Find a Family in Need

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery Pic is just ONE more JSU photo of Roxie giving the baritone a try. There is obviously a big difference between the baritone and the sax and the amount of air you have to use.

Also, do you know how it feels when you have a lot of stuff to do, and then something happens that creates more work... even though you already have a lot of stuff to do? Well, that's kind of what the second picture in the Gallery depicts. I washed Mikie's feather pillow today, and after a few seconds in the dryer it kind of exploded. I know, I know. It could have been worse. At least it was in a contained area. Right? But it's still not something "on the list," if you get my drift. (That, and it looks like I threw two white chickens in my dryer... which I did NOT.)

Austin made it home for a very long weekend, AND in time for dinner and a movie. We had a fun time, and it was a good start to our five days together. I almost feel as though I need to post Weekend Happenings today, but I'll be posting Thursday morning and late Friday afternoon (after we get back from our Galleria/Wynfrey/Black Friday experience), so it isn't time for that yet. The holidays leave me feeling like I'm never really sure what day it is. (And I'm not.)

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! The Contest winners celebrating my 300th post of A Simple Life will be awarded their very own Mystery Bag Party. That's right! We had such a good time in October, I have decided to have another Mystery Bag Party in January... and the six women who will accompany me on this "journey" will be selected from the women who enter the contest.

Just leave your name under my Comment Section, on Facebook or my e-mail with the word "CONTEST" beside it, and I will put your name in the bowl. I will draw SIX NAMES December 18... the day of my 300th post. You have about three weeks to enter. It will be a very fun party! I've also changed things a little from the first party, so it will be an unique event. I'll be reminding you once a week or so until December 18, so go ahead and get your name in today! A good time will be had by all who win!

Special Guest Hints

3. She has said she will NEVER eat a rutabaga... EVER!

4. She is great with teenagers. I wasn't around her very much when her kids were small, but if I had to guess, I would say she is definitely very comfortable with this age and all it entails. (Code for TEENAGERS DO NOT INTIMIDATE HER IN THE LEAST!)

5. She has a very unique and contagious laugh. (And if she is reading this, that is meant as a compliment.)

Topic of the Week - Thanksgiving

I'm a believer in lists. I think they give your day purpose, and thus, help you live your life in a purposeful way. The following is the list of some of the things I am thankful for which have come about because of Josh's illness. It was not always an easy list to make, but it gave "purpose" to his illness, and that was important to me.

Because of Josh's illness:

1. I learned to listen to God's still, small voice. When Jenny Bowen's name kept coming up in my mind, and I kept dismissing it, I now know God was directing my path to Jenny... who would direct me to Laura Hancock... who would then direct me to the Christian psychiatrist and his wife who would finally listen, diagnose and put us on the path to finding a way to help Joshua. I am thankful I am finally learning to listen to God.

2. I learned to think before I speak. And when I did speak, I learned not to say too much. "Little is more" when talking about illnesses people are unable to understand. I am thankful I finally learned how to summarize Josh's illness in a brief, understandable way to anyone interested enough to ask.

3. I learned not to depend on my church, friends or family when I was at my absolute lowest. Very few of them were there. I learned to depend on God, and He was always there. I'm thankful for His presence in my life every day... not just during the good times.

4. I learned there was a very good reason I was married to Mike Faulkner, and my children were Austin, Joshua and Roxie Faulkner. When our family could easily have been broken beyond repair, we huddled together and became one very strong family unit. I am thankful I married the person God chose for me, and not the wrong person. I am thankful for the three children God blessed our family with... not by accident, but by God's perfect plan.

5. I learned to put everyday things in perspective. Many things in my life which at one time seemed all important now seem silly in comparison with my child's health and well-being. I am thankful I am not sweating the "little things" quite as much. (I have to admit... I have to work on this daily. It's kind of who I was before Josh's Journey began... a "sweater." But I am getting better. I promise.)

6. I'm learning to have more compassion and empathy for others and their hardships and their struggles. I'm thankful Josh's illness has opened my eyes more to the suffering of others. (I'm still working on this one, too.)

7. But I think more than any of the above, I have learned that everyone has a special "story" which is uniquely their own. I believe we can learn a lot from each other through these stories. And I am thankful God has opened my mind and heart to new people who are willing to share their stories with me, AND listen to mine.

Tomorrow I will end the Topic of the Week on an upbeat note. No "downers" before the holidays. That's my new motto! It's not snappy enough for a tattoo, but it's good advice just the same.

Wednesday Wisdom - Today's quotes are about Family. Most of us will be spending time with family this coming holiday season, and these are two simple quotes I enjoyed very much.

"Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts." Author Unknown.

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." Erma Bombeck. (I miss Erma, don't you?)

Find a Family in Need

This is a time when many families reach out to help those in need. Although as Christians we should be doing this EVERY day of the year, we are made more aware of the needs of those around us during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

If you don't know of a needy family, find one. Call the Salvation Army or a local church and ask them how to get in touch with a needy family. Sometimes the counselor or principal from a school will know of a specific situation which could be handled anonymously through the school. Once you have the information, decide ways you can help make a special memory for that family for the holiday season.

Whether it is (1) supplying food for a meal; (2) buying specific gifts for children in the family for Christmas; (3) giving the family gift cards to Wal-Mart or Cracker Barrel or a local grocery store; (4) buying a small Christmas tree and a box of inexpensive decorations; (5) offering to pay a utility bill; or (6) even something more "creative" or "inventive," open yourself (and your family) up to the possibilities of giving more than receiving this holiday season.

As always, make sure the kids are involved... watching and learning by the example their parents set for them and by actually helping themselves will help the "lesson" stick!

Have a lovely Wednesday before Thanksgiving! There's going to be a lot of cooking going on today, isn't there? We'll be heading to Mike's hometown for part of the day Thursday, but bright and early tomorrow morning you will find Blog Linkage and a holiday date... So even though it's an Official National Holiday, and you have a million family members in your living room, take a moment or two to visit A Simple Life. You'll be glad you did! (Oh, and don't forget I'll be giving you a couple more hints regarding our Special Guest for next Tuesday.)

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda