Sarah Day 10--
Do you want to know what I hate? Shoveling. I don't know if it's the cold, the snow getting in my boots, or the hard work that I don't like, but I know I don't like it. I have only had to shovel a few times in my life, and all of those times happened while I was living in an apartment all by myself. In those 3 years, I could count the number of times I shoveled on one hand. That's right, one. And I would wager money that I never spent more than five minutes doing so.
My mom, brother and I were spoiled growing up and dad always did all of the outside chores. He has always been the one to bundle up in his snowsuit and snow blow our long driveway, and then afterwards shovel the steps. Not to mention, he always plows an extra path through the yard "for the deer to walk on," and shovels the deck so the "cat's paws don't get cold." It never matters what the temperature is outside, or how bad the blizzard is . . . We can always count on dad to brave the conditions.
Now, I don't have the slightest clue how to snow blow . . . It looks like A LOT of work. And judging by the way I sweep, I doubt I shovel the right way either. However, today . . . I gave it a go! Yup, I bundled up and braved the 10 degree (but feels like 0) weather and I shoveled so my pops didn't have to. I shoveled the deck (for the kitties) and the steps leading from the driveway to the house. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it sure is a lot of work.
I have noticed that some household chores calm me down and ease some of my stress. There are some that help me relax and take my mind off of things. Let me tell you, shoveling did not do any of that. None what-so-ever. It is really aggravating when you lift your shovel to toss the snow off the side of the deck, and instead the snow blows right back in your face. Then you have snow on your face and fog on your glasses, and that's a real good way to make a girl (that's trying to do a good deed) mad.
After today, I decided that I officially do not like anything about shoveling. I do not like the cold, the snow in my boots, or the hard work. I do not like that my ears start to hurt within minutes, and that my glasses fog up. I don't like that my nose starts to run and then when I'm finally back in the warmth, I look like Rudolph. The only thing that I liked about my shoveling experience today, is that my dad did not have to do it. Even though he claims that I did it for the cats . . . Which I did, but I did it for him and I as well. =)
Do you want to know what I hate? Shoveling. I don't know if it's the cold, the snow getting in my boots, or the hard work that I don't like, but I know I don't like it. I have only had to shovel a few times in my life, and all of those times happened while I was living in an apartment all by myself. In those 3 years, I could count the number of times I shoveled on one hand. That's right, one. And I would wager money that I never spent more than five minutes doing so.
My mom, brother and I were spoiled growing up and dad always did all of the outside chores. He has always been the one to bundle up in his snowsuit and snow blow our long driveway, and then afterwards shovel the steps. Not to mention, he always plows an extra path through the yard "for the deer to walk on," and shovels the deck so the "cat's paws don't get cold." It never matters what the temperature is outside, or how bad the blizzard is . . . We can always count on dad to brave the conditions.
Now, I don't have the slightest clue how to snow blow . . . It looks like A LOT of work. And judging by the way I sweep, I doubt I shovel the right way either. However, today . . . I gave it a go! Yup, I bundled up and braved the 10 degree (but feels like 0) weather and I shoveled so my pops didn't have to. I shoveled the deck (for the kitties) and the steps leading from the driveway to the house. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it sure is a lot of work.
I have noticed that some household chores calm me down and ease some of my stress. There are some that help me relax and take my mind off of things. Let me tell you, shoveling did not do any of that. None what-so-ever. It is really aggravating when you lift your shovel to toss the snow off the side of the deck, and instead the snow blows right back in your face. Then you have snow on your face and fog on your glasses, and that's a real good way to make a girl (that's trying to do a good deed) mad.
