Easter Weekend

I am grateful for a Savior and a time to celebrate his life works and the Atonement. Then there are the more secular celebrations with baskets full of candy and hunting for festive colored eggs. We have been struggling financially for several months now but this past month has been the most difficult. I was feeling kind of sorry for myself/us, so I posted a silly status on my facebook page,

"The Easter Bunny has made cut-backs this year. He won't be making it to our house. Maybe next year. *sigh*"

I didn't really give much thought to what kind of response I would get when I posted it. Then throughout the weekend four loving Easter bunnies came by with baskets of gifts and goodies for our daughter. One even came with a very large (laundry size) basket filled with groceries for a holiday dinner. We couldn't afford anything special for our holiday dinner and I had planned something simple like pasta. We were also extended an invitation to an Easter egg hunt.

How touched I am by the kindness of others we have been blessed with. I was brought to weepy tears of gratitude for them and to my Heavenly Father for sending these angels among us. I was quite humbled.

If one of these angels are reading this, Thank You much for renewing my hope and filling my heart with greater love.

Day 30

- your favorite song:

I don't have a favorite song. I just love music.

Day 29

- in this past month, what have you learned:

I have learned that I like the idea of writing more than actually doing it.

Day 28

picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?:

I didn't have a picture of myself from last April or this April. Last March I had very long hair and had nearly 14 inches cut off and donated to Locks for Love. Within a year my hair has grown quite a bit. Hoping by next year to have it really long again and then I will leave it that way for a while. The picture of me in red is from 2010 and the purple shirt is from 2011. How I have changed? Not much. I am still running a daycare and living life pretty much the same. I wouldn't say I am in a rut, just livin life. I do have a few new fine lines on my face but that just comes with age.

Day 27

why are you doing this 30 day challenge:

Why not?

Day 26

what do you think about your friends:

That they don't visit often enough.

I love my friends near and far. To be fair, I don't visit them much either. Having jobs and families and various other responsibilities (and long distances from some) keeps us from spending time together. I understand all that but I would still love to hang out more often. Se la vie.

Day 25

what I would find in your bag:

Hmmm, likely a bunch of junk.

Well, I dumped it all out and arranged it for you. Of course there were Joann Fabric adds and coupons; Gum, lots of gum; Hawaiian punch singles to add to bottled water (mmm); a small first aid kit; the program from Grandma Strong's funeral; old shopping lists; then the various other items that naturally occur in most bags and way too many old receipts. There you have it. I bet it could all fit in a smaller purse. Time to go shopping.

Day 24

a letter to your parents:

Dear Mom,

Thank you for teaching me how to have an open mind and heart; thank you for opening the door and accepting missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints into our home and raising us with the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for being enough of a mother that I didn't even care that we lacked a father in our home. Thank you for instilling in me a love of reading and good literature. Thank you for setting a good example by attending college even though it was difficult to be a single mother without a car and other luxuries. Thank you for teaching me the importance of family. I am grateful to have grown up with a grandmother and great-grandmother so intimately part of our lives. I don't know of any other teen that had to share a bedroom with a great-grandparent. I miss those days. There were days I had, at first, resented moving but now appreciate and am grateful you moved us away from Los Angeles to a lush land and slower paced small town of Arcata. Although we couldn't afford to travel, thank you for taking us around the world through our little kitchen by, in your words, 'educating our palettes.'

You may not have been a perfect mother and made many mistakes, but you were a good mother and I will always love you.

Much love, Amanda

Day 23

something you crave for a lot:

Enough money so I can breathe easy...and a second bathroom (I know I have mentioned the latter before but it would really be nice).

Day 22

what makes you different from everyone else:

To quote my mother, "Amanda, you whistle beautifully."

Day 21

a picture of something that makes you happy:

Sew much fun!

Day 20

someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future:

Need I say more?

Day 19

nicknames you have and why you have them:

Mandy; Manda Panda; Manda; Sweetie; Honey; Sweetheart; Mom; Mommy; Mama

The first three are from childhood; the next three are from my husband; the last three are from my child.

Day 18

plans/dreams/goals you have:

-have another baby or two

-continue to support Jason through his college years

-move into a larger home (oh how I dream of having a second bathroom *sigh*)

-visit Hawaii and various other states and countries

-live behind the Redwood curtain again (I miss cool weather and year-round greenery)

-continue to raise children in righteousness that they may have a love of the Lord and all of God's children no matter what choices others make

-continue to grow in sewing skills and share this knowledge with whomever wants to learn

-always be open to love