November Blessings Sampler

A Sample of my November Blessings

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Coming home to a decorated house

Breakfast with neighborhood friends from Philly

Baby Snuggles

Games Party

3-D Glasses

Valet Parking in Center City

Center City walk

Corned Beef Sandwich

Friendsgiving meal in Giant's Food Court

Palm Plant Sales

Skee Ball

Visiting an Uncle

Meeting old neighborhood friends in new settings

Helping hands at Thanksgiving food prep time

Poinsettia Black Friday Specials

Paid Holidays

Thanksgiving blessings

As I sat in church on Sunday, I heard the priest talk about the need for people in the parish to volunteer to drive others to appointments.  I searched my heart and with working two jobs, I couldn't honestly feel that I would be able to commit to be on the team that does this .  However, I do know that I obtained the second job because I am blessed with a new vehicle (and a car payment) and I remember, all too well, the times in my life when I was without transportation.

That very evening, I had the opportunity to share my blessing when a co-worker asked what time I was leaving work and asked for a ride home.  I was more than happy to blurt out a yes.  As we were leaving for the evening, I remembered that I really wanted to head over to the supermarket straight after work and get my Thanksgiving supplies.  Since I already told the co-worker that I would take them home, I took them.  It was a very windy night and I was surprised how far my co-worker lived from the bus stop.  
I went back towards where I had just come from to go to the store and I got in line after a couple who had a big order.  

"Oh great" I thought.  "I'll never get home"
As I waited, the cashier handed them their receipt and told them they only needed thirty more dollars for their free turkey.  They were deciding what to do when I volunteered to have them ring up my order under their shopper's card because I had around fifty dollars worth of food.  They could get their turkey after that.  The husband eagerly volunteered to bag my groceries for my proposal.  

On the way to my car I realized that we had been talking in our meditation group about approaching situations as if you chose them.   If I hadn't given my co-worker a ride, I wouldn't have been in the store at the same time as the people wanting their free turkey.   I tried to relax in both instances realizing that my immediate wants were not necessarily the priority at the time.  There were greater needs  that I was able to assist with.

I am thankful that I was part of their blessing for that evening. I  will be making a commitment to relax into the moment even if it I don't think it was in my plan. I also will be making a commitment to look for those little ways to assist such as providing a ride when I am so fortunate.

October Blessings Sample

A Sample of October Blessings
from my blessings basket

Beautiful Baby boy born

Family times waiting at the hospital

Family dinners

Deer ducking on dark roads with daughter

Octoberfest

The ability to give a ride to a co-worker

Beach Bon fires

Receiving a "thank you" candy bar from a co-worker

Being Regular

Weekend visit with oldest son

New car dependability

Breakfast with a nephew

Lunch with a niece

Breakfast with 8th grade friends

September Blessings Sample

For September 
My Blessings Basket 

Follow Rules

New Car Smell

Breakfast with friends at the farm

Internationals leaving- Blessed to be a part of their
 "Wildwood Summer"

Meditation friends  old/new

Time with mom and aunt

Dollar Store Finds

Sunset flag ceromony

Customers

Break time

The ability to pray for someone

Waiting on baby : the plan

I got the text on Sunday around noon.  My niece's water broke.
I have been saving sick time at the library for when this precious baby boy arrives.  I have a new car to ride up to Philly.  My plans are in place.  

After a few texts to co-workers to make sure they will be in for our Monday night crew because work frowns upon you not finding coverage on your Saturday (every 3rd week) or your night, my plans are in motion.

Pack a bag✓
Call daughter ✓✓
Do some last minute stuff at home ✓

Monday morning arrives and I have a text that she is around 3 Cm dilated.  I have some coffee and hop in the car.  I take the longer scenic way up to Philly.  I know my daughter won't be ready for to go there until around noon.  This will give my niece time to give birth, we can visit mom and baby and I can head back around dinner time.   This is a great plan. 

Get to Philly to pick up my daughter.  Receive a text that she is 7cm dilated.  I jokingly tell her that she is proceeding slower than I drive.  A standard family joke because I always take the long scenic ways.  A bit of deviation to my plan but this is exciting, a baby is coming.

Find hospital, find parking lot, trek through about 3 building because we found the wrong parking lot, get off elevator at wrong floor. This should give baby plenty of time to get born.  Ah yes, my plans are unraveling just a bit.

Wait, color, text, tv, gab with other families, clock ticks, father updates us, go grab something to eat...........the lullaby song plays.......oh shoot did we miss it!   What about my plan?

Text my mom, will have to stay, don't want to drive back to South Jersey in the dark, possible C-section soon.  My poor niece this was not her plan.

Other patient's visitors burst into waiting room, burst into waiting area, the baby they waited for didn't make it.  Stunned waiting room faces. Time froze for a few seconds.  This was not their plan.

Got word that C-section started, Go down to eat, make texts and calls.  Baby arrives. Big boy at 9.5 oz, mom, dad and baby doing well.  It's late. The day may not have went according to my plan but baby's plan and God's plan worked out well!

August Blessings

For the month of August 
A Sampling of the my entries in my blessings basket

Listening to inspiring poetry

Watching Parents with children with disabilities.  Taking note of the loving interactions.

The birthday card about counting blessings

New work opportunities

Dinner Theater fun  

Waterpark Lazy River- seeing a mother twirling ballerina style for her little child

Sleepover in sister-in-laws camper

Birthday wishes x's and o's

Being on a carousel with a newphew

Unexpected Weekend of company- Jersey shore life

Early Bd celebration at work

200,000  on  a truck

Watching father and son putting shed together

Health insurance- Getting the mammogram and blood work done

A call from a friend.  Loved her "report" from the hometown

Summer Garden Veggie gifts from other

Time with family at winery

July Blessings

For the month of July
A Sampling of the my entries in my blessings basket

Honoring life 
3oth Birthday of a Nephew and the death of his grandfather
The Circle Life and connections

Shiva Prayers

Last min decision to stop at a bbq

Working in a/c on a humid day

Scrabbled egg sandwich on toast dinner (yummy)

Mint Tea

Watching sappy movies

Coffee

Co-worker friends

Cousin time with adult cousins

Historical tours

Holding a four-week old baby

Stopping at a farm stand

Burgers & Facebook snooping with a friend

Reading poetry with a nephew in the audience

Visiting a library

Helping to decorate for a baby shower for a niece

Daughter craft time  in the late evening

Seeing adult children interact :)

Pool time at  campground

Pinochle games