The luxury of being full

This week our local Harvest Hope Food Bank suffered water damage costing them food that amounted to around 45,000 meals for the hungry. 

I often fuss that I ate too much or that I need to stop eating so much, when in fact I'm very blessed to not be hungry when so many are. By donating even one canned item I can share this blessing. Please join me in donating to Harvest Hope and helping them to restock. If you aren't in this area please consider donating to your local chapter.  

http://www.abccolumbia.com/news/local/2000-Gallons-of-Water-Falls-inside-Harvest-Hope-Warehouse-242816541.html?m=y&smobile=y

The Strength Within

Lately I have been amazed at the amount of strength people can show during tough times. With this strength comes a positive attitude that helps us get through the hardest of life's events. Each time I hear about a friend struggling and fighting through a tough situation I think to be blessed with this strength is nothing short of a miracle. 

Mankind is by nature survivors but everyone gets kicked when they're down sometimes. Seems like so many are fighting to get back up right now. Those that are sick and battling with the power of 300, there are those who are suffering a loss but carrying their family, and those that are stuck in bad weather but still helping out a neighbor with food; I admire their strength and grace.   

God blesses us with the strength we need and is there for us at our weakest moments.  Below is my mom's favorite poem. I always liked the message and I thought some of you who are being so incredibly strong right now might enjoy it too.  

 

Southern Snow Day!

SNOW DAY!!!!!

So this insane southern polar vortex extravaganza that barometricly beat the crap out of my head for days before arriving 9 hours late turned out to be quite a blessing and just what I needed. Isn't it great how things like that turn out?!?  Aside from being able to stay safely off the roads and eating WV apple butter biscuits that my mom makes I was able to be very productive getting tax stuff together.  Even had some fun and took the fur babies out to play in the snow (some liked it more than others), watch some TV, and even laugh at a movie we've been wanting to see forever!  I was also able to clear my head and reduce my stress level a couple notches. I guess sometimes everyone needs a little break, God may have had to send a 2 inch blizzard to get me to take one but I did and I feel blessed :). Now if I can just remember to do that a little more often...

Hope everyone stayed safe and warm today!!  

Mothers

Gonna be a short entry tonight and I'm sure I will embellish more in future blogs but tonight I'm blessed to have my

Mom. Mothers everywhere are blessings. She's always there for me and my biggest cheerleader. Mom's are good like that, especially mine. :) 

Let it snow, let it snow, hmmm in the South?

Feeling kinda gross so I won't ramble tonight. Today I am blessed to have weather alerts. It seems like they kinda mess the forecast up all the time but in situations like this when heavy storms are coming I sure am glad we have a heads up to prepare. We don't have to guess or wait for it to hit before we know what's going on.  This definetely keeps us healthier and safer. I appreciate the forecast, the blessing, and hope everyone stays safe!! 

Sunday Morning Smiles

Before I get started let me say this is not a way to push my religion or my church on anyone. I support everyone's beliefs. To explain this blessing I am going to talk about my church though which I am very proud of.  I guess in a way this post is actually going to be about two related blessings. 

I love my church and I am blessed to be a part if it. Today was Catholic School week and the children in their uniforms and choir robes participating in mass was so exciting. Youth always reminds me of what's important. I rememeber thinking how much I like to go to church.  I'm blessed to be a part of that community where we can freely gather and worship God together. 

Thanks to a clause in the first amendment religious freedom is a constitutional right and I am so thankful to live somewhere that doesn't dictate how or where I can worship.  This is such a wonderful blessing when so many have suffered religious persecution and still do. No matter what denomination (or non-denomination) you are, we are all blessed to be able to choose and join or not join a community that shares common beliefs. In this melting pot of a union, with various types of communities, both religious and non, I pray that each person feels as welcome in their communities as I do in mine, and as blessed. 

 

Oh the things you can find

Spent most of the day putting things in boxes. I really don't mind packing. I mean, I don't know how so much stuff has accumulated and I'm amazed at the amount of things we have that can be purged to the trash heap, but the actual packing isn't that bad. Almost therapeutic really. I've found things I haven't seen in a decade or more. The discovery a few weeks ago of the neon hard disks that once stored my high school work was fun, then sets of glassware I totally forgot about appeared which was cool, and then the little family treasures appeared. Dishes that have been passed down through the generations that I know are there but rarely ever look at saw the outside of the cabinet today, briefly, before entering a box. These little bits of history are a blessing for me. With each piece comes a story and when my mom tells the stories I enjoy learning the family history. The passed down memories are a part of me and my roots. I think that's what makes antiques so special, the family and the history that they represent, the part that makes them a blessing. 

Raiders of the broken tea cup

Picture. College. A little over a decade ago. 2 girls decide to take a road trip to who knows where, final destination - Tybee Island and a bathtub full of beer. One of many adventures along the way. I like to think of those adventures as blessings. 

Adventures come in different levels. There is Indian Jones let me run from the giant boulder adventures, there is 2 girls, a car, and a beach kind of adventures and then there is let's go across town and look at some houses while battling a broken styrofoam tea cup from the Chick-fil-a where the girl does NOT say my pleasure!  The point I'm trying to make here is the content or intensity of the adventure, while usually interesting, is not the important part. The blessing is who you have the adventure with because that is what makes them memorable.  

People are like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, we need a little support.

Support comes in all different forms and each form is a blessing we all need. There is the kind that motivates. Sometimes that little bit of support can be just the thing to boost a persons self-esteem back up to where it needs to be to accomplish the task at hand. A little "good job" or "you are the person to do it" goes a long way. 

Of course I love my support system in times of trouble or sadness (well, I love them all the time). My mom has always been my biggest support and I'm lucky to have a caring family and a great circle of friends. Just knowing those that care are around and there to help me get through hardships keeps me strong.  They are always there to support my decisions and that gives me the confidence I need to make (hopefully) the right ones. 

Then there is support from those that care when you need something, like help. Oh, for example, help finding boxes.  This is not as easy a task as one might imagine. Thanks to some awesome and supportive friends over the last few weeks that have taken the time and effort to help me out we now have plenty of boxes ;). Thank you. 

I could blog about the different kinds for days but the moral of the story is whatever kind of support comes to us each day it's a blessing and we should all pay it forward. 

Molly Grace

Today my big girl turns 6 and no doubt she is a blessing!  Her exceptional communication skills and super brain make each day interesting. She has a big heart and most humans could learn a thing or two from her. I couldn't love this blessing more and I thank God he sent her to us!

Lol, haha, rotfl

"Humor is mankind's greatest blessing."

    - Mark Twain

Dear Mr. Clemons nailed it. Humor is a great blessing. Sometimes a good chuckle is all I need to reboot and continue. I don't get jokes and the ones I do I usually think are stupid so I'm more of a situational or dry wit kinda girl. When I do get that desire to giggle or laugh hartily it certainly has a major effect on my attitude. There have been times when I've been completely bummed and that laughter through tears moment happens because some friend knows just what to say and suddenly things are a little better. Humor can change negative to positive in a matter of seconds and that is certainly
a blessing.

 

It's all about perspective

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." 

                      -Abraham Lincoln

I've always tried to see both sides. Often my temper or ego has gotten in the way but I try and make an effort to understand the other side of the story. Look at a situation from a different angle. Of course it's much easier when I'm not one of the involved parties.  It's hard to be unbiased when you're in the middle of a particular situation. Today I pulled myself out of a situation, kept my cool, and decided not to let the situation control me. I took a new perspective and that was a blessing. I realized it simply wasn't worth it for me to react negatively to negativity, I just let it roll off my back. As a result, the day turned out a lot different than it would have if I stuck with my original perspective, and I was a more positive person for it!

A Change of Perspective by kuschelirmel

Birthdays, blogs, and blessings

Family is never easy but it certainly is important. Last year was a good wake up call for me in that aspect. Today is my oldest (I like to point that out) cousin's birthday.  She isn't exactly down the street but whether she realizes it or not is a major part and a major blessing in my life. Genes run strong in this family (as does OCD and stubbornness but we'll save those discussions for another day) and I'm proud to share some of these traits with her. She's stronger than she'll ever know and I am blessed to have her in my life. I still remember her trying to teach me to swim in that ever so frigid pool water in the WV mountains when I was the size of a hobbit. I read this quote somewhere 'Cousins are your very first friends.... They are like childhood friends. Nobody will understand the craziness of your family better than your cousins,' and believe me it is so true. 

Party like a rockstar

Children are one of the greatest blessings there is. Today is a very special day for a very special little girl. Even though some stupid chemical spill made it difficult for her wonderful mommy and daddy she still got to celebrate with her friends the magic of turning the big 3.  She has been a blessing since the day she was born and I'm so happy she got to have her big girl party today!

9-5

Today has been just a regular day. Got up, went to work, got off a little early (yay!) and came home and did home things. As tough as work can be and as much as I, along with most everyone out there, fuss about having to work and so should win the lottery, it is a blessing. With unemployment so high and so many people living in poverty having a job is a blessing. I can work and pay for food and shelter when so many can't and that is something to be thankful for. 

Pill poppin'

I had a headache today. Still kinda do but not the point. I got up from my desk, went to the kitchen, grabbed a couple aspirin and back to work. It was so simple, I hurt, get pill. Having readily available medicine is a blessing. So many people on this earth still don't have access to medicines or can't afford them because they are highly priced.  It's a shame so many have to suffer everyday. My little headache in no way compares to the illnesses and suffering around the world, but I can at least be grateful I'm blessed to have access to healthcare and medicines when so many do not. 

What happens at the Mexican restaurant stays at the Mexican restaurant

About 15 years ago I was lucky enough to become a part of a group of young women that would soon realize they were stuck together forever. We've been lucky enough to adopt a few more in over the years too.  You know the kind, you may not see them often but when you do it's like you never skipped a beat. The kind that it's okay if you tell them their God awful stinky bamboo disaster makes your sinuses want to jump out through your eye sockets, they will still love you and just laugh at your honesty. The kind that can drive you crazy threatening to wear fanny packs just to irritate you and while on the surface you are threatening their lives on the inside you are laughing at ever jab.

I've been hibernating lately and haven't seen much of anyone so tonight it was nice to have dinner with four of these dear friends. Of course one of them said I'll probably end up blogging about it and, guess what, she's right. They are a blessing. Each and every one of them. Through the jokes and the insults I know no matter what they are always there. And I am happily stuck with them :) and they best be happily stuck with me. 

Oh H2O!

Water. A huge, major blessing, that I don't really think about. Get up, take a shower, drink it, wash clothes and dishes, clean food, and the millions of other things that water is used for daily are just part of the routine. My nearest and dearest in WV has learned very quick what it's like to not have water for days. Hopefully they will be in the clear after tonight but it's a real mess. I know after listening to her stories of what's going on that I certainly take for granted the clean water that is so readily available to us. Especially when there are parts of the world that never have clean water. Children growing up needingwater but risking becoming ill everytime they drink it.  Water is one of God's most abundant gifts on this earth and definetely one of His greatest blessings to us all. 

Sometimes you're the bug, sometimes the windshield, and sometimes just humbled.

I'm going to warn you in advance that this is going to be a long entry. It took a while today to figure out any blessing, much less one to write about (although upon reflection and a lot of humbling I found out there were many blessings). Today was what you would call a bad day. The morning seemed to start off okay then it fell a part. No one was in a good mood including electronics and myself, appointments were canceling, people I have been desperately waiting on are behind themselves and not returning my calls or postponing on me which put me behind so I couldn't announce a big WOW which would have been a fabulous feather in my hat today. Then the monthly event I had spent hours upon hours on including weekend time was a major flop.  I didn't get to the eye doctor office in time to pick up my contacts (dailys? Try weeklys).  Ever pulled the clothes out of the dryer to fill it but didn't pull the ones out of the wash to put in the dryer?  Well I did, and put the new dark clothes to wash on top of the previously washed towels still in the wash machine...and poured the soap. Got lucky on that one though and caught it before it got too much further. 

But there were 2 things that made me step back and say woah...you're day is a blessing, just like all the others and you need to realize it. One, I saw this post from a very strong woman and had a d'oh! moment. 

Second, I got a text from my mom that a friend of her's, very young, suddenly dropped dead while working. It was very unexpected and very fast. God called His child home. It occurred to me then that my day was not so bad. There is a family out there that would love to have the day I had, instead they are making phone calls and planning a funeral. 

So, my "bad" day is a blessing. Maybe things didn't go as planned, but I can come home to my family, talk to my friends, have coffee with my co-workers tomorrow, and appreciate that while each day might not be perfect it is a gift from God and should not be taken for granted. 

