3x7 Positive Things Week

A friend challenged me through social media to post three positive things every day for seven days.  While many social media games and challenges I write off as being a total waste of time, counting God's gifts has proven to be life transforming, so I took the challenge.  I went on a treasure hunt seeking out God's gifts, and here is a compilation of my positive things that week.  My husband seems to be the dominant theme through all of these with sleep coming in second.  I guess we all know now what don't get enough of these days.

Day 1/7 of 3 Positive Things

1) I'm celebrating the fact that we survived our family's first ever swim team experience and the fact that swim meets are officially OVER! Glory! (Gift #658)

2) Skype is a marvelous gift which enables my husband to look the kids straight into their eyes and then firmly tell them, "Go straight to bed and don't give your mother any grief!" and because it makes him feel closer to us all when he travels. (Gift #659)

3) Accidentally stumbling upon an old box of letters my husband and I exchanged during our long distance dating years while cleaning out some old files today reminded me how distance has strengthened our relationship.  Limited communication is more thoughtful and focused on substance of greater value. (Gift #660)

Day 2/7 of 3 Positive Things

1) I got to sleep in really late this morning after staying up too late last night. (Gift #661)
2) My beloved will be flying home soon!  (Gift #662)
3) My daughter is in an exceptionally good mood today perhaps because of the words she scribbled on her mirror when I wasn't looking.  (Gift #663)

Speaking of scribbling words....

I found the following note taped to her door recently and wonder if she's maturing from her former days of posting angry "Keep Out!" signs or if she's just using a passive approach now. :-)

An aside:
While listening to an adventure series CD about an Israeli and an Egyptian, my 7-year-old asked me about the Arab-Israeli conflict that has persisted since the days of Isaac and Ishmael. I explained that another battle is taking place right now, and that previously, when Israel would be under attack, America might send troops to help defend them, but our current administration doesn't want to help Israel. He replied, "Well..they will still be okay because God is fighting for them. God will always protect Israel."

What wisdom flows from the lips of that 7-year-old!  (Gift #664)

Then the next day, the first headline I saw in the news was the following:

"According to an article in the Jewish Telegraph, a terrorist in Gaza was asked why they couldn't aim their rockets more effectively. In response he said, "We do aim them, but their God changes their path in mid-air.” (Sid Roth)

What my son had just said the night before by faith was actually happening for real which only served to increase his faith!

 Day 3/7 of 3 Positive Things

1) My husband is back from his business trip. All his people and even the bunny rejoiced!   (Gift #665)

 I've never seen that bunny skid across the hard wood floors as eagerly as she did when she heard him walk through the door at 1:00 am that night.

What's that?  Has my favorite head scratcher finally come home?

 
2) We are so thankful that our 7-year-old's dentist found a problem early which should prevent him from spending a few extra YEARS in braces, and that now there are laser options that if successful, will prevent him from having to wear an appliance for the next 4 years.  (Gift #666)


3) It's been such a blessing to actually see my son growing in both faith and wisdom as mentioned above in the aside.  (Gift #667)


Update on the oral surgery:
My little boy endured some significant oral laser surgery that did not go as well as we had hoped. When he came out, I asked him how it went. He said the worst part was the doctor's breath, and I feel certain this doctor does not have bad breath! He got the bravest patient award. (Gift #668) Now let's see if he keeps the award through round #2 when they will hopefully finish the job started but unfortunately not finished today.

Day 4/7 of 3 Positive Things:

1) A few clicks on my laptop plus a five minute trip to the library to fetch requested books for my kids bought the kids some exciting adventures and me an entire afternoon of peace and quiet. (Gift #669)

2) My wise counselors/faithful friends are a gift because they are always available and willing to speak truth in love from an eternal perspective. (Gift #670)

3) Our daises began blooming just as my favorite spring flowers stopped putting forth buds which serves as a reminder that we should not dwell too much on closed doors as seasons change, for new blossoms are all around us if we'll merely look away from our losses to the new gifts God has for us.  (Gift #671)

 Day 5/7 of 3 Positive Things:

1) My devoted husband's long standing tradition of spoiling us by cooking a hearty brunch for all of us every Saturday is a blessing in my book. He even went a step further this morning by deep cleaning the kitchen for me. Be still my beating heart!  (Gift #672)

2) I got over 8.5 hours of sound, uninterrupted sleep last night. Those who knew me 15 years ago would consider that a miracle!  (Gift #673)

3) In a world of so much war, conflict, hatred, and uncertainty, we can find peace and stability through God's word which never fails. His promises have always been and always will be fulfilled. The wisdom we need not just in matters of faith and doctrine, but also with regard to various questions about history, math, science, philosophy, morality, parenting, marriage, public policy, international diplomacy, etc. can all be found in that same wonderful, inerrant book. (Gift #674)

Day 6/7 of 3 Positive Things:

1) I loved waking up to the sweet melody of my husband's voice this morning instead of to the shrieks of the alarm clock (Gift #675) 

2) A dreaded trip to the mall to buy school shoes for the kids was made ever so much sweeter when we bumped into awesome church friends at the Food Court. (Gift #676)

3) Our wonderful, authentic church where the whole truth is proclaimed in a timely manner and loving, supportive, relationships nurture, equip, and edify is a rare gift I try not to take for granted.  (Gift #677)

Day 7/7 of 3 Positive Things:

1) I am so thankful for my mom who drove up to spoil the kids all day while I went to my first day of orientation for a new job. She even brought us clothes, home baked goodies, and something for the house. (Gift #678)

Staff photo taken at the beginning of orientation that day

2) I feel so privileged to be working with such intelligent, talented, like minded people who share a common vision for ministry and a similar dry wit.  The vision at this school of sowing into the lives of students so as to make strong disciples of Christ (love trumps academics every time) is so consistent with my own that I have felt great confirmation in this ministry calling.  To God be the Glory! (Gift #679) 

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to work at a classical, Christian school.  Through that model of education and through the dedication of the ministers who serve in these schools, we can penetrate the darkness and bring common sense and common decency back to society.  

