Taking time to be grateful

Good things...the last time that I posted, I was collecting toys for the homeless. Thanks to the big hearts of my friends, family and the children of Hampton Township School District, we were able to collect over 250 toys. I am blessed to have such generous folks in my life.

Good people...well, obviously, the people mentioned above! With the New Year here, I have started a "Gratitude Journal," writing down at least five things every day that I am thankful for. I have coerced my husband in to doing this as well - he is a chemist with a whole different thought process than writer me, but he is getting into the groove as well. He is a good guy.

Good times...as I write this, I am getting ready to go watch my 17-year-old play basketball. The photo above is him a few years ago during football season. Where has that time gone? A friend of mine said she misses when her kids were younger and she would go watch them play sports. I am cherishing this time.

Be grateful, enjoy your days and be well.

Christmas in the streets

Good things, good people and good times all roll into one again. I had the honor of having lunch with some good friends and one of the folks was Nancy Heil, "Miss Nancy" as she is known to the people she serves - homeless people in Pittsburgh. When I asked her what needs they had right now she said duffle bags and backpacks, something I didn't find very surprising.

Then she said something that surprised me - toys. She needs toys for the homeless children and for the homeless folks to give as gifts. The toys are distributed during "Christmas in the Streets." Wow. I never would have thought of toys being a need.

I promised her I would help. When I got home, I put out an email to friends and started getting dismayed at the immediate response - many told me it was a good idea but they were giving to other causes. I woke up in the middle of the night, worrying. What if I couldn't get any toys or showed up with only a few?

Then I received good news - two friends who happen to be teachers both told me they would help. One told me that she would get her Interact students involved and the other told me that they would ask the whole student body to assist. Wow again.

I started crying when I read the text from my friend, Marilyn Adams, telling me that they would ask the students at Poff Elementary - where my kids went to school - to help. The other teacher, Mary Lou Ellena-Wygonek,sent the word out to her students as well.

Right now, I don't know how many toys we will receive. I am already moved by the actions of my friends and their willingness to get involved in this project. I know that there will be some good things handed out at Christmas in the Streets and they will provide good times thanks to good people. Thank you Nancy for all of your hard work and thank you Marilyn and Mary Lou for being good friends with big hearts.