gifts of Grace

Starting this week, I'm going to try and actually write down one thing each day as opposed to trying to come up with a list on Monday night. Maybe I could fill a few pages of one of my mostly empty journals.

Gifts of grace I'm grateful for this week

24. the blank pages of a new calendar

25. a just-in-time, hand-me-down snow blower

26. Sam's snow day dance

27. a husband who gets up to scrape and start my car

28. ministry through baked goods for our neighbors and my boys

29. Christmas movies that make me cry (granted lots of things make me cry right now, but Elf gets me every year)

30. an album that tells not only the story of Christmas, but of creation and the cross

31. "Little Lambs" climbing in my lap on Sunday morning

32. clean sheets

A first hot chocolate

This week's gifts from my Abba...

11. a first hot chocolate warming cold hands

12. my boys

13. listening to father/"son" bonding time

14. chances to serve alongside our students
15. time to dream with my husband
16. keeping my snuggie in my cubicle

17. homemade stew
18. my photographer friend
19. pictures worthy of frames

20. honest conversation complete with tears

21. family room worship
22. hearing the gospel proclaimed through song at the mall
23. entering a season of growth

The Start of My Gift List

It's been a while. I felt kind of stifled in regards to writing because the one thing that I wanted to write most about, wasn't something to be shared yet. So I didn't write at all.

Anyway this is my first gratitude post of what will hopefully be many. I'm starting on a journey to uncover 1000 gifts. Perhaps you'll figure out the secret as I list the blessings I've been enjoying the past couple of days.

1. The company and companionship of my husband after his safe return from Mexico.
2. The anticipation that comes with advent.
3. An understanding of Mary's anticipation of motherhood.
4. An honest time of worship.
5. Christmas music on Pandora.
6. A clean car.
7. A clean kitchen.
8. A bag of maternity clothes that are just my size.
9. A snuggly Schnauzer.
10. A blanket that makes it finally feel real.