Memoirs of a Moorings

The Power of Memory: Blessings Flood In (Continuing The 1,000 Gift List)

"Memory is a child walking along a seashore.  You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things."  ~Pierce Harris

This past weekend my mother, grandmother and aunt made the six-hour drive from Northern California to visit us in SoCal. On Sunday, we strolled Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and then made an impromptu stop at the beach. It was this sweet little 2 year old's first time since he was a baby. So we rolled up the boy's pants legs and let them splash and be splashed. Pure bliss. I loved that my mother was there to see the joy on their faces.

It was a lovely visit, but one that was bittersweet around the edges because my father was not here to enjoy all of this. Bittersweet that he's gone from us for the rest of our lives. Hurts. Then the hurt subsides a bit when we start reminiscing about him...calling on our memory to bring back the laughter and good times we shared with him.

I love how God gave us a memory and the capacity to recall those perfect little moments of life just when we need them. When my mind wants to stop and cry over the pain my father endured his last days, instead I remember his hearty laughter, his love for these two grandsons of his, his knack for cooking, the way his mind worked like an encyclopedia...then I stop and realize that we are making memories now. Perfect memories on a beautiful Sunday at the beach. Memories that these two little boys will cherish for years to come. Memories that this momma will draw on when her two boys are men.

And I find myself doing that more....calling on my memory to bring up the good to push back the bad. So I continue my 1,000 Gift List: blessings that are flooding my mind even now.

315. A hug from my momma

316. Kissing my 88-year-old grandmother's cheek

317. Soaking up the wisdom of my elders

318. Wrestling boys

319. Dinner plates scraped clean

320. A thank you card with a gift tucked inside for me

321. A 2 year old in his new big boy bed

322. Faith-filled friends

323. Being a prisoner of hope

324. Prayer and repentance

325."Fading" by Audra Lynn

326. Straight talk about God's deliverance

327. Snaggletooth smiles

The One Thousand Gift List: Growing Faith

“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.” ~ Mary Manin Morrissey

286. Scripture leaping to life

287. Clear cool evenings leading to clear cool mornings

289. Busy bustling boys

290. Memories of daddy.

291. Leftovers

292. Chubby toddler legs

293. A big boy helper

294. Grace freely given

295. Wisdom in the Word.

296. Holding Littlest's hand

297. Waist hugs from 6year old

298. A call from my great aunt

299. A long chat with a good friend

300. God's sure promise

301. Light in darkness

302. Brother's love

303. God's unchanging hand

304. Leftover chocolate

305. Daddy's smile in my sons' face

306. Being filled up to overflowing

307. The shadow of His wings

308. A free day

309. Cupboards filled with food

310. Ice cream cones

311. Short sleeves in February

312. Peace that passes understanding

313. His promise of provision

314. Perpetual prayer.

Everyday Miracles: The One Thousand Gift List

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. I prefer the latter." ~Einstein

266. Dinner plates emptied.

267. Full tummies.

268. A journal of God's promises (so I don't forget).

269. Warm, soapy baths.

270. Sheets pulled tight.

271. Boys tucked in.

272. Psalms read over and over.

272. Piles of clean laundry.

273. Twinkling lights.

274. New bar of Caress soap.

275. A long afternoon nap.

276. Good friends from faraway drawing near.

277. Little boys roaring like dinosaurs

278. Sweet smell of the newly decorated Christmas tree.

279. Sunshine after rain.

280. Sara Groves: Fireflies & Songs.

281. A crackling fireplace.

282. Book so good, can't put it down.

282. Sweet little boy voices whispering prayers, heads bowed, hands crossed.

283. Before bed-time giggles shared between brothers.

284. My father's hearty laughter echoing in my memory.

285. A faith in God that's showing its true colors through pressure.

Simple Thanks: The One Thousand Gift List

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." ~Oprah Winfrey

250. Warm weather well into September

251. Pudgy toddler arms around this momma's neck

252. A 5 year old still holding my hand--if only for a second

253. My baby/big boy on bended knee at bedtime

254. Answering a zillion questions about God

255. Requests to listen to the story of David and Goliath on the Adventure Bible Audiobook over and over

256. A mighty cloud of witnesses

257. Sunday's sermon reminding me that God loves me

258. Middle of the night checks on the boys; pulling up blankets and covering cold toes

259. Cookies and cream ice-cream on a sugar cone

260. Texting and LOL with an old friend

261. Homemade lunches

262. Afternoon coffee

263. This podcast series that inspired me to walk through the book of Habakkuk

264. Questioning...yet trusting God

265. Watching God cultivate Noah's heart in me.

Sunshiney Days: The One Thousand Gift List

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." ~ Helen Keller

234. A reminder to myself that Jesus is the rock that stands sure
235. The pitter patter of 2 sets of boys feet
236. And watching them wrestling and giggling
237. My Daddy out of the hospital
238. And his hearty appetite
239. Friends who know me like no other
240. A mother who says she's learning from me
241. Shopping with my cousin
242. A four-day work week
243. My little baby who folds his hands during blessing
244. A big boy who reminds this busy mommy to say grace.
245. Evening cartoons with the boys
246. Being kept safe from harm.
247. Baby scribbles on the wall: proof of a budding imagination.
248. A camera phone to capture gratitude in its smallest forms.
249. A promise that God is a restorer-yesterday and Today.

