A little assistance

In trying to keep positive this evening, I am going to start with today's highlights.  This morning we were to be at our church building at 9:45am to pick up some food from our church's food pantry.  The food was being delivered by truck at 10am.  We arrived at 9:47 and what we saw absolutely amazed us.  There were many cars in the parking lot in addition to ours, all waiting on the arrival of this truck.  Being a bit naïve, I thought that there would only be a handful of people, maybe, that were there to get assistance with food.  Never once did it occur to me that there would be 23 other families all in need of food at our church building.

This was our first time receiving this kind of help in the 15 years I've been away from home and for the 12 years we've been married.  I never thought we would be the ones who needed this kind of help as we're usually the ones giving to those in need.  But as I mentioned in my first blog, we've come upon some pretty tough times since separating from the Army.

The truck driver and his passenger began to unload the truck.  Twenty-four families patiently waited their turn.  There was no pushing, shoving, rude comments, or any other negativity displayed.  Instead, many were helping with the unloading and the carrying of these mostly heavy containers full of food for these families.  Danny and I started to assist after the 2nd family had received their food items and even though we were the fourth family to get our food, we stayed until the last family received theirs, helping to load and carry.  All that time, just over an hour and a half, Emily sat patiently in the van waiting for us to finish up.

What a huge blessing to know that our church is stepping up and helping families in such a huge way!  I am proud to be a member of this wonderful church.

We left, but only after all the containers had been emptied and loaded back onto the truck.

What a wonderful way to start the day.  We headed home to unload our food and put it all away.  Afterwards, Danny and I took a break and watched the movie "The Maze Runner".  It was pretty good, though I didn't read the books, so I have no idea how close to the book it stayed, but it was a good way to spend time together.

I had a photo session at 3pm with a great little family.  They have a brand new baby boy, John, who is around 3 weeks old now.  The session went really well and I had a good time working with them.  Now if I could just find the motivation to work on their photos, I'd be in good shape, haha.

After the session was finished I spent some time with Haley trying to motivate her to clean her room.  Any parent of a 12 year old girl knows that this is not an easy task.  I don't understand how a kid with the OCD that mine has, (which she got from me), can live in such filth in her own room, but not in the rest of my house?!  Danny came down just after 4pm to let me know he was up and getting ready for work.  Four more hours of overtime and four more hours not spent with his family... trying to stay positive is hard!

I went upstairs and made the kids some dinner and tried to bribe my youngest two to eat by offering to take them to Sonic for ice cream if they ate all their dinner.  It didn't work.

Then it was time to take the older two to their Wednesday night activities.  Cory does Boy Scouts with our church and Haley does Young Women's.  Tonight, Haley was supposed to go caroling at a retirement center about 15 minutes from our house.  And Cory was supposed to be at the church.  The problem here is that Haley told me that they were meeting at the church first, then driving to the retirement center.  So, to the church I went (only five minutes from our home).  Only we get there, and no one else is there for Haley's group.  Hmmm.... so we waited a bit.... still no one.  Well, try explaining to your 12 year old that she can't go now because I am not a magician and I cannot be in two places at the same time.  That didn't go so well, though she did handle it a little better than I expected.  (at least there was no blood shed).

After Scouts was done we went to Sonic, because I had told the older two that if they ate all their food, they could have ice cream as well.  And I try very hard to keep my word.  Of course, once we got there, the younger two thought they were getting some as well.  You would have thought I was killing them when I told them that since they didn't finish their dinners they weren't getting any.  Wow.  I still have that headache from listening to the 3 year old scream at me.

I love my kids, but most days I am happiest once they are all in bed, asleep.  It's honestly my favorite time of the day.  When it's quiet and peaceful and I can think without some little person coming in and interrupting me with something crazy.  It's the time of day when I can sit down and reflect upon all that has happened throughout the day and try to be thankful for all that I have. 

Tonight I realize that even though today wasn't perfect, it was a good day.  Danny and I received much needed food assistance, but at the same time, we were able to help others.  Oh, and that photo session I mentioned earlier, it was a free session.  I'm all about giving to those in need, including using my talent with photography to give priceless images to such deserving families.  And I hope and pray that I am showing my kids by example, the kind of wonderful, caring, giving people I would love for them to become.  Because honestly, the world needs more people who care. 

All-in-all, not a bad day.