Monday, December 31, 2012

Joy Dare 2012

MAY JOY DARE
 
23rd - 3 gifts found in community
A friend to eat dinner with
Neighbor to help with things like bicycle tire
Prayer from others

24th - A gift in a plate, pot, and package
Free hamburger
Puny plant in a pot with possible future
Package of bacon cheddar cheese fries and walks to get them

25th - 3 gifts hard giving thanks for
Coworkers
Empty home
My place in history

26th - A gift worn, white, whispered
Jacket worn in cool house
White ice cream dipped in chocolate
Zeke mimicking me in whispery voice

27th - 3 gifts found in church
Beautiful communion juice
C2 chord
Truth

28th - 3 gifts in today's work
UNO on the trampoline
Good food to prepare
A Most High God who hears prayers

29th - A gift at 8am, 12pm, 8pm
Having a good job to come to at 8am
Being engaged at my work at 12pm
The rain subsiding for my bike ride at 8pm

30th - 3 gifts blue
Blue clothes to wear
Gökyüzü mavi (blue sky) and knowing how to say it
Blue and white bicycle

31st - 3 gifts you gave today
Phone number given to Karen
ipod radio player given/loaned to Liz
Help given to friends moving 



JUNE JOY DARE

1st - 3 gifts orange
Orange carrots
Orange wrapped Reese stix
Orange street lights

2nd - 3 gifts funny

Funny cut throat women during baby shower games
M&I in the bookstore making me laugh
Amanda

3rd - 3 gifts from today's conversation

A chance to hug my crying friend
Jazz singer saying 'Thank you very much' after each round of
   applause
An actual conversation with my roommate

4th - 3 gifts found in Christ

No condemnation in Christ
An inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading in Christ
The veil of separation was torn in Him.

5th - A gift of peace, of hope, of love

A peaceful home
Hope that when a child asks for bread, God does not give stones
A love greater than the greatest love story in Christ

6th - 3 gifts ugly beautiful

Boring, mindless work allowing me to actually listen and retain
   really good audio book
Simplicity in singleness
Art mess ups speak of a metaphor for soul redemption

7th - 3 gifts in what you are reading

The realization that no community will ever be a utopia in this
   fallen world
The realization that selfishness and inward focused-ness leads
   to destruction for self and neighbors
Reminder that pre m-work times of m's was not wasted

8th - 3 gifts empty

Empty bed for peaceful sleep
Empty sushi to go container
Usually empty apartment filled with people

9th - 3 gifts that really made you smile

Bike fitting in backseat of my car
Rosetta stone audio on ipod
Aly fixing my hair
Daddy grinning at mistake
Caley's joy riding down the hill
Girl singing her heart out in truck beside me

10th - A gift at 8, at 12, at 2

Rain at 8
Change purse recovered and home from church at 12
Rest at 2

11th - 3 gifts painted

Painted walls enclosing my job
House painted pink close to me full of friends

12th - 3 gifts full

Full time job
Full containers of granola bars
Full tummy

13th - 3 gifts smelled (
tasted)
Good belly blueberry and acai juice
Fresh locally grown strawberries
Chocolate milk

14th - A gift unexpected, unwanted, unlikely

Sneezing & runny nose unexpectedly clearing sinuses
Unwanted early wake up call
An unlikely lighter heart through prayer

15th - 3 gifts in His Word

The knowledge of Jesus who is Lord and Savior
Lessons from the patriarchs' mistakes
Freedom and conviction

16th - 3 gifts in your dad

He is a good Daddy
His knowledge of assembling things
His abundant provision for our family

17th - 3 gifts from your heavenly father

He adopted me
He did not leave me alone to figure out this life
He loves me

18th - 3 gifts you became today in serving

An idea to my friend
Joy to my mom
Encouragement to my friend

19th - A gift bent, beautiful, loved

Knees bending to walk
Sunshine beautiful shining through trees
Loved friendships

20th - 3 gifts found in light

Sitting outside for summer sunset
Lamp to read by in bed
Longest day of the year

21st - 3 gifts that are difficult

A quiet place to think in a busy, noisy world
Enjoying the gift of the moment
Trust that says all will work out

22nd - 3 gifts found around a table

New growth on my plant on my work table!
Leftover chicken and mac-n-cheese
A book for companionship at the table

23rd - A gift in water, words, in white

Cold water shower
Minimal words used today
Grilled white scallops 

24th - 3 gifts today in someone older than you

Steve's awesome sermon
Laurie providing dinner
The Bolton family providing laughter and good conversation

25th - 3 gifts in fabric

Warm jacket in cold office
Work clothes not needing iron
Bright and colorful new rug

26th - 3 gifts framed by a frame

Finished lamb painting in camera frame
Sight from my lenses held by frames
A plethora of framed art in my home

27th - 3 gifts eaten

Homemade granola bars
Salad with friends
Sandwich and pizza

28th - A gift small, big, just right

A fellow car rider smaller/younger than me
Big brother born 33 years ago
A just right day off from work tomorrow

29th - 3 gifts you gave today

Dinner given to dad and sister
Chicken biscuit given
Hugs given

30th - 3 gifts moving

Fan blades moving
New ac motor moving
Crystal's car moving to come see me



JULY JOY DARE

1st - 3 gifts loved
Share time at church
Sunday naps
Conversations with like-minded friends

2nd - 3 gifts read
Insight and some peace about homelessness
Praises from my friend living overseas
A prayer that resonates with my heart

3rd - A gift in faith, family, freedom
Faith knowing God does not give snakes and stones when we ask
   for fish or bread
Family time tomorrow
Freedom from sin and death

4th - A gift in red, white, and blue
Dry red shirt after rain
White toilet and toilet paper
Blue swimsuit

5th - 3 gifts of persistence
Holy Spirit's conviction
Holy Spirit's peace
My friends' persistence in wanting to hang out/too many friends

6th - 3 gifts of enthusiasm
Finally a hint of enthusiasm with my work
Enthusiastic to leave work for the weekend
Shawna's enthusiasm to see me

7th - A gift of challenge, conflict, change
Challenge to pull off surprise party was a success
The gift of no conflict today
Change of Chris and family moving to Dunlap and now all my
   family is in Dunlap.

8th - 3 gifts water
Early morning drink with sun shining through glass prettily
Rain drops falling
Cool water to keep me hydrated

9th - A gift of rhythm, rhyme, reason
Rhythm of instant friendships with other believers
Holy Spirit to guide us in truth, help reason

10th - 3 gifts in weakness
Gradually becoming somewhat more comfortable with calling
    people
Civilizations crumble, kings and rulers die, I will die but my God
    never ends, fails, tires, breaks
Not seeing but serving a God who sees

11th - 3 gifts in jars
Early morning water
'We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing
    power belongs to God and not to us.' - 2 Corinthians 4:7
Late evening chocolate milk

12th - A gift of life, growth, decline
Ella Kate's life/first birthday
Calla lily growing!
Outwardly I waste away but inwardly I am renewed

13th - 3 gifts curled
Curled up on couch talking to friend
Curled up in bed
Fingers that curl

14th - 3 gifts yellow
Organic scrambled yellow eggs
Yellowish baguette
Yellow lemonade

15th - 3 gifts of stone
My heart of stone replaced with a heart of flesh
Beautiful painting with stone
Rosetta Stone teaching me new words

16th - 3 gifts hanging down
Hair
New growth on plant
Light fixture emitting light

17th - 3 gifts learned
I learned I like Taiko sushi better than Fuji sushi.
KK's friend Shelly is more open to the Good News!
Where the mosque is in Cookeville

18th - 3 gifts musical
Friends voices via Skype spanning the ocean
We Will Run instrumental
Hammered dulcimer

