I Met My Guardian Angel

I think I met my guardian angel...her name is Candy.

Where do I start...

I decided I would work on 30 things I want to achieve before I turn 30, one of them being 30 random acts of kindness. Well, I'm beginning to realize, I'm the recipient of many of these random acts of kindness, just making me want to pay it forward that much more.

There was one week in July that was a rough week for me...I wasn't feeling 100% emotionally, I fell running, one of my clients passed away, I was working very long hours, and it just wasn't the best of weeks. That Tuesday morning I woke up exhausted and it was only Tuesday! I threw on the first thing I grabbed out of the closet and didn't really do my hair or makeup that day. To say the least, I wasn't looking my best by any means. I stopped by the grocery store to get a few things on my way home from an appointment and one older lady approached me out of no where saying "Oh honey, don't you look so nice today. I love it when young ladies dress up and look so lady like!" Was she talking to me? I looked at her with tears in my eyes and so "I certainly don't think I look nice today, it's been a rough week and you have no idea how much your comment means to me." She responded with "a fact is a fact and I hope you have a wonderful day." I left her with tears running down my face. Then I got to the cash register and the lady behind the counter said "Don't your nails look so pretty. Do you do them yourself or do you get them done somewhere?" I said to her that I felt so blessed by her comments and the lady before because I was having a rough week and they both had just made my day. The lady behind the cash register said "Well, you do know who is is control don't you?" "I certainly do", I said. And we continued our conversation reflecting our faith and the hope and peace found through believing in the Lord. She ran around the cash register and gave me a big hug and said that she would be thinking and praying for me. Her name was Candy.

I have thought about her every day since then and make a point to go to that grocery store, even though it's not the closest one to me. A few weeks later I ran into her again and we immediately connected again, sharing our contact information with one another. Candy told the lady behind me that we would be done soon and shared our last encounter with each other. The lady behind me in the check out line said hearing that story blessed her day because she just started a new job and found the job very difficult and thanked us for sharing our story. Amazing...it really was like pay it forward! Candy specifically asked that I pray for her that day and I did.

Today I received another phone call from her reminding me to look up because He is sitting on the throne and loves each one of us so much! Wow, what an encouragement. Matt and I have been going through some difficult times with our home and a few other things and it was just the encouragement I needed to get myself back up. I love this woman without even really knowing her. Although, we both do know that we are sisters in Christ.

With all that said, I want to encourage each of you to reach out to someone today. You'll never know what impact you will have made on them that day and each day ahead. I can't wait to get to know her better. I truly feel like she is my guardian angel.

So, go out there and pay it forward!

One of a few

I've been diligently working at achieving my 30 before 30 and I'll provide more updates in the coming weeks. I have finished a few of my goals, but I'm proud of my most recent accomplishment "Crochet a blanket and FINISH it." Sarah, I should make you proud :)

As most of you know, I'm going to be an aunt soon!!! Yea! Can't wait! So, this blanket was made for my new niece or nephew. It has 125 stitches across and there are over 125 rows, so do the calculations...that's a lot of stitches. They were all out of love and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm excited to start the next one! Maybe this time, I'll learn another stitch. :)

First Friday

Jeff, Carrie, Matt and I had dinner at the Press Room outside on Friday night. It was so nice eating outdoors near the fountains with two of our favorite people :) Later we met up with Kim and Graham and ran into a few other people we knew along the way. I always love walking around First Friday's...visiting the art galleries(Liz Hess is one of my favorites), cute little shops, and more!

Saturday Matt and I drove down to OC, MD...of course we had to leave at the break of dawn around 6 AM (there is no other way)! We had beautiful weather, read good books, got plenty of sun, visited our favorite restaurants, and listened to a VERY talented musician our last evening at dinner. What more can you ask for?