Count Your Blessings...

I bought Amy Grant's new Christmas Collection Album. It's a collection of her "best" Christmas songs, and then 4 "new" songs. (Well, new to her - 2 are covers) One of the ones she covers is "Count Your Blessings" which Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney did in White Christmas. (If you haven't seen that movie - it's on Friday night on Lifetime.. YOU MUST WATCH OR RECORD!!!) The song is basically what it says... when life isn't going so slick start counting your blessings.

Well, I can't say life isn't slick at the moment. Other than the whole "lack of $$ thing"... it's pretty dang good. And you know why? Because of my blessings. And I have decided to count them, and share them with you.

#1 - I am the mother to two of the most wonderful girls in the world. Yes, Saturday night I sent them to their room so there wouldn't be bloodshed, but on the whole, they are wonderful girls and thank God every day for the privilege of getting to be their mom.

#2 - All my life I dreamed of a man who I could love deeply and would be my best friend and true love. I had pretty much given up on that dream... and then in walked Mr. B. During what have been some of the most difficult times of my life, he has been a steady rock. Knowing that he is out there, loving me... wow... what that does for a gal.

#3 - My family looks a lot like other families these days - step-parents and half-siblings. And while the journey with that has at times been painful, I'm so thankful for what the beautiful blessings God brought out of a tough situation. No only do I have a mom who loves me even when I'm a turkey and don't call often enough, I have a Julie who adores me and my kids and is the best role model I could find for my hopefully eventual role as a step-mom. I have a Dad with a typical dorky Dad sense of humor. I have a wonderful brother & sister-in-law & nephew. I have the best sister anyone could ask for... who makes me laugh more than anyone ever... hands down.

#4 - My friends... I have wonderful friends that I have known a long time, and I have a whole crop of WONDERFUL new friends that I hope to have in my life for a LONG time.

#5 - A wonderful wonderful lady asked if it would be okay if she would help with The Ladies' Christmas. She asked me to send her a list of things, which I did, thinking she would pick one or two things from the list. Um... no... she got everything. I am so stunned and speechless. I don't believe in spoiling kids on Christmas, but with all the no's I have had to tell them this year, letting them have a bigger Christmas than usual is... such a special blessing.

Another special friend went and bought wonderful gifts for my girls as well. Things that my girls will just love. She did such a wonderful job even though she only has boys.

ANOTHER wonderful friend sent me a Starbucks card... oh Eggnog Latte.

ANOTHER sweet friend has paid for my lunch on more than one occasion, let me drink her Diet Mt. Dews and done a million other things for me. What a blessing.

#6 - My boss was out of the office last week. She was supposed to be out 3 days on training, but then got sick on the way home and ended up being out all week. I held things down pretty well, called the home office a lot for questions but in general kept things going. She's back today, yeah! Well, she sent me this e-mail:

"Were you still thinking about taking the Friday after Christmas off to spend with your mom?"

Now I WAS thinking about it, but since I'm still a temp, if I don't work, I don't get paid, and missing a whole days pay was scaring me.... but I REALLY wanted to spend the time with my mom, so I replied that I was. This is the e-mail I got back:

"That's what I thought. Just wanted to be sure. I wanted to let you know that as a small way to say thank you for last week, you are to take that day WITH pay, so when you submit your time that week, make sure you code it as if you worked. Okay?"

Um... yeah... you know me... I cried.

#7 - I'm healthy... my girls are healthy... there are so many who aren't.

#8 - I have a car that works.

#9 - I live in a safe place with wonderful landlords.

okay... there's a billion other things I could say here... I just want to encourage you all, when things start to look ickey this time of year... to count your blessings....