Count Your Blessings...........

Blessings come in all shapes and forms and lately I'm trying to be more diligent in recognizing and appreciating them---even the smallest ones.  I love unexpected and unexplainable blessings and too often I overlook them or just don't give God the credit where credit is due.  So, it's time for me to do that. 

When we came home this past Sunday night from our time in Tallahassee, I noticed that our neighbor had a Little Tykes playhouse sitting next to the road with their trash.  Typically, I'm not one to make "someone else's trash my treasure", but I just couldn't believe they were throwing this perfectly good little play house away!  It was POURING rain, but I walked next door and asked them if they were in fact getting rid of it.  She said that they were but that I was welcome to it if I wanted it.  My sweet, sweet husband went out in the monsoon and drug that thing all the way into our backyard.  When the rain stopped the next day, I went outside during Kyndall's nap time to see what shape it was in.  I fully expected it to be cracked, faded, or have pieces missing.  To my delight, it was just PERFECT!  There wasn't a single thing wrong with it!  And to think, they were just going to throw it away?!  It was a blessing to us!  Thank you Lord for your perfect timing, bringing us home just hours before the trash men would've taken it away!

I couldn't wait to show our new treasure to Kyndall, as I knew she would be over the moon with excitement about it.  The rain finally held off for a few hours today and I was able to take her out and let her see it.  Just as I thought, she was delighted with her new surprise!

Walking up to it for the first time to check it out

Another way we have been blessed is through Kyndall's physical therapy services.  Did you know that she receives private, in-home PT twice a week for FREE??  On top of that, these were also custom made for her at absolutely no charge to us...........

I was reminded of this blessing earlier this week when I saw a statement from our insurance company listing the cost of services she's received, as well as the cost of the braces and shoes.  I had no idea how costly these things were until then.  Thank you LORD!  In the state of South Carolina, there is a need based (not income based) program called Baby Net.  Whatever our insurance doesn't cover, Baby Net picks up, leaving us owing absolutely nothing!  Thank you Lord for placing us in a state where this is available for such a time as this!

Today, while in the grocery store I stood starring at the large display of fresh beautiful strawberries, trying to decide if they were really worth the asking price. I walked around the whole store and finished my shopping and then came back to the strawberries. I still couldn't decide if I was willing to pay that much, despite the fact that Kyndall and I both love them. (Yes, I'm frugal, so shoot me) I ultimately decided that they were too expensive and resolved to pick a less expensive fruit, so we went with fresh peaches instead. When I got home and unloaded my food, there before my eyes was a gorgeous container of strawberries amongst my other groceries that I most definitely know I did NOT purchase. I immediately grabbed my receipt, assuming there had to be an explanation---perhaps they belonged to the person behind me and they mistakenly charged me for them. I was about to get really upset, thinking "how could they be so careless??" To my surprise, there were no strawberries on my receipt, yet there was a beautiful batch of them sitting in front of me. I'm still not sure what happened, but I am choosing to believe it was a blessing from the Lord himself.  Thank you Lord for your unexpected, unexplainable blessings!! 

Do you see strawberries listed anywhere on this receipt?  I sure don't!

I've been thinking a lot about being more content and more thankful and simply opening my eyes to the many blessings around me.  I want to recognize and appreciate every single one---whether it be something small like getting a good parking spot at Target or something big like a good report from my doctor about my health issues. 

I also want to try harder to BE a blessing to those around me.  As Christians, we are called to be "salt and light....a city on a hill that cannot be hidden".  Some of my favorite ways to give back and be a blessing to others are 1) Sneaking into the fridge late at night and putting a simple note in my husband's lunchbox that he'll find the next day 2) Sending an unexpected card to a friend, just because  3)  Leaving my unwanted coupons on the shelf next to the item listed, for the next person to find and use  4)  This is my favorite!  Going through a fast food drive thru (or a toll bridge) and telling the cashier I want to pay for the person behind me.  I only wish I could see the recipient's reaction when I drive off and they receive their unexpected and unexplainable blessing!

Like myself, I'm sure you have your own list of blessings, both big and small, that you could share.  What are some ways the Lord has given to you, and what are some ways you like to give back?  I'd love to hear them!

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

~Luke 6:38