I have read Ann Voskamp's blog for a couple years, and eagerly awaited the publication of her book, One Thousand Gifts, last year. She's has become very popular recently!  Almost weekly, I open facebook and see a status update or blog link to her stuff. I find Ann's overarchy theme familiar - something my mother-in-law shared with me years ago when my husband, her son, was facing a cancer diagnoses. Recently Ann made note on her blog that she attends a Plymouth Brethern Bible Chapel.  Perhaps the similar life thesis to my mother-in-law's - finding things in each day for which to be thankful -  is because she too attended a Brethren chapel all her life. 

"Thank you" were the first words I taught each of my children to spell after their name.  It is a character quality we focus on each November. I have struggled however, with how to consistently log my thankfulness.  Journals seem to just sit.  Ann's seven gifts for seven days printable is beautiful.  I'm drawn to it.  I've printed it and tried to use it week after week.  But it never seems to stay with me as I move through a day or a week. 

For this year, I will be trying something uniqually mine - scraps of paper in a jar. A jar given to me by my mother-in-law. Yes, the jar will sit in one place.  But at almost any point in the day, I can find a scrap of paper to jot a note of thankfulness.  I'll stuff the jar when I clean out my purse, backpack, and desk.

I'm starting late to feel "on board" with Ann's January Joy Dare.  That isn't surprising, our family is known to be late.  But I am going to try.

My first two scraps of thankfulness are:

A nineteen year old son who postpones leaving for a friend's house and volunteers to help me with dishes.

An eighteen year old son who spends one afternoon of his college Christmas break going grocery shopping with me. 

Only 998 more moments of thankfulness to record!

Fox Catchers: Philippians 4:4-7