Fillin' the Bucket!!!!

Life is busy and can be tiring, what with--school, work, carpooling, budgets, the scary economy, homework, cooking, cleaning and anything else that helps to make up each of our days. There are times when we just need to refill our "bucket." Last Saturday was definitely a "bucket filler!" I am calling it that, because we got up early to do service. You can't help but feel happy when you are serving, right? It sort of picks you up and sets you straight. Well, that is the way it works for us anyway. We went to a Catholic Church near our home to help make blankets for children in need. We did this in October and had such a great time that we decided that we HAD to take part in this again. Paul has become quite the stitcher-man. Laura, Austin and I can tie a mean knot on polar fleece blankets. :) At the end, we all sat together and helped to stitch the "Project Linus" tag on each of the blankets. It was three hours well spent with great people from our Highlands Ranch community. Once again, we all left feeling happy and a little better for doing something for someone else. I am starting this week with a full "Bucket" and this will help me to attack this busy week ahead. Anyone else found something that helps to fill their bucket?

I am loving this new experience!

When all of our kids were at home I would often write notes and letters to them and place them on their beds. Sometimes they would write me back. I have kept all the letters that they wrote to me. I love re-reading them. It is a gift.

Last year, one of my friends, shared something with me that has changed my life as a mother. She told me about a journal that she keeps with her daughter. They write back and forth to each other. I was was intrigued. Paul and I tried to help our children with journaling over the years, but we were not the best examples of consistency, so when I heard about this daughter/mom journal, I got sort of excited about making another attempt.

Last Mother's day, I decorated a journal as a gift for Laura. I made the cover pretty feminine with scrap booking materials. I started the journal by writing my feelings for her and telling her how much she means to me. Next, I told her about when I was 12 (her age at that time) and then asked her a few questions. That afternoon, I gave the journal to Laura. I explained that I would write to her and she could write back to me. Any time we finished our entries to the other person, we were to place the journal on their pillow. I can not tell you how much this has meant to Laura and I. She asks me things that have never come up in conversation and I answer them, and then ask her things back. We share our feelings and appreciation for things. I am grateful that a friend shared this concept with me. I wish I had been able to do it with all of my children, while they were still home. I wrote to Laura last night. I can't wait to see the journal appear on my pillow. I am loving this!!!!