There are some great bloggers out there. I enjoy reading others' blogs just as much as I enjoy writing my own.
One blog I particularly enjoy is called The Way I See It. This family is in the process of adoption, and their timeline was fairly similar to ours for awhile. They have received a referral, and recently the author Becky posted a wonderfully elegant and well-written blog about the joy and pain of adoption. Click here for her post.
I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did. Even though you may not be adopting. I think we can all connect with the heart of her post.
Enjoy!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
To make a list or not make a list...that is the question
I'm a notorious list-maker. I could be addicted, but I don't want to spend the time to really think it over.
Lists help me to stay focused when there is a lot to be done in a short period of time. They also help me clear my head because once an item is written down on a list, it somehow gives me permission to not worry about remembering it anymore.
Are you with me?
Well, yesterday I stood at the helm of a free weekend. No plans. NO PLANS. I can count on one hand the number of times this has happened to me in my life, and most of the times were when I was a baby. As I looked ahead to this gloriously free weekend, I wondered what I could do. I made a mental list of about 18 things.
Now, yes, I realize that's a little ambitious. And yes, I know it's not humanly possible to get it all done. But somehow I want to. Somehow I'm not only addicted to lists, but to completing things on lists.
So, do I give in to the temptation to make a list? Can I use the excuse that I'll limit it to only 5 things? Or do I force myself to relax and just go with the flow this weekend?
To make a list or not...what would you do?
Lists help me to stay focused when there is a lot to be done in a short period of time. They also help me clear my head because once an item is written down on a list, it somehow gives me permission to not worry about remembering it anymore.
Are you with me?
Well, yesterday I stood at the helm of a free weekend. No plans. NO PLANS. I can count on one hand the number of times this has happened to me in my life, and most of the times were when I was a baby. As I looked ahead to this gloriously free weekend, I wondered what I could do. I made a mental list of about 18 things.
Now, yes, I realize that's a little ambitious. And yes, I know it's not humanly possible to get it all done. But somehow I want to. Somehow I'm not only addicted to lists, but to completing things on lists.
So, do I give in to the temptation to make a list? Can I use the excuse that I'll limit it to only 5 things? Or do I force myself to relax and just go with the flow this weekend?
To make a list or not...what would you do?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Universal Letter Writing Week - Making Life Easy for You
I've been so excited all week for today's post. I knew what it was going to be, and just had to wait for today to come!
Today I'd like to give a gift to you. This is a gift that will (hopefully) make your life easier. If you need some note cards to send to the special people in your life, check out my website today because any note cards you buy from now until midnight will come with a pre-stamped envelope. Hopefully this makes letter writing more enjoyable for you because you don't have to dig through your miscellaneous drawers to find a stamp or run to the post office to purchase one. I hope that in doing this, I will enable you to send those wonderful messages to your friends and family.
Please view my Etsy shop and see if there's anything there that reminds you of the people in your life. You can also forward this link to your friends, so they can take advantage of this opportunity too.
So, stop in before midnight today, January 14th, and get a free, stamped envelope with EACH card purchase.
*No, I will not write the cards out for you. You've got to do that on your own! :)
Today I'd like to give a gift to you. This is a gift that will (hopefully) make your life easier. If you need some note cards to send to the special people in your life, check out my website today because any note cards you buy from now until midnight will come with a pre-stamped envelope. Hopefully this makes letter writing more enjoyable for you because you don't have to dig through your miscellaneous drawers to find a stamp or run to the post office to purchase one. I hope that in doing this, I will enable you to send those wonderful messages to your friends and family.
Please view my Etsy shop and see if there's anything there that reminds you of the people in your life. You can also forward this link to your friends, so they can take advantage of this opportunity too.
So, stop in before midnight today, January 14th, and get a free, stamped envelope with EACH card purchase.
*No, I will not write the cards out for you. You've got to do that on your own! :)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Universal Letter Writing Week - Family
I've been enjoying this week, haven't you? I received a very special note from the friend I referred to in Sunday's blog. She told me how much our friendship means to her and what an honor it is to go through life's different chapters together. It was so well-written; definitely a keeper!
I spent some time writing a note to my Grandpa today. He's been in a nursing home for quite a few years now, and I think at times it must feel so confining to him. His mind is sharp as ever, but his body has failed him. Writing notes to him is something small I can do to let him know I'm thinking about him, and that he's not alone.
Writing to my grandpa made me think about my family, and today I challenge you to write a note to a family member to let them know how much you appreciate them. If you can do a hand-written note, please do that. Those take more time and effort, and it will be a treat for the person on the receiving end. If you don't have the time or resources to send a hand-written note, try an email. Let's make sure to let our family members know we care about them.
If you're not sure what to write about, here are a few ideas:
-Write a note to your parent to share a favorite childhood memory
-Write a note to a sibling to let them know what you appreciate about them as you grow older
-Write a note to your child to let them know what you admire about them
-Write a note to your grandparent to let them know how much you appreciate them in your life
-Write a note offering forgiveness
-Write a note to apologize
-Write a note of encouragement to a family member going through a rough time
-Write a note to a family member celebrating an anniversary
-Write a note of congratulations
Pick up your pen...now go and get started!
I spent some time writing a note to my Grandpa today. He's been in a nursing home for quite a few years now, and I think at times it must feel so confining to him. His mind is sharp as ever, but his body has failed him. Writing notes to him is something small I can do to let him know I'm thinking about him, and that he's not alone.
Writing to my grandpa made me think about my family, and today I challenge you to write a note to a family member to let them know how much you appreciate them. If you can do a hand-written note, please do that. Those take more time and effort, and it will be a treat for the person on the receiving end. If you don't have the time or resources to send a hand-written note, try an email. Let's make sure to let our family members know we care about them.
If you're not sure what to write about, here are a few ideas:
-Write a note to your parent to share a favorite childhood memory
-Write a note to a sibling to let them know what you appreciate about them as you grow older
-Write a note to your child to let them know what you admire about them
-Write a note to your grandparent to let them know how much you appreciate them in your life
-Write a note offering forgiveness
-Write a note to apologize
-Write a note of encouragement to a family member going through a rough time
-Write a note to a family member celebrating an anniversary
-Write a note of congratulations
Pick up your pen...now go and get started!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Universal Letter Writing Week - Pen Pals
Did you have a pen pal growing up? My two longest-lasting pen pals were 2 family friends named Arianna and Sylvia.
Arianna was the daughter of my mom's high school friend. Her family lived on the East Coast, and we would write back and forth often throughout our childhood. She was a year or two older than me which made her really cool. Each year her family would come visit, and we would get to see each other for a few days. I remember my family visiting her family once in North Carolina. I was so excited to see the home of this friend I knew through letters and summer visits to Minnesota. I remember two distinct things: 1.) Mom made us stop to use gas station restrooms before we arrived so we wouldn't bombard them with bathroom requests the minute we got in the house and 2.) They picked up a special, very popular kind of donut for us called Krispy Kreme. It was our first time experiencing Krispy Kreme donuts!
Sylvia was the German cousin of my sister's friend. I'm not exactly sure how we got connected; perhaps while she was visiting our small hometown once. She and I were pen pals for quite a few years, and I always remember getting so excited when I saw one of those air mail envelopes in mom's stack of mail. I knew it was for me from Sylvia! Her English was very good, and she certainly got a lot of practice reading and writing English with all of the letters we traded back and forth!
Did you have a pen pal? What are your memories from your pen pal experience? I'd love to hear from you!
Arianna was the daughter of my mom's high school friend. Her family lived on the East Coast, and we would write back and forth often throughout our childhood. She was a year or two older than me which made her really cool. Each year her family would come visit, and we would get to see each other for a few days. I remember my family visiting her family once in North Carolina. I was so excited to see the home of this friend I knew through letters and summer visits to Minnesota. I remember two distinct things: 1.) Mom made us stop to use gas station restrooms before we arrived so we wouldn't bombard them with bathroom requests the minute we got in the house and 2.) They picked up a special, very popular kind of donut for us called Krispy Kreme. It was our first time experiencing Krispy Kreme donuts!
Sylvia was the German cousin of my sister's friend. I'm not exactly sure how we got connected; perhaps while she was visiting our small hometown once. She and I were pen pals for quite a few years, and I always remember getting so excited when I saw one of those air mail envelopes in mom's stack of mail. I knew it was for me from Sylvia! Her English was very good, and she certainly got a lot of practice reading and writing English with all of the letters we traded back and forth!
Did you have a pen pal? What are your memories from your pen pal experience? I'd love to hear from you!
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