Project Gratitude: Giving Thanks

Hiiii.....

I've been absent.

I've been tired...

Something took me by surprise. I thought i'd be faster at recovery by now but alas... it took some help.

Help came in the form of these amazing surprises.

It coincided with earlier last week receiving this:

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, that this was one of Yummii's offerings on a blah day. I signed up to receive a book and completely forgot about it until it arrived - express post. Hehe it had been sitting downstairs in the shop for a while i guess. Then it found me.

What i really like about this letter, is it's HAND SIGNED by an actual person. I miss the days of reading someone's actual writing, and i didn't realise that i'd also missed knowing someone cared enough to sign a typed letter with their own signature.

Anyway i had left this book and letter and it's awesome express post - guaranteed next day delivery envelope on a pile of 'things to get to' on my desk, and went about trying to survive the last week of term.

Every night i contemplate writing something - then for whatever reason... i don't.

But today - i had something awesome happen, and it made me think of all the awesome things that have been happening... all the universes little nudges that i kinda smiled at then ignored.

Today i need to stop and say Thank you.

Firstly to the two most surprising things

Jenny Lam and her fruit bowl of loveliness:

I received a message on Facebook last Thursday - Jenny asking where i lived. When i told her and asked why - she said she wanted to drop off some fruit 'for the kids.'. Blown away when she came the next evening with delicious fruit delivered to my gate, i wasn't sure what i had done to deserve such loveliness.

Tivi ate a mango every day for breakfast. She didn't know who Aunty Jenny was, but Aunty Jenny was soooo nice.

Thank you so much. You made my week.

Then Julie Nguyen. Today - she made the holidays super spectacularly awesome when she msged me (also on facebook) asking if i wanted boxes - Of course! We love boxes!! AND OH MY GOD- these boxes!!! AMAZING!! And the fact that she drove over TWICE! to deliver them to me! Once with the giant boxes actually TIED to the roof of her car. Seriously. Awesome doesn't begin to describe it.

The kids shrieked with excitement. I jumped up and down, grinning a crazy grin. Zane shook his head but smiled. He knows what this means to me.

He says 'Now you have people delivering boxes to you?' Haha... then he says 'It's so cool when people do nice things.'

INDEED IT IS!!

I am sooo lucky to know the people that i do. I am so thankful for facebook and the internet and all it's loveliness.

Thank you Julie! For going out of your way to get the boxes to us! For even thinking of it in the first place.

I'm blown away by the thoughtfulness and kindness and generosity of people.

My kids, they ask me who i got them from, the awesome boxes... the fruit... the things that came from mystery cars pulling up at random times.

I give them names. They say Who's that??! In the end it doesn't matter. They are too distracted by the gifts to be curious about the givers.

At the end of today though - i looked at my living room - filled with boxes, and potential awesomeness... and i thought of how i've been tired... How life kinda knocked the wind outta me. And then... like always - it picks me back up- dusts me off and shows me this other side. Offers this new perspective. Tells me- choose.

Thank you.

1. To Jenny - for the thought, the fruit. The honour of knowing someone who is always DOING something, for causes, for people, for herself. Thank you for the inspiration, the joy of seeing an example of Action speaking louder than words.

2. To Julie - who despite handling a toddler and twins with the ease and grace of Audrey Hepburn, a magazine spread of perfection in all that she does- (that i see on facebook anyway) - still takes the time to congratulate me on my shonky efforts and insane ideas. Who goes out of her way to encourage it, by doing a surprising and most wonderful thing. She thanked me for taking her rubbish... Haha- i know she knows they are treasures to me/us! And - for in the process - reminding me to take time out to be grateful- i'm incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such awesome people!Thank You!

3. To Vinnie - who brought over dresses for me from her collection, knowing that i have a wedding on Saturday and lean towards the lazy side of getting dressed up. She brought dresses and lunch. And stayed to chat. Thank You. For all your visits. For always telling me honestly of the things that have been going on with you. I can't fix your Bi-polarity. But i can listen. Haha... and sympathise. Crazy is in our blood young Jedi - use it like the force. Bend it to your needs. Thanks for being yourself and showing me, that it's okay to admit to all the things that are true of yourself and laughing at them- and for always bringing food.

4. To my MMC friends who always remind me of great times and people who want only the best for each other. Especially to: Chris - who got back to Sydney on Friday - and had to deal with my warped sense of humour after a long night compounded by jetlagg. Haha I'm sorry, and thank you for being forgiving. To Carol who left me a lovely 'I miss you message' and organised a lunch. To my three mums, for their constant support- for the always open doors, open chats and open minds.

And the 5th thanks for today goes to My husband:

Who posed for pictures with us, who didn't say NO when i said we're dressing up for Family Fun Day, ALL OF US. Even if we are catching the train. Hehe... i see you trying. Thank you, for participating in the awesomeness.