"S" is for Serendipity....

perceptions + quotes + reality =

A to Z Challenge

The light in the study remains aglow as darkness envelops me like a warm blanket. I struggle to stay conscious with the ensuing cold medication trickling through my veins. The throbbing ache in my throat grips as I attempt to gulp and breathe.  Dear God, please let me feel better in order to complete the essential paperwork for my early morning meeting. Regardless, sleep apprehends my body.

I awake to the gentle aroma of cinnamon swirl coffee while the cloudiness in my head persists in imprisoning my thoughts. I glance to the time keeper on the cable box and hear the soft buzz of the talking heads on the television announcing school delays and closings. School is closed!

This is what I call a serendipitous moment.

Serendipity is defined by Mirriam-Webster as the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.  Serendipitous is a derivative of that word marked by events that are come upon or found by accident; fortuitous.

This is one of my favorite and most distinctive words as it marks joyful unique moments when life whispers affirmations- a found diamond earring I’d lost years earlier, a dream that revealed clues to an impending fork in the road or yes, an unexpected snow day just at the ‘perfect’ moment.

What is a serendipitous moment in your life?

“Serendipity is putting a quarter in the gumball machine and having three pieces come rattling out instead of one—all red.”

- Peter H. Reynolds

a special thank you...

This break of day truly brought a serendipitous moment to my world by virtue of a snow day! Yes, my friends, all the prayers and positive thoughts encircling me yesterday have been attended to; we have a rare day off school as a result of a wintry mixture Mother Nature provided.


The theme of the past couple of days has been the impending stress from a multitude of reasons; IEP’s, eligibility reports, lesson plans, meetings and progress reports…then there’s the holiday stress, the book that needs to get to the publisher; need I go on?

Growing up in northwest Ohio snow days were somewhat plentiful but nonetheless, a delight! Those blustery icy days offered spontaneous minutes of NO plans, NO ‘have-to’s’ and the gift of time to fill the hours with activities of my own choosing.

All too often, a jigsaw puzzle adorned our kitchen table and all passers-by were lured to fill in a piece or two, or resisting the temptation to plop themselves down and work on it. When the puzzle no longer held our interest we bundled up to venture outside to investigate the engaging landscape that resulted from the winds and delicate flakes. We trudged to the river to lace on our skates for daring acts of bravery conducted by innocence and child-hood enchantment!

Today set in motion that child-hood magic-an infrequent gift of time to soften the stress within, to breathe a bit lighter and take on choice events which will undoubtedly consist of working on my book and yes, putting in piece, or two of the puzzle gracing the dining room table.

Thank you God!