January 11: 3 Yellow Gifts of Mercy

There wasn't a lot of yellow in my day, but instead of being ruled by the prompts, I'm remembering what I was grateful for in the course of the day.

31: My church. I wasn't going to stay for worship, I planned to leave after Sunday School so that I could miss an impending snow storm. But I stayed, and was blessed to worship God with his people and hear his word preached with hearty choruses of "amen!" - I am beyond grateful for the Body of Christ and this particular local church.

32: the ability to cook delicious things. I know many people my own age who don't cook, for whatever reason that might be, I don't know. But I love to make good food, to share it with others, to eat something that is meaningful and memorable and sometimes beautiful.

33: Jessica! Her birthday was today and it's just nice to be able to relax and celebrate her presence in my life. I have (and have had) fabulous roommates... very grateful for them!

January 10: A Gift Sour, A Gift Sweet, a Gift Just Right

28: a dinner at Juniper, a great restaurant that serves Southern cuisine. I had the best fried chicken, it has been brined in fish sauce and was just a tiny bit sour. Just perfect.

29: My aunt sent some fun chocolate "tamales" at Christmas time - made in her new hometown in San Antonio. They've been getting me through tax season.

30: Celebrating a roommate's birthday with a dinner she'd been wanting for a while, a movie, and plenty of laughter. That was definitely a gift just right.

January 9: A Gift Held, Passed By, Sat With

25: A sweet coloring book and pencils my mother gave to me for Christmas. Such a treat to sit and be creative tonight.

26: Saw a coworker while out at lunchtime... it means something special to be called out by name, not ignored, but pleasantly greeted.

27: My roommate, who made room for my weariness and need for laughter... sat down to watch Muppets Most Wanted and we laughed and laughed.

January 8: Dusky Light, Surprising Reflection, Lovely Shadows

22: Winter never fails to surprise me with the fading golden embers of sunlight, shining against a sky of navy blue. It makes my heart skip a beat to walk out into the evening, bundled against the cold, only to find myself standing still in awe of the beauty.

23: This is less an actual reflection so much as it is a realization... I have a lot of intentions for 2015, and I feel a lot of anxiety for screwing them up. This surprises me because I didn't think I was that invested... but apparently I am that invested.

24: Revisiting a beloved story ('Gilead' by Marilynne Robinson) and struck by the fact that it has been a decade since I first read the story, and how long a shadow it has cast over my life.

January 7: Three Graces from Loves Ones

I think these are especially hard. It is not always easy to be sure that we are hearing our loved ones well.

19: The bright, sunny card my mom sent to me and and my roommates, thanking us for our part in the Christmas celebrations.

20: The gentleness of a roommate after I tore the kitchen apart, looking for a missing package of beef, upset that I couldn't find it anywhere, only to find that our other roommate had kindly put it out to thaw in the sink. Gentleness with my anxious heart.

21: Kindness and Openness from a friend when it is an undeserved gift.

January 6: One Thing in Your Bag, Your Fridge, Your Heart

16: My Tiffany-blue journal - was able to journal again tonight, reading through Psalm 2 and pondering the concept of submission to Jesus as our King.

17: Cauliflower is a great gift, a healthy snack I actually can enjoy.

18: Having a few moments to think about a fun, new creative idea. Excited to pursue the dream.

January 5: Something You're Reading, Making, Seeing

13: Currently reading Molly Wizenberg's 'Delancey' which has been surprisingly challenging and encouraging for a story about a pizza joint. Seriously, it's been a lovely and inspiring read about marriage and creativity, and just plain fun.

14: Spent parts of the day dreaming about a couple of yummy meals I'm going to make this week.

15: Changes in my body and overall health as I continue to challenge myself to eat and move well.

January 4: A Gift Old, New, and Blue

10: I'm grateful for the "old" friendships I have - not so much old, as lasting.

11: Praising God for the one-year anniversary of my dear friends. Praying everyday is new with blessings and love.

12: Sometimes it is a gift to sit in the quiet and be still, to sleep, and find your should and mind nourished just by hiding away for a few hours. These are "blue" moments for me. Not a bouncy, bubbly happy, but not sad either. Just blue.

January 3: Three Graces Overheard

I'm not sure that I "overheard" these so much as I was told them secondhand. I had a lovely phone conversation with a friend and was so pleased to be able to rejoice to hear the acknowledgment by others of her hard word and dedication to her students. So... 7, 8, and 9 are a celebration of her accomplishments so far.

January 2: A Gift Inside, Outside, and on a Plate

4: So grateful for a good dentist who is helping me regain dental health.

5: Really just thankful for the outdoors. Cold or not, I've really been able to enjoy some amazing places in 2014.

6. My roommate brought home a pin from Disney World - Mickey Mouse (wearing a STL Cardinals uniform) sliding into "home plate" was just a fun surprise today.

January 1: Three Gifts Heard

1. A word of praise from a friend as I prepared to leave for my second 5k, "I'm so proud of you."

2. "Happy New Year, Heather!" (As I crossed the finish line of that 5k) - what a welcome beginning to 2015.

3. "You are becoming a brace woman." From my mother as we discussed goals and dreams for 2015.