my goodness, i am just overwhelmed by your kind comments. i have been sitting here sniff, sniff, sniffing away....thanks so much kind friends and family (geez, mom...) for being so supportive. jb - when i saw your name in the comments i wasn't even sure i could read on...i'm sorry that your family had to go through this first, but i find so much comfort in watching how you guys have handled things. i love how you celebrate your father. your family is an amazing example of how to mourn with grace! finding the balance between celebrating the joy and honoring the memory is a little tricky for me right now - but i'm working on it.
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i am excited to find that some of you commented for the first time (hi clair-e). that is a big thing for me. i always kind of wonder who really reads this blog anyway. so, i'm excited to hear about the ways that people are giving this year and i am really noticing that the economy is having a nasty effect on my Christmas budget. that being said, i'm not feeling the love for greed and excess (sorry corporate america. sorry, i can't to do my part to stimulate the economy. i'll make up for it some day - i promise.). and, i've always thought it more important to put thought into a gift rather than buying something on a whim. i definitely want to teach my kids about giving from the heart. jennie suggested making and baking for the holidays which i am all about. i saw a recipe for cinnamon ornaments (or gift tags?!?), we are making fish in a bag soaps for the kids at school, and potpourri bags for neighbors. of course i'm making Christmas cards because that's how i roll....(did i mention it's official? sweet pea and beans is now a fully operational business....looking forward to discussing the possibilities with you all after the holidays!!!)
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tisha suggested adopting a family, mikelle suggested having the boys pick out one of their own toys and jennie and jen b. suggested taking names from a giving tree. we have more than we could ever need. so i think that is exactly what we'll be doing in some sort of fashion....sorting out the things we don't need and giving them to someone who does. we talked about using my dad's big red truck to deliver Christmas presents....now, if we could just get that thing started and out of the garage. why oh why didn't i let him teach me how to drive it?
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last thing...the jesse tree. i love that idea, and i have been waffling about doing it for awhile (should have already started). however, i think we'll start tonight. better late than never. thanks jh for the reminder!
you know, i've been pondering that question about giving... and when I come up with an answer I'll let you know.... it's gonna be good though.
ReplyDeletei know what you mean about the christmas downs... i sat in bed the other day with the christmas tree in the driveway... dreading the long night and just wanting to sleep.
there are so many reasons to be sad this year, but still, like you said, we keep on going.
chin up little lady. you are awesome.
and why must we wait til next xmas for the sp&b line? i was just getting ready to purchase some now.... seriously.
ReplyDeleteI am soooo glad that you are back and here to stay... what would life be like without Sweet Pea and Beans, I just don't want to imagine.....
ReplyDeletei'm not going anywhere...:)
ReplyDeletewhy are you making us--your loyal fans--wait?! i can't wait to see/hear what fabulous things you have planned!
ReplyDeleteone more thing, we made cookies and took them to our local fire station--the one that would come to our house in case of a fire. they were so appreciative of the gesture, they invited the guys on the big trucks and have pictures taken. it may have been self-serving for the boys, but it showed them how good it feels to give.
however, i know SP &B have a good mom, who is raising them to be good guys. remember, you have some chocolately-goodness too!