Kindness

Paying it Forward: Jamie-Lynne Knighten & the Kindness of Strangers

I recently read the story of Matthew Jackson and cannot get this young man’s good deed out of my mind. If you aren’t familiar with the story of Jamie-Lynne Knighten and Matthew Jackson, read the details below: Jamie Lynne-Knighten is on a mission to pay it forward to honor a good Samaritan who was killed 24 hours after picking up her … Read more

Odds and Ends in September

A few odds and ends… I wasted too much time this past month dealing with a very toxic relationship. Unfortunately, I haven’t resolved the problem but I have gained a new perspective on the situation. I would like to know why nasty people are always dragging the rest of us down. Isn’t it amazing how … Read more

Are Those Family Heirlooms Worth Anything at All?

At my previous job I was offered a gift after five years of employment. What was five years worth? $200 seemed the going rate as each gift in the selected catalog was roughly equivalent to that amount. At the time I waffled between two options: a very girly, pink bike and an ornate Waterford vase. … Read more

Odds, Ends and Other Such Things

Once a week I intend to write a few words in either this blog or my children’s journals, but with the introduction of our second child I cannot seem to find the time to focus on either. My older son gave up napping a few weeks ago, so I have absolutely no quiet time between … Read more

Perspective

I consider myself a lucky person. I typically focus on the positive over the negative and I wonder how that impacts my overall experiences in life. Do good things happen because I push aside the negative in favor of happy thoughts? Here’s an example: It took my husband and I two and a half years … Read more

Letting Go

I noticed his picture while panning the shelter’s website. I sent a link to my boyfriend. (I wish I still had that email.) It said something like ‘this is the one for us.’ The little kitten was standing tall staring straight at the camera. His ears and paws seemed much too big for his tiny … Read more

Odds and Ends in April

A few odds and ends since I can’t seem to find the time to post anything longer: I am completely hooked on Bark Thins. A good friend delivered a bag of these shortly after my son was born and I have methodically eaten a tiny piece every day for the last three weeks. Who knew … Read more

The More You Give The More You Will Receive

In January of 2013, (a little over a year after my first son’s birth), I gathered up two large bags of clothes ranging in size from newborn to six months. At the time I didn’t hesitate at the thought of passing them on to someone else.  A friend of my husband’s delivered her baby fourteen … Read more

Odds, Ends and Other Such Things

A spattering of financial thoughts rolling around in my brain: Next month will start the four year countdown of our primary mortgage! My family hosted a surprise sprinkle for baby #2 after all. Despite saying that gifts weren’t necessary everyone brought something and yes I felt guilty for each of the gifts we received. Having … Read more