Thoughts.

I haven't blogged in a long time. I've had many posts that I have begun in my head only to find that sitting down and writing them was an effort that I just could not muster. I felt overwhelmingly busy this semester but not stressed. Time has been elusive and now, when I could, perhaps SHOULD be studying for finals, I am blogging. I just HAD to though. This past week has been one to share.
Have you ever been asked the question, "How has the Lord been blessing you?", and have looked for something big or great that has happened in order to respond to that question? I'd like to pose the thought that the Lord blesses his people in so many ways, big and small, if we are willing to see them. I was blessed this week. Over and over again. In small ways that made all the difference. This is what occured during the week:
On Tuesday, we had class presentations running until 8pm. Our teachers were providing us with pizza. I don't eat pizza because I don't eat wheat. Prior to Tuesday, there was a sign-up for what kind of pizza people wanted. I jokingly wrote down "gluten-free: two votes" knowing that I would be bringing my own dinner that night. When dinner time rolled around on Tuesday, I found out that one of my prof's had been searching EVERYWHERE to find me gluten free pizza. She did find some, albeit frozen, and with no way to cook it at school for me, she brought me a chicken salad instead. She went completely out of her way for me. And I felt blessed.
On Thursday, I was feeling extra tired. When I feel the way I was, I usually buy myself a coffee (which isn't that often). I don't like to spend much money on drinks that I don't absolutely need. So between classes, a group of us headed over to "Stir-Crazy", a coffee shop that I had not been to before, but had heard that they give a free coffee on your first visit. When I got to the coffee shop and asked the woman at the counter about this "free" coffee, she excitedly said, "YES, choose ANYTHING you want". I said, "anything?, even latte's?" and the answer was yes. I ended up ordering a gingerbread latte (which was delicous by the way) and was blown away by her generosity. She didn't even know it, but it MADE my day. Again, I felt blessed.
One of my Neuro prof's is retiring this Christmas, so Thursday was her last class with us, and her last class teaching. Our grad committee bought two huge cakes for her in order to celebrate. I sat back, knowing I wouldn't be eating any cake(wheat!) until my friend Jo motioned me forward. Turns out, my friend Steph, who is on the grad committee, bought a cheesecake as well, just for me. It was so thoughtful of her if not slightly unnecessary! Again, I felt blessed.
On Friday night I had my friends Jo and Becky over for a movie/girls night. Becky showed up at the door with bouquets of lilies for myself and Jo. Just because. No reason. Beautiful flowers. And I felt blessed.

Small things. Yet important, special and impacting. The Lord blesses--because He cares.