More Than The Eye Can Hold

It seems that many of life's most important moments often seem a blur.

That hind sight isn't 20/20, and as much as we try capture the memories of these moments, they are fleeting.

It was only seventeen days ago that we met Finley Grace for the first time.

While our memories are still fresh, our time with her was a blur.

Until today.

Today, we received a priceless gift from another adoptive mama, who without our knowing, was snapping pictures of our first moments with our Finley Grace.

A stranger, who knew that the scene playing out before her, was bigger than our eyes could hold.

A stranger, who captured these magical moments through her lens.

A view we will cherish forever, for they tell the story of the first time we laid eyes on our daughter...

Amanda.

THANK YOU!

Isn't it amazing how a person who was once a stranger, can suddenly, without warning, mean the world to you.

~unknown

PSA

Hypothetically speaking....

#HypotheticalObservationsForTheGoodOfTodaysWorld

Let's just say you are driving slowly down an icy road and you come upon an older gentleman

 {who speaks broken English and is driving a vehicle with a Florida licence plate and balled tires}

{you can't really know that by driving by, but that's beside the point}

and two kind {and may I add still attractive} ladies trying to push this Floridian out of a winter-y Michigan mess, please stop to help them. Especially if you are a gentleman, weigh more than one-hundred and thirty pounds and are genetically created to have the power to push a mid-sized vehicle out of the snow.

 I am certain, in this hypothetical situation, the freezing cold ladies would rejoice, and the kind older gentleman from Florida would be beyond grateful.

And, the bonus of stopping, in this hypothetical situation, is that you could meet a new friend who may possibly be named Sara, laugh with this new friend about watching this video in heaven someday, and you could  be one of the first Michiganders to welcome a lovely Floridian to Michigan for vacation.

{Future PSA: Do not come to Michigan in January for a vacation}

A note to my children: Gibson, Elliott and Finley {Finley, do not stop in a dark, desolate area alone} always stop when you see someone may need help.  Most often they will not, but you stopping will show people that love wins and kindness matters.

Because Nice Matters

photo credit

Now more than ever, it seems as if kindness is a dying gesture. People seem to be angry at the world, and smiles seem fewer and farther between.

There are times when I am sad that negativity seems to be ruling the world and worry that it is only going to get worse.

Then, just when I think hope is lost, an angel comes along makes me believe that there is still good in the world.

Not so long ago, the kindness of the man behind the counter at the candy store was exactly the angel I needed to restore my hope on a pretty desperate day.

I remember the day exactly. 

It was December 21st, and it started at the post office 9 miles away when I received a phone call that we had not received a referral for the 28th month in a row. 

I was beside myself and somehow ended up driving the boys to Zeeland and walking them into the candy store just so I could continue talking to our agency as to why we were not getting a referral.

As the boys wandered the store and picked out their candy, I continued to talk and cry on my phone, just nodding yes to who knows what kind of candy.

I somehow managed to get them to the counter in my fog of emotions, and was fumbling for my money when the kind gentleman, patted my hand and said, You're having a rough day, just give me a dollar.

It was a gesture, that in that moment, meant more that words could describe.  

It was a nice man, who spoke kindness and reassured me that everything was going to be okay.

Why did it mean so much to me?

Because Nice Matters.

...............................................

Today, seven months after the nice man at the candy store showed how the kindness of a stranger could mean so much, I was again left speechless by a stranger's kindness.

Due to my pregnancy brain, I recently misordered a few items on my 31 order. Oops. My wonderful consultant, Beth {who also is adopting and uses her 31 business to raise money!} kindly reordered them and stopped by today to drop them off.

As I opened the door, she handed me the cutest pink bag and told me my order was in.  Confused, I looked down at the bag to see that it had Finley's name on the bag and tears immediately flooded my eyes.

There I was, standing in the doorway being blessed by a woman who barely knew me, and it meant the world to me.

And, if that wasn't enough to get me choked up, inside was a small zippered pouch with two little blonde boys named Gibson and Elliott surrounding their brown eyed sister, Finley on the the front.

Beth did not have to do that, but she did, and it mattered.

Why?

Because Nice Matters.

...............................................