The Help

Last night, Dave and I watched “The Help”. I have not read the book, and I avoided the movie because of all the hype surrounding it. I didn’t want to jump onto the bandwagon as it were. I do just have to say that I found the movie delightful. I expected a very heavy feel because of the subject matter, but I found that we laughed more than we cried. Well, to be fair, I cried. Dave the studly man didn’t, but it pulled at my heart.

I am so thankful that I live in the time that I do. I am thankful that I was not raised by anyone but my oh so caring mother. As much as the children loved their “Nannies”, I feel they needed their mothers more. I would love someone to do all the cleaning and laundry for me, but that is just because I don’t enjoy that part of being a domestic goddess . I would refuse to hire someone to raise my babies. Sometimes when Melody’s big brown eyes look up at me with complete trust and adoration I wonder how anyone could choose to have someone else raise their kids so they can run around playing bridge and going out to lunch… what did those women do all day, every day anyway?! I would rather play hide-and-seek!

“The Help” made me think, it made me laugh, and it made me cry. I am glad I watched it…

No More!

Yesterday at church, I found out that a dear friend of mine died on Thursday. I have known this wonderful woman since moving down south here, I will miss her. I am done with loss, I feel like my emotions are on a roller coaster ride and I am ready to get off! 

Instead I get to go to another Funeral on Tuesday. I will miss you Lori, you are gone from us too soon. Please everyone, stay safe and stay healthy. I don’t want to mourn any more.

Excitement comes in small packages

This Christmas season, we have been working pretty hard at trying to enjoy the season. We do little projects every day to attempt to be happy as a family. As many of you know, my parents are serving a mission for my church in Uganda, Africa. We aren’t sending a care package this year for Christmas, it is way too expensive (over $100 to send 5 pounds gah!), and we were able to see them just over a month ago, even if the circumstances stunk. Anyway, so this morning, my mom sent an email out to all of us…

“If any grandchildren would like to work for their parents and donate some money we will give gifts to some children from them.  A few dollars translates into a lot here.  Have the children put the money in an envelope to give to us when we return, and tell us how much to spend.  What fun.”

I can’t tell you how excited I am about this idea! I was given some extra work making Christmas Cards, so I have a little extra cash. I now know exactly what we are doing with some of it. I am sure my kids will jump on board, carry extra firewood for a quarter? Pick up the extra toys in your room? Empty the small garbage cans? I think that they will be excited at the idea of helping out the Ugandan children who have so little. My mom has frequently seen the children playing with an old tire and a stick for lack of anything else… imagine the surprise on Christmas morning when a little girl gets a doll from my daughter… To lose myself in service projects, that is what I need. I just know it.