Kindness Sent & Received

This post is part of my 29 Days of Giving Campaign.  You can see the rest of the posts in this series here.

Today I Gave:  A little care package to some friends who have a rough season ahead of them.  

A year ago last September Mike met his half sister, Michele, for the very first time.  We also had the pleasure of meeting her awesome family – husband, Jared, and children, Alaina and Nathan.  In June, Jared passed away after courageously battling melanoma.

I remember when Mike's mom passed away, we were surrounded by concern and kindness.  As the days pass into weeks, and then into months, people move on.  It's natural – life gets busy and well, it goes on.  And for those who are left grieving, it can be tremendously lonely and painful.  I don't equate the pain of losing a mother-in-law anywhere near the pain of losing a spouse or a father, but I do know a fraction of that grief.  I remember the holidays approaching with an isolating dread – everyone else is so excited and all you want is for the person you miss the most to come back.

The kids and I put together a little care package for Alaina and Nathan, along with a note for Michele.  It won't make things any easier for them, but I do hope that for at least a little while they can enjoy the treats and let their minds wander to happier places.

Today I Received:   Again, I have a belated gift to share.  But this one is just so special to me I can't let the opportunity pass by without calling attention to it.  A while back, I got my own package in the mail.  I had no idea what it was – I hadn't ordered anything for myself and neither had Mike.  I opened it up to find this print:

Turns out a local friend who I met through Twitter sent it to me.  She knew I was hurting for my old home and thought I would like this poster.  It's finally framed and on the wall in my family room.  I love it, Sacha, and I hope you'll forgive me for taking so long to get it from print to framed to on the wall.  Trust me, this is speedy for us.  It reminds me how much I still love our Nashville, and it reminds me of how blessed I am to have such thoughtful people in my life.  It was just what that little corner of my home and I needed.