A good friend sent me a text earlier to say she enjoyed the book I lent her. I smiled as I remembered how this book changed the way I look at my life :-)
It's called 'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp. Highly recommended!
Without giving too much away, it is Ann's story of her goal to be thankful for what she has, starting from a dare from a friend, to find 1000 things she is thankful for.
Ann has a beautiful, poetic style of writing that seems to dance on the page (and sometimes cause me to need to re-read a couple of times to make sure I read it right) The first couple of chapters are hard, as she shares some difficult moments in her life - but please push through!
After reading the book, I went searching online a little more to find out about Ann. I love when a writers book matches up with the rest of their life.
Her beautiful photography work of capturing her 'gifts' she freely shares with others - often with encouraging words or verse on them. I also found various video clips about her work with Compassion. Ann speaking at various conferences worldwide. Her own website (http://www.aholyexperience.com/) where she is still counting gifts and encourages others to do the same.
I've also signed up to her daily emails which she shares what God is revealing to her - which also causes me to check and re-check my heart and where I am with God often.
Besides fame and the amazing success of her book - I also love that Ann continues to be who she is - a wife and mother. I'm sure it must be difficult for her to say no to amazing opportunities to visit or speak all over the world, but her online calendar suggests she keeps her priorities in order and limits the time she is away from her home. Her emails about washing and kids suggest the same!
As someone who struggles with 'God's will in my life' - this helped me in my daily struggles as humble wife and mother (which she write about in her book too) when I fear I am not doing all I can for Christ. God is using Ann in big ways, but she does not seemed to be overwhelmed or swept away with it all.
She just continues to be very thankful :-)
Meet Ann: (from her site)
Ann Voskamp. Farmer's wife. Home-educating mama to 6. Author of the NYT bestseller One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. DaySpring writer. Women of Faith speaker. Library book Loser. Named by Christianity Today as one of the leading 50 women most shaping culture and the church today. Soup-stirrer. Partner with Compassion International. Loud laugher, kid snuggler, and Jesus lover. Honestly, she's a bit of a mess. It’s okay, really. Grace is the most amazing of all.
Anyway, just wanted to share about Ann and her book and would love to hear if you have read it and what you think too??
Thankyou God for Ann, and the amazing gift she is to me!
xKelly
Hey, I loved Ann's book too. I struggled just a little with her style of writing - sometimes for me it went from 'beautiful and poetic' to 'strange and cryptic'!! But the lessons about gratitude she shares are amazing. You've made me want to pick it up and reread it.
ReplyDeleteLove to read your words, Kell.
Yeah, think I will need to re-read again too. I didn't mean for this to be a 'book review' but ended up that way! ha ha! Glad to hear she taught lessons to you too! :-) Thanks Ginny!
ReplyDelete