A Story

My son works as a Courtesy Clerk at our local Albertson's market.  Tonight while in the parking lot gathering carts, he saw a very dejected looking man with a dog.  Jacob approached the man and asked if he was okay.  The man stated he had hitchhiked here from Long Island, and was in need of money to buy food for his dog.  Jacob only had $1.00 in his wallet, but he gave it to the man.

As Jacob went back into the store, he felt God calling him to help this man.  He purchased a $12.00 bag of dog food, paid using his debit card, and walked outside to give it to the man.  He asked the man if they could pray together, and the man agreed.

A few minutes later one of the store managers approached Jacob and said she thought she saw the homeless man getting into a car parked around back.  Jacob rushed out, just in time to see the man driving by in his newer model, shiny car.  The man stopped and snickered as he drove past Jacob, saying "Maybe this will teach you a lesson."

Jacob told me this story when he got home from work.  Of course as a mother, my heart broke for him.  But even after being made a fool of, he remained strong in his conviction that offering help to a person he believed to be in need was the right thing to do.  He said he was angry at first, but he knew God would deal with the man.

Jacob said the store manager had spoken with him afterward, trying to make him feel better.  He told her about his faith, and why he did what he did. 

I wanted to cry, of course, but I kept it together and told him how proud I was of him and what a "together" kid he was.  I reminded him that we never know what kind of ripple effect our actions will cause.  Perhaps the store manager needed to hear about Jacob's faith.  Perhaps it made a difference in her life, or the life of someone she knows.   Lastly I told him after we are done being angry at this jerk, we need to pray for him.  Jacob laughed and said he knew that.

Halloween & Mental Health Day

Halloween was....well, not even like Halloween.  Oh, except for the amount of candy this family has consumed in the past few weeks.  My "baby" is pictured above.  Trick or treating was a long time ago.  But oh, the memories I have.  I wish I had pictures to go along with my memories.

Hubby is taking our travel trailer to the dealership tomorrow.  Bye-bye trailer.  Hello new (to us) used 5th wheel.  He said, "I wish Jacob didn't have school.  I'd like for him to go with me."  I told him to ask Jacob if he wanted to skip school and have a "mental health day with Dad."  Years ago, when I was a single Mom, Jacob had many mental health days.  This seemed a more tactful way to phrase it.  Rather than "hey, stay home and we'll sleep in and then we'll goof off."  The problem was Jacob would return to school the next day and announce to anyone who would listen that he hadn't been ill, he had simply been taking a mental health day.

Hubby and I guessed he might say no, and sure enough, he did.  Too many things to do at school, didn't want to get behind in math, has to turn in his cap and gown order, etc., etc.  What a kid you are Jacob.  You amaze me every single day.

Amazed ~ Caramel Apples

I happened upon a company that sells caramel apples. They also sell other things covered in caramel, but those things did not amaze me. Apparently this company does 70% of their yearly business during the last two weeks of December. Their signature apple is a biggie. A Granny Smith standing about 4-1/2 inches tall. They say an apple with all the toppings weighs close to two pounds and will feed eight to 10 people.

This company is based on Illinois. I was born in Illinois. This company buys the biggest and best apples from Washington State. I live in Washington State. Do these facts add to my amazement? Not really.

You can buy ONE....1.....uno apple for $22.95. It is presented beautifully in purple and gold packaging, with an ornament or little stuffed animal on top of the box. Packaging is extremely important, and these folks are pros. So you buy your one apple. Then you gotta pay to have it delivered. That's another $10.95. Grand total for one giant apple and shipping is $33.90. AMAZING. Want three apples? That's close to $50.00, before shipping.

That's what amazed me today.

Amazed

A great variety of things amaze me. A day does not go by that I am not amazed at least once. Most days I am amazed several times.

I struggle with what to post on my blog. I often feel my blog is way too much "me," and not nearly enough "everyone else." Meaning: could I not find something more worthwhile to write about than hot flashes? But then I think: a blog is an online diary, right? A place where you can be yourself.

So it fits together then, my frequent state of amazement and my blogger's block. AMAZED will become a new category, and ensure I have lots and LOTS to blog about! Let's get started, shall we?

Motherhood. I've been a mother for over 16 years. I am someone's mother. Amazing. Even before my son was born, I was amazed. Me. Pregnant? Really? I walk by my son's room at night, and it strikes me yet again - I'm a mother. There is a part of the equation that is simply surreal. No other word describes it. I'm a mother, and have been for some time. And my son is on the right road, with the right values. He is a decent and honest person. And caring...very caring. His faith inspires many people, including me - his mother.