After today, I decided that I officially do not like anything about shoveling. I do not like the cold, the snow in my boots, or the hard work. I do not like that my ears start to hurt within minutes, and that my glasses fog up. I don't like that my nose starts to run and then when I'm finally back in the warmth, I look like Rudolph. The only thing that I liked about my shoveling experience today, is that my dad did not have to do it. Even though he claims that I did it for the cats . . . Which I did, but I did it for him and I as well. =)
If there is one thing that this acts of kindness project has done, it has made me refocus on a lot of things in life in general. I got myself ready for work, went out to my porch to get my cowboy boots, which by the way were FREEZING cold, started my car, grabbed my coffee, and hunkered into my coat as I made my way into the frigid Minnesota cold. And then I saw it . . . forget the cold, forget that my feet are freezing, just forget everything except this . . .
Unfortunately, the picture just does not do the scene justice. There was a single star, the moon, and the most beautiful sunrise emerging amidst the dark skies. It seems like every morning I have had the most incredible backdrop for my day to begin. I sent the moon, stars, sun, and prayers off to a few people as I have done each day since the first sent sunrise. And then as the light emerged even more, I saw a fortune from a cookie that I saved and now rides with me in the cubby of my car where I can see it.
I kept the message because in my heart, as long as your keep your face towards the light of the SON, there will always be light amidst the darkness of our sometimes difficult world that is often filled with pain, sorrow, and a whole lot of heartache. The beautiful sunrises that I have been blessed with remind me of the SON who came so many years ago. A time when a father sent his kiddo to be the light in the world. I think that is often the case as I know the incredible light my kiddos bring into my life, in fact, anyone that knows me, KNOWS that I LOVE KIDDOS of all ages! So as I began thinking about what to do today, I knew it had to be something with kiddos.
I came home from work today, grabbed the mail, and dashed into the house to grab a couple of things so I could head off to the 7th grade and varsity games to surprise some of my "kiddos." Earlier in the day, I wrote a card to a couple of these young ladies who have come to mean so much to me and told them how proud I was of them and how they had touched my heart. Then I tucked them into my purse until the moment that I saw them. However, before I scooted off to see them, I opted to open my mail. In it was a card from my Morgan.
Morgan is an incredible young woman who sent me the most beautiful letter when I left the church to take another "not so public" job where I could mourn the loss of my marriage and attempt to regroup. It was at a time when I was not feeling particularly inspirational, nor was I feeling as though I mattered all that much . . . I was emotionally battered and bruised. I beat myself up a lot. And yet, this teenager, this young woman, shared her feelings with me and gave me hope. She told me what an inspiration I had been to her, and even if she was the only person in whose life I had made a difference . . . at least I made a difference for one. Her letter gave me hope in a very dark time. I love Morgan!
When I opened my letter . . . I cried . . . AND you guessed it, I am blubbering again as I pen the words tonight. I hope somehow she will know how much she means to me. When I showed up at the game, she came bounding over, wearing a smile from ear to ear, and just hugged me hard, and told me how much she missed me. That IS the Christmas Spirit. I handed her my card to read later and she sat and visited with me. She asked me to come to the Christmas concert next week . . . I will try. She is a blessing and I hope she always remembers that!
The other young lady, Riles, is a little chica that Sarah babysat for awhile a couple of summers ago. She too has taken a special place in my heart and Rah's . . . we both love her tons! It was fun to go and watch her as a scrappy young basketball player and I loved watching her nail a few good shots. When she was done playing she came over and chatted. I handed her the card I had written for her, she smiled, and opened it up. She chuckled that it was hard for her to read cursive, but I am pretty sure she got the jest of it. She is way cool and she too is a Christmas blessing.
While I was there, I got to see A LOT of my kiddos, and what started out as just thinking about a couple, turned into a whole sea of kiddos. There were little ones that danced in their little tutu's, several that came over and visited, and all have left their fresh fingerprints on my heart. So although tonight was initially about doing something for a couple, it turned into many giving me an incredible gift of love.
Blessings on the KIDDOS of Christ,
Sheila 
Pastor Sheila that brought tears to my eyes...when Morgan speaks she speaks from the heart..she means every word of ityou will always have a special place in our hearts!
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