--- title: "Small Success Thursday: Substitute Edition" description: What small successes are you celebrating this week? Join the fun and get some encouragement, too! --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/10/22/small-success-thursday-substitute-edition#) # Small Success Thursday: Substitute Edition Oct 22, 2015 8:00:25 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) [![Small Success dark gold outline 800x800](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Small-Success-dark-gold-outline-800x8001-400x400-10.png?width=400&height=400&name=Small-Success-dark-gold-outline-800x8001-400x400-10.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Small-Success-dark-gold-outline-800x8001-15.png) Sherry couldn't be here today, but we didn't want to skip out on the fun that is Small Success Thursday! And since I'm experienced at being a substitute teacher, today I'm taking a run at substitute hostess for Small Success. **Speaking of substitution**, I'll be substitute *librarian* tomorrow! I'm looking forward to that. Wonder what book I'll get to read to the kindergarten? (I'm happy to take suggestions in case the librarian leaves me to my own devices there.) **Desk cleanup**: I excavated my desk from beneath a growing mountain of papers. Now there are only 3 notes sitting under my mug of pens! **Brake job**: My daughter was home from college for the long weekend, and on Monday morning she and I went out to do a little shopping. She drove. Good thing, because we heard an AWFUL noise coming from her rear brakes. We headed straight to the mechanic and she got the brakes replaced before she had to return to school. I'm so glad this happened when she was home and we were able to take care of it immediately, at a mechanic we're familiar with. Now she has a safe car at school. Peace of mind = priceless! A little boy, two or three years old, was waiting with his mom when we showed up to pick up the car. He ran over and gave big hugs to both of us. **The Coupon Queen Strikes Again**: My bill at ShopRite yesterday was $97 after I saved $90 in coupons and store sales. Which is good, because brake jobs are necessary but not cheap. **Music, music, music**. We're in rehearsals again for the Festival of Lessons and Carols, scheduled just before Christmas. A friend of mine directs this event each year, putting together a full choir and an impressive ensemble of instruments. I sing alto and play guitar. I love this annual opportunity to practice and perform with musicians and vocalists who are more talented and better trained than I am--it's a challenge and it stretches me. What I lack in polish and vocal range, I make up for in enthusiasm. And as we pray at the beginning of each rehearsal, we are grateful for the gift of music and for the opportunity to share that gift, for God's honor and glory. *Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS.* [inlinkz_linkup id=567962 mode=1] ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Fsmall-success-thursday-substitute-edition%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Fsmall-success-thursday-substitute-edition%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Fsmall-success-thursday-substitute-edition%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Small%20Success%20Thursday%3A%20Substitute%20Edition) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Fsmall-success-thursday-substitute-edition%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Fsmall-success-thursday-substitute-edition%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Small Success Thursday: Hang On Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/05/07/small-success-thursday-hang-on) [ Meatless Friday: Late Summer Garden Special Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-late-summer-garden-special) [ Small Success Thursday 11/12: Better Late Than Never Edition Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/11/12/small-success-thursday-1112-better-late-than-never-edition) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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