Deo Gratias!

 "If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough." - Meister Eckhart

Colleen, from her inspiring blog Thoughts on Grace, hosts this wonderful meme each Wednesday. She says, "Deo Gratias is Latin for Thanks be to God. Remembering to give thanks for all of our blessings, big & small, helps us to find God in our everyday moments and gives us an attitude of gratitude!"

Each week, I join Colleen in remembering & sharing the many blessings in my life. This is such a great exercise for me, helping me to focus on the good that truly is happening in my life, no matter how many trials & stresses I may have.

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1) We have been blessed beyond measure this year for the older two boys & homeschool band...a donated trumpet for The Archangel & a great deal on a saxophone for The Prophet. Deo Gratias!

2) The past Sunday's Mass really touched me...from the Opening Prayer to our pastor's tear-inducing homily. I walked out of church w/ such hope & inspiration! Deo Gratias!   

3) I love my job as a receptionist at a nursing home/rehab center. I meet so many wonderful people & have some of the best conversations. The only thing I don't like about it is that I'm away from my family ALL day on Saturday, but thankfully I know The Blessings are in good hands w/ Matt. Deo Gratias! 

4) We took a trip to Deer Creek State Park on Sunday afternoon to visit w/ family at the Harding Cabin. We were blessed w/ a beautiful day. Deo Gratias! 

5) The Prophet entered a Lego building contest at the orthodontist's office. Using a Rankor from a Star Wars Lego set, he built the ortho's office & had the Rankor getting braces. While he didn't win the contest, they really liked his creativity & gave him 100 points on his patient's reward card. Deo Gratias! 

Light in the Darkness

Welcome to my Light in the Darkness meme! (If you missed my post on the inspiration for this meme, you can read all about it HERE.)

This is the place to share good things that are happening in our world...whether it's a link to a news article/video, something from your personal experience...anything good that can bring light into darkness!

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All the stories shared here each week are full of inspiration & hope. Today, I'd like to share a story of something I personally witnessed.

As many of you know, I work as a receptionist in a nursing home/rehab center on Saturdays. We usually have a couple of wheelchairs available in the lobby for transporting new residents or for visitors who may need some extra assistance. 

A couple of weeks ago, a visitor came in & needed one of those wheelchairs. Unfortunately, none were available. There was a man from a transport company who had just returned a resident from an outing. He overheard us & mentioned that he had a wheelchair in his van. He went out & returned w/ the wheelchair, then proceeded to wheel the woman to visit her friend. 

When he returned to the front of the building to leave, I thanked him for both offering the use of the chair & for taking her back. I was so pleased to witness someone going out of his way, beyond his duty, to assist a stranger. I'm sure his gesture meant a lot to her. It certainly touched me!