Jennifer's Writings

Share a Smile

“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.” —Line from the film "P.S. I Love You"

If you are looking for a good movie to watch this week, I recommend P.S. I Love You. It is a movie that definitely does its job to remind us about the meaning of life and the importance to find significance amid the simple steps of each day.

The night before Christmas Maddi prayed, “Dear Santa, please give the elves power so they are strong enough to get from my house back to your house."

I smiled.

Christmas morning Maddi told her brother, “Jordan, we’re just like Santa! We like milk and cookies!”

I smiled.

Over Christmas break we spent lots of time outdoors and lots of time with family. We went sledding at Uncle John’s house and picked marshmallows off his legendary Marshmallow Tree, which magically produces marshmallows each December just in time for the winter bonfire party! Maddi earned a new nickname as she ate more marshmallows than anyone else that day. Marshmallow Maddi.

 

I smiled.

Maddi loved our trip to Florida this December and personally meeting the Mouses (Mickey and Minnie). Yet, another nickname for my daughter, Minnie Maddi.

I smiled.

Maddi loves to sing with me at church. Musical Maddi.

That always makes me smile.

Not everyday brings smiles. Maddi is notorious for taking a full ten minutes to get in or out of the truck...to go anywhere. I try to wait patiently as she gathers dolls and blankets and snacks for our long car rides to the gas station or the YMCA. Who can be slower than my very own Molasses Maddi?

All I have to do is call her Molasses and I smile.

Share one of your smiles today and then tell me about it. It doesn’t even have to be with a stranger. Sometimes those in our very own household need it the most!

Christmas Collage

My dear friend and mentor, author and speaker Karen Ehman, shared my story on her blog this month. I wanted to share her website with my readers as well as the comments people wrote after she posted information about my book. I was in awe of the many people who shared about others in their lives who are deeply hurting. 

Today as we celebrate Christmas, I am remembering those who have lost someone close to them. I am praying for strength, resilience and faith to touch their lives this coming year. And I am praying that those who love them most, the family and friends surrounding them, will uphold them until they can once again walk on their own.

Please say a prayer with me today.

Click here to read Karen's blog.

May your Christmas Day be blessed.

The Best Gift

We celebrated Jordan's birthday last week with cousins and a small sledding party.

On top of the hill, with cheeks red and dusted with snow Jordan told me, "Thank you, Mom! This is the best gift you could have ever given me."

I smiled at the fact that my son's best gift had nothing to do with money or a material present. It was completely connected to being with people he loves and enjoying a winter activity together.

Back at his aunt's house we ate Jordan's favorite food, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and opened a couple of gifts. His cousin Evan asked him, "This is the best day, isn't it?"

Jordan replied, "Yes! This could be the best day of our lives!"

I have been rehearsing my son's words all week. This could be the best day of our lives. We never know. What we do know is each day we have is a gift--up to us how to spend it, share it, unwrap it, use it and appreciate it!

Back

I'm back! I went on a vacation for the first part of December with my mother-in-law and kids. We escaped the cold and traversed the Caribbean! Jordan loves the idea of me "homeschooling" him and has asked if he can be permanently "island-schooled." Coming home to bitter low degrees has me strongly considering his suggestion.

I have missed my readers and am looking forward to being back. Writing always feels like home to me.

I had supper this week with my dear college friend, Sarah. We talked about the craziness of December and how it is hard to slow down even when making the effort. Often the "small things run our lives," she told me.

Upon returning from a week and a half in the sun, I'm finding the small things interrupting the important things.

I was bummed out yesterday that the cookies I baked were flat instead of fluffy. I yelled at my kids two nights ago for not "sitting still at the mall" while mommy had to buy some not-so-necessary Christmas gifts. It was one of those wandering, shopping experiences where I spent two hours trying to figure out what to buy people who have everything accompanied by two hungry preschoolers waddling behind me. I cried with anxiety when I got home that my Christmas card labels wouldn't print and that I feel completely inept when it comes to merging addresses and keeping tabs on who has moved where in the last year.

And then this morning, I decided to breathe. I made an eggnog latte and sipped it slowly. And I realized that I'm the one who allows the small things to run my life. And I'm the same one who can run my life by what really matters.

With that said, it is good to be back.

Do-Able

“Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, until nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, till the sun goes down. And this is all life really means.” —Robert Louis Stevenson(1850-1894); Essayist, Poet, Novelist

I love the concept of doing anything for a day. Whether difficult, uninteresting or challenging. Anything for a day is do-able. The month of December can be quite overwhelming. I will work to remember these words, "I am able...I am able to do this today."