If I had all night, I could not begin to share with you all the gifts God laid over into our lives this year.  You might be thinking gifts as in “$$”.  But I’m not.  I’m thinking “delights”. 

Things that really get me excited, the hand clapping, giggly sort.

I will share through a few pictures. I think it will explain it best.

While we were in Ohio at a conference, the LORD brought me a present.  Amazing gift God gave me—just because I love snow.  (It was not predicted to snow…but I asked—and He gave.)

This praying group of men put a roof on our house.  Just because they LOVE THE LORD.  And they love to serve Him by blessing others.  They blessed us that day.

There were so many spectacular sunsets that took my breath away.  But this one looked as if you could “touch” the land on the other side of the setting sun.  That is totally untouched photo.

There were birds that flew and came close.  There was the sighting of a turtle crossing the road and it reminded me of my friend, “B” The Turtle Girl.

There was a wonderful meeting of girl friends who love Jesus more than anything else in this whole wide world…and there was the meeting with my friend from Canada (she has many who call her friend), Ann Voskamp the author of “One Thousand Gifts”.

There were meals throughout the year with dear friends—most I claim as family. Those were special times of fellowship and most always growing in the Lord. 

One special morning—God paid us a visit in March at our daughter, Tiffany’s house when our youngest daughter, April and I went to spend some “daughter-sister” time—and special prayer time. 

Common Grounds.  What God started in January of this year still makes me ask Him, “why me?”  I am thankful for Vanessa and Angela—the 2/3 of this team that saw the need and had a vision from God to do “all we can” with all we have—for the rest of our days.

Common Grounds is a blessing and gift.  God has met us there in that place of surrender to Him—as we come to seek HIM and pray and read His word.  There’s no time for “food”—even though it has been provided each time—no one eats.  Except to partake of what Christ Jesus brings us through His word.

There was bird watching from my dear friend, Connie’s porch…and sharing God’s Word—and His heart for each believer…

Thank you Connie—for being that “persuader” for many that causes us to study God’s Word for ourselves—and then BELIEVE what His Word says!

There was my learning experience as a Camp Cook (helper to the awesome Camp Chef Donece—who taught me TONS in the kitchen this  year!)  That was QUITE a good experience!

These are ALL blessings—GIFTS that God laid over into my lap and heart—and many that I even may have missed—simply because I was “too busy”.

Family is the sweetest blessing…and I count my darling husband, Jeff—as my number one blessing from God.

Jeff lead an amazing group of people to Bolivia where we were able to do many things for Jesus.  I was blessed to witness first hand God at work in and through my sweet husband.

Jeff also lead two teams to north Alabama on Disaster Relief Missions.  I was unable to go on this trip—but heard countless testimonies of all that God did through the individuals while they were there as the “hands and feet of Christ”.

I am forever changed by the experiences of this year….and you only have seen a grain of what has happened in our lives.

I am forever grateful for God for all that He performed, all that He allowed—because through the hard things that was allowed—I saw His love and mercy extended—and I grew.

One delight—that completely amazed and stunned me—was the duck. There is a story about her, which I have shared in person—with bits and pieces on the blog—but that was a “God visit” day.  All over the place—and even thinking of the duck now, makes me shake my head in amazement and hot tears burn my throat.

We would be here all night if I kept going through the year.  I saw—and experienced some amazing things in my journey of my 49th year.  I can hardly imagine how God plans to top this coming year—

What have you seen—or experienced in 2011?  I hope you kept a journal.  Or some pictures to track your tracks….as you follow Christ until He comes.

I started to just list the section of Scripture that I wanted to share—but instead, I’m sharing the whole of it.  2 Corinthians 4.  The Lord used this passage to speak a special message to me in 2007…and He is still speaking.

2 Corinthians 4  ¹Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[b] Since we have that same spirit of^[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

New International Version (NIV)

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All I can say….what’s next Lord?

I join countless others and say—I’m Yours.  Do what is best—and may You alone be glorified.

Giving HIM all.

Angie