February 21st: "Three Gifts White"

(#2578  Eldest admitting she misses me when she's at school)
(#2579  Belvita)
(#2580  Sudden darkening sky)

#2581  Water pouring off the roof

#2582  White clouds mixed with sprinkles and sunshine

#2583  The Boy's basketball shoes

(#2584  Final relaxation in yoga)
(#2585  A day with the boy)
(#2586  Pane of glass between us and a diamondback rattlesnake)
(#2587  River otters)
(#2588  Gathering sticks and making quills at the zoo)

(#2589  Eldest's practice test ACED)

(#2590  Ice cream & Horses)

(#2591  The boy making baskets)
(#2592  Eldest & I reading The Lorax to the twins)

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

(#2568  Emily's yoga class)
(#2569  Stretching my back)

#2570  Breakfast:  Left-over banana bread

#2571  Lunch:  A chicken salad sandwich of my own creation

#2572  Dinner:  Designing logos & icons on napkins

(#2573  Sewing crosses with children)
(#2574  Trying to be quiet, but not succeeding while sewing crosses with children)
(#2575  Meredith's "faking")
(#2576  Singing with Lala)

(#2577  Twins telling the story of Matthew)

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

(#2557  Time allowed for a thoughtful grocery list)
(#2558  Littlest's good-morning snuggle)
(#2559  The Boy earns a star)
(#2560  Twins helping at the store)

#2561  Playing in a ladybug (tent)

#2562  Separating the patio

#2563  Not meeting at someone's house....

(#2564  Losing track of time)
(#2565  Egg sandwiches)
(#2566  Easing back pain)
(#2567  Going to bed early)

February 18th: "Three Gifts On Paper"

(#2546  Another Panera date)
(#2547  Time alone at home to clean)
(#2548  Grace from twins)

#2549  Eldest's "Love Heart"

#2550  Finishing Hidden Art, inspired....

#2551  Printing my own money

(#2552  A Bug's Life)
(#2553  Clean house, but hurting back---badges of honor)

(#2554  Rubbing the girls' backs, telling them goodnight)
(#2555  Hubby rubbing my back)
(#2556  Friends reruns, revisiting the past)

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

(#2539  First Sunday in Lent)
(#2540  Lectio Divina)
(#2541  Kurt's offertory)



Author's Note:  I met tonight with some other members of my church that lead or coordinate small groups.  We shared the dynamics and logistics of each group as well as suggestions and ideas for future opportunities.    I came away with more that what I feel like I gave, but it is all Grace...in sharing together and giving to each other.

#2542  Great book suggestions

#2543  Fellowship

#2544  Getting to see THAT sunset...the one that made be breathe deep and be thankful....

(#2545  Sweet tea.)

February 16th: "Three Gifts in Shadows"

(#2532  Making it to the basketball game)
(#2533  The Boy's coach)

#2534  The Boy, in the shadow of the basket with his giant smile

#2535  Texas, in the shadow of the Museum Rotunda

#2536  Children learning in the shadow of robotics

(#2537  Panera with a gal pal)
(#2538  Getting the Littlest back)

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

(#2523  Sunshine + Cold)
(#2524  Pilates at church)
(#2525  Non-spilling syrup bottles)
(#2526  Time alone in the chapel)
(#2527  Time with Amy)

(image credit:  Jack Edwards)

#2528  Losing my phone to the boy and the pictures that resulted

#2529  Finding time for a date

#2530  Making a memory for the Littlest:  a night at Mimi & Papa's

(#2531  Eldest meeting her reading goal)

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

(#2510  Balloon curtain)
(#2511  Heart cakes)
(#2512  Agreeable Littlest)

#2513  White Daffodils in bloom

#2514  Strawberries, chocolate, and the idea He gave someone to put them together

#2515  A Day with The Littlest....She's a human conduit for His love.

(#2516  Getting to encourage my husband)
(#2517  My water bottle)
(#2518  Littlest guiding me through the zoo)
(#2519  Eldest with her bag o' valentines)
(#2520  The Boy at Basketball Practice---making a shot and his proud face)
(#2521  The tooth finally coming out)
(#2522  Hearing the Eldest read to the twins)
(#2523  The limitless attributes of God)

February 13th: "Three Gifts Behind A Door"

(#2500  Tending house)
(#2501  Having a house to tend)
(#2502  4 & 5 year-olds at a Valentine's Party)
(#2503  Handprints on canvas)
(#2504  Roads on the carpet)

#2505  Ash Wednesday, the threshold of Lent

#2506  Our "family circle" drawn in chalk on the patio

#2507  Surprises await

(#2508  Dinner conversation with Mimi, Papa, and Tante)
(#2509  Preparing more surprises)

February 12th: "Three Hard Eucharisteos"

(#2489  Cinnamon bread)

(#2490  Twins:  "You're the best mommy ever!")

