An epiphany for AHOP....

This week has been a GREAT week! It didn't really start out that way though. Just a lot on my mind about work, about life (my life), and about AHOP.  

AHOP has been going in different directions for a while now, and it has changed a lot in the last four years. I think about 'what's next?' all the time. Not that that's a bad thing. I just think about it a lot.  

Then Tuesday night, the tide changed and Annie had an epiphany. I think some may refer to it as an 'ah-ha' moment. 

I made a special cream puff drop to my new friends in the Metro Division. This was my second puff drop to these big-hearted 3rd shift officers. I have gotten to know them through my volunteer work in the gift shop, and I knew there was something special about them because they never fail to stop by the gift shop to say 'thank you' before they leave. They are all just super nice and a class act. 

So when I emailed one of the officers to set up a day and time to stop by, I received an email back saying "they would wait for me outside and greet me with open arms." 

Well, they weren't kidding! They surprised me with these lovely spring flowers and a thank you card. 

I won't tell you how many cream puffs each officer had (I plead the 5th...what happens at AHOP, stays at AHOP), but I will say that they LOVE them! I stayed for roll call and had such a nice visit. 

So here's where the epiphany comes in....

I have been so busy moping around missing my 'family around the table', that I didn't take notice at how much the officers all over the city were enjoying the other stuff I was doing. I kept thinking I wasn't doing 'enough' or making a difference because I wasn't serving my friends at the table.

But to the contrary. After receiving the text message on Monday from my friend Sharon, and my wonderful visit on Tuesday -- well, I thought my heart would explode with happiness on the way home.

If making cream puffs and other treats is all God wants me to do right now, I can do that! AHOP has evolved once already and she will probably evolve again....I just need to listen to God's still small voice.

♥

When I am blue.....

Nobody has a perfect life.....not even AHOP. Trying to juggle everything in a single working girl's life is not always fun. I down right hate it sometimes. I have to put my big-girl britches on many times and do things I am not particularly good at, like calling the cable company to yell at them and tell they have the worst customer service on the planet; bartering/negotiating when getting quotes for projects around the house (painting, yard help, etc.) I'm terrible at it.

And you would think I would get some kind of satisfaction when the negotiations turn in my favor, but I don't. I am so emotionally exhausted from the whole thing that I just want it over.  

Today was one of those days I had a lot on my mind. When the crapola comes down so fast I think I need a hard hat, but then the thick clouds of life seem to pass and I get a text message that chases away my blues almost instantly, like this one. Still, after almost 4-1/2 years of cooking for my sweet friends in blue, a simple text message puts a smile on my face and a few happy tears in my eyes.

♥