♥ : An Attitude of Gratitude : ♥

The saying goes, "when it RAINS it POURS"  In our case, it FLOODS!  The Monday before Thanksgiving we had a small flood in our basement.  It was a fluke of sorts and we are not clearly sure how it happened but all the water came from the toilet.  By the time we stopped it, water had seeped into the hallway, each of the boys bedrooms and a walk in closet.

We had been hearing a lot about Gratitude and showing our Thanks in all things but this was NOT something to be grateful for!  I had been anticipating getting the holiday decorations out and so many other things could have used my time, attention and money than this hiccup in life. 

With a few phone calls we were able to feel so BLESSED.  A very good friend dropped everything and came to our rescue.  It was easy to forget our troubles when he entered our home, knowing him and his family were dealing with much worse trials at this time.  His Christ-like attitude to continually give as he was going without made me reflect on all I HAD and not what I had lost (which when it came down to it was just some carpet padding). 

I am SO grateful for good friends, neighbors and family!  Life wouldn't be worth enduring without them. 

A blizzard hit the valley the same week.  My next youngest sister, Melanie, borrowed a neighbors car, since hers was having problems to take Grandma to her dentist appointment.  On the way to get Grandma, she got a phone call that her daughter split her chin open and needed stitches.  Luckily they still had insurance even though her husband had recently lost his job.  On the way back home she hit ice and landed the borrowed car in the canal.  A tow truck had to be called to rescue the stuck vehicle.  Melanie's good friends weren't worried about the car and only about her safety. 

Thanksgiving morning is freezing for the next sister in our family.  Her furnace has stopped working.  Jessica's husband starts the car and leaves it running to warm up as he gets ready to head into town to find parts to fix the furnace.  When he goes to leave he finds that oil has exploded all over the driveway.  They are now without a car since they recently sold their 2nd vehicle. 

That night my next youngest brother slips on ice and thinks he has broken his foot. 

The only one to escape any trial this week was my youngest brother.  Seeing us all struggle with problems I think made us all realize the individual things in our lives we were grateful for.  Misery loves company but I hope it stays away for a long, long time!