I was invited to write a guest post for my sweet friend, Cara!!
She is an amazing inspiration to write and live authentically. Here is what I'm sharing.
Her theme is this:
"...Nothing is, in fact, small..."
It had been an exhausting day at work. My feet were swollen and my stomach was growling. My mind was filled with the stresses of planning a wedding, buying a house and graduating from college. I hadn’t seen my Hunnie in two days due to all the craziness and when I came out to my car, there was a little note and a bag a skittles- my favorite. Just a little something sweet to show he was thinking of me. Just a little surprise to lift my spirits.
Sometimes surprises come just when you need that little bit of hope and joy. Yes, there are surprises that don’t bring joy- like a flat tire that makes you late or a child who comes home with lice from school, but there are probably just as many surprises-- both big and little that can remind us about what is important in life.
If we have eyes to see, we can easily spot the sweetness of the surprises all around us. This week alone, I was surprised by Kindness, Love, Hope and Generosity. When these came a-knocking, I almost didn’t open the door!
I often dread checking my email. Although I am social by nature, lately I have become overwhelmed by the requests and the have-to’s and the managing of my calendar. But, early one morning I opened an email from a friend-- that asked nothing from me, instead she wanted to show kindness to me. She wanted to come over and take the kids to dinner (yes, all three!), to bring them gifts and to just show them some love so that Hunnie and I could go out on a date. She didn’t just say she wanted to help, she actually gave me some possible days and times. This Surprise of Kindness made it so easy for me- immediately my mood was brightened and now I have a happy Date Nite to look forward to on Saturday!
My little girlie is in a very creative phase. Almost daily I come home to pictures, stories, presents (things she has wrapped up from her room) and little love notes. One morning I could tell it was going to be a trying day with my toddler who was already yelling, “I still poopin’!” when it was time to walk out the door, the laundry was piled up high and the my list of errands was already being trampled upon by an impending migraine. I huffed out to the car and wrestled little man into his seat and walked around to get into my seat to rush the big muffins off to school. But, I paused when I saw a note written into the morning dew: “I love you, Mommy.” I almost missed it; I almost forgot that these little ones who were already draining me... could also fill my cup with their sweet words, hugs and smiles. A Surprise of Love to soften my already hardening heart. The grouchiness started to melt away before the letters disappeared in the morning sunshine.
On Tuesday, I pulled a muscle by my rib- right in the middle of my back. I was crying by the time I reached the car. I came home and called just about everyone I knew to help me with my toddler- “B Rex”- the active, growling, wild beast that I could not lift up. Some days just stink more than others. Some days I really hate living so far from family. Some days Hunnie has a million meetings and no flexibility. Some days are just lonely. l sat on the couch and just cried- too uncomfortable to even nap. But, an amazing friend swooped in to take my boy out to the zoo, then an unlikely new friend offered to come over and help me all evening. She helped feed my kids dinner, she lifted my boy into his crib, she graciously wiped up counters. A Surprise of Hope covered over the depression that was growing in my mind.
Moms often find it hard to find a time to shower-- no time before school when there are lunches to be made, socks to be searched for, papers to be signed and fights to be refereed. No time after school when there is homework to be done, games to go to, dinner to be cooked, and laundry to be put away. So, I’ve started showering in the middle of the day when B Rex is asleep and cannot bang on the door and scream the whole time. But, people sometimes come and ring the doorbell. Then, the dog barks, then the kids run by yelling that someone is here (so you can’t just ignore it and pretend you didn’t hear.) On Sunday I’d just put the shampoo in my hair, when I heard it. Ding Dong. At first I did try to ignore it, but it came again, and again. So, finally, I wrapped a towel around me and answered it- as I was expecting a friend anyhow. Well, it wasn’t her-- it was a man! Luckily, I had the screen door shut and locked and you can’t see through it. So, I told him that Hunnie wasn’t available, but I’d tell him that he had stopped by. “Oh, would he be available if I were to give him tickets to the World Series game today?” Yeah, pretty sure he would. Hold on…
A Surprise of Generosity- and to think, I almost didn’t answer the door!
What little Surprises of Kindness, Hope, Love, and Generosity have you seen in your life recently. Did you almost miss them, too?
