# 18 We are grateful for teachers!

We love our school and our teachers.  So today we got treats for our teachers from One Sweet Slice http://www.onesweetslice.com/ , who btw won Cupcake Wars.  Their cupcakes are yummy but the real kicker is that they have Macarons, not the dry icky coconutty ones (well they have those too) these are the real french almond flour kind.  The blue ones are filled with carmel and cream cheese frosting!  As much as I would like to say I am supporting small business, really I went there so I could pick up some more macarons. 

# 17 We are grateful for surprises!

Cannon stayed up REALLY late last night so this morning he did not want to get out of bed, said he had a stomach ache, I told him he could stay home from school, I think it surprised him.  He is a good student, works hard, I think he deserves a break every so often.  By lunchtime he was feeling better so we went out to lunch of his choosing. On our way out we left quarters on top of all the toy/candy machines...a fun surprise for some little person. 

Cannon and Kai helped me work on another fun project for this evening.  We stamped our trademark on 25 envelopes then stuck a note that said

Friend,

Please do something nice for yourself.  Go out to dinner, buy a book, or get your nails done.  We are grateful for your place in this world, whoever you are. Remember you are special, loved and important. 

and then added some cash in each envelope.  On the outside we put a sticker than said "If you find this please open."

We surprised the kids tonight and took them to a Utah Jazz game, which they knew about, and took the train, which was the surprise part.  Gigi was especially excited!  All through the evening we stuck our envelopes in fun places to be found by strangers; on the seats on the train, taped to the window, on the ticket machine, in the bathroom stall, on a drinking fountain, on a bench, a tree, a ketchup dispenser, on a seat at the game.  We gave envelopes to panhandlers as well as four young men who gave up their seats on the train so our family could sit.  We only got to see one envelope being opened.  It was on the train on the way there.  A young man got on the train sat down, pulled his hood and headphones on and slumped down in his chair.  About 5 minutes later he noticed the envelope, looked around suspiciously then opened it.  Folded it up and put it in his backpack, then about five minutes later he opened his backpack took it out and read it again then put it in his pocket.  Took off his headphones and hood and started chatting with the people around him, giving directions, talking about the Jazz.  Awww, none of the kids said anything just watched but we were all thrilled we had brightened his day.  Of course, when we got off at our stop we looked back at the train and he was busy running through the train pulling off all the envelopes we had left...oh well, guess we REALLY brightened his day!

# 16 We are grateful for grocery stores!

Tonight we visited http://www.heifer.org/ another neat organization that provides livestock to communities/families in developing countries.  They have a catalog of farm animals and you can purchase them for families that need them. We had fun picking out animals and ended up donating a flock of geese, a flock of ducks, a flock of chickens, a heifer, a llama, and a goat.

# 15 We are grateful for rainbows and silver linings!

Cash and I were in the drive through line for breakfast at McDonald's today when a man in the order lane next to us laid on his horn, apparently because the person in front of him was taking too long to order.  What do you know, our lanes merged and we ended up in front of Mr. Impatient.  Cash said we should buy his meal, so we did! Look at the gift we got in return...beautiful!

# 14 We are grateful for our home!

This was Cannon's project, he actually wanted to do it last Friday but we had a huge snowstorm and I was worried about driving in it.  Cannon really wanted to take sack lunches to the homeless.  Gigi and I made lunches while the rest of the kiddos were at school.  We picked the kids up from school and headed downtown.  We weren't sure where to go but knew that there are usually several people that stand near the Catholic Charities building by The Gateway, so that is where we went.  We were sadly surprised by how many people we found in front of the building.  I would say maybe 70 to 100 people.  I had imagined us all getting out of the car and handing out lunches and wishing everyone a happy thanksgiving, happy, happy, joy.  The fact is when we drove up it was kind of scary.  I asked Cannon to help me get the meals out, the rest of the kids stayed in the car and just stared out the window and the large mob that surrounded our now measly looking pile of lunches.  19 lunches, 2 sleeping bags and one bag of doggie treats were gone in about 10 seconds.  Several people asked if we had anything else we could give.  One young man in particular who could not have been older than 17 or 18 followed me to the back of the car when I was putting my box away and pleaded for something, anything.  His eyes looked so sad.  All I could find was a box of tissues.  Now I'm kicking myself for not giving him the $5 bill I had in my pocket, I didn't even remember it until it was too late.  I could tell Cannon was a bit shaken.  I think we were both thinking it would feel a little more rewarding; instead we both left thinking we should have done more.  When we were driving away he said "Mom, next time we do this we need to think this through a little better.  We need to put the lunches in a cardboard box that we can leave there so we don't have to see the faces of the people we didn't help."

# 13 We are grateful for awesome neighbors!

Today we ran an errand for a neighbor whom we adore,she doesn't currently have a working vehicle.  Another adored neighbor really hurt her back and was in a lot of pain so we gave her a prepaid visit to my acupuncturist/chiropractor.  We love our neighbors!

# 12 We are grateful for adoption!

Adoption is such an awesome part our lives so today's project is near and dear to our heats.  Reece's Rainbow http://reecesrainbow.org/ is the most amazing organization, it helps place Downs Syndrome and other Special Needs kids from countries like Russia and the Ukraine; where they are destined for certain institutionalization, with families in the U.S.  I can spend hours and many boxes of tissues reading the adoption blogs of families meeting their special angel for the first time.  Tonight we sat down with the kids and went through EVERY photolisting looking for kiddos that spoke to our hearts.  Each kid chose a child that they would like to give a donation.  The donations go to help with costs for the adoptive families who choose them.  Some of these adoption can cost close to 50K plus medical bills they will incur back in the states.  Here are the "angels" that stole our hearts
Vivian chose little Edna and Cannon chose Jamison, they both have Downs Syndrome. 

Cash picked out Zeke, isn't he a cutie?

 

Kai was adamant about Cooper, maybe because he could be Cooper's twin?  Same twinkle in his eye.  Cooper has no use of his legs.

 

Gigi didn't get to pick, she was already in bed so I got to make her pick.  If you are wondering - yes, we all fell in love and we all asked Jason if there is any way we could bring this angel home.  His exact words were "If we can go three weeks without a kid sleeping in our bed I will consider it."  That's a no.

Beautiful Beatrice.

 

11/20/12 UPDATE - Today Kai was sweetly playing (not the norm) with one of Gigi's baby dolls.  I told him how kind he was being and he said "Oh I know, I am just practicing for when I get to take care of Cooper".  Awww he thought we were picking out kiddos to live with us, and he was fine with that!