19th - 3 gifts baked
Remnants of granola bars
Sandwich bread
Pizza

20th - A gift in light, dark, shadow
Bike ride on east valley 
Sleep filled night
A shield from the blazing sun

21st - 3 gifts of story
Article about Amanda's fruit stand
Awesome story of God's hugeness by looking at the solar system
Joseph's example - extravagant grace and eternal glory

22nd - 3 gifts understated
Homemade guacamole
The word friend and my airplane buddy
God's grace

23rd - A gift high, low, faraway
High sunshine
Feet stepping low on this earth
Maddy's encouraging email from faraway

24th - 3 gifts of sand
I don't live in a sandy area
God thinks about me more than the sand
Green grass not desert homeland

25th - 3 gifts of endings
Plotter paper ending at perfect time
Work day ending!
Day ending - exhausted, a little berated, but rejoicing in the hope 
    that Jesus, God's Son, has become sin for me so I can take His
    righteousness in it's place.

26th - 3 gifts fresh
Fresh water
Fresh sandwich
Fresh conversation with friends

27th - A gift on vacation, at home, in relaxation
6 more work days until vacation
An online shopping decision made from my home
Getting to relax and watch the opening of the Olympics

28th - 3 gifts of beginnings
Caley's beginning 19 years ago
Believing the future will be a gift after C&J's beginning
Beginning of this world by a word spoken

29th - 3 gifts together
Celebrating Caley's birthday
Erin texting me, praying with me
Going through rough patches with Megan & Emily

30th - 3 gifts heard
Hearing I have work to do this week!
Heard my mom's voice in real person on her visit
Heard Irish music on Grooveshark
Heard free audiobook

31st - 3 gifts difficult
A difficult phone call gone well, much peace
Amazon purchase messed up and difficult but then rectified above 
    my expectation
Difficult and time consuming but almost finished with 30 day 
    drafts


AUGUST JOY DARE

1st - 3 gifts white
White jacket keeps me warm at work
White grid paper to draw on outside of the office
White sushi rice

2nd - 3 gifts eaten

Surprise work donuts eaten, Ralph's at that!
Vegetable lasagna eaten with Brooke
Red velvet donut eaten

3rd - A gift at 10 am, 1pm, 10pm

Rain at 10 am
Lunch break at 1pm
Catch phrase at 10pm

4th - 3 gifts sitting

Word reading hammock sitting
Sitting with family at Zeke's first birthday
Sitting and watching the Cosby Show while eating dinner

5th - A gift outside, inside, upside down

Rain outside
Fellowship, praise, prayer together inside
Serving means giving but more than that receiving in an upside 
    down way

6th - 3 gifts in water

Clean, free drinking water
Rain water to nourish the earth
Warm shower water

7th - 3 gifts in His word

Who is like God?
I am Redeemed
He is my Rock of refuge, my hope

8th - 3 gifts in summer

Summer vacation time for international travel
Summer sunsets
Outside summer dinner

9th - A gift hole, whole, half

Last night's whole night's sleep
Whole 50 cent chair massage
Half of a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin with Bethany

10th - 3 hard eucharisteo

Waking earlier than planned
My plans delayed but hope that at appointed time God is in haste

11th - 3 gifts metal

Metal pan to bake zucchini
Metal bus driving us to the city center
Metal spoon to eat hot fudge Sundae cake

12th - 3 gifts half hidden

Elevator half hidden to Burger King fries
Bathroom at cami half hidden
Half hidden large chocolate eclairs

13th - 3 gifts green

Greenery at university
Green grass at spring
Sage's green shirt, so easy to spot

14th - A gift in a ring, curve, sphere

Ring/loop around the park
Curved guitar and the sweet boy playing it
Sphere on sidewalk, walking and praying

15th - 3 gifts ugly-beautiful

Last day in U-town but knowing God has plans and will hasten 
    them at the appropriate time
Hard goodbyes but deep friendships that make it hard
Staying up all night but hoping for sleep later on plane