She is an amazing inspiration to write and live authentically. Here is what I'm sharing.
Her theme is this:
"...Nothing is, in fact, small..."
It had been an exhausting day at work. My feet were swollen and my stomach was growling. My mind was filled with the stresses of planning a wedding, buying a house and graduating from college. I hadn’t seen my Hunnie in two days due to all the craziness and when I came out to my car, there was a little note and a bag a skittles- my favorite. Just a little something sweet to show he was thinking of me. Just a little surprise to lift my spirits.
Sometimes surprises come just when you need that little bit of hope and joy. Yes, there are surprises that don’t bring joy- like a flat tire that makes you late or a child who comes home with lice from school, but there are probably just as many surprises-- both big and little that can remind us about what is important in life.
If we have eyes to see, we can easily spot the sweetness of the surprises all around us. This week alone, I was surprised by Kindness, Love, Hope and Generosity. When these came a-knocking, I almost didn’t open the door!
I often dread checking my email. Although I am social by nature, lately I have become overwhelmed by the requests and the have-to’s and the managing of my calendar. But, early one morning I opened an email from a friend-- that asked nothing from me, instead she wanted to show kindness to me. She wanted to come over and take the kids to dinner (yes, all three!), to bring them gifts and to just show them some love so that Hunnie and I could go out on a date. She didn’t just say she wanted to help, she actually gave me some possible days and times. This Surprise of Kindness made it so easy for me- immediately my mood was brightened and now I have a happy Date Nite to look forward to on Saturday!
My little girlie is in a very creative phase. Almost daily I come home to pictures, stories, presents (things she has wrapped up from her room) and little love notes. One morning I could tell it was going to be a trying day with my toddler who was already yelling, “I still poopin’!” when it was time to walk out the door, the laundry was piled up high and the my list of errands was already being trampled upon by an impending migraine. I huffed out to the car and wrestled little man into his seat and walked around to get into my seat to rush the big muffins off to school. But, I paused when I saw a note written into the morning dew: “I love you, Mommy.” I almost missed it; I almost forgot that these little ones who were already draining me... could also fill my cup with their sweet words, hugs and smiles. A Surprise of Love to soften my already hardening heart. The grouchiness started to melt away before the letters disappeared in the morning sunshine.
On Tuesday, I pulled a muscle by my rib- right in the middle of my back. I was crying by the time I reached the car. I came home and called just about everyone I knew to help me with my toddler- “B Rex”- the active, growling, wild beast that I could not lift up. Some days just stink more than others. Some days I really hate living so far from family. Some days Hunnie has a million meetings and no flexibility. Some days are just lonely. l sat on the couch and just cried- too uncomfortable to even nap. But, an amazing friend swooped in to take my boy out to the zoo, then an unlikely new friend offered to come over and help me all evening. She helped feed my kids dinner, she lifted my boy into his crib, she graciously wiped up counters. A Surprise of Hope covered over the depression that was growing in my mind.
Moms often find it hard to find a time to shower-- no time before school when there are lunches to be made, socks to be searched for, papers to be signed and fights to be refereed. No time after school when there is homework to be done, games to go to, dinner to be cooked, and laundry to be put away. So, I’ve started showering in the middle of the day when B Rex is asleep and cannot bang on the door and scream the whole time. But, people sometimes come and ring the doorbell. Then, the dog barks, then the kids run by yelling that someone is here (so you can’t just ignore it and pretend you didn’t hear.) On Sunday I’d just put the shampoo in my hair, when I heard it. Ding Dong. At first I did try to ignore it, but it came again, and again. So, finally, I wrapped a towel around me and answered it- as I was expecting a friend anyhow. Well, it wasn’t her-- it was a man! Luckily, I had the screen door shut and locked and you can’t see through it. So, I told him that Hunnie wasn’t available, but I’d tell him that he had stopped by. “Oh, would he be available if I were to give him tickets to the World Series game today?” Yeah, pretty sure he would. Hold on…
A Surprise of Generosity- and to think, I almost didn’t answer the door!
What little Surprises of Kindness, Hope, Love, and Generosity have you seen in your life recently. Did you almost miss them, too?