A New Year Dawning...

It's a new year...2013.  I still remember when we were awaiting the New Millennium...the 21st century, the Y2K scare.  Many thought the computer systems would all malfunction when the year changed. Memory was saved by using two digits for the date instead of four, for example 1998 would be saved as "98" and therefore the fear was that when the date changed to 2000 the computers wouldn't be able to tell if it meant 2000 or 1900.  So people anticipated everything that was dependent upon computers would be sent into chaos.  But when those zeros rolled over signifying the new year our world did not go into chaos and fall apart.  FEAR...it's amazing how it can get a hold of us...

So we start a new year, it's now been thirteen years since those zeros rolled over, life has changed and yet still remains the same.  I have been given day upon day.  As we neared the New Millennium I remember saying "wow I'm going to be 31 already" and now I'll soon be 44...time does go by so quickly.  The start of a new year is often cause for "New Years Resolutions" - dieting, exercising, plans to do life better, giving up the smokes, etc.  I've never been one for NYR's but I have decided to do something.

It's something I've thought about for a while but have never gotten around to starting it.  Back in August I read Ann Voskamp's book one thousand gifts.  It's a beautifully written and challenging book, as the cover says "a dare to live life fully right where you are."  A challenge to see God's blessings in every day that I'm given, whether they be clear and bright days or days filled with turmoil.  Each day is a gift and I want to live it well and so for 2013 I've decided to count and journal 1000 gifts, a journal of gratitude.  Of course I wonder if I'll be able to follow through and I don't want it to be some mechanical exercise I just do...I want it to come from my heart reaching the heart of God...the giver of every good and perfect gift...

So yesterday was the start...day one of 1000 gifts...I was kind of scared to start, weird I know because what's the big deal...just write three things down each day...three gifts that God has given me, that I am grateful for but I guess it's the commitment and fear that I won't follow through and that I'll fail, but I've started despite my fears.

January 1st three gifts journaled...

1. Strength to tend to my sick child through the night
2. Winter's sun setting casting a beautiful pink glow in the sky
3. A husband who sees and appreciates the mom I am

and because I love photography and capturing the beauty of God's creation here are some winter images taken after our first big snow... seeing the beauty that He has created and being able to enjoy it is such a gift that I am so thankful for...