Let's Count Some Blessings!

Thanksgiving is a week from today, and I've been trying to be very intentional this week about counting my blessings. I don't always turn to that first in times of chaos, so I'm working to be better at it. Maybe you're the same? Maybe you're too busy...or discouraged...or (fill in the blank) to see the blessings you hold in your hands. Want to count some with me?

1. Who was kind to you today?
Ryan. Oh my goodness. How grateful I am for Ryan's personality in this season of caregiving. He is naturally compassionate, naturally understanding, naturally helpful, and eternally long-suffering. In the last week he's had days when both his mother AND his wife have had utter meltdowns on him, and he never loses his kind spirit. I absolutely could not do this without him. He is kindness personified.

2. What did you enjoy doing today?
In our quest to help Nita return to normalcy, we are trying to return to normalcy. This week has been filled with real office hours for me. I spend some time with Nita in the morning and then excuse myself to work while she figures out what she needs to do to fill her day. Of course I'm right there if she needs me, but I'm trying to give her a sense of independence. So in my days, I've been writing, and it has brought such joy and fullness to m heart. I have loved every single second of it.

3. Who helped you today? 
Well today, I pretty much only saw Ryan and Nita, but let me give a shout-out to Ryan's Aunt Debbie who came over last Friday night to sit with Nita while Ryan and I did our grocery shopping and had a five minute coffee date. That was such a blessing. We were going to have to divide and conquer, but she allowed us to have a couple of hours together!

4. Who did you help?
Hopefully I helped Nita! That's my job right now. And even though I am not a natural-born caretaker, I hope I'm doing something right.

5. What is the best thing that happened today?
I'm going to borrow from yesterday...because I was so excited. I had a personal best on a three mile treadmill run. It wasn't so long ago that I couldn't run on treadmills because they made me so dizzy. I've come a long way. And even though I can still run faster outside, I'm getting close on the treadmill. And given the fact that all my routines are off right now, to have that great of a run is a victory!

6. What simple thing made today a good day?
Fifteen extra minutes of lunch with Ryan. Oh what a treasure that was!! His mom was out with her husband with for an appointment and he was able to get off work just a few minutes early, so we were able to talk (and it's possible he got about a five minute nap).

7. What did you learn today?
I started to answer "Katherine MacGregor" (the actress who played Mrs. Oleson on Little House) died, but I guess that's not really counting a blessing, is it? I did learn that, though. In the blessing category, I've re-learned that God gives grace and strength for each moment in that moment.

8. Who made you smile today? What did they do?
Ryan. Of course. He always makes me laugh. It doesn't matter how upset/mad/sad/stressed/scared I might be, he can make me smile and laugh, and he did just that. One silly face is all it takes.

9. What did you learn from a bad experience?
Eating all the peanut butter means you can't make the dessert you planned. Yes. That was a bad experience. The blessing in it? Found enough ingredients to make something else. When dessert is at stake, I will prevail.

10. How did technology make your life easier?
I had entire conversations with Ryan using only GIFs. (That also made me smile.) I'm recently obsessed with those. And yes, I'm like 18 years late to the party.

So what about you? Did you find a blessing in any of those?