Fifty Two Weeks of Joy

This blessing took place the week of March 23 rd – 29 th Wow! I'm half way done with my 52 weeks. This journey has been an adventure, to say the least. I'd like to take a moment and reflect on why I began this journey.   Don't worry, you'll still get a blessing story in the end, but this extra tidbit will be worth it. At least I hope you'll agree it was worth it!   I've always admired my mother. I've never known anyone to be like her. She really was one of a kind. She had this gift to inspire people to believe. She was kind to anyone and everyone. She loved helping people. She not only saw, but understood, the importance of loving others. She knew the only way to impact a life was to love that life selflessly. I've always wanted to be like her to love people the way she loved them. To show compassion when no one else did or would. To have her same courage to stand up for someone else's rights because they were too afraid to speak; to be bold,...

This blessing took place the week of March 16 th – 22 nd Earlier today, Thursday, March 20 th , I went to the store during my lunch break. I was going to run in and pick up a card for my sister in law Kim for her birthday. However, I never made it inside. As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a woman outside was waving people down, she was desperately trying to find someone to help her. I pulled up next to her rolled down my window and asked what she needed. She then told me her story. "Hi, I'm almost out of gas I came to fill out an application for a job I'm trying to get. I just need $5 to get a little bit of gas to get me home. I can't believe this is happening to me. I've never had to do this before I just need some help." I asked her, "Where is your car"? She pointed to it; it was parked on the other side of the parking lot. I told her, "I don't have any cash, but can your car make it to the gas station so I can get you...

This blessing took place the week of March 9 th – 15 th : This blessing actually took place on Sunday, March 9 th . My son Eli received excellent news recently. He had more blood work done and we learned that he has perfect, normal numbers. Meaning if we continue down this road we will be able to "treat Eli like any other kid." Most of you will never know how thankful we are to receive such wonderful news. Since, Eli has been in isolation most of his life he hasn't spent much time around kids. We were advised to keep him away from germy situations, and kids are extremely germy! Now that we have permission to expose him more I've been volunteering some in the church nursery. I know I've written about this before but I felt it necessary to write about it again, because these volunteers are essential to the kingdom. These men and women who volunteer a few Sundays each year allow parents and others an opportunity to gather in fellowship. They allow paren...

This blessing took place the week of March 2 nd -8 th   The blessing I had prepared to do this week never actually happened. I was hoping and praying things would work out the way I planned, but unfortunately they didn't. Now I'm sitting here replaying the week to see if I blessed anyone along the way. I'm desperately hoping I did, I haven't missed a week yet…   Then it hits me I did do acts of kindness throughout the week. Nothing big just simple gestures, little things; but in life isn't it the little things that matter most? I try really hard now to make sure I keep our house in order. This is important to my husband and our little family, we likes things a certain way.  My husband  e specially take s pride in the things he owns and he wants them to be taken care of, a trait I hope Eli will grow up to have as well. I try harder to make sure the bed is made every morning, the dishes are washed and put away, and Eli's toys get put ...

This blessing took place the week of February 23- March 1:   A good friend of mine was having a long, stressful week. Sometimes life is just hard and people just need somebody to take the time and just listen. To actually hear their problems and just let them vent until they are blue in the face. This week my blessing was being a good listener.   Sometimes people we care about just need to know they are heard. I encourage each of you be a friend to somebody and just listen to them. Actually listen, put down your phone, give them your full attention and actually hear what they are saying. Let them talk about their joys or sorrows and take it all in. We all have those moments, good and bad we want to share with others. So take the time today sit down with a friend and listen.