sweet moments

Last night our Bible Study girls got together to share a meal after our 8 week study was finished. I love those girls and am so thankful for the times we spent sharing our hearts and praying for one another. It was such a rich time together, full of laughs and good times!

Another sweet moment was right before we all gathered at 7:30. I met my mom (also a part of the study) for appetizers at the same restaurant, 45 minutes before everyone else showed up. I don't remember having that one-on-one time with her since last fall when we had breakfast and went shopping. Our times as mother and daughter are too few and far between, but when we have them, they are sweet, special moments I always enjoy and treasure! While 45 minutes isn't too long, the time was full of good stuff - of sharing our hearts and lives. Made me realize we definitely need to make more times together a priority!

So thankful for the people God has placed in my life, some because I was born into the family and others who have become sisters along the way. Breaking bread together with family is something I've always felt so important to do and last night was just another reminder of the goodness of those times and how I know God just blesses those times as well!

My heart is full and I'm thankful...for sweet moments.

school book fair

 

Growing up, I remember having moments in my life where I felt like my parents "let me down" granted it was usually something pretty minor that really was no-where near life or death, but at that moment, I would be devastated and vow, "I'll never do that to my kids" (mom and dad if you're reading this...no hard feelings...NONE!) :)

Little did I know that dropping the ball is something that can easily happen as a parent. Not by choice, but as you juggle so many things, it's easy to let a few things here and there slip through the cracks. We're human, after all. I've done it plenty. Never on purpose, but I've always felt so so bad about it and so guilty as I knew that that little heart was in that moment, devastated.

I dropped the ball this week. It's Book Fair Week at school. I knew it. Even got a couple flyers about it and in my mind, I was going to give her money on Wednesday so she could buy a book. Well, Tuesday afternoon, Sophia came home from school and told me that she needed money so she could buy a book. I told her that yes, I was planning on doing that for her, but later in the week. (Not realizing it was Tuesday already!)

Yesterday morning as she was getting closer to school, her friend came up to her and showed her the $5 bill that her parents had given her. Sophia panicked and frantically looked to me for money. Of course, I was all out of cash and having never before participated in a book fair, didn't really know how much books cost. To appease her in the moment, as she pleadingly asked me if I had any coins, I dug in my wallet and found a few quarters. Of course you and I know that's never going to be enough money to buy a brand new book, but she was content that I'd given her something and off she went. My heart broke...there's something about an innocent child's hopes being crushed that can just rip out a parent's heart! I knew that book fair was through tomorrow, but in that moment, I was going to do everything in my power to make sure she had money to buy a book then! So we ran to the store to get some groceries, got some cash and rushed back to school.  I know it's silly. I know I had two more days to give her money, but I also know that in the 5 years of her life (most of which I've worked) this is the first time I could do this and I jumped on the opportunity. Before now, I would have just gone to work so bummed that I'd forgotten. Yesterday, I was able to fix it and she came home with the cutest book, Camilla, the Cupcake Fairy, and happiest look on her face. I gave the money to the school office and I hoped that she'd get it in time. What fun to see her show me the book and read it together and see her so excited that she'd gotten money to buy a book after all.

Of course, I did learn 2 things yesterday:

1. For goodness sakes woman - carry cash with you at ALL times!

2. Things that seem little to me at the moment can be huge to a 5 1/2 year old. DON'T take them lightly. (I knew that, but it was a good reminder!)

I promised five more dollars tomorrow to buy one more book. She's happy with that.

I also know this is by far the last time I'll "let her down" but I do know that I'm going to be more careful next time. And in this area, she'll never miss out again! Lesson learned.