Thankful Thursday: Paying It Forward

One of the best ways to express gratitude is by paying it forward. Paying it forward simply means to repay a good deed that you've received by doing the same or another good deed unto others. I love the notion and when a friend of mine posted a pay it forward status on her Facebook page, I was quick to jump on board. The concept was simple: the first five people to comment on her status would receive something handmade by her in exchange for reposting the status on their page and giving something handmade to the first five people who commented on their status. Pay It Forward 2012.

I have been the lucky recipient of many a wonderful handmade gift from cookies and brandied apricots to tea towels and home decor. I was keen on the idea of expressing my gratitude for such treats by passing along something homemade to others. I was soooo in! I commented on her status, reposted the concept on my page, and quickly had five people who wanted in on something handmade from me.

Yesterday, I got around to getting my craft on and whipped up some handmade goodness for the five people who replied. In doing so, I was reminded of a few things I am grateful for these days including:

• My paper crafting hobby
• Friends who appreciate handmade items
• A long nap by HP that allowed me to get it all done in one day

As the recipients won't actually receive their treats for at least another few days, I can only offer a sneak peak for now:

If you were one of the five, watch your mailboxes, there's some Pay It Forward 2012 love coming your way!

Thankful Thursday - Holiday Edition

The holidays are happier when we take a moment to appreciate the little and big things that make up our lives. A few things I am thankful for this holiday season are:

Abundance. Not of things, but of love, faith, spirit, family + friends, good health, and sweet baby smiles. We are surrounded by so much of all of this during the holidays and all through the year.

even covered in sweet potato, that face makes my heart full!

Time Together. We've been fortunate to have D home with us for a while now and have often commented on how lucky we've been to have such extended family time together. He's been able to enjoy many milestone moments that daddys often miss. That time together is coming to a close very early in 2012 as he  moves on to a new opportunity. We are making sure to really enjoy the remaining time together this Christmas.

out for lunch on a weekday afternoon

Giving. It is the season where gifts are plenty among our families and friends. Knowing this isn't the case for so many others among us, I am grateful for the ability to share my abundance with others through donations. Our home has shared with the Marguerite's Place holiday program in a joint effort coordinated by a very dear friend. Through her, we collectively helped four families have a little less stress and a little more happy this holiday season. Our home will also be donating diapers to the annual Waterwerks Diaper Drive. 1 in 5 moms have had to choose between food and diapers. I'm lucky to not have to make such a decision and want to help make sure other moms don't either. And of course, there will be more donations to the food bank, as the donations they receive now not only help with the holiday season, but also help sustain the food bank needs through the long winter months. If you have the ability to share your abundance, please do.

Another Year Passing + Another Year Ahead. I often lament at how fast time passes and how much faster that seems with each and every passing year. Truthfully though, I am thankful to have lived another year and enjoyed the memories it has given us, particularly this year with the addition of little HP to our family. As it wraps up, I am also thankful for the year ahead and all that it holds for us.

What about you, what are you thankful for this holiday season?

Thankful Thursday - A Healthy Baby Boy

Yesterday's news contained significant coverage about conjoined twin girls from the Philippines who were separated via surgery in the US. An amazing, awe-inspiring story that demonstrates the magnificence of medicine and shines a light on the bright future that is in store for these beautiful little babies.

That story sat with me most of the day, so perhaps it was no wonder my eyes were wide as I went about my day. As I made a return at the Gap, I noticed another mama and baby browsing the store. She, like me, flicked through the racks of cute 'little man' clothes. Her boy, like mine, cute as a button and quiet as a mouse in his stroller. The only noticeable difference between us was the breathing tube that ran from somewhere on the other little guy's stroller to his sweet button nose.

Later that afternoon, through a blogger I follow in the scrapbook world, I took note of a fundraising event for a sweet little boy who ingested a coin-sized lithium battery resulting in significant damage and many surgeries. He miraculously survived, though he has undergone general anesthesia 20 times in his short life, has had 4 inches of his esophagus removed, is undergoing various therapies, and has many unknowns yet to face.

Amidst those few life stories that I encountered in just one day, I am thankful, so very thankful for our healthy baby boy. I am thankful that our greatest challenges so far only included sorting out his milk sensitivities and feeding issues and our current efforts to get him to sleep a little better. In context, those are very small, ordinary potatoes compared to the challenges other parents and families have to face.

As I lay in bed last night, I consciously took a deep breath and thanked God for blessing our life with Hudson`s smiling, happy face and asked God to keep him that way forever. I also asked God to look out for those twin girls as they heal, the little guy at the Gap, Emmett in his fight, and all those parents and families who could use a little extra help and faith in their life right now.

We are truly blessed with health and happiness. This Thursday, I`m thankful for that.

love his handsome, smiling face

Thankful Thursday Trio

Hope you're all enjoying the week so far, especially knowing the weekend is just around the corner! Today, I'm feeling thankful for:

...Lingering summer weather, better late than never
...Feeling fall creeping in, slow and steady
...Visiting with far away friends, knowing distance changes nothing

What are you thankful for this Thursday?