This week had a lot of lessons and reminded me that I’m stronger than I sometimes think I am.  I’m still not able to craft due to being short-staffed, a state audit and long work hours.  Despite all that, I’m still grateful for the blessings and lessons of the week.

Blessing: new favourite soup.   Base soup recipe found here but as always … I’ve adapted the recipe so much  … but who doesn’t?  😛  Eating well is always so nourishing.  The difference is obvious when I take the time to feed myself well.

Lesson: where money is concerned … no matter how little, in a work environment, take charge!  I let the “departed” deal with the balancing of a dept card that she primarily used for job postings and staff related items.  Since I had to sign off on the reimbursements, it made sense to have another person in the dept make the necessary purchases/payments we needed to operate.   Getting ready for the audit tomorrow revealed that she made mince-meat of that card’s reconciliation.  Between the over submissions and the lack of submissions for items which she lost the receipts, the card always seemed to balance.  But now that I’m going through it with a fine-tooth comb, it’s insane.  Insane enough to almost drive me to tears since my name is on the card.  I told my supervisor immediately then set out to work out the mess that the card is in.  She didn’t make any fraudulent purchases but it’s clear that she didn’t care how the reimbursements were submitted since some were submitted multiple times and others never.   Lesson:  never allow myself to be in this situation again.  The amount of time I’m spending on this issue could have been spent on something else.  Since no cash was taken from the card, I know I’ll eventually get it to balance, but while I do, I hope it doesn’t become an audit issue. 😦

Blessing: The vibrancy in colour of the leaves against the facade of the older building was a great reminder that there’s always something to inspire, something to view with different eyes — that’s if I allow myself the opportunity to do so.

A reminder by the foliage of this tree that it’s time to shed some things so I can rest enough to be prepared for new things.

Blessing: One of the reasons I love where I live — being able to see the Empire State Building from my bedroom and my living room.  Reminds me of places, people and things that make living in NY exciting sometimes.

Blessing: The support and hard work from the new employee.  I really appreciated the extra time he’s put in so I’ve decided to give him the day before Thanksgiving off.

It’s been a tiring week but good in so many other ways.  Thank God!

Hope your week was good and cheers for a great upcoming week for each of you. 😀

Fall weather has me doing this all week:

It just feels sooooooooo good!!!

This week, I worked my tuckus off.  We (the agency) have a very important audit coming up.  Important like — the results make or break the agency.  Whatever happens, I’m comforted that I’ll be okay but the audit means that for my dept,  me and our new employee must go through all the personnel folders.  All of them!  We found things that needed to be filed from two years ago — 🙄 — I’m sure some of it was in the desk drawers of the “departed”.  It’s daunting to say the least (I worked late every day this week except 1) but we stepped up to the challenge and we’ve made remarkable progress so far.  I’ll have to work next weekend but we’ve vowed to get it done.  Yesterday, we turned on Pandora (online radio) and rocked the day away until close to 7 pm last night.

Despite all of that, I feel good!  A difference in mind-set, a less emotionally stressful work environment and a daily dose of vitamins, left me good tired.  Not the dragged out, beaten down kind, but the good kind of tired that comes when you know you’ve gone above and beyond!!!   So instead of October kicking my butt, I’m Jackie Chan-ing it with all that I’ve got!  Thank God for His goodness.  😀  And the Fall weather’s making everything even better!  The weather’s finally changed to cooler, wonderfully crisper temps and I’M. LOVING. IT!!!

Today, I’m grateful for:

• the support I’ve gotten from other departments.  Some supervisors/department heads have been uncharacteristically patient; that really gave me some breathing room to prepare for the audit.
• A tremendous effort between myself, the insurance company and our COBRA administrator that ended with an employee being able to do surgery on Monday despite the fact that she was the one who didn’t complete her COBRA paperwork on time.
• A call from the employee on leave to say that she’ll be back on November 4th! Wooooohoooooo!!!!
• A “I love you, hope you’re having a great day” call from my younger brother this morning.  ❤
• My weekend wind-down — it has been positively delightful!!!!!  I went out and got some “necessary” supplies for the upcoming Fall & Winter seasons: (never mind the bad photos :P)

I’m not a coffee drinker but let me tell you — these are AWESOME in tea or cocoa!!!

LOLOL!  What?!!!!  Aren’t these in your “must have” Fall & Winter supplies?  If not … you better get on this!  LOLOL!

I’m ending the week with my supplies, Fall candle holders and some peppermint candles

curled up on my couch, either knitting or reading and enjoying my “fireplace”

With the lights low, music, some hot cocoa in hand and the heat from my radiators coming up … my “fireplace” almost seems real!

Happy weekend to you all!  Hope you each had a wonderful week; cheers for a great upcoming week!!!!  ❤