Since I went to that lovely restaurant before Christmas, my grand-daughter got the flu, the aunt staying with me had Covid 2 days after arriving at home. My daughter had a mysterious virus that had symptoms of everything. In early November, I had double pneumonia. (I’m extra like that). Somehow we muddled through Christmas and New Years and we sniffed and coughed and sneezed and carried large boxes of tissues with us wherever we went.

We went to the movies on Christmas Eve and saw Wicked, we loved it! As I pulled out of the lot, I saw, in the hotel parking lot next to me, shopping carts with blankets and plastic tarps and some bikes. I saw a few people sitting around on the pavement. Now, it was not snowing, but it was going to be some pretty low temps that night. In my car, I keep little bags with snacks, first aid, a “space blanket”, and a few dollars. Some have candy, some have gum, it is not much at all. I had about maybe 15 in the car. I felt drawn to these people so I reached to the backseat and got my bags and rolled up to a group of people who needed help.

I met Bob, Chris, Patty and Delvaney. There were a few others but they didn’t give their names. Bob was quick to ask me if I need cement work done or landscaping or handyman jobs. He said he has a bike and the bus will take him anywhere. Chris was the unofficial spokesman for the group. He looked to be maybe 30, but the sores on his lips and scabs on his hands told me that some poor choices was probably the reason he was there. He shot out his hand for me to shake as part of his introduction and I smiled at him as I shook it. Others were sitting on the curb. I told them that I had some bags with a few snacks in it and I wondered if they needed them. Chris was quick to answer and said yes they could use them. I asked him to help me make sure everyone had one. He was on it, handing everyone a bag. Every person looked up at me and said thank you. I asked them if they were going to be someplace warm tonight. Delvaney smiled at me and said it was safer for her out here and Patty nodded. Chris told me that they stick together and it’s safer and warmer that way.

As I was thanking them for their time and waving to them, Bob looked up at me and smiled. He said, “Miss Susan, this afternoon I prayed and asked God if He could send me a blanket for Christmas and He did!”

My heart was so full at that moment. I could only smile at him, I didn’t trust myself to talk without bursting into tears. My mind immediately went to the scripture in Matthew,

“…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV

I truly felt the Lord that night and I was so blessed. I cried all the way home!

But wait, there’s more! I had given out all but 1 bag, that was it. The next day, as I was packing up to head to my daughters house, I started to move things around and I looked at the bag that held all of the little, brown, lunch sacks, and could not believe my eyes! There were 8 bags! I had just 1 left the night before and now there were 8???!!!??? I starting shouting and giving thanks to God! I had a loaves and fishes kind of event in my Jeep, in a Walmart bag, on the floorboards!

Did you know that in the Bible, 8 is the number of New Beginnings and 7 is Perfection and Completeness. I felt complete in that moment. I felt as if I had been provided, no, not just provided, Divinely provided a new beginning!

Praise God!

Sickness, holidays, time with family, work, being used by God….lots of things happened and I didn’t take a picture or run here to add the event, I was present. Maybe this journey is teaching me to stick to it, take time for important things, find balance. And the adventures will happen and will be enjoyed instead of checked off a list.

So I may need to add a week or so to catch up and reach 60 by 60…but I have 16 more to go? I think this is the first time anyone, ever, in the history of evers, that someone is running behind on adventures!

The goal is 60 new things before I turn 60 and I have 16 more to go and I can’t wait!