February 29th: "A Gift Dull, A Gift Shimmering, A Gift Cleaned"

Happy Leap Day.

#176  Sanded Boards for a project...would probably be still unsanded if not for the aid of The Husband.

#177  A gift ready to be given...

#178  A kitchen to clean...

February 28th: "Three Gifts From The Past---That Help You Trust The Future"

#173  Hymns passed down

#174  Popo's picture of Jesus

#175  Memories of the beginning

February 27th: "Three Ugly-Beautiful Gifts (see Beauty in Ugly)"

The boy and I played in puddles this evening as the sun set.  Gifts abound.  But in keeping with the challenge, I give you the following....

#170  The decomposing pages of a phone book and the impermanence of man

#171  A winter-worn leafless cottonwood and the hope it contains

#172  Bubbly green muck and making discoveries with my only son

February 26th: "Three Gifts Seen As Reflections"

#167  Sunrise reflections of retreat next to the Paluxy's gushing water.

#168 Reflections of the Divine in my family...pieces of Peace.

#169 Reflections of Light...building mental altars of where I've met God.

February 25th: "A Gift Nearly Worn Out, A Gift New, A Gift Made-Do"

Just returned from our church women's retreat....refreshed.

#165 A retreating fence, symbolic of our weariness upon arrival....nearly worn out.

#166 Fresh coffee poured from a brand new urn into a brand new mug, newly decorated....being refilled.

#167  A make-shift podium, from which truth was preached....being renewed.

February 24th: Three Gifts Before 11 a.m."

#162  Kids who love books

#163  A real letter...ready to mail to Mamaw

#164 Well-loved books at the library

February 23rd: "A Gift of Tin, of Glass, of Wood"

#159  Windchimes...adding songs to the breezes

#160  Mema's decanters

#161  My Momma's piano played by precious little hands

February 22nd: "Three Gifts That Changed Today"

#156  Perspective....entering the Lenten season.

"O Lamb of God, have mercy upon us and

keep us from the smallness of our lives..."

                                    ~~Ann Weems

#157  The Girl-Woman...looking like a teenager all of a sudden.  Six years old.

#158  The redbuds are starting to show their true colors.

February 21st: "Three Gifts White"

#153  A full box of tissues

#154  Clean socks (albeit not yet matched & folded, but they're clean....)

#155  Souvenir of a pretty fantastic family night

February 20th: "A Gift at Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner"

#150  Four-Year-Old Conversation

#151 A pre-lunch walk on a beautiful campus on a lovely day, and then lunch with a soul sister....

#152  Post-dinner activities

February 19th: "Three Gifts That Were "Plan B's"

#147  A girls-only day at church

#148  A MUCH simpler grocery list

#149  An outdoor adventure in house shoes....long story.

February 18th: "Three Gifts On Paper"

#144  A reminder to seek beauty

#145 A kind note from the Littlest to the Eldest 

#146 An invitation in the mail

February 17th: "Three Gifts Found Giving/Serving"

#141  Happiness from heart-shaped cookies

#142  Reflections in a tidy room

#143  Servicing and maintenance of favorite toys

February 16th: "Three Gifts in Shadows"

On an over-cast day, shadows are a rare occurrence, much less meaningful shadows.  But I had a very meaningful day with my only boy.  I breathe thanks.

#138  In the shadow of an Amtrak train, the joy of a four-year-old boy.

#139  In the shadow of a really tall slide, his little feet getting bigger.

#140  In the shadow of an airplane hangar, the beginning of something big.

February 15th: "A Gift in Losing Something, in Finding Something, in Making Something"

#135  Losing the paintbrush to smaller, excellently creative hands

#136  Finding the "just-right" mugs

#137  Making colored puzzles

February 14th: "Three Ways You Feel The Love of God"

#132  The Gift of My Marriage...freedom in commitment.

#133 The Gift of My Children....reflections of His Grace.

#134 The Gift of Beauty in The World...  He created me to notice, and He places it in my path.