3 gifts found in women today
1. A listening ear. When I needed (or at least wanted) to vent about a frustration, my friend R patiently let me do so.
2. A cheerleader. I've received several messages from friends congratulating me on the success of our big fundraiser event last night.
3. A tireless assistant. It's so nice to have friends who will get up early on a Saturday morning to count money from last night's event, then offer to help with the rest of the pain-in-the-neck details.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
March 17
A gift turned, folded, hung
1. My heart. I decided to "be Abraham" and forgive someone without reservation. Knowing that I will never receive an apology or admission or guilt made it difficult for me to fully let go of my hurt, but I decided that I just needed to do it and move on. Life has been so much easier since I made that decision.
2. I am still purging out of our closets for charity. I gave a lot of Jacob's old clothes to one of my friends who has 3 boys, the oldest being just one size behind Jacob. After I folded them all up, they filled a large laundry basket. She was quite excited to receive them. It wasn't too many years ago that I received hand-me-downs.
3. Back in January, one of my friends lent Jessie her poodle skirt to wear to the Father-Daughter sock hop for Girl Scouts. It has been hanging on the banister in our foyer for two months now. I REALLY need to just put it in my car and return it to my friend. But I keep forgetting, and now it's become part of the landscape. Every time I notice it, I smile, recalling how excited Jessie was that evening and how much fun Bret said they had.
1. My heart. I decided to "be Abraham" and forgive someone without reservation. Knowing that I will never receive an apology or admission or guilt made it difficult for me to fully let go of my hurt, but I decided that I just needed to do it and move on. Life has been so much easier since I made that decision.
2. I am still purging out of our closets for charity. I gave a lot of Jacob's old clothes to one of my friends who has 3 boys, the oldest being just one size behind Jacob. After I folded them all up, they filled a large laundry basket. She was quite excited to receive them. It wasn't too many years ago that I received hand-me-downs.
3. Back in January, one of my friends lent Jessie her poodle skirt to wear to the Father-Daughter sock hop for Girl Scouts. It has been hanging on the banister in our foyer for two months now. I REALLY need to just put it in my car and return it to my friend. But I keep forgetting, and now it's become part of the landscape. Every time I notice it, I smile, recalling how excited Jessie was that evening and how much fun Bret said they had.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
March 7
3 gifts in the kitchen
1. The Keurig. I love being able to make just one cup of coffee. And a cup of tea for Bret to enjoy on his ride to work. I know I could steep him a cup of tea the old-fashioned way, but the Keurig is much faster. I would have never spent the money for this gadget if not for the Silent Auction last year, and I'm so glad I did.
2. The dishwasher. It's hard enough to keep up with the dishes as it is. My kitchen would be piled with dirty dishes if not for the dishwasher. I remember about a decade ago, our dishwasher died and we didn't have the money to buy a new one. So for about a month, I washed all the dishes by hand. It wasn't so bad, and I actually liked it. It made life seem a bit simpler. But I had fewer people using dishes and certainly fewer activities to keep me away from the house.
3. The tortilla press/flatbread maker that Bret gave me for Christmas about 8 years ago when I was in my homemade corn tortillas craze. I surely do enjoy homemade corn tortillas, especially when they're still warm. He had bought me a cast iron press and I would cook them on the stove, but this press is electric so it's all one step. I had completely forgotten about it until I ran across it a few weeks ago. The last two times we've had chili, I made some tortillas, and they were soooo good. One of these days I'll make a batch for enchiladas.
1. The Keurig. I love being able to make just one cup of coffee. And a cup of tea for Bret to enjoy on his ride to work. I know I could steep him a cup of tea the old-fashioned way, but the Keurig is much faster. I would have never spent the money for this gadget if not for the Silent Auction last year, and I'm so glad I did.
2. The dishwasher. It's hard enough to keep up with the dishes as it is. My kitchen would be piled with dirty dishes if not for the dishwasher. I remember about a decade ago, our dishwasher died and we didn't have the money to buy a new one. So for about a month, I washed all the dishes by hand. It wasn't so bad, and I actually liked it. It made life seem a bit simpler. But I had fewer people using dishes and certainly fewer activities to keep me away from the house.