The sun will come out...

 

Did you see the big yellow ball in the sky today?  It was the sun!  It's always a blessing but today it was like seeing a long lost friend!  I know we need rain (certainly glad we have it) but the abundance over the last year accompanied with the dreariness sure has made me appreciate the sun!  

It's all about quality.

Today I did no packing and no work and didn't clean a single thing. I actually (wait for it, wait for it...) relaxed!  At least a little, which if you know me doesn't happen all that much. Mom and I drove out to get our bearings in the new neighborhood. It was a blessing to have some quality time with her. Granted there was a monsoon and an ark would have travelled better than any car, it was still a lot of fun. The conversations were light and the excitement was growing. We just got to have fun and not plan. 

It's been non-stop for so long now it was nice to be able to just enjoy her company. I like quality time with my mom. I also like quality time with my friends and family. With all the craziness and busy days we've had I haven't made much time for quality time with those I care about lately.  I'm going to be better about that, it's a blessing and should not be taken for granted. 

Picture courtesy of my fabulous and amazingly talented cousin. 

Gift of giving

Generosity can come in many forms in many different degrees. It's not always monetary or tangible. Today my family is blessed by nice people who generously offered their time and knowledge to help us out. The extra care is greatly appreciated. 

"The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you."~John E. Southard

Purple, blonde, and brunette

Today I was blessed to join a lovely group of people supporting a great cause. The Alzheimer's Association is bringing Blondes vs Brunettes to Columbia.  BVB is a powderpuff flag football game that raises money for the fight against Alzheimer's. I am blessed to be on the committee to help organize the event for the first year in Columbia. Stay tuned!  I'm sure I will have much more to share along the way.

To bed, to bed I said!

On these cold days I just can't wait to get under the warm covers in my comfy bed. Comfy beds are a great blessing. So many people sleeping on a park bench or the ground. I take for granted that I have a soft place to lay my head knowing there are people all around the world that have never had a bed. Thinking about this reminds me of the kid in "The Blindside."  I have been very lucky to always have a bed to sleep in. I never worried that I wouldn't. Tonight I will wrap up in a mess of covers and remember how blessed I am, warm, comfy, and secure. 

Oh the weather outside is frightful...and someone has to work in it

It's cold. Doesn't matter what state you're in it's cold. The power company is working overtime to restore outages and have even had to start rolling blackouts. Pipes are busting, traffic is crazy...and it's cold. Then there are the people that are out dealing with all this, they are even more cold than we are!  What a blessing our emergency, medical, and service personnel are.  To all those out working in this weather to keep us all safe and warm, THANK YOU!  To the EMTs, Firefighters, doctors and medical staff, repair men, and all the other workers during this cold spell thank you and please stay safe and warm too!

We are so blessed to live in a part of the world where we can have help and care. It's easy to take for granted these people, I know I do everyday.  Please join me in praying for their health and safety!

P.S. - don't forget to bring in your pets!

Pony express? Huh?

Today will be another short and sweet post. I know everyone is watching the final BCS Championship anyway (tear 😢). As I'm watching the game and texting people all over the country I can't help but think what a blessing advanced communication is. It's not like we have to wait days, weeks, or months to receive a post anymore. Simply pick up the phone and send a text, in a matter of seconds I can talk to anyone I want. Such a blessing to be able to talk to family and friends without delay and keep up on each other's lives. Long distance rates do not apply! - hmmm what did ever happen to MCI?

DNA through osmosis

The other day one of my nearest and dearest text me and said her kid did something I do and she must have got my DNA through osmosis. I found that hilarious and awesome and it really stuck with me. I think that's a great way to describe extended family - today's blessing. You know, those that are not blood but might as well be. 

I'm very blessed in this aspect. There are several people that risk catching my DNA through osmosis!  I love them dearly and calling them friends simply isn't enough. They are there in times of need, fighting with them, although rare, is just as harsh as a battle with a sibling, and they are among the lucky few that can pick on me without repercussions (not excluding a whitty or smart a** come back).  I'm very blessed because they will drive states away to take care of fur babies, sit in an empty house waiting on TV people and movers with the afore mentioned fur babies, and even spend the night at my house while we are out of the country just so I can relax (which if you know me is a rarity).  I can't begin to list everything that makes them so special. Hopefully I can do for them as much as they have done for us. When I pray for my family I certainly include them and know that I am blessed. 