(#2491  Rain, gentle & steady)

(#2492  The sound of markers on paper)
(#2493  The hum of the dryer)

#2494  Laundry

#2495  Poison Ivy and my body's reaction to it.

#2496  How fast time flies....

(#2497  A visit at Mimi & Papa's)

(#2498  Pancakes for Supper)
(#2499  Eldest reading aloud)

February 11th: "Three Gifts in Working"

(#2478  Getting out of the house on time)
(#2479  Being the first to see the Lenten Art)
(#2480  Quiet, empty church, thinking about the scattered members)
(#2481  Valentine treats for the kids' classes)

#2482  The Boy, working on patience, paid off with an instant winner prize

#2483  A wonderful, working car

#2484  The Boy, working like Daddy...

(#2485  Getting rained on)
(#2486  Twins talking about Chinese New Year)
(#2487  Soup-for-dinner weather)
(#2488  Going to bed early)

February 10th: "Three Times You Heard Laughter Today"

(#2466  Conversations about the early Church)
(#2467  The Gospel according to Charlotte's Web)
(#2468  Twins not wanting to leave church)
(#2469  "Jason's Belly"...but no one calls it that anymore)

#2470 "Ewan McGregor....You In McGregor"

#2471  Conversations in Mike....too many to list

#2472  Conversations on the trail....too many to list

(#2473  Lost in the woods, with smart phones)
(#2474  Scaling a ravine)
(#2475  Damp Earth)
(#2476  Forrest sounds)
(#2477  Getting home and getting clean)

February 9th: "Three Surprise Gifts--Unexpected Grace!"

(#2457  Husband taking the Boy for team pictures)
(#2458  The Boy dribbling down the court)
(#2459  Girls playing with ponies in the corner)

#2460  Surprise flashback in Cracker Barrel and being reminded of Uncle Darrel

#2461  Surprise concert by the Boy

#2462  Surprise Re-Do of GG's grandkids' room

(#2463  Extra long visit with Mom & Dad)

(#2464  Conversation with Husband in the car)

(#2465  Dr. Benjamin Carson)

February 8th: "A Gift Broken, Fixed, Thrifted"

(#2447  Healthy kids dropped off at school)

(#2448  Wheelchairs at hospitals)

(#2449  Car conversation with a friend)
(#2450  Carleen Bright Arboretum)
(#2451  Tea Hut in the woods)

#2452  Broken:  The boy's crayon, broken from ferocious coloring

#2453  Fixed:  Final touches on Lenten Art

#2454  Thrifted:  Free therapy

(#2455  Playing with my camera)
(#2456  Poague Park trees)

February 7th: "A Gift at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m."

(#2437  Pigeon pose in yoga)
(#2438  Eldest's early release from school)
(#2439  Smell of someone's outdoor fire)
(#2440  Hiding the Kids Meal prize for someone else to find)

#2441  11:30 a.m.:  Sonic playground

#2442  2:30 p.m.:  Pretending to be birds and mammoths at the museum

#2443  6:30 p.m.:  Sunset on the drive home

(#2444  Robot Exhibit)
(#2445  Unrushed afternoon)

(#2446  Finding planets in the sky at night)

February 6th: "Three Gifts Found Outside"

(#2425  Eldest, coloring on the floor, fully dressed, spouting wisdom)
(#2426  Littlest, insisting she was the first one up)
(#2427  The Boy, asking for cheerios because he feels "so much better")
(#2428  Twins, "reading" to each other)

#2429  Sunshine + Rain

#2430  Playing ON art at Baylor

#2431  Boy in a tree

(#2432  Lunch with Eldest at school....)

(#2433  Make-a-Valentine)
(#2434  Theater Prop Scavenger Hunt)
(#2435  Resolve)
(#2436  Eldest's hero:  Queen Esther)

February 5th: "A Gift Stitched, Hammered, Woven"

(#2414  Alice in Wonderland)
(#2415  Ephesians 4:15-16 and speaking truth in love)
(#2416  The Pen & The Inkwell by HCA)

(#2417  A big couch to fit two puny, but resting kids)

#2418  Stitched:  Manny.  The Mammoth.

#2419  Hammered:  Basketball bounced by a better-feeling boy

#2420  Woven:  Twin baby blankets and twin bonds...

(#2421  Chicken Noodle Soup)
(#2422  Nurse Felicia)
(#2423  Laying in the grass with Eldest)
(#2424  Small group talk)