weekend jet setter part 2: count your blessings

this was me + at least another 3 bags,
stroller and car seat!
Thank God for momma!

As I mentioned in part 1, we travelled last weekend. It was a great trip. And thank God for mommy! She was literally a life saver. I wouldn't ever want to travel with an infant alone. Although Daelyn Grace was great (no fussiness) or anything like that, it was quite a bit to keep balanced.

Last week, I talked about the "lesson" I learned from one event of the trip but as I wrote, it caused me to reflect on the trip itself. I couldn't help but to see how many blessings there were wrapped up in that little getaway!

The trip was a blessing in multiple ways.
1.We snagged lovely priced tickets for a direct flight from Nassau to West Palm Beach. Although it was on a particular airline, we had absolutely NO problems (no delays, no cancellations...nothing)! In fact, they gave us multiple graces upon our return as it relates to baggage and such.

2. We got free and comfy housing. Daelyn had an almost-new bassinet to sleep in ($20) and a playpen to hang out and play in (free)...and more toys than she could keep track of. It was just like being at home.

3. We got an SUV rental for the cost of a compact car. I never imagined how much space baby items take up. Add to that a couple bags from shopping and you've got a mid-size SUV looking like we were moving away permanently. :/ I didn't think we'd need more than a regular sedan but once again...thanks to mommy's suggestion, we were comfortable for the 4 days we were there.

mommy, me & Daelyn Grace on the plane.
she apparently was not pleased
with the camera in her face.

4. I found some really good deals on the couple items that were purchased for me and the lil princess (funny how I'm mrs-shop-til-I-drop, but with a baby, I was like...five minutes in the store and I was done!) The stroller nor cart seemed to keep lil-miss-on-the-move content for too long so after about 20 minutes, there needed to be a change in venue...unless she fell asleep. The best part was innocently walking through aisles, pushing the stroller (or cart) and seeing clothing (and other items) "moving" and not realizing that it was my daughter's doings. 

and the best of all----

5. As you recall from last week, I got the DSM-5 for free. The person who gave me theirs paid almost $200.

Non-financial "blessings":

April & Daelyn Grace at her
 office in North Palm Beach.

6. Got to spend some good time with mommy, Daelyn Grace and April, who is my former roommate. They got to meet, play with, and spend some good time with each other and they became fast friends. :)

7. Got a 200-page manual which will be a great plus for my pre-marital program, One Accord, that I'm preparing to launch in two weeks. The manual accompanied a previous training that I missed and I am just so grateful to have it. It is a wealth of information and resources, that honestly would have probably taken more than 2 weeks for me to compile if I had to do it on my own. side note: I had planned to eventually have something like this- so now I can just add, rather than having to start from scratch! yippeee

8. I got an entire day to network with other professionals. I met some fabulous therapists/mental health professionals and got some great tips for private practice. Those tips are definitely priceless!


I'm sure there are more but I'll stop there. There is an old song I remember and it goes:

Count your blessings name them one by one

Count your blessings see what God has done

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings see what God has done!

When was the last time you stopped to count your blessings?

Grace, peace, love and blessings to you!
Gia

weekend jet setter part 1

I traveled the past couple days for a professional development workshop. It was a good time all around, as we (myself, Daelyn Grace and my mom-"pseudo-nanny") stayed with my grad-college roommate.  

the "bible" for professionals
in mental health field

The workshop was all day...we literally left the house at 7:30 and didn't return until after 5pm!!! It was productive and very helpful to my own professional goals so no complaints from me!

The goal of workshop was getting the local professionals familiar with the changes in the DSM-5 - the official diagnostic tool for the mental health field.  have the DSM that I was trained in (previous version) but this version (5) is just released and of course costs a pretty penny. I found it on Amazon for a decent price ($120)...the range goes up to +$150 depending on where you purchase. Now I was all prepared to purchase this, but felt that I wasn't supposed to. I'll admit, I fought this- because in reality I hate going someplace unprepared. I dislike being THAT person. you know the one who needs to share because they aren't prepared. Yes, most of it is rooted in pride (I hate to not have my own things) but part of it, is just me liking to be prepared.

Anyhoo, it was clear...I had no peace about purchasing the book. Side note: having that "peace" is how I know its God "talking" to me. So it took me looking at my Amazon cart for literally 4 days before I finally clicked the "delete from cart" button and proceeded to purchase the other items. I even called April (former roommate) to check with her and she adamantly reassured me that coming without the book was "okay".

So fast forward, its the day of the workshop. I find a table that is strategically at the back of the room and doesn't have a ton of people BUT has someone who has a book. I sit and ask to share. welp. she happily welcomes to share with this stranger.

As the day progresses, we get to know each other during the hourly 10-minute breaks and she eventually asks if I had a book or had plans to purchase. I explain that I wanted to but honestly didn't have funds available at that time and would get it some other time. At lunch time, she indicates that from the beginning of the day, she felt God telling her to give me her book but she struggled because I am a stranger and she paid almost $200 for this book. Ultimately, she surrendered to what she felt was God directing her and blessed me. It was an awesome moment. Her obedience. My obedience. Blessings for us both.

The lesson(s) for me here was very simple:
1. God WANTS to take care of me. I soooo wanted to fix the situation, even to the extent of putting the bill on my credit card, but I obediently did not purchase and He provided- at no cost to me. There is no need too small or insignificant. A book. A stupid book that I may or may not use for another year, if ever...He ensure that I received it.
2.  My obedience is linked to someone else. Of course this is the case with DISobedience. I'm not sure what the lesson is for that lady, but I know what I got. And I'm beyond excited that I listened and also that she listened to.

I believe that God interacts with us daily. Sometimes its through others, sometimes its through those "gut feelings" and of course there are other signs and such. But that the heart of our Christian walk (for those of us who are on this walk), is this surrendered heart to not only recognize when it is God "talking" but to also obey. And even in the small things. Who would have thought that purchasing a book was of any importance??!

So as I leave- be encouraged. Look, listen and obey.

Grace, peace, and love,
Gia