Not Their Fault!

Several things this week have annoyed me and affected my interaction with my family.  Today I have decided not to let things get to me, and I am trying to be extra kind to James and the girls.

So Much Fun!

Lauren's pre K teacher is getting married Saturday, so Kaitlyn and I went to Target to get her a recovery gift.  We got a word search book, a giant piece of dark chocolate, and bubble bath (coconut scented since I doubt she is going anywhere tropical!)  It was fun until the end.  A little girl walked to our cart and gave Kaitlyn a baby doll that she enjoyed playing with.  I put it up before we got in line and she sobbed for the next 15 minutes.  That is the life of a 2 year old!

When Lauren gets home I will have her color a picture for Ms. Hulse and she can take the gift in tomorrow.

Weekly Note

I am sending one of my "You're a Blessing!" cards to my aunt Gail with a picture and the verse Ecclesiastes 3:11.  The beginning says "He has made everything beautiful in its time."  I told her how God has made her beautiful in His time and His ways. 

Headache Reliever

This afternoon my head started to pound.  The kids got louder and screechier, at least until I thought about what I could do for my blog!  Nothing jumped out at me until I ran across a copy of the book Christmas Jars by Jason Wright.  Barbara gave me this for Christmas a few years ago and the story is great.  A family starts a tradition of filling up a jar with spare change and gives it to someone in need on Christmas Eve.  I decided to drop the book by our friends' house tonight.  I bet they will love it and may start something like this with their 5 homeschooled kids!

A Tough Job

We went to Mellow Mushroom tonight and gave the waitress a bigger tip than we would normally.  She definitely wasn't the best, but she was trying.

Letter Day

My cousin Lee's widow has been on my mind this week.  Christy is so brave and strong!  I was not close to Lee, but it is still hard to believe he is gone.  She is such a great example of living her life and trusting God, and I plan on writing her a note telling her that!

Toiletries for the Homeless

I went to Walmart to shop for NorthStar's "big give" for the month.  They are asking for us to fill up bags for MUST to give out with shampoo, toilet paper, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brush, and razor (things you can't buy with food stamps but are needed to maintain dignity.)  I was able to do 2 bags!

More Cookies!

Lauren and I made cookies today and are giving half of them to my stressed out friend.  She is pregnant, works 4  12 hour shifts a week as a nurse, and is alone with her 2 girls this week since her husband is out of town.   I know she will appreciate chocolate!

Bigger Things

The girls drew pictures for both sets of grandparents today, and I was able to get them in the mail today and not tomorrow!

So the neighbor I gave candles to last week blessed me yesterday.  We had Lauren's first soccer game yesterday afternoon and it was stressful for me (for lots of reasons.)  We had driven separately and Kaitlyn and I got home first.  I had been crying and noticed a pink bag on our front porch.  I knew instantly it was the one we had given Liz.  She put a thank you note for the candles and 4 little rubber ducks in the bag.  Kaitlyn yelled "DUCKIIIIIIES!!"  and has not let those suckers go.  It meant so much to me to get that note at that time, and Liz had no way of knowing that!

Hee Hee

Tonight at Target and kidless, I looked around at cards.   I found a great one for some college friends who just moved.  It is still making me laugh!

I Am Lame

For some reason our neighbor Liz came to my mind this afternoon.  She and her dog live a few houses down and we run into them on walks on occasion.  She is always very sweet, but who knows why I picked her!  So I put a few pastel colored candles in a little bag and put a note saying Happy Spring.  The girls and I walked to her house.  Quite a production walking 2 little girls 5 houses and back.....

Progress

Well, I haven't done anything blog-worthy today but am still learning.  Since I have been trying not to just do something early in the day to get it out of the way, it makes me think about what I could do all day.  Yes, the days I take care of this earlier are nice, but it can't happen all the time.  Kaitlyn and I were out some this morning and then we went to get pizza with James' parents.  When I was doing all of this, nothing came to me.  BUT I thought about it!  I am definitely more in tune with what I could and not in my own head.

Chocolate Cure

Carrie's husband is out of town this week too, AND she is sick!  Since she won't let me take her baby off her hands so she can sleep, I decided to bring her something.  Kaitlyn and I got donuts for us and her! (Yes, we are still training for a 5K!)

Fridge Decoration

My aunt Vivi is very lonely, so I want to brighten her day.  I forgot to get her a funny card today, but Lauren drew a cute picture of a fairy. I am going to send it to her!

Five Bucks is Five Bucks!

A woman saw that I was selling a portable bassinet on Craigslist for $5.  We talked on the phone, and she told me she is expecting her 6th baby (first boy)!  I decided to just give it to her instead.  She needs plenty more, and I understand how it is to be on one income with kids. 

The Heart of a Child

My sweet girl may penetrate her great grandmothers heart!  James' grandma has never been easy to get along with, but that doesn't stop Lauren from trying.  Over the years I have sent pictures ("How am I supposed to see something so small?") and then had some framed and matted ("Where am I going to put that?")  Well now that she has been at the rehab hospital all these months, Lauren likes to send her pictures.  Today she painted a rainbow for "Daddy's grandma, because she is sick."  By the time we are done, the walls of the hospital room will be wallpapered in drawings.  How can you not smile in a room like that?

Closet

I have clothes in my closet that I don't wear (who doesn't?)  So today I am going through and pulling things to donate.  There is no sense keeping things that don't fit or that I like but don't wear.  Plenty of people can use what I don't!

What Did We Do Before Facebook!?

This afternoon had some frustrations and then I thought about the blog.  Some days, like today, I don't feel like doing anything for it.  But all it took was a few minutes on Facebook, thinking about others and what they are going through, and I am in a slightly better mood.  I picked 3 people to check in with and tried to encourage them. 

TWO Notes!

There has been a lot of talk lately about Ga Pre K continuing as it is, and I have really been upset for Lauren's teachers.  They work hard and really love what they do, but they deal with 20 4 and 5 year old every day!  Yikes!  I chatted with the assistant teacher today, and despite them taking a pay cut, they are planning on returning next year.  They inspired me to write each of them a note (on the note cards with my name that I found the other day!)  I want to thank them individually for how they are helping to shape Lauren's life.

Teaching Compassion and Faith

In the mail I got my receipt for our monthly donation to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.  Lauren was fascinated by the envelope and opened it.  These come every month so I don't need it.  She pulled out a picture of a little boy and said she wanted to put it in her room because it is so cute.  I had a light bulb moment and told her they send this picture to us so we can pray for him.  Turns out it is a sticker.  All these years of getting these letters and I never knew that!  So now we are starting to pray for Seth at night.

Wisdom

I am giving a great friend a note card with a verse to encourage her in what she is struggling with now.  As Proverbs 27:17 says: As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.  What a joy to have someone with whom we can share the personal issues we have!

Lauren's Art

James' grandma is still not doing great and his parents are going down to see her in a few days.  I had Lauren color a picture for them to bring to her.  She can show it off to the people at the rehab place!

More Complimentary

There has been a lot going on today so I have had to sneak in some nice words for the girls.  They were so good at the dentist and really behaved and did anything they were asked.  Tonight Lauren colored even better than normal and Kaitlyn was building a big tower with blocks.  They both have such unique talents and I want to encourage them to do what they are good at.  Hearing a compliment really brightens their little faces!