Book Review: ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp

Can you see the peace and joy in this face? You would think she never had a worry or a trouble. One of those lucky people that all they have to do is sit in a chair and write. Probably has servants and lives in a castle, right?
Ann Voskamp could surprise you. She's a farmer's wife, home schools six kids, bakes her own bread, washes all the family's clothing. Those items by themselves could keep a person busy all day. Yet, she finds time to write a book that becomes a New York Times best seller, One Thousand Gifts.
Four years old when a truck runs over her little sister, she remembers the day clearly, and the memory haunts her life for too many years. Then someone challenges her to make a list of one thousand gifts--blessings received from God. At first there are too many challenges, too many opportunities to say "No!" to God. But she begins.
1. Morning shadows across old floors
2. Jam piled high on the toast
3. Wind flying cold wild in the hair.
The list begins to make her aware, to bring her to life, to lift her out of the past until she's able to constantly see all the blessings that surround her. She notices that Jesus gave thanks even when He knew this would be He last meal. She remembers during Eucharist.
Eucharisteo.
The Greek word means "thanks."
By the time she reaches one thousand (1,000. Resurrection bloom, an amaryllis, a gift a year in the coming), she knows she has only just begun. She has blossomed along with the amaryllis.
Mrs. Voskamp writes in prose, and by the end of the book, the words flow like leaves in a spring brook.
I highly recommend this book. I give it five stars. Although I won't be posting this review on Amazon--there are already 432 posted--I'm hoping that some of you will click on the links to see a bit more about the author and purchase this inspiring book. It could change your life.