Day 8 - Bonnie & Josh

Sunday January 8 2012
Recipient:
Bonnie & Josh

Thoughts:
Bonnie & Josh are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today. A year ago, my family was honoured to be invited to New Zealand to be involved in the ceremony. Being asked to participate publicly in someone's wedding service is such a great honour. It fills me with such a deep sense of love and commitment to these friends; as they married one another, those of us who bore witness also make some kind of commitment, too. The ties of friendship are just as important and these relationships need care and attention, as well.

Day 7 - Angelique

Saturday January 7 2012
Recipient:
Angelique

Thoughts:
We have kids. Hundreds of them, it sometimes seems. Kids in plague proportion - and volume. Angelique is a beautiful young chick at church who is so generous with her time. She spends time talking and playing with the kids, who absolutely adore her, and she is so quick to meet their needs that it frees my time to spend studying and talking instead of chasing after the kids. It is such a precious gift, and makes our time at church a pleasure, which is exactly as it ought to be!

I found this postcard at a local market today. I love supporting local artists, too, so buying these cards seems really fitting.

Day 2 - Kirsty

Monday January 2 2012
Recipient:
My best friend, Kirsty (Belle)

Thoughts:
It's not hard to be thankful for Belle. We've been friends for twenty years now, and her support, encouragement, and love has helped me grow into a woman I truly like. But it's hard to reduce the impact of this friendship into just a few sentences. I'm not very good at being brief - a new "rule" or challenge for this year of gratitude!

Note: