I am shoving dinner into my face right now and I have 2 out of 3 boys bathed. We are up way past bedtime--which normally wouldn't matter too much. However tomorrow is a volunteer day!
Tomorrow morning me and the boys are going to go donate our time at the local food pantry. I am really excited about giving back to the community in memory of Elijah, and to be able to share this experience with the kids.
But tonight I am going to keep my blog "short," and just share this story I posted earlier on Facebook with you:
Today I was driving to go drop off some books and I saw this couple standing on the street corner holding a sign. With them they had a dog and a tiny cat on a leash! It is not too often I see people “begging” in this small town, but it is also not often I see a cat that is well behaved on a leash either. So I drove by and tried to read the sign... all I could see was "anything helps." Man, I thought to myself, I know that feeling all to well. I never begged on the street in all my time spent in homelessness, but it was not because I was too proud. It was because I wasn't brave enough. It takes a lot of bravery to put yourself out there and let the world know just how broke you are. I takes a lot of bravery to face the judgment that is sure to come from the people going to their jobs or their beautiful homes. It takes a lot of bravery to ask for help. Of course there are scam artists out there and of course there are people looking to take advantage of you. But there are also people who are genuinely going through a rough time and really do need that little something to help them get by. Anyways, even though my family has found a place to live we are still struggling to get by. However, I couldn't pass by the opportunity to help out this couple and learn more about the cat on a leash. So I ran in and bought one can of dog food. One can of cat food (Both with pull tabs) and then I got 2 bags of chips and 2 waters as an act of #kindness in memory of my son Elijah (I do an act of kindness everyday in his memory). It wasn't much, but when someone says "anything helps" they mean anything helps. But when I went back to the street corner, the couple was not there. It looked like it was about to rain, so I figured they were walking somewhere for shelter. So I drove a little bit when I saw the getting into their car at Walgreens. I got out and ran over to them and gave them the little bag of goodies that I had. And then I asked about the cat on a leash, and what did their sign say, and where were they headed? It turns out they had a friend in South Carolina who had a place for them to live and they had been traveling all the way from Oregon basically on the kindness of strangers. They were taking a more southern route because they thought it would keep them out of the cold but learned that wasn't the best idea because Texas turned out to have snow. Their names are Sherry Ann and Trent and they were so polite, happy and humble. I am so glad I stopped and talked with them today. Their strength and bravery really inspired me. Please. If you see them on their travels east, help them out. And if you don't see them, then say a prayer that they make it safely to their new home. I'd really appreciate it! Learn people’s stories. Take time to care. You don’t have to have a lot to give. I sure don’t. Anyone can change someone else's’ day, or even their life. All of us have the power to make the world a better place. We just have to take the time to do it. Take some time today and do it. You won't regret it. I promise.
Hope you guys are having a great night. Sending you all sunshine and love.
Please keep praying for our world. Pray for my family. Pray for me. Pray for you! And always always. Pray for my sweet Elijah.
Thank you.
Skin to skin.
This was my favorite place for you to hold your little head.
I think skin to skin is just as comforting for the mom as it is the baby.
We were so connected in that moment.
I still believe that we are very connected now.
You are my little soulmate.
You are my inspiration.
You are one of the greatest loves of my life.
I love and miss you so much Elijah.
Always.
<3
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