A look back; 2012. A look ahead; 2013.

I smashed 2012, literally! My smash book is nearly complete. I need to get a bunch of pictures printed and added to the book and then it will be done! Yay! 

 

Ahava Genevieve Sheafer

Reflections ~ 2012: girlfriends and Florida (Keegans Grille, Ghirardelli, 4-seater surrey, hot tub hairy-man, Landry's,.....amazing!), I turned 40 and found out that I was going to be a granny (awesome!), I almost lost my husband (so thankful for paramedics and LIFE), HCM Gala, Pennel family vacation at Monkey Island, Grace and Hannah ran their first 5k with me, I ran the Joplin Memorial, my kids went to prom for the first time (thanks to the 'Toddards' :) for their friendship!), we had chickens, summer Olympics, many motorcycle adventures...a NEW motorcycle...caught in a rainstorm on our first ride on the new bike!!!, WHOLE conference, cousins White Cloud weekend, swing dance social with my kids, green smoothies, Rangers football....John broke his hand, Brie threw an amazing shower for Trevor and baby girl, Ahava, Eureka Springs adventure with my man, we celebrated our 18th anniversary....Grammie and Grampie celebrated their 70th!!! I held my firstborn grand-baby, Ahava. I learned to love me, simply for me.

A new year ~ 2013. 
**#13in2013....13 5ks of various kinds - mud runs, memorial run, foam 
   run, color run, night runs, etc. I am excited and I look forward to each of them. 
**Yay for kettlebell workouts! I just received my first kb for Christmas and now I am 
  working to purchase more! I am going to work  hard to firm up using kb and tabata workouts! 
**I'm going to support my disc golfers. Chris and John are both playing in the PDGA World 
  Championship tournament as well as others. Fun excitement!
**Read more, mostly non-fiction books that will encourage and challenge me. 
**Capture our life with pictures. I haven't taken many in the past year or so.
**Listen to the "little" things more diligently, because they are really the big things in life.
**Organize my grocery shopping and be more frugal! 
**Family dinner table more often
** I am going to love me. I am a pretty, cool woman. 2012 was a great year of realizing that 
  and I want it to continue in 2013 

  

It's Multitude Monday!

This morning I woke up with thankfulness in my heart. That is a wonderful way to start the day. I heard the alarm at 7am and faithful husband got up...I didn't. At 7:45 he was rushing around to leave for work and I realized, 'Wow, he does this everyday!' Isn't that amazing? No matter the weather, no matter the mood, he goes to work around the same time everyday. I am so thankful for him and his determination to take care of his family.

As I was going through my morning, still in awe of the goodness of my day, I was reminded that my favorite book in the bible is Colossians. I sat the kids down and read to them the first chapter. Good stuff. I am thankful for the Word of God that is in my heart and in my hand...for the freedom I have to open it whenever I want.

Reading Colossians reminded me of Psalm 18. Last week a sweet friend encouraged her facebook friends to read from that chapter, beginning with verse 16. Amazing. God rewards me according to my righteousness! It isn't about my perfection...but my righteousness. I am thankful! I am free to be the girl He created me to be, and to know that I am loved...all the time.

So, I'm going to my 1,000 Gifts page to add these. I challenge you today; look around you. What are you thankful for?

Multitude Monday - 1,000 Gifts continued

I'm headed to my 1,000 Gifts list. Here are some things I'll be adding: snow covered hill, sleds, Mr. Cardinal sitting in the evergreen tree, Uncle and Auntie...home from Africa, the quiet beauty of a snowy day...what else will I add? You better click over to my list page and see. :) What are some things on your list? What are the gifts in your life...the things you are thankful for? I'd love for you to share some with me.

Uncle Denny and Aunt Marie - we're so happy that they are in America.

1,000 Gifts

Go to my 1,000 gifts page to see what has been added. What gifts are you thankful for today?

1,000 Gifts

I decided that I want all of my 1,000 gifts in one list. You can read my list on the 1,000 Gifts page of this blog. Today I added numbers 157 - 180.

I've been a bit obsessed with my blogs the past few days. I really enjoy letting the world, or the few that decide to read, know about my life. So check out my personal website, my nature blog, and scroll down this page to my links...check them out. God's Pharmacy is AMAZING...definitely worth a visit.

Have a great day...a great week!

