Fridays should feel good, but we're dealing with some heavy stuff here.
- Two of my freelance contracts are being discontinued (as in, the product is gone, not I'm being replaced, which is a strange comfort). I am now in the age-old debate on whether to maintain a daycare placement or keep Bella home until I find something replace that money. Keeping her home is free. Sending her to school at least part time is sane. Know what I mean?
- Our baby chick (the Rhode Island Red) most likely died. She was always a little weaker than the rest and then Wednesday we noticed the other chicks/keets pecking at and bullying her. Then we realized she wasn't eating or drinking. We isolated her, but she just got worse and eventually couldn't even stand up on her own. We tried dropper feeding her, but she stopped swallowing. So we took her back to the breeder. My hope is that he is nursing her back to health, but I'm thinking the reality is he'd cut his losses on her. My poor little baby Lulu, who was actually Javi's chick...
- We also found out on Wednesday that one of the Mountain Man's newest employees is one step away from homeless. He's only 18 and is raising his siblings (17, 14, 12, and 9) while his dad lays up with a girlfriend. However, the dad lied about paying the bills so now they have no power or water. My heart broke for them, especially when I heard how he told Billy and his other coworker (after they offered lots of help) that "no one had ever been so nice to him." What kind of world do we live in?
And so. I really need some !!! and some feely-good. Like, desperately need it. And so I went out and found it.
- I posted about the boy and his siblings on Facebook and was overwhelmed with the generosity and outpouring of kindness toward him. People have already brought groceries and offered money to help him keep his family together. Not a single soul has asked me what race or ethnicity he is, how much money he makes, or what his education level is. When push comes to shove, people are really really good. They are loving and generous and good. I tend to forget that when I hear people ranting about "illegals" and "welfare babies" and the like. I am humbled by this boy's determination to take care of his siblings and I am awed by my community's eagerness to support him. !!!
- My kid has been at camp all week. Remember our meltdowns? They have been few and far between this week. And then today, at the closing ceremony, the camp director pulled me aside to tell me how impressed he is with my little boy. He talked about how talented and intelligent Javi is. About how compassionate and funny he is. How he's full of initiative and drive. Not once did he comment on impulsivity, distractibility, or inattentiveness. Not once. I may have cried a little. !!!
- A friend of mine from high school (really, the only one I have left) admitted to me the other day that she was really hurt by something I did. Basically, I blew her off. In my defense, I didn't mean to. We were supposed to get together while she was in town but I totally forgot until late in the day and when she hadn't called by then, I assumed she'd gotten caught up too. So when I finally called her to chit chat, I was really surprised to hear that she was nursing some hurt feelings. But I apologized and assured her that I just have a swiss-cheese brain and all is good again. So good, in fact, that we're going to hang out this weekend while she's here on an impromptu visit. I really value her friendship and it makes me happy to know that a) she was mature enough to be vulnerably honest and b) I was mature enough to apologize and move forward. !!!
So, you see? Feeling good. Intentionally happy. Finding the beautiful streaks of gorgeous silver in those unbelievably stormy clouds. Work will straighten itself out. We'll be okay. Life will go on. And I'm the luckiest girl in the world for having so many amazing people to share the good -- and bad -- times with.
**This post is part of !!! and Feel Good Fridays.**
That's so heartwarming about the generosity towards your hubby's employee. It always amazes me when things like that happen, it shouldn't, but it does! People really are good.
I'm so moved by what you wrote.
It's so nice to see people being touched by others and trying to help out. I think I could hear your heart melt a bit when you wrote about summer camp and your boy. :)
I was here earlier to thank you for stopping by, and the sweet comments you left, but I saw this big long post, and decided to come back later. Most of the time I won't because I get to busy, but this time I'm glad I did. What a heart warming story about Facebook people coming to the aid of one in need. Now did the little chick die? Poor thing. How nice you & your friend patched things up too! Love the post sweetie. Have a great weekend.
I just saw the little chickies below they are so cute! Also, I was meaning to ask if you have the time to enter my give-away. My hubby is giving away 2 CD's that he recorded. I'm sure you'll like it. Take a peek and listen. Thank you soooo much. To tell you the truth he's a little depressed because of the low entries. If you have time of course. THANKS a bunch! I owe you one! :)
Life has so many twists and turns. never ceases to amaze me.
I'm so happy you are finding all the silver linings. So impressed with Javi and the generosity of your facebook friends. So sad that an 18 year old must bear the burden of supporting an entire family because the father is too busy having fun to shoulder his own responsibilities.
You look at things in such a great way. Wonderful :)
Good for you for finding the !!! in your week. I can only imagine how amazing it must have been to hear that great new about Javi. It's really lovely to hear others acknowledge the good in our kids. Hugs to you my friend, I hope this coming week has many more !!! moments.
Oh Kelly, I absolutely adore this !!! post. ADORE IT. Because you have taken such intimate, sensitive things that could have easily gone sour, and made them into beautiful reflections on people and humanity and emotions.
I'm tellin' ya, Kelly, this intentional happiness thing has really shifted my mind...in all the right ways.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this. The hard stuff AND the !!!
I really admire you, Kelly. Who you are and what you do for other people. I can only imagine the impact your kindness, which prompted the kindness in others, is having on that young man and his family.
Life is just so hard. And yet I love that you focus on the good, it's inspiring. Reading that your facebook friends helped support this family of siblings made my whole week. I love it.
Thank you, lady.
Aw, shucks. If it puts anything into perspective, yesterday I answered the phone and on the other end was my Mama shrieking, "I want her! She needs to come on to my house right now and that's all there is to it!" (Turns out the youngest sibling is in Javi's grade and school ... and obviously my mom is familiar with her.)
So the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. My "bleeding heart" is genetic. :)
Wow. That is some heavy stuff but I'm glad you found some happies too.
That was really wonderful!!!! I often wonder where all of the good people are and it just makes me smile to hear your story about the boy and all of the help he is being given!
My daughter got sick at a softball practice this week and the coaches and players pressured her into playing so i am a little down on the human race right now. Thank you for this.
You have my empathy, on many levels. Hard to lose a job, especially when it has nothing to do with your performance. I'm 20 months out of work and counting. Still fighting to hang on. Frightening.
But kindness lives, yes. That helps everything.
Even thought it started out down, the post ended up so uplifting. The human race can really surprise you, can't it?
Isn't it amazing when the world takes you by surprise like that!! THat is DEFINITELY a feel good moment.
And Yay!! for the camp directors compliments on Javi. I know you wanted to do cartwheels and scream from the mountaintops. YAY!!!
And I say keep Bella in daycare. ;)
It's wonderful that you found an outpouring of support and generosity within your community, especially towards a family they don't even know. I like stories like that because it does restore my faith in humankind.
Intentional happiness is such a wonderful thing - if it's not immediately apparent, go in search for it. And the joy you find behind the clouds far outweigh the effort it takes for you to look for them doesn't it?
People really are good and do come together when push comes to shove!
Glad you found some happiness in the end!
(((HUGS)))
Proud of Javi for you too! That's always awesome to hear better than expected about our kids!
A very big !!! for the kindness of strangers (and for people like you, for stepping up and doing what you can to get things organized). I hope he and his siblings are back on their feet soon.
*hugs* I'm so sorry that life dumped on you last week, but I admire your ability to see the positive amidst it.
I love your !!! this week. Some real searching to find it but sure enough it was there anyway, especially the discussion you had with your friend that was honest and mature. I am always glad to see that the world works in spite of our differences.