Read a what?

Have you ever thought about how wonderful literature is?  It's truly a blessing. I mean think about it, one person (or possibly a collaboration but for this purpose I will use the singular) has an idea that turns into a story that reaches people from all walks of life all over the world for years to come. It's like a peek into the writers soul when you read a story. It's a blessing to be exposed to so many great minds that I certainly won't ever on this earth meet simply by reading books. A glimpse at time past, a society left in history, a current event, or the future of technologies all accessible at the turn of a page. 

Like many I'm glued to my phone checking status updates and hashtags more minutes a day than I'd like to count. I don't have plans to stop either. I just think there should be a happy median. It's good for the brain to expand the imagination or learn something besides the normal curriculum.  Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said "The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation."  Literature (and art and other forms of expression) stimulates the mind, stimulated minds are productive.  Just another way to view literature as a blessing. 

One more point and I'll stop. What a great escape!  Downtime is a rarity in the daily hustle and bustle. Constantly thinking about the to do list can be tiring. A little "change of brain" reading about a character that had nothing to do with my day is a mental vacation. Afterwards a chapter or two I'm usually a little more relaxed.  That is most definitely a blessing!

Well, now I'm off to King Solomon's Mines!

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."

C. S. Lewis

Chef Boyar-who?

Today's blessing is going to be short, sweet, and simple. You may think it's silly but it's still a blessing and important to me. My momma's spaghetti. It is one of those little blessings that make you so very happy. Trust me, I've been to Italy, no spaghetti is equal to this spaghetti. It's been my favorite food since I can remember eating food. It's a comfort food. There are a few things throughout our lives that give us that sense of comfort. Sometimes a smell that takes us back, a sound, or a taste that warmed our hearts while filling our bellies. That's what makes it a blessing. 

Rain, rain go away.

Today's blessing to share is shelter. It has been a rainy, dreary, cold, and windy day. This massive storm is sweeping across and bringing snow and rain to many states.  Sitting in my swivel chair at work with the space heater going looking out my big window behind the computer monitor at the sky getting darker and darker is depressing.  The two minutes it takes to get from my office to the car and then the car to the house is just tragic.  I'm sitting on the couch with the dogs and cat watching TV and then I have to start fussing at the storm for the satellite flickering because it's such an inconvenience.  I mean how dare I be cold and wet for four whole minutes and then have to deal with interrupted satellite service. Geez. 

But...

That homeless man at church service last Sunday had a lot more than 4 minutes of cold and wet today. The abandoned animals on the streets sure would like to look out a window at the storm instead of being in it.  The homeless children sure would like a dry home with a TV to watch even if it does flicker with the storm.  

With all the craziness of the recent house search and the stress of picking one out and making all the paperwork right and all the little details that go along with it I seem to have forgotten how lucky I am to have a shelter when many of God's creatures don't. It's easy to take for granted such a wonderful blessing. 

The first of hopefully many...

2013 was a year of realization for me. We lost a dear family member, we gained a dear family member. Mom had a simple surgery that became not so simple, but I learned a lot about family and people during those 2 weeks. She got well and the day after being released from the hospital we went to Italy. I saw many things and heard many stories that can only be described as miracles. I realized in 2013 that there are blessings around me all the time that I don't always notice and I sure don't appreciate enough. So, in 2014 I'm going to write about one blessing a day, no matter how big or how small, knowing I can't possibly write about all of them that occur in one day. My hope is that I will learn to appreciate more, appreciate the blessings God gives me and the friends and family He has blessed me with. I realize some days may be funny, some may be sad, some may be simple, and some may be wild. However, everyday will be a blessing.  I hope you will join me on this journey and think about your blessings too!

So, now that leaves me with today. I'm already going to be a rule breaker and talk about TWO blessings. First, I am blessed that God gave me another New Year to see. I'm looking forward to all that this year has to bring.  Second, college football is a blessing. Yes, I say this today because my team won their bowl game (GO GAMECOCKS) but thats not where I'm going with this. It's a blessing because it brings people together. Families gather around a TV, friends gather around a tailgate, strangers gather in a stadium and sing, cheer, and chant.  It's a blessing of togetherness. 

Have a happy and blessed New Year!!!!