Yeah, what he said

It's all about perspective. What we choose to see and whether or not we're grateful for what we have. I have to say I'm happier right now than I have been in a while and the only thing that's really changed is what is going on inside of me and what I'm choosing to do. My circumstances have not changed much at all. And if I had my way, I'd probably choose to change a few of them. At least I would have. Now I'm not so sure because they've been teaching me and I wouldn't want to lose what I'm learning for anything in the world.

An Unexpected Surprise

It's taken me by surprise actually, but I just can't get over how many people do kind things for me. This whole idea was for me was to reach out and find things I could do for others, yet nearly every day I find myself moved by something someone does for me. Each day I am more and more grateful as I've become increasingly aware of how kind other people are. An added benefit to the Love Revolution.

Just one example is when I dropped Hanna off at her preschool Valentine party. One of the other mom's asked me if she can eat Skittles (she's allergic to peanuts). When I replied she can, she let me know that she made a Valentine with Skittles for Hanna. I was moved to tears when Hanna brought her stash home she pulled out a baggie with an adorable covered matchbox full of Skittles and a note that said, "For the little girl allergic to nuts." I learned the rest of the boxes had M&M's in them.

Seriously, if you don't want to do this for others, just try it for you...you'll be shocked at how your life will change.

Hope

Today I'm grateful for HOPE among other things.

“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes,
but above all, with blazing, serene hope.”

- Corazon Aquino

What about you? What are you grateful for?

Photo Journal Memories

I've been working on my photo journal from last year. It's taking me longer than I wanted it to (no surprise there) but I am loving putting it together and am looking forward to having the book printed.

It's interesting to see what photos speak to me after the fact. I used my camera nearly every day, and now as I look back a year later, some photos that didn't do much for me before, really stick out to me.

One of them is this shot of the first day she let me leave her at dance all by herself. It reminds me of how she used to feel so anxious to be without me. She's completely grown out of that piece of herself and now has a confidence all her own, making this memory much more tender. I'm so glad I have it.

Simple Giving

It's amazing how when I'm having a bad day I can struggle just to try and find one kind thing to do. I want to just hole up in my house and not reach out to anyone. But that's exactly when I'm the one who needs to reach out...for me. Isn't it crazy how that works?

I had a lot going on on Friday and although I put on my thickest shield, I still let myself get a little down. This carried over onto Saturday and I found myself trying to do too many things in a short amount of time. One of the things I was doing was making Valentine sugar cookies for a couple of people in my neighborhood. I need to remember that I have to make the dough the day before because it always takes so much longer than I want it to. The dough has to chill for several hours in the fridge. And don't be fooled into thinking that you can put it in the freezer for just a couple of hours and get the same result. It does not work, trust me.

Anyhow, I was getting a little down on myself that I wasn't getting it done and I felt like I was skipping a day of Love Revolution. However, the next morning someone told me about a different neighbor of mine who was feeling a little bit lonely, so I went ahead and baked the Valentine cookies the day after Valentine's Day and got us all in our coats and scarfs and dropped them off to this new family. We got to meet them (I hadn't met them yet) and they were so sweet. The husband said that we made him so happy and made his day by doing that. That one simple thing. I was actually glad that I hadn't gotten the cookies out the day before because that experience was so wonderful.

It's true that sometimes we (I) believe something small isn't that important. His words reminded me that they are. I was also reminded of how important they are when my feeling blah on Saturday was interrupted by a little Valentine cookie that Amy dropped off for me. It meant a lot. Thanks Amy!

A Reminder

I was driving home the other day a bit lost in thought, when I looked over and saw a little reminder. I loved what a perfect visual it was to remind me that it doesn't really matter what my circumstances are I can still choose to bloom.

"Life is about becoming more than we are."

- Oprah Winfrey

Do Miracles Still Happen?

I guess if you consider the fact that the area between both hemispheres of his brain was full of cancer and his pituitary gland had failed completely because of his tumor...

If you consider the fact that half way through his radiation therapy the cancer was completely gone...

If you consider the fact that the doctor who just recently looked at his current MRI next to his initial MRI kept uttering the word, "Unbelievable," over and over again...

If you consider the fact that he stopped taking his hormone medications (for the pituitary gland failure) when he stopped his radiation treatment and has stopped throwing up and has an appetite again...

If you consider the fact that when the doctor was asked what symptoms he might be having if his pituitary gland was still not functioning, he replied he would be dead...

Then you have to consider the fact that miracles do indeed happen.

Carlton, I'm so glad your well again. I love you.

Thank you for your prayers and love.

What she wants to be when she grows up...

"A Mommy. With black hair on the top and blond hair on the side and on the side."

I guess my roots aren't blending as much as I thought they were. Nice.

Notice how many more fingers the Mommy has than the rest of the family. We need them!

A Button for Love Revolution 09

Thanks to Leisha, you can have a blog button to help spread the word about love revolution 09.

Simply copy and paste the following code to your blog:

<a href="http://littleofthisthatandtheother.blogspot.com/2009/02/loverevolution09.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm38/leishakelsey/Buttons/loverevolution09.jpg" border="0" alt="love revolution 09" /></a>
Thanks Leisha!

Love Revolution 09

"I have this theory, that if one person will go out of their way
to show compassion, it will start a chain reaction of the same.
People will never know how far a little kindness can go."

- Rachel Joy Scott (First student killed in the Columbine High School shootings)

I was inspired by a friend last year to give some act of kindness every day for 10 days. I went ahead and did it for the month of February and loved it. Some of you did it with me. There's something about getting into the habit of thinking of other people and watching for ways to spread kindness that can't help but make you happy. It's contagious!

I don't think I'm alone in feeling like I want to make a difference in the world. And I believe we can change the world by changing our worlds...making a difference for the people right around us. Just one simple act each day. If I do it, and you do it, and you, and you, and you we can have a rippling effect in the world.

We're in a rough patch right now with everything seeming to crash down all around us. The economy is in the worst shape it's been during our lifetime. Our country is at war and has been for almost as long as my oldest child has been living. The media bombards us with all of our problems, everything we should be afraid of and all that's negative in the world. I'm tired of it all.

"You can really change the world if you care enough."

- Marian Wright Edelman

By focusing on others and getting into the habit of looking around me for people to reach out to I'm becoming more aware of my neighbors, my friends and even a sweet homeless woman in the parking lot at my grocery store selling trinkets so she could buy shampoo. I'm finding we all need a smile and sometimes a hug, a phone call or even just an email. There are people who cross our paths every day who can benefit from our kindness. The truth is we need each other. And I believe that we really do care enough.

So the love revolution begins...let's change the world.

Do you want to help spread the word? Get a button here.

Working on something...

Come back then!