Feeling Blessed

I started this week out feeling challenged in my thoughts.  Most of us sent our kids back to school on Monday after the Newtown, Connecticut devastation this past Friday.  It was certainly heavy on my mind and my heart, knowing these children and parents would never see each other and innocent lives taken way too quickly.  I was a bit anxious about sending Corey back to school As I am sure most parents were.  I was then reminded to pray for our children before to have safe travels on the bus and at school during their day.  We have a grandma that takes her grand daughter down to the bus every morning and she prays over the children every morning.  I am now praying for them every morning also.  I should have already been doing this, but most importantly, I am doing it now.  I encourage others to do the same.  I had already made plans to volunteer in Corey's class for this Monday morning before we ever learned of Friday's tragedy.  It was wonderful to go to school and experience the children just as happy and normal as any other day.  They made gingerbread houses that morning and I was asked to come help with their project!  It was a very fun morning full of frosting and candy everywhere.  It was neat to see kids sharing with their friends who didn't bring much candy.  Such a great group of kids!

Here is Corey's gingerbread house!  Keep in mind it made a trip home on the bus and it is now Thursday and they made these on Monday.  It still looks cute, although some candy has fallen off and the frosting isn't at thick as it once was.

Monday was a blessing.  It was wonderful to see and know how the children were doing and how well the teachers did with the first day back to school after Friday's news.

Sunday we were blessed at church as always.  Our pastor talked about Newtown, Connecticut and we prayed for them.  It was such a blessing to be together with our church family and to also hear our pastor and his reminder that God is still in control.  We have also been learning the history and biblical insights on Christmas songs we sing as the sermons for December.  This brings more meaning to the songs we sing every year at Christmas.  That to me is another added blessing.  I hear these songs on the radio and they mean more to me now than they ever did before.  Oh come, Oh come, Emanuel,  Do You Hear What I Hear, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Holy Night.  If you would like to hear the meanings for yourself, here is a link to a few of the recorded sermons.  http://www.christchurchva.org/Sermons.aspx

This week I was kind of slow in getting much of anything accomplished, but what I did do, I was very blessed in.  Spending time helping with Corey's class was so much fun and I enjoy all of the kids.  Getting gifts for the 2 families that the kids in children's church have adopted for Christmas this week and just knowing they will bless two families, both single moms with quite a few children.  Also this morning, I headed back over to Corey's school to deliver gifts I had for Corey's classroom teacher, special ed teacher who helps him for an hour each day, his para and his therapists.  I got to have some time with the special ed teacher and it was such a blessing this morning.  To be honest, I didn't really care for her at the beginning of the year.  We had a lot of things to get worked out for Corey and it was tough and I felt she wasn't very knowledgable of what Corey needed and not very helpful.  It was a tough time and I really struggled in my communication and acceptance of her at that time.  Since then, we have come a long way and we really appreciate each other.  We have been through some adjustments, both of us.  So today when I took in the gifts and she was in the front office, she came and gave me the biggest, warmest hug and told he how much of an honor it is to work with Corey and how wonderful of a child he is and how she loves working with me too.  It made my day!

I am thankful for a great week with many blessings!  I have far more blessings than this!  Heading in to Christmas, I feel joy and peace even with knowing that there was still a tragedy on Friday this past week.  God is good :)