Today was Bucket group at Annette's home. (In case anyone has missed what this is....I have a group of women that meet once a month to "fill our buckets." Each person hosts once a year and decides the activity that will enrich our lives. Wonderful food is always involved. Today we tied a quilt for the humanitarian center, then had a fabulous lunch. (Orange Almond Chicken recipe below.) Annette had asked us to come prepared to share a service that we had either rendered or when a service was done to us that really mattered. The thing that was awesome about this assignment was that immediately, wonderful experiences of goodness filled my heart. I thought of a million kindnesses that have mattered to me.....which in turn was gratitude unmeasured. I know I have shared most of these before but since they are on the tip of my heart, I'll share a few I've been remembering.
~the care packages my mom continually sent to us while young (and VERY poor) marrieds. David was just starting his Junior year of college when we got married so that meant we had 5 years to go (while producing 2 kids as well.) Sometimes the boxes came bearing the signature of "amomyous."
~my MIL came and helped for almost every one of my children when they were born. I remember she came for Brandi, stayed for two weeks. She would get up with her in the night, bring her to me in bed so I could feed her, listened until we were through and then changed her and rocked her until the baby fell asleep again. I don't think I changed Brandi's diapers for two weeks. She never seemed judgmental that I was scattered and not as organized as she was. My MIL was/is love unfeigned.
~when Brandi was about 8, she had an appendicitis attack. I ran her to the hospital and she was in such pain, I carried her in the hospital. She started throwing up while I was trying to get her admitted....and NO ONE came to help me. It was unreal. Except one mom in the waiting room. She ran over and started barking orders, grabbed a wheelchair. Rescued us. I've never forgotten her.
~we had just moved into this home after a remodel. I ran into Susan Nebeker in the halls of church....someone I had known a million years ago but didn't live in our Ward. When she asked what I was up to, I told her about the move, about Tanner just leaving that week for his mission. She immediately said she was bringing dinner the following Sunday. I told her that we were fine....and that although the upstairs wasn't finished, the downstairs kitchen was. She said it didn't matter, she was bringing dinner. And she did. But not an ordinary dinner. It was a full prime rib. Homemade mashed potatoes and gravy. Homemade rolls. Homemade pie. On and on and on. It was an over-the-top meal. She had confided in me that when they had once moved, no one in the neighborhood had helped them (which is so unusual)...and that she had vowed to never let anyone that she heard of moving ever feel that way. I honestly had not even had association with this woman for about 15 years! Unbelievable.
~when my son-in-law had a brain tumor and a business reversal, I could write a book about the people that helped them in every way possible. My daughter's friends were truly amazing. Kitchen cupboards and their freezer was stocked with food. The kiddos were farmed out and nurtured. Meals continually came. One sister-in-law to B. came each week to clean their bathroom. What an amazing service. I will NEVER forget the kindnesses that were shown to them.
~when I was almost inconsolable when my son, Ryan contacted malaria and dengue in Guatemala on his mission. I was mad at God for not protecting my boy, devastated that my worst fear of him going there had occurred, frustrated that he was in a hospital alone, in a foreign land and not knowing how he was doing. The doorbell rang and I found a battery-operated cow dancing on my porch holding a sign that said "M.A.M." (Mothers Against Malaria.) Plus a big basket of chips and salsa and goodies. It was just the thing that broke my depression, that gave me the zing to be able to stand up again with faith. It was girlfriend nurturing at its best.
~when David and I went to Guatemala to pick up Ryan after his mission, I got terribly ill. I honestly thought I was going to die on top of a pyramid there, my heart was almost beating out of my chest. I later learned I was experiencing thyroid storm which meant my heart really could have burst! When we got home, I continued to get worse until it was diagnosed (thyroidities.) I was immediately put on beta-blockers among other things which puts you in a verrrry slow, almost comatose state. (kidding.) The problem was I had a booth in Swiss Days (a big celebration each year that I've talked about with a huge art and craft fair) in Midway....and a basement full of unfinished projects. One night the doorbell rang...and in marched a herd of my friends....all headed to the basement to finish my projects. I was amazed... BFF Cathy and Brandi and hubbie Ryan set up our booth and manned it for the two day fair...while I just sat there, drugged, like a limp ragdoll in my lawn chair. Great image, isn't it.... Not a pretty sight....
~whenever I volunteer or get asked to do a huge project, I somehow con my friends into helping. My friend, Pretty Patty Petty lives in Boise....but that didn't stop her from helping me bind and tie or cut almost 50 quilts for our Stake humanitarian project. Or coming here to sew 50 school bags another year. Brendalyn always helps with every project I do as well. We are a good team. I think of all the friends that helped so much this summer with all the huge projects that were going on. I don't think I could survive without these great women in my life and I certainly don't express my appreciation to the extent of how much I feel.