Thankfulness In Full Bloom: The One Thousand Gift List

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it." ~ Shug in The Color Purple

219. New bright, green leaves on a dying plant in the house.
220. Old friends, cousins and lots of belly laughs.
221. A heavy baby snoring in my arms-proof that he's growing heartily.
222. A daddy whose eyes lit up at the site of his grandsons.
223. A mother who misses us after 8 days of us taking over her house.
224. Two little boys full of hugs and kisses, happy to return to their daycare provider.
225. A new welcome flag hung outside the front door.
226. New life on the jasmine outside.
227. A sharp and very alert grandmother who still has a strong hug
228. And her sugar cookies. Delicious and crisp just like in my younger years.
229. Two brothers holding hands.
230. And wrestling
231. A big boy who asks for time to play alone-he loves his own company!
232. Friends who call to encourage and uplift and tell you the truth-even when you don't want to hear it.
233. Friendships that are still strong 20+ years later.

Remembering the Gifts: The One Thousand Gift List

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  ~Norman Vincent Peale

Giving thanks for daily blessings has been long over due.

201. Baby kisses
202. Warm showers on chilly mornings
203. A big boy who still sits in my lap
204. Long, beautiful eyelashes on two equally beautiful boys
205. Two little boys safely tucked into warm beds
206. Christmas gifts wrapped and waiting
207. A Saturday morning full of possibilities
208. Old friendships re-kindled
209. The kindness of strangers
210. A busy, crawling, curious baby
211. Being told you are "the bestest  mommy in the world."
212. Two splashing boys in a warm, bubbly tub
213. The beauty of Christmas in twinkling lights and green wreaths
214. Brothers playing together
215. A call from my father sounding chipper and healthy
216. A five-year-old breaking out in spontaneous dance
217. A baby brother who joins him
218. A big boy who reminds me of the fruit of the Spirit

Summer Loves: The One Thousand Gift List

180. Sweet crisp watermelon
181. Frozen grapes
182. Two brothers sharing an eskimo kiss
183. And an evening bath
184. Watching a baby enjoy the splish splash of a warm bath
185. ...and the echo of his scream in the tub
186. Noon day Bible Class--like a refreshing river in the middle of the day
187. Summer days drenched with sunshine
188. Sleeping with sheets only instead of the heavy comforter
189. Fresh bbq off the grill
190. An ice-cream cake for my birthday
191. A birthday gift from my favorite store from my husband along with a gift card--an extra bonus!

192. Flips flops and polished toes.

193. A little baby in onesies with fat little brown legs kicking.

194. Reconnecting with friends from the college years.

195. Homemade lunches at work.

196. Warm mornings filled with sunshine.

197. Crickets outside my bedroom window singing lullabies just for me!

198. Ceiling light shows for two little boys at bedtime.

199. Fudgsicles and warm chocolate chip cookies

200. Leftover dinner = no cooking for tonight!

Being Still: The One Thousand Gift List

"Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is." ~Amy Carmichael

163. The sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven
164. Little hands practicing letters and numbers
165. Smooth fat baby cheeks to kiss
166. A husband with a strong work ethic
167. Our little baby reaching to touch my face
168. And reaching for his own reflection in the mirror
169. A big brother who wakes and snuggles with "his" baby
170. The jasmine in full bloom in the front yard
171. Hands busy with creative projects
172. High-pitched baby squeals from a very vocal baby
173. A caregiver who is great with our big boy
174. Longtime friends from out of town gathered around the table for a home-cooked meal
175. And reminiscing about 23 years of friendship

176. A cousin who called to pray with me and encourage me

177. And reminded me of God's work in times past

178. A fresh cup of coffee

179. New green plants to liven up the house.

Makes My Heart Happy: The One Thousand Gift List

"Gratitude is our most direct line to God and the angels. If we take the time, no matter how crazy and troubled we feel, we can find something to be thankful for." ~Terry Lynn Taylor

152. My big boy begging for a book (and not a toy) at Target
153. And him understanding that Jesus never dies (just like Mario)
154. Two bright little boy faces scrubbed clean after a bath
155. A big brother eager to help
156. How the baby's face lights up when he sees mommy or daddy or big brother
157. Reading Bible stories before bed time
158. Rhyan asking how to spell God and then recognizing it every time we read stories

159. Lots of interruptions during story time from a curious little mind full of questions

160. My pastor's humble request for prayer that he would feed the flock God's best

161. Rhyan asking if the picture of our pastor on the church bulletin was Jesus. (At least he's asking questions and understands that this is the man who teaches us about Jesus.)

162. A big bag of outgrown baby clothes--this little one is growing by leaps and bounds!