16th - 3 gifts family

Vaughn family escorting us to the airport
Talking to my mom
Talking to Pap-pa

17th - 3 gifts in the morning

Getting to sleep until 9 in the morning
Cereal in the morning
Catching up on emails this morning

18th - A gift red, read, written

Red pepper
Read Psalm 65 and knowledge that God is the hope of all the ends
    of the earth
"God is working in my waiting" written and sang by Aaron Keyes

19th - 3 gifts in church

Homemade chocolate chip cookies at church
Church friends that feel like family
A reminder at church that God can move mountains

20th - 3 gifts in serving

Ezra mopping floor yesterday expecting nothing
Freedom to not serve at any and every opportunity
Grace to serve God

21st - A gift straight, curve, turn

Straight, close shot to work
Teaching my first art lesson about curves
Internet turning back on after several attempts

22nd - 3 gifts in light

Electricity to see in early morning and dark night
Lunch outside in sunshine light
Moonlit drive

23rd - 3 gifts old

Old acquaintance giving work and a paid chance to see family
An old building to measure outside the office
An old building to live in and work in

24th - 3 gifts moving

Moving legs to walk me to work
Moving bicycle and time to ride it
Car unmoved meaning I used legs or bike as transportation all day

25th - 3 gifts fragile

Mason jar with flowers
Rice paper fragile but then malleable

26th - A gift cut, sewn, buttoned

Free fresh flowers on the table
Sewn backpack holding up after 14 years
Shorts still buttoning

27th - 3 gifts new

New healthy food to love: cold spring rolls
New day of life
New jacket in the mailbox

28th - 3 gifts long awaited

Phone date with Lorie
A chance to teach art
An answer coming

29th - A gift one, two, three

One successful trip up and down the ladder and on the roof
Roughly two hours chatting with Crystal in her car
Three day weekend this weekend

30th - 3 gifts very small

Very small baby shoe hanging from dumpster, made me chuckle
Very small text from mum "How are you huny?"
Very small water beads condensating on water glass

31st - 3 miracles

Seeing tears of joy by a simple act
A good and laughter filled week at work 


SEPTEMBER JOY DARE

1st - 3 gifts summer
Air conditioning
Summer creature serenade
Ice cream on the back deck

2nd - 3 gifts cut
Cut zucchini
Girls cutting a rug dancing
Cut in prices at grocery store

3rd - 3 gifts yellow
Yellow eggs in quiche
Yellow quelf cards
Yellow moon peeking out, beauty

4th - A gift cool, warm, sun-soaked
Work, Peachtree, home all cool
Peachtree kids remembering their warm colors
Sun-soaked sunset after rainy day

5th - 3 gifts autumn
Upcoming exciting events - arts festivals, urban dare
Too many autumn art projects to decide
Cool breezes and vibrant colors coming

6th - 3 gifts growing
Growing blog post readers
Growing in knowledge of International Building Code
Growing in thankfulness

7th - 3 gifts given
CDs to Crystal and being on the phone when she got the package
Christina's joy at the package given from her sister
Tilinia winning a door prize at the conference

8th - A gift made, masked, marveled
Dinner for family made
Reading about Ridgecrest days and the masked skits
Marveled at today's sunset

9th - 3 gifts framed
Blue sky framed by tall building and tree
Stars framed by night sky
Framed house

10th - 3 gifts moving
64 views and rising
Legs moving walking to lunch with Erin
Chasing the sunset with my sister

11th - 3 hard eucharisteo
See sister hurting but know life will come from pain
"But You can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do"
Tired all day but got to see my sister last night

12th - 3 gifts in His word
Learning "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
    trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, 
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though
    it's waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its
    swelling."
Lord of hosts imagery
A chance to learn from Pharaoh's hard hearted mistakes