"If you follow nature, the education you give will succeed without giving you trouble or perplexity; especially if you do not insist upon acquirements precocious or over-extensive." - Plato 

 3) Three of my all time favorite gifts are pictured (in silly form) below: (#680)

Overjoyed to have his dad cutting his hair

Always the entertainer!

So this picture isn't silly, but when he looks at me this way, I feel silly inside.

A few other recent positive things not listed above include:

• I was an avid runner for 20+ years. After enduring plebe summer at the USNA where running was used as a form of cruel and unusual punishment, my husband was obviously not interested in joining me in this running hobby. Just under four years ago, I ran my best 1/2 marathon ever, but that run helped me realize how much damage high intensity, long distance running was doing to my body, so I quit running cold turkey. Then today....MY HUSBAND invited ME to go running with HIM! It was awesome! #ModernDayMiracle #HappyGirl (Gift #681)

•  As I have been ramping up to start a new job, my husband has been helping me out with meals.  The sight of him preparing dinner while teaching the kids turned me into mush.  How I love the way he supports me! (Gift #682)

•  Our 7-year-old has such an inquisitive mind.  I love it when he comes up with ideas for random experiments he wants to do to satisfy his scientific curiosity.  I used his last experiment as an opportunity to teach him the scientific method. (Gift #683)

The effects of freezing temperatures on 3 different food dyes.

• When the house got quiet recently, I got suspicious. I went to investigate, and my daughter was writing a song.  I love that she has found a positive, less hyper outlet for her creative, dramatic, compassionate bent.  (Gift #684) The tune is rather catchy, too. While I don't think she's ever been bullied or teased like the person in her song, she has been the first one to reach out to those who are. Here are lyrics she just emailed me:

More Then That

You were picked on
Nobody cared
Nobody liked you
You were really kinda scared
You weren't very strong,
Your ability was low.
You were the biggest nerd in school
And that wasn't really cool

But no, no, no

They didn't really know
What you felt,
They didn't really know,
What you were,
They made you feel abandoned
Really quite saddened
But they didn't know,
You're worth more then that! that, that
You're worth more then that! that, that
You're worth more then a million bucks
But they can't see, that that.

The next day at school
You really tried to be cool.
But every time, every way
They talked bad in your face.
Don't let them treat you
Like they're gonna beat you
You're worth more then anything
Like a priceless piece

But no, no, no.

They didn't really know,
What you felt,
They didn't really know,
What you were.
They made you feel abandoned
Really quite saddened,
But they didn't know,
You're worth more then that! that, that
You're more then that! that, that.
You're worth more then a million bucks,
But they can't see, that that.

And no one can deny
You're worth every dime,
And I can see you face to face,
And I've never seen anyone more amazing,
How they didn't like you,
I don't understand.
You're worth more then anything,
And that's a fact!
YEAH!

They didn't really know,
What you felt,
They didn't really know,
What you were,
They made you feel abandoned
Really quite saddened,
But they didn't know,
You're worth more then that! that, that
You're worth more then that! that, that
You're worth more then a million bucks,
But they can't see, that, that.

          (Copyright:  Blog Author's 10-year-old daughter)

• I am so thankful for a college friend who exudes Christ's love, joy, and peace through any circumstance and just makes everyone around her feel loved and want to know Jesus better.  (Gift #685) She celebrated her 40th birthday yesterday, and we had the privilege of being part of her huge surprise birthday party.  It was like a mini college reunion!  (Gift #686)

• I am also thankful that our daughter is growing in discernment as she navigates the deception of this world.  (Gift #687)  Here is a funny example from this morning:

As I was thumbing through the paper I said, "Here's an article on how to be a great teacher. Maybe I should read that one."  And my wise daughter said, "That's the media, Mom. You know you can't trust anything they say."

When a friend learned that I had given up a job I had been wanting to do for years (in the health and fitness industry with a ministry focus) to teach 12th grade statistics at our kids' school (I often said teaching would be the last thing I would ever do), he punned, "What are the odds (ha ha) of that?"  So I replied, "The odds are zero unless you are 100% called by God and at least 50% crazy."

After investing every waking minute last week (and I only slept 3 hours some nights) preparing to teach 12th graders during orientation by day and lesson planning by night, I finally can say with conviction that I am called to do this job. (Gift #688)  It is undoubtedly the hardest job I have ever had, but I am clearly doing this job because of His calling.  And praise God for His promise to equip the called!  (Gift #689)  I teach my first class tomorrow.

Once an engineer, analyst, project manager, corporate ladder climber, and management consultant, I am now a high school teacher.  Who would have ever imagined?  But then again, I spent the past ten years as a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling for five of those years, so never say never!  If this year goes well, God will get the glory because I have never been so far out of my comfort zone vocationally or ministerially.

At the end of last week, the word got out that I would be teaching this class and that students could take two math classes, Calculus and Stats, instead of Calculus and Greek 2.  My class roster literally doubled overnight.  Now I will be teaching to two groups: those who love math and expect me to fully equip them to take the AP exam and those who do not like math at all.  I have so many ideas for this class that I cannot turn my brain off at night to sleep.  Please use me, Lord, and still my anxious thoughts to hear your voice!