The Lord looks out for me....

I have soooo many other things to catch up on on this blog, but I had to get this thought out today. (If you can sit down long enough to read it, it's a long one....)

This morning I was on one of those "woe is me" kicks where life is just "too hard" and "I just can't do this anymore".

To start off, I couldn't get my a** out of bed, I snapped at Corey because he just kept fussing when I was trying to get ready (he just wanted to be held and I was too busy), snapped at Paul, I couldn't find my Santa pin (really?!), "I have NO clothes in the closet!", forgot to pack my lunch, couldn't find anything quick to grab for breakfast, my coffee cup was dirty AND in the car so I had to go out and get it from the car, bring it in and wash it.... such HARD stuff right?  So stupid. 

Anyway, as I was driving in the car, I look back at Corey and his head is nodding as he is slowly falling asleep - sweet as ever. This child never really cries unless he is tired or hungry.  I realized that all his fussing this morning was because he was just tired and wanted to go back to sleep, and I was getting frustrated with him.  I felt so bad about it and started crying in the car just thinking and praying to God to grant me more patience.

I dropped Corey off at Judi's (where I snagged some cookies thinking I wouldn't be able to have breakfast) and then headed to work.  Once I got to work, I called Paul and apologized for snapping & complaining this morning and told him about Corey and how sweet he was in the car.  After I hung up with Paul, my eyes still full of tears, I got a phone call.  It was from a sweet lady that works next door to us and she is to be induced on Monday to deliver her first baby.  She and I have struck up a nice friendship this year, especially since she found out she was pregnant. We'd pass each other in the hallway, talk baby stuff and pregnancy symptoms, etc.  Well, she called to ask if I could let her in the front door to our office (we keep it locked).  My immediate thought was, "uh oh, I look like I have been crying and I don't feel like explaining my morning," but I got my mirror, fixed my face as best I could, and let her in.  She was holding a box of a dozen donuts for the staff.  How kind was that?!  I wished her well and thanked her for the donuts. As I walked back to the breakroom to drop off the donuts, I thought to myself, "Thanks God for bringing me breakfast!"

Every year our staff adopts a local family in need during the holidays instead of giving gifts to eachother.  Today was the gift drop off day and I usually go each year to help.  It is such a heartwarming experience and the family is so grateful.  The spirit of Christmas is really alive when you see their faces. Just a small backstory...... The Serenity Prayer has been on my mind off and on A LOT recently.  And it was especially STRONG this morning after my reflective moment in the car on my way to work.  The Serenity Prayer is:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 

This family lives in a rougher area of town and their home is very old.  We get to the door and don't you know, a plaque of the Serenity Prayer is hung on their front door!!  I know that the Serenity Prayer is very common, but the fact that it's been on my mind A LOT lately and then to have it strong today and then to see it on the door, I just knew it was God! 

The gift drop off was great and the family is so nice. They have two sweet, adorable little kittens too! (Midnight and Baby).  After the drop off, one of my coworkers asked if we minded if we stopped to get some Taco takeout at her favorite taco stand in that area of town.  Of course we didn't mind the detour.  I didn't plan on ordering any tacos since I didn't have any cash on me and they took cash only.  My friend and coworker, Heather, was with us as well, and she treated me to two tacos! No questions asked! She just wanted to get them for me.  So there was my lunch that I didn't have time to pack! Thanks God! (and Heather too, of course)  But seriously!! What a day!  And all this occurred before Noon today. 

I am so very blessed and I appreciate all that has been given to me.  My "no clothes in the closet" sentence went out the window immediately when I saw the home our adopted Christmas family was living in.  I do my best to remember to count my blessings every day.  I am usually good about doing it, but I want to be better.  I want to have more patience for my children and pets (sorry Kitty and Tater) and of course, be kinder to my husband. :)  I have an awful lot to be thankful for. I might not have as much as some people, but I am soooooo rich with love in my life and the great family and friends I have surrounding me.

Tonight Paul, the kids, and I are going to have a Christmas movie night.  It's been marked on our calendars for a week.  Our plan is to eat homemade chicken soup (in the crockpot cooking now), make homemade popcorn, and drink hot chocolate all curled together by the fire with lots of blankets and Christmas movies on the TV.  I CAN'T WAIT!  Now that's what this season is all about. Can I get an AMEN!? :)

(If you got this far into reading the post...wow, thank you!)