1,000 Gifts continued

123. mistakes turned into blessings
124. continued learning and growth
125. difficult times that give me opportunity to grow
126. limitations that give me opportunity to improve
127. challenges that build strength and character
128. old poetry books that remind me of truth
129. faithful husband's way of discerning my feelings and caring for them
130. HCM, BT, TAs, YKT
131. goodnight kisses from faithful husband
132. goodnight hugs from children
133. hello hug from oldest child
134. pink, fluffy robe
135. giddiness over faithful husband...after 15 years of marriage
136. lyrics that move my heart
137. music that moves my feet
138. my laptop
139. naptime
140. a shower to refresh during the summer heat
141. creativity
142. bookshelves full of great books
143. guest bedroom, open basement, willing friends and oldest son, THANK YOU!
144. blinds to keep my home cool from the heat of the sun's rays
145. borrowed car, THANK YOU!
146. elastic hair bands
147. date night adventures with faithful husband
148. God's faithfulness in the midst of my faithlessness
149. styrofoam cups
150. disc golf t-shirts...FREE for me!
151. swimming holes
152. memorable quotes from goofy movies
153. hand-me-downs
154. Garmina leading me where I need to go, she is so helpful
155. water to drink
156. cloudy skies before a storm

1,000 Gifts

101. books
102. freshly brushed teeth
103. Mr. House Wren singing to me
104. peach-raspberry sun tea
105. sun tea jars
106. old jars
107. fresh berries, hand-picked
108. sunflowers
109. happy facebook posts of oldest child
110. family photos
111. big trees
112. paid bills
113. Birds of Missouri field guide
114. garage sales
115. smiles of young disc golfer
116. sharing heart of young disc golfer
117. "Mornin' babe" says Faithful Husband
118. willing, generous heart of littles
119. amazing love of middle man
120. today
121. 'counting fish - the net didn't break'
122. memories

more 1,000 Gifts

81. grassy hill
82. willing helpers
83. morning runs with Faithful Husband
84. generous, kind-hearted mama
85. lima bean plants grown by curious kiddos
86. patience of Faithful Husband
87. visits from Olathe friends
88. Starbucks chit-chat
89. girlfriend hugs
90. nephew with a mohawk
91. all nephews
92. sweet niece
93. love of my siblings
94. heart talks, even the hard ones
95. school curriculum
96. the sound of moving water
97. mornings...new days
98. "What's up babe?" says Faithful Husband
99. chocolate
100. Bubba the parakeet's singing

1,000 Gifts (continued)

71. van windows down and breeze blowing my hair
72. .49 ice cream cones at McDonalds
73. skype
74. Greenleaf Music & Arts Academy
75. Faithful Husband giggles
76. vibram five fingers
77. the smell of freshly baled straw
78. fresh laundry air filling the house and pouring out the vent to the backyard
79. tadpoles
80. antiques

1,000 Gifts

Reading A Holy Experience is changing me. Today I begin my list of blessings...those many things I am thankful for and that I want to capture in my heart instead of take for granted.



1. grace sufficient
2. daily, new mercies
3. sunshine
4. singing birds
5. air conditioning
6. green trees
7. faithful husband, aka my best friend
8. adoring children, even when I don't deserve it
9. freezer full of meat for my meat loving family
10. forever friends
11. wisdom from my mama
12. hazelnut creamer
13. great coffee mugs
14. early mornings at the YMCA with faithful husband
15. late nights on the deck with faithful husband
16. walks in the creek
17. growth, wisdom, and playfulness of oldest child
18. homemade curtains
19. bird feeders
20. slinky
21. farmer's market
22. 1,000 Loves Journal
23. cool breeze
24. butterflies
25. freedom
26. dancing
27. full moon
28. strawberry and lemon water
29. giggles
30. the tears of a tender heart
31. balance
32. remembering
33. no more Margo
34. SheaCrew kiddos cuddled in blankets with books
35. Garmina taking me on a geocache adventure
36. bridges
37. old barns
38. oxeye daisy
39. narrations
40. little children quotes (canoodle, alligator juice...)
41. end of day closure
42. new windows
43. hummingbird feeder
44. enamel dishes
45. ears that hear
46. bathtub
47. hugs
48. faithful husband wisdom, even when it is hard to hear
49. hand-me-down sofa from Fischy family
50. Ozarks
51. running
52. candles
53. fresh sheets
54. fire-pit, s'mores, roasted hot dogs
55. fire-pit, hot cocoa, scarves, blankets
56. jeans and hoodies
57. disc golf = hope
58. inspiring and motivating music
59. date night
60. visits from family and friends
61. lessons learned
62. progress, not perfection
63. hellos from heaven
64. wet-erase markers and my fridge
65. seasons; weather and life
66. my nephew given name; Aunt Jenny
67. smiles between SheaCrew kiddos
68. long walks around town
69. deck furniture...my deck!
70. relationship, not religion