~Aunt Pat (not my aunt) who always says "give me a list"...then always gets the job done. We couldn't (wouldn't want to) go to Lake Powell without her.
It was wonderful today to hear about all these great friend's cherished memories. We always have a good cry and a few laughs and leave with our "buckets" full and overflowing.
Totally grateful!
~the care packages my mom continually sent to us while young (and VERY poor) marrieds. David was just starting his Junior year of college when we got married so that meant we had 5 years to go (while producing 2 kids as well.) Sometimes the boxes came bearing the signature of "amomyous."
~my MIL came and helped for almost every one of my children when they were born. I remember she came for Brandi, stayed for two weeks. She would get up with her in the night, bring her to me in bed so I could feed her, listened until we were through and then changed her and rocked her until the baby fell asleep again. I don't think I changed Brandi's diapers for two weeks. She never seemed judgmental that I was scattered and not as organized as she was. My MIL was/is love unfeigned.
~when Brandi was about 8, she had an appendicitis attack. I ran her to the hospital and she was in such pain, I carried her in the hospital. She started throwing up while I was trying to get her admitted....and NO ONE came to help me. It was unreal. Except one mom in the waiting room. She ran over and started barking orders, grabbed a wheelchair. Rescued us. I've never forgotten her.
~we had just moved into this home after a remodel. I ran into Susan Nebeker in the halls of church....someone I had known a million years ago but didn't live in our Ward. When she asked what I was up to, I told her about the move, about Tanner just leaving that week for his mission. She immediately said she was bringing dinner the following Sunday. I told her that we were fine....and that although the upstairs wasn't finished, the downstairs kitchen was. She said it didn't matter, she was bringing dinner. And she did. But not an ordinary dinner. It was a full prime rib. Homemade mashed potatoes and gravy. Homemade rolls. Homemade pie. On and on and on. It was an over-the-top meal. She had confided in me that when they had once moved, no one in the neighborhood had helped them (which is so unusual)...and that she had vowed to never let anyone that she heard of moving ever feel that way. I honestly had not even had association with this woman for about 15 years! Unbelievable.
~when my son-in-law had a brain tumor and a business reversal, I could write a book about the people that helped them in every way possible. My daughter's friends were truly amazing. Kitchen cupboards and their freezer was stocked with food. The kiddos were farmed out and nurtured. Meals continually came. One sister-in-law to B. came each week to clean their bathroom. What an amazing service. I will NEVER forget the kindnesses that were shown to them.
~when I was almost inconsolable when my son, Ryan contacted malaria and dengue in Guatemala on his mission. I was mad at God for not protecting my boy, devastated that my worst fear of him going there had occurred, frustrated that he was in a hospital alone, in a foreign land and not knowing how he was doing. The doorbell rang and I found a battery-operated cow dancing on my porch holding a sign that said "M.A.M." (Mothers Against Malaria.) Plus a big basket of chips and salsa and goodies. It was just the thing that broke my depression, that gave me the zing to be able to stand up again with faith. It was girlfriend nurturing at its best.
~when David and I went to Guatemala to pick up Ryan after his mission, I got terribly ill. I honestly thought I was going to die on top of a pyramid there, my heart was almost beating out of my chest. I later learned I was experiencing thyroid storm which meant my heart really could have burst! When we got home, I continued to get worse until it was diagnosed (thyroidities.) I was immediately put on beta-blockers among other things which puts you in a verrrry slow, almost comatose state. (kidding.) The problem was I had a booth in Swiss Days (a big celebration each year that I've talked about with a huge art and craft fair) in Midway....and a basement full of unfinished projects. One night the doorbell rang...and in marched a herd of my friends....all headed to the basement to finish my projects. I was amazed... BFF Cathy and Brandi and hubbie Ryan set up our booth and manned it for the two day fair...while I just sat there, drugged, like a limp ragdoll in my lawn chair. Great image, isn't it.... Not a pretty sight....
~whenever I volunteer or get asked to do a huge project, I somehow con my friends into helping. My friend, Pretty Patty Petty lives in Boise....but that didn't stop her from helping me bind and tie or cut almost 50 quilts for our Stake humanitarian project. Or coming here to sew 50 school bags another year. Brendalyn always helps with every project I do as well. We are a good team. I think of all the friends that helped so much this summer with all the huge projects that were going on. I don't think I could survive without these great women in my life and I certainly don't express my appreciation to the extent of how much I feel.
~Aunt Pat (not my aunt) who always says "give me a list"...then always gets the job done. We couldn't (wouldn't want to) go to Lake Powell without her.
It was wonderful today to hear about all these great friend's cherished memories. We always have a good cry and a few laughs and leave with our "buckets" full and overflowing.
Totally grateful!