3. The tortilla press/flatbread maker that Bret gave me for Christmas about 8 years ago when I was in my homemade corn tortillas craze. I surely do enjoy homemade corn tortillas, especially when they're still warm. He had bought me a cast iron press and I would cook them on the stove, but this press is electric so it's all one step. I had completely forgotten about it until I ran across it a few weeks ago. The last two times we've had chili, I made some tortillas, and they were soooo good. One of these days I'll make a batch for enchiladas.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
March 4
3 gifts hard to give thanks for
1. Jacob's dyslexia. It's so hard to watch him struggle, especially where his confidence is concerned. And Lord knows his Syllables appointments have created scheduling challenges for the entire family, and have a definite impact on our finances. So it would be really easy to wish that he didn't need to go, or have dyslexia for that matter. But ... we have been blessed through this entire past year or so of testing and identification. It has given me so much more confidence in my instincts where my children are concerned. And it has taught me how to be a good advocate for my children. It has given me a better awareness of learning disabilities, and that dyslexia is just as much an ability as it is a disability. I know it has given me more compassion and empathy. And it has given me such admiration for educators who choose to teach special ed. What a gift they have been to us. And finally, it has deepened several friendships with moms whom I knew, but not very well until they shared their own IEP experiences with me as we began the journey. I truly believe that they were placed in my life at just the right time.
2. Josh's sensory processing issues. For all the same reasons I just listed, with a few exceptions. I feel like I have not been the best advocate for him, but I am trying to take the lessons learned with Jacob over the past year and apply them to Josh now. And while it makes my heart hurt to see other people make snap assumptions abut him based on his sensory "quirks," it is such a huge part of what makes him Josh that I can't wish it away.
3. Jessie's highly emotional nature. Boy howdy, can it be a roller coaster ride. And it's about to get worse as she hits puberty. But as exasperating and exhausting as it can be, the flip side to it is that she is exceptionally sensitive and compassionate to others. And I've come to realize that not everyone -- actually, sometimes it seems that almost no one -- shares that trait. I just have to constantly remind myself of that when she's having a meltdown.
1. Jacob's dyslexia. It's so hard to watch him struggle, especially where his confidence is concerned. And Lord knows his Syllables appointments have created scheduling challenges for the entire family, and have a definite impact on our finances. So it would be really easy to wish that he didn't need to go, or have dyslexia for that matter. But ... we have been blessed through this entire past year or so of testing and identification. It has given me so much more confidence in my instincts where my children are concerned. And it has taught me how to be a good advocate for my children. It has given me a better awareness of learning disabilities, and that dyslexia is just as much an ability as it is a disability. I know it has given me more compassion and empathy. And it has given me such admiration for educators who choose to teach special ed. What a gift they have been to us. And finally, it has deepened several friendships with moms whom I knew, but not very well until they shared their own IEP experiences with me as we began the journey. I truly believe that they were placed in my life at just the right time.
2. Josh's sensory processing issues. For all the same reasons I just listed, with a few exceptions. I feel like I have not been the best advocate for him, but I am trying to take the lessons learned with Jacob over the past year and apply them to Josh now. And while it makes my heart hurt to see other people make snap assumptions abut him based on his sensory "quirks," it is such a huge part of what makes him Josh that I can't wish it away.
3. Jessie's highly emotional nature. Boy howdy, can it be a roller coaster ride. And it's about to get worse as she hits puberty. But as exasperating and exhausting as it can be, the flip side to it is that she is exceptionally sensitive and compassionate to others. And I've come to realize that not everyone -- actually, sometimes it seems that almost no one -- shares that trait. I just have to constantly remind myself of that when she's having a meltdown.
Friday, March 1, 2013
March 1
3 gifts at 3 p.m.
1. How interesting that I logged in to do this right at 3:00. Someone told me recently that she doesn't believe in "coincidences" but "God Incidents." I love that idea. Doing the 1000 Gifts has been a gift to me.
2. Inventorying our cookies for booth sales today and tomorrow, and realizing that I do not, in fact, need to drive to the warehouse to pick up more cookies. Today, at least.
3. Engaging in a discussion with a professed atheist (or at the very least, agnostic) about heaven and near-death experiences. I am grateful that I know people who don't believe the same way I do because it affords me the opportunity to explore my own beliefs and faith on a regular basis.
1. How interesting that I logged in to do this right at 3:00. Someone told me recently that she doesn't believe in "coincidences" but "God Incidents." I love that idea. Doing the 1000 Gifts has been a gift to me.
2. Inventorying our cookies for booth sales today and tomorrow, and realizing that I do not, in fact, need to drive to the warehouse to pick up more cookies. Today, at least.
3. Engaging in a discussion with a professed atheist (or at the very least, agnostic) about heaven and near-death experiences. I am grateful that I know people who don't believe the same way I do because it affords me the opportunity to explore my own beliefs and faith on a regular basis.
February 28
3 gifts from the past that help you trust the future
1. My glimpse of heaven through my mom's eyes as she died.
2. Reassurances from my mother-in-law that my son is exactly like his father was when he was in Middle School. It helps me to be less frustrated when he doesn't do his homework. :) Dad turned out okay, so that gives me hope.
3.
1. My glimpse of heaven through my mom's eyes as she died.
2. Reassurances from my mother-in-law that my son is exactly like his father was when he was in Middle School. It helps me to be less frustrated when he doesn't do his homework. :) Dad turned out okay, so that gives me hope.
3.
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