365 days of 1000 gifts

I have auto-immune disorders.  They can cause me quite a bit of stress.  I have close friends who tell me that they often forget that I struggle with it because most of the time I seem "fine".  I think what causes me the most stress is that nothing regarding my health is "normal".  No, I'm not being dramatic.  That's a true statement.  Ask any of my doctors and they will confirm.  I have gotten used to words such as, "complicated", "perplexed", and "stumped".  Some days I pout about it.  Some days my attitude can get down right stinky.  I don't really like that side of me because generally I'm a pretty positive person.
The other day I had a bad day.  I got some bad news from some blood work and I didn't like what my Dr had to say.  Let's just say my attitude went south lightening fast.  I pouted.  Then I cried....a lot.  Pity Party was in full effect.  Then (yes then, not first...sometimes you just gotta get the tantrum out) I whined, stomped, prayed and God showed up, just like He always does.  God showed me (it was like He screamed) SLOW DOWN!  You know, like in the movies when everything around you starts moving in slow motion and you're free to just watch and take it all in?  That's how I felt.  Beautiful things literally started popping up in front of me.  (So maybe they weren't so much as "popping" up in front me.  I was just taking the time to notice them)  The tree blooming in my front yard.  The sky which was magnificent that day.  The smile radiating off of my daughters face and the way her big brown eyes lit up as she laughed her sweet, contagious laugh.  A reminder of a sweet, unexpected text from Daddy-O just hours before. The warm summer breeze against my face as I swung in my hammock trying to make sense of it all.  As I took in all these beautiful gifts, I thought less and less about that which was bringing me down.  I decided then that I was going to drown the bad with good.  There is so much more to be thankful for and when we focus on those things the bad can't creep in quite so much.
Being that I am an "instagram-er", I am going to post at least one picture a day of something that makes me happy.  I am calling it 365 days of 1000 gifts.  My hashtag will be #365of1000gifts (original isn't it?).  Feel free to join me if you instagram and we can share our "happy" moments:).
Now this doesn't mean I'm not going to pout or cry because I am human.  And I reserve that right ;).  But I AM going to be intentional in looking for the beauty around me...even on my stinky days!

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24