{morning has broken}

Jordan's grandparents came in town this week to celebrate Christmas. While the true gift was time to spend laughing and sharing stories, they did come with sweet, personal gifts for each of us. Included in our bag was this garden stake and the lyrics to an old hymn on the back:

Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning.
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God's recreation of the new day!

I love how gifts can be so personal and thoughtful. We were married in a lovely outdoor setting 5 1/2 years ago, surrounded by family, friends and beautiful hydrangeas from my father. Jordan's grandmother remembered this and passed along this small reminder to us. I've never heard this hymn but as I read the title of the hymn Jordan's mother sang the first few verses.

Lovely.

We have so much to be thankful for. Included always are family and friends.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday... Happy new year!