lessons from pink ribbons.

can I tell you about my day yesterday?

I am not complaining, but, let me tell you, it started out as quite the day.

both of the girls had read-a-thons at school.  on top of that, lynn’s class had a christmas party that I had signed-up to provide cookies for.  because I am awesome (or something of that sort) I purchased said cookies last night.  they sat on the counter, ready for today.  not to be forgotten. 

I got the girls up, got them breakfast and put some cocoa on the stove to warm up.  we made lunches, gathered treats and books for the read-a-thons, then the girls went off and got dressed, and then we did hair.  (also referred to as torturing the girls.)   it was after we did hair, that I was reminded about the cocoa on the stove.

my reminder:

(okay, so not the actual reminder, but the aftermath.)

it was wonderful.

I had left the lid on.  apparently that was a bad idea.  I am not sure, none of it was a good idea really.

it was in that moment, with cocoa all over the stove, some places scorched on, that I realized that I didn’t have bags for ashley’s teacher gifts.  not matter, like she would be able to carry ALL of her stuff anyway?  they would have to wait.

after I got some of the cocoa mess cleaned up, we were off to school.

I dropped the girls off, and as they walked away from the car, blowing kisses and waving one-handed goodbyes, I realize that they don’t have mittens