rainy day

When I woke up this morning I felt like had barely slept last night. I had a hard time falling asleep even though I haven't been feeling well and the loud, howling wind from our middle-of-the-night-rain-storm didn't help the cause. I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed this morning not ready or wanting to face another day. Trying to sleep as long as I possibly could, I was left rushed to get out of the house (and even had to do my make-up when I arrived at work). I wore my rain boots to endure the massive rain puddles covering all the sidewalks in Ann Arbor, but then forgot to grab my heels to change into at work. Ugh. The sky is grey and everything is brown. It's one of those days when I'd rather be snuggled up under my covers watching a sappy, romantic movie. But I can't. I have to be at work...in my big, frumpy rain boots.

I know this little blog of mine is supposed to reflect fun, happy, feel-good things and moments. But today just isn't a feel-good day. But as I pout my way through this day, forcing fake smiles when I have to, I am reminded that we are allowed to have bad days too. We don't have to feel full of gratefulness and smiles all the time. We are loved even in our blahness. And it doesn't have to say anything about you if you don't feel like being happy today.

With that being said, as I reflect on the past twenty-four hours of my life, I'm noticing that there is still much to be grateful for: the extra warmth in the air that is unusual for late-november, Justin making dinner for us last night (and cleaning up!) while he let me rest on the couch and watch Sex and the City knowing I wasn't feeling well, the quick cuddle on the couch with Justin before he headed back to school to study last night, the homemade soup from my mother-in-law that made packing lunches quick and easy, the late bus that spared me having to walk to the further-away-bus-stop, a warm cozy bed (that even though makes it hard to get up in the morning I'm glad to have), a chance to read my new favorite blog, and a few extra hours in the car tonight with J (even though it means driving to GR for a funeral visitation).

So that's all. Today I'm grateful that sometimes it's ok to not feel grateful and that God still provides little joys to get us through the blahness that life sometimes throws at us.

detour

My bus had to take a detour this morning. Detours have been an ongoing frustration over the past few months as construction has taken over our roads, but this morning was different. As we turned the corner and came closer to the "Road Closed Follow Detour" sign, I was instantly discouraged and let it fuel my anger towards Monday morning -- the end of another weekend and the beginning of the long wait until the next one. But then, to my surprise, the detour route ended up being an even better route for me than the usual one. It took me to the bus stop that is almost directly in front of my building rather than the stop that adds a five minute walk to my morning commute.

My anger immediately dissipated and I even felt a little silly for having been so riled up in the first place. Then it occurred to me that this instance was the perfect picture of how God has such a great plan for me even when I think I know the best way. It reminded me that even though I usually think the regular route is best, that sometimes the "detour" is even better.

I am grateful today that even though I often get frustrated that my life isn't taking the route I had envisioned, that God will take me right to the front door instead.