What loving hands can do

This is kind of a personal post, but I hope the next time you wonder if you're making any difference, it will help.

It's been 5 years since that day. In the YMCA pool were my little 6 year old daughter and 3 year old son. Twice a week I brought them for swimming lessons. Each time, I would place their things in a locker and go sit down in the observation room to watch. This time was different. I had been trying to control my grief and despair in front of my children and keep myself together. I found what I thought was a secluded corner of the locker room where no one could see me. Sitting on the floor, I pulled my knees into my chest and rested my forehead on them. In the safety of knowing I was alone, I let tears stream down my face into my secluded knees as I tried to accept the idea I would be raising my children alone and needing to find a way to provide. To my surprise, two older women came and placed their hands on my shoulders. I knew they couldn't have heard me and thought I must have just looked like I was resting. When they asked if I was alright and what was wrong I couldn't help but really start to cry. All I could voice was that my husband was leaving my children and I. They came in closer, touching my body and placeing their hands together- resting them on me. Those women prayed hard for my kids and I. They held me close for a while. Maybe the problem didn't go away, and I can't say my grief was gone. Never will I forget those two angels I had never met and never saw again who took time out of their day and lives to comfort me that morning.

When life feels pointless and monotonous, remember that you do make a difference. And while a few extra hours at work might earn you a bigger pay check that would all too soon be spent and gone, a few moments of loving someone may last a lifetime.

Handy work

In honor of spring and all that, Tony built this awesome garden for me! We have one with some fruits and pumpkins, one with veggies, and a small one for herbs. They are doing quite well, and I love the ease of the drip line watering system he put in- the garden gets watered with the lawn when the sprinklers go off. Watching the produce grow has been fun!

Also, here's a picture of the first hibiscus flower of the season since we had the bushes pruned. I wanted to share so you could enjoy it too- it's so pretty!

The big and little cub scout

Kaiden took second place in the wolf group cub scout pinewood derby. Tony and Kaiden boys had fun building the car and watching it race.

What I'm doing this week

Our sweet little boy decided to sneak the face paint out of the trash. Tony put it in the garbage because the kids made a mess with it and couldn't leave it in the cupboard. Naturally when you are 8 and you sneak something you must put it in your pocket. Good moms check pockets. Maybe it's because my kids always put clean clothes in the laundry and the laundry heaps in piles, or maybe it's because I'm too busy with everything else I take upon myself, but I rarely check inside pockets- just a simple pat to feel for large objects. Note to self- face paint sticks are not large objects, and pockets probably should be checked. Kaiden helped me spray all the stains last night. Some came out with that and oxy clean, the other half of the load is on it's second round of treatments now. Why oh why do they make face paint and crayons? This isn't my laundry- I cheated and took a picture from Google, but you get the picture!