Joy Dare {Week 4}

It's the last week of my Joy Dare - Week 4!

May 22nd - 3 gifts that make you laugh

1. My brother Scout. He just graduated from Kindergarten, and this is his teacher. She would tell my mom all of his little stories and jokes and they totally crack us up. He's our little comedian.

2. My best friend Beka. Just thinking about all of our conversations makes me laugh. She's a funny one!

3. My dad. His sense of humor is great! He makes me laugh everyday! I couldn't imagine life without my dad.

May 23rd - 3 gifts found in community

1. My youth group.

2. My school.

3. Fun shops in our town only a few minutes away.

May 24th - A gift in a pot, a plate, a package

1. Pot - The food that my mom and dad made - yum!
2. Plate - Well this is a given. Almost everyone knows I'm a food fanatic, so it's definitely food!
3. Package - A sweet blogger friend sent me, my mom, and my sisters a package with gifts inside. :)

May 25th - 3 gifts hard giving thanks for

1. The neighbor kids - They are a pain sometimes but I have to remember they are just kids.
2. People I know really well that complain, complain, and complain some more. I know that sometimes you just have to let it out.
3. Non-working vehicles that take lots of $$ to fix. It's part of life.

May 26th - A gift worn, white, whispered

1. Worn - My favorite pair of jeans that I bought on sale.
2. White - Paper towels to clean up messes.
3. Whispered - Something my little brother told me.

May 27th - 3 gifts found in church

1. My crazy friends

2. My EPIC (<-- his favorite word) youth pastor

3. The truth that is spoken out of God's Word, and all of the amazing things I learn about our Lord.

May 28th - 3 gifts in today's work

1. Doing a photoshoot with Beka!

2. Going to the library with Beka, my sister, and my mom

3. Getting to drive!

May 29th - 3 gifts at 8am, 12pm, & 8pm

1. 8am - Still sleeping :)
2. 12pm - Lunch
3. 8pm - Peace and quiet as my little sister was in bed; after I watched her for a couple hours

May 30th - 3 gifts blue (YES, it's my favorite color!)

1. The color of my nails a little while ago

2. The shirt I was wearing today 

3. The color of one of my journals

May 31st - 3 gifts you gave today

1. Taking pictures of Beka today.
2. Willing to watch my little sister while my mom went to one of my brother's soccer games.
3. Not waking up my sister and letting her sleep in a little later than usual.

Well that's it! Thanks to everyone who read through these, and left comments. It really motivates me to be grateful for what I have! Ann Voskamp is the creator of the Joy Dare, and she has a new one every month. Some of you might think she sounds familiar, because she is the author of "One Thousand Gifts". If you think you'd be interested in doing this, you can head over to her blog A Holy Experience and find the June Joy Dare in one of her upcoming posts.

 I dare you...And Week 4 is done!
~Michlyn

Joy Dare {Week 3}

May 15th - 3 gifts about you

1. I'm a leader and try to help in anyway I can
2. I'm a great big sister
3. I'm not a bragger, so this was really hard

May 16th - 3 gifts found in His word

1. The knowledge that I need to hear
2. The truth that is spoken
3. The miracles He performed

May 17th - A gift in a bag, a box, a book

1.A bag - My school work from the school year; my accomplishments
2.A box - Odds and ends from my life, I loved looking through the box a couple days ago
3.A book - The suspense and adventure that I love reading about in mystery books

May 18th - 3 gifts unexpected

1. The engagement of my cousin, her ring is beautiful!!

2. The time to hang out with my friends from choir & band

3. Unexpected summer plans

May 19th - 3 gifts from your childhood

1. Loving parents that taught me so much
2. Growing up in a Christian home
3. Having everything I needed

May 20th - A gift sweet, sour, and salty

1. Sweet - A smoothie from my mom
2. Sour - Candy spray from friends
3. Salty - A snack with my friend, while playing a game

May 21st - 3 gifts found in little people

1. My littlest brother Scout - His sense of humor
2. Little kids at church that make me smile
3. Watching my little brothers play soccer with their friends

Week 3 is done!
~Michlyn

Joy Dare {Week 2}

May 8th - 3 gifts inside a closet

1. My TRAP journals from youth group 

2. Almost all of my clothes are in my closet

3. Storage bins full of memories 

May 9th - 3 gifts found in the dark

1. My bed, so I can sleep peacefully at night

2. The street lamps outside as they show a little light each night on the roads

3. The stars, and how beautiful they look even as the nights get longer

May 10th - a gift outside, inside, & upside down

1. Outside - The view of a beautiful sunset

2. Inside - Brothers quietly watching some TV

3. Upside down - Littlest sister being a little crazy, and hanging upside down on her chair in the dining room.

May 11th - 3 gifts about my parents

1. Their love for each other, even on the bad days

2. How hard they work to take care of us

3. They listen to each other and make decisions together

May 12th - 3 gifts held in hand today

1. iPod - Time to relax and read blogs

2. Washcloth - To keep my face clean and to wake myself up this morning

3. Camera - Taking a few pictures of our life today

May 13th - 3 gifts found in my mother

1. Her patience

2. Her organization

3. Her cooking

May 14th, - A gift picked up, put away, put back

1. Picked up - Legos, so I don't step on them

2. Put away - Winter clothes, that I'm grateful to have but ready for summer

3. Put back - Something at the store that I wanted, but know that I can live without

Week 2 is done!

~Michlyn

Joy Dare {Week 1}

Week 1 of my challenging Joy Dare!!

May 1st - 3 gifts tasted

1. My mom's hearty wild rice soup

2. Corn muffins that I successfully made

3. One my new favorite candies...yum

May 2nd - 3 gifts that are flat

1.The laptop, that we all use a lot for homework, emailing, and staying connected with friends.

2. My iPod, that I use every. single. day. I love it!

3. My yearbook... So many memories and notes from friends! It's been an amazing first year of high school. 

May 3rd - 3 gifts found in difficult people
1. I'm going to be honest and say that our President can be very difficult. One gift I find in him, is his strength and courage to lead our country - with every twist and turn.
2. Some people at school. Certain people don't know how to contain their own drama, and it can drive me crazy. The gift I see in them, is their ability to get help. It's better to tell others what you're going through, instead making bad decisions and going through it yourself.
3. My littlest sister Tareh Jo can also be very difficult. One gift I find in her, is the way she continues to live her life. With her past so heartbreaking terrible, I admire her strength and beauty. Man is she gorgeous! 

May 4th - 3 gifts before 9am
1. A nice morning shower before school, after a night of staying up way too late working on projects.
2. Quick breakfast drinks on the go
3. A quiet and nice ride to school with 2 of my siblings and my dad

May 5th - a gift in a sign, a smile, & a snack
1. Signs all over school that say "Buy a yearbook". Brings back the memories of the school year.
2. Smiles from school friends today. It was the last day for seniors, and everyone was in a good mood.
3. Snacks after school, before a relaxing weekend starts.

May 6th - 3 gifts found in Christ
1. He died for me, for you, and for the whole world. Just to take our punishment away.
2. His forgiveness, when I know I made a mistake.
3. His never ending love, that makes me smile even on a hard day.

May 7th - 3 gifts about your home

1. Ethiopian artwork!

2. The beautiful sunlight that comes through our dining room window!

3. The pictures that hang on our living room walls!

Week 1 is done!
~Michlyn