13th - A gift scented, scrawled, started
Did not smell anything bad :)
Hobby Lobby return in checkbook scrawled
Headlight started and cleaned

14th - 3 gifts drawn
Smiley face drawn in CAD
Markups drawing meaning I don't have to think
Banangram letters drawn

15th - 3 gifts paired
Best friends paired as roommates in college
Pair of friends at Poet's
Paired roommates baking cookies, talking, cleaning and watching
    Cosby

16th - 3 gifts shared
Cookies shared with neighbors, relationships started
Heart for future shared with SC
Evening shared with Megan and Emily
Prayer shared with Christina

17th - 3 gifts ugly-beautiful
Ugly day but rain is nourishing the earth
Friend struggling but knowing that God is our refuge and strength
Rainy day all day but peace sitting in the kitchen reading a book

18th - A gift fixed, folded, freckled
Headlight fixed
Laundry folded last night
3 girls in art class, freckled faces hovering

19th - 3 gifts in conversation
Book club conversation over amazing sushi
Hearing of warnings and agreement in my spirit
Post book club usual too long chat in Crystal's car

20th - 3 gifts in salvation
Adopted as a son
Hope
Lamb takes away my sins

21st - 3 gifts in information
GPS information
Google maps directions
Stretches for IT band

22nd - A gift rattling, receding, reclaiming
Rattling ac in motel room
Balls vacuum sucking/receding in ball pit area
Time reclaimed with my sissy

23rd - 3 gifts quiet
Hotel room quiet last night
So quiet new hotel it feels almost abandoned
Quiet outside except ocean

24th - 3 gifts funny
Sister running to beach
Remembering our best trip moments
Falling down in ocean

25th - 3 gifts finished
Finished pizza
Finished time at beach
Finished with driving

26th - 3 gifts flourishing
Two plans that work cranked out today
Slowly but surely my trust in my Father that all will be well
Soul flourishing after an evening at home

27th - A gift unexpected, uneven, unpopular
New and unexpected life is good shirt
Unevenly heavy bags full of groceries
Being single is unpopular but getting to sit on the couch and read
    leisurely

28th - 3 gifts shy
Cook kids shyly asking to go to play with me
Feeling less shy myself these days
Mev's little girl being unshy at play, curtseying

29th - 3 gifts shelved
Future granola bar mixins shelved
Items still on shelves at stores meaning money not spent and house
    not cluttered
Extra chocolate chips found on shelves and on sale

30th - 3 gifts shining
Light shining off communion juice
Lights not shining in my headache eyes
Masons shining with news

OCTOBER JOY DARE

1st - 3 gifts orange
Orange fall leaves
Smiley face in orange tomato soup
Orangish BBQ chicken quesadillas

2nd - 3 gifts falling

Falling leaves
Falling temperature to the just right cool weather
Falling immediately to sleep


3rd - A gift caught, let go, mid-way
Caught my mom on the phone
Let globe go back to owners after borrowing
Made it midway through work week

4th - 3 gifts reaped
A paid off car reaped from budget
A job reaped from education
A final book finally released and mailed to me

5th - 3 gifts returned
Chris and family returned to Dunlap, I get to see them more
Myself returned to Dunlap for second time this week
Zeke returning to my arms

6th - 3 gifts redeemed
Redeemed gas rewards
I am redeemed, one day I will know this fully
God can redeem our messes and make beautiful things

7th - A gift baked, stirred, eaten
Baked ziti, baked by friends
Warm soup stirred
Salad and veggies eaten

8th - 3 gifts prayed for
Contentment
Challenged at work
Direction, peace in waiting even though I am still clueless I know 
    I'm supposed to be clueless, clueless and trusting

9th - 3 gifts praised for
Baby Luke coming home today!!!
S sharing about New Testament to her whole CA family
Time with my roomie

10th - 3 hard eucharisteo
Friends going through major family thing but they don't walk alone
Friend's two year anniversary of losing child, so strong in faith
Friend moved away, thankful she's safe

11th - 3 gifts of change
Art class for a change in my week
Actually enjoying my job for a change
A night at home for a change

12th - A gift small, smaller, smallest
Skyping with small nieces
Lunch with Mev and cute little (smaller) Clara
Meeting (smallest) Baby Luke for the first time

13th - 3 gifts read
KK's email, close friendship
Read 'restrooms this way'
Clock when I got home early

14th - 3 gifts said
Laurie: "Good to see you"
Caley: "Coming to The River"
Said to Christina to encourage her about the grace God has brought
   me through with old crushes

15th - 3 gifts re-read
Psalm 37:3 "Dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness"
Psalm 32 "You are my hiding place"
"Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy; I pray for joy, wait
    for joy, long for joy; give me more than I can hold, desire, or
    think of." - Valley of Vision

16th - 3 gifts burning
Burning colors on fall leaves
Burning colors in sunset
Burning morning shower water

17th - 3 gifts ugly-beautiful
Remembering old crushes, ugly because of unmet desires, 
    beautiful because God's ways are higher
A night of cleaning, ugly because I want to rest, beautiful because
    I have food to cook and a home to clean
Ugly hip still hurting but not so bad I can't walk

18th - A gift shared, saved, surrendered
Shared table with the Cooks
Leftovers saved for todays's lunch
Evening surrendered for Peachtree, good times with friends

19th - 3 gifts unexpected
Unexpected less than $6 new pair of pants
Unexpected third parking spot at Walmart on Friday night
Talking to my mom for an hour

20th - 3 gifts unconventional
Old fashioned soda and new metal cup
Sitting in a car line for 45 minutes with my bff
Canna, the way McKenzie says my name

21st - 3 gifts undervalued
Public worship with many
Difficult seasons yielding new growth
Sunday sabbaths

22nd - A gift silent, still, strong
Silent house in the mornings
Still house in the morning
God is strong

23rd - 3 gifts began
Began Saved By the Bell season 1
Began 100 day challenge - flossing and no sweets
Began new day

24th - 3 gifts accomplished
Emails sent out
Almost finished Livingston First Baptist, sending out tomorrow
Exercise

25th - 3 gifts enjoying
Enjoying remnants of fall colors and warm temperatures
Enjoying my walks to work and back
Enjoying time with the Cook family

26th - 3 gifts extravagant
Surrounded by beautiful Arabic women
Extravagant favor
Extravagant forgiveness of sins once and for all

27th - A gift humbling, honoring, happy
The thought of God's holiness and my sin humbles me
Honored by kids wanting to hold my hands
Happy playing quelf with neighbors

28th - 3 gifts in Christ
"In Jesus, God has entered humanity, eternity has invaded time, 
    and things can never be the same again"  -William Barclay
Christ is my hope
Holiness in Christ

29th - 3 gifts on time
At early voting place on time
At work on time for today
Calling Megan at a good time

30th - 3 gifts overjoyed!
Seeing pics of Vaughns and Suiters with friends from home.
Overjoyed by sunset, sky on fire
Mason kids overjoyed by company

31st - 3 gifts hallowed 
Hallowed by grace
Hallowed morning quiet times
Hallowed time with my family



NOVEMBER JOY DARE

1st - 3 gifts eaten
Little round cheese and pumpkin almond granola bar eaten for
    breakfast
Leftover sandwich eaten for lunch
Sushi eaten for dinner

2nd - 3 gifts worn
My new favorite pink striped shirt worn
A jacket worn to keep me warm
Peace worn

3rd - 3 gifts that start with N
New day
New friend
Notes galore from conference

4th - a gift gathered, given, good
A group of ladies gathered for Haya's baby shower
Clothes and toy given for Talal, Haya's baby.
A good, long day

5th - 3 gifts acorn-small
Throat medicine
Sinus medicine
Lotion

6th - 3 gifts government
The election will be over today, less bickering
A country of many freedoms
Privilege to have a say in who leads

7th - 3 gifts from your window
Daylight for 7 hours
Mold yielding a new window that opens!
Window keeps cold air outside

8th - a gift sweet, salty, sipped
Lunch with sweet Zekey buddy
Salty Bacon Cheddar Cheese Fries
Sipped caffeine when I needed a pep.

9th - 3 gifts harvest
Cummins jobs harvest allowing me a few hours measuring outside 
    the office
Great Harvest Bread Company
Harvest colors lingering on trees

10th - 3 gifts found in Bible reading
A high priest who can sympathize with our weakenss
The word that pierces us and makes us holy
Grace upon grace

11th - 3 gifts of remembrance
Remembering I had prayed for Med. and seeing he came to church
Remembering how to embroider with some help

12th - 3 gifts at noon
A job
A job that is inside and sheltered from rain
Something to occupy me while I'm at work today

13th - 3 gifts behind a door
Crystal behind car door
Sushi behind Taiko door
Book club friends and hot chocolate behind Sweet Sally's door 

14th - 3 gifts silent
Silent house in early morning
Dinner with friends, not silent
Silent house in evening

15th - 3 gifts golden
Bit of golden morning sunshine washing the wall
Golden leaf strewn path

16th - 3 gifts hard eucharisteo
A walk on a freezing cold morning rather than staying in my
    comfywarm bed
Hearing of a friend moving but moving to do kingdom work
A garment of praise for my heaviness

17th - 3 gifts of laughter
Lip syncing 'for a moment like this some people wait a lifetime' 
    and only my sister seeing it
Jerry Garcia jokes at lifegroup reunion
Single for a reason joke

18th - a gift made, shared, passed on
Frozen and unthawed homemade granola bar
Cookie monster shared with friends
Realization of 2 year old prayer walking insight being realized and 
    passing this on to CA friends.  


19th - 3 gifts autumn
Sweet potato fries
Cool and not freezing autumn weather today
Actually smelling cinnamon from pumpkin cornbread muffins

20th - 3 gifts of tradition
Tradition of laying on couch on sick days
Ice cream on sick days
Three day thanksgiving work weeks becoming more traditional

21st - 3 gifts of family
Surprising Christ and family
Kyla's cuddles during scary part of movie
Daddy rubbing my shoulders, releasing tension

22nd - a gift grateful
Grateful for 'Just Dance' with the family
Grateful for a little more peace
Grateful for abundance

23rd - 3 gifts only in Christ
Freedom to not sin
His righteousness
Unmerited 

24th - 3 gifts humble
Humbling my tongue
Being wrong about directions twice
Humbling to know MY ways are not better

25th - 3 gifts ugly-beautiful
Saying goodbye to family after 4 days
Ugly nerves in speaking but beautiful message
We were enemies living in rebellion but He entered enemy
    territory to rescue us

26th - 3 gifts preparing
Brooke preparing dinner
Preparing sushi last night so I could have it for lunch today
Afflictions preparing for a greater glory

27th - a gift handmade, held, happy
Handmade, homemade chocolate chip cookies
Isaiah held
Large Christmas lights make me happy

28th - 3 gifts in community
Sunday fun with Laurie and Caroline
Dinner and Duck Dynasty with Megan and Emily
Ella saying Cando

29th - 3 gifts red
Soft red yarn for current craft
Red cheese wax to make funny pics
Caffeine from a red coke can

30th - 3 gifts astonishing!
Shawna's astonished face when Lorie walked in
Shawna astonished that I knew she liked green tea
Hearing of Chris's astonishing sale.           


DECEMBER JOY DARE

1st - 3 gifts white
White organic milk
White popcorn
White toilet paper

2nd - 3 gifts bright
Non bright lights and headache subsiding
Bright, talented Annie Moses Band
'O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining'

3rd - 3 gifts shining
Shining parade lights
Shining advent candle
Shining Christmas lights

4th - a gift circling, crowning, crafted
Circling paper around pencils, Experiencing the art of quilling
The crowning King took on flesh
Crafted ornaments complete

5th - 3 gifts silver
Silver words: 'Wonders of His love'
Silver MacBook
Silver ornament reflecting light

6th - 3 gifts sweet
Sweet note left by Alexandra
Sweet thanks from Shawna
Sweet dried peaches

7th - 3 gifts from your Savior
Impossible possible
Improbably a reality
Scandalously loved

8th - a gift hung, held, heard
Advent calendar finished and hung!
Hannah and Amanda held in an embrace
Heard good news from Hannah's life

9th - 3 gifts ugly beautiful
Ugly weather, beautiful nap
Ugly stressful weekend, beautiful Sabbath
Ugly nerves, beautiful music

10th - 3 gifts unframed art
Unframed York rendering at work
Unframed advent calendar Christmas tree
Unframed 'Mild He lays His glory by' on burlap

11th - 3 gifts ice cold
Ice cold at work but eventually warming
Ice cold cokee colee
Ice cold outside but warm car heater

12th - 3 gifts berry red
Remembering the berry red blood
Red berries and other food at Haya's
Berry red yarn on burlap

13th - 3 gifts striped
Striped sweater to keep me warm
Stripes on unicorn cake

14th - 3 gifts stamped
Eli's stamped card in the mail
A stamped card from Ms. Rusty
Stamped cards from Floreas and Gretta

15th - A gift gild, scented, bent low
Gilded Christmas tree and lights, full of meaning
Flippin' Burger tasted
Bent low painting truth

16th - 3 gifts Bethlehem-unlikely
Waking up LATE but still arriving on time
Working and feeling rested
Early bedtime

17th - 3 gifts frosted
Crackers 'frosted' with peanut butter
A garage so my windows don't get frosted
Warm weather - no frost

18th - 3 gifts miraculous
More Muslims have become followers in the last 20 years than in 
    the past 1,400 combined
Nothing is impossible with God - Luke 1:37
I survived my first semester of art

19th - 3 gifts manger-small
Manger-small MacBook so helpful and informative
Manger-small pan of granola bars to share

20th - 3 gifts angelic song
St Paul's video and angels asking 'can we sing for Him?'
Angelic 'God and sinners reconciled'
'God is not dead nor does He sleep'

21st - 3 gifts lit
Lit candle shining through water glass
Lit laser tag lights
Lit eyes on Liz when she opened her Christmas gift

22nd - A gift with rejoicing, wonder, praising
Rejoicing that Christmas busyness is almost over
Wonders of His love
Praising God for almost a decade friendship with Maddy

23rd - 3 gifts starry
Star on St. Paul's Christmas story
O Night Divine
Driving with family to see Christmas lights wonder

24th - 3 gifts humble
Jesus humbled Himself as a weak newborn baby
Jesus humbled Himself as a servant
Jesus humbled Himself to death on a cross

25th - 3 gifts in Luke 2
Good news
Great joy
For all people

26th - 3 gifts in Christ
'Traveling to earth to let us in'
'Laying down His glory crown of old'
He said 'Your sin is Mine I'll take it to the grave'

27th - A gift found, shared, saved
Second garage opener found for cheap
Yummy pizza shared with the Cook family
One last cheerio tree saved for tomorrow

28th - 3 gifts lingering
Lingering Christmas sweets
Lingering Christmas lights
Lingering nieces awake when I came home

29th - 3 gifts of hope
Hope that nothing is not under His control
Hope that God crushed His Son, will He withhold anything?
Hope that Christ alone is our Joy.

30th - 3 gifts remembered
Remembered to pray
Remembered Christmas cards
Remembered Sabbath

31st - 3 gifts anticipated
Finally reading anticipated book
Anticipated new house seen
Anticipated new year rung in














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