Everyday has it's own story...

I love the fact that everyday has it's own story.  Everyday a new lesson is learned, a new experience takes place, and everyday I become more thankful for everything life has offered me. A specific situation led to the beginning of today's blog.  Bryan and I decided we would eat Chinese for dinner tonight, so we drove out to one of the local Chinese restaurants that we call "our favorite."  Food Lion to the left and a Laundry Express to the right, cars and carts scattered randomly throughout the lot, everything appeared the same as any other time we had stopped there for take-out.  After ordering, we took a seat by the window...staring out the window usually helps make the process go by quicker.  While waiting I watched this young woman pull a basket of laundry and a bag of detergent out of the trunk of her car and lug it into the place next door.  You could tell that it was a struggle...and I know from experience that toting detergent and softner is not an easy task when you're a small individual.  It broke my heart to watch her cover up her clothes with a blanket so that everything wouldn't be exposed as she walked across the parking lot.  It was then that I looked at Bryan and said, "I am so thankful for our washing machine and dryer."  He agreed.  It was then that I realized that we take for granted so many "small" things.  A washing machine may not be that big of a deal for us...but making a continuous trip to the Laundry Express, counting change, and exposing all your laundry to the world must be a burden.  "Order Up!" We walked out with almost $20 worth of food, took it home and enjoyed a hot meal.  This again made me feel thankful.  I have always had almost the "perfect" life, and in the past few months a lot of the things have changed.  I have been tempted and tried, my faith has been tested, and certain individuals have tried their best to tear me down; despite it all I am thankful.  I am thankful that I have breath in me.  Thankful for food to eat.  Thankful for a ride to get food.  Thankful for my washer and dryer. Thankful that God loves me enough to put all the signs in front of me to know that their are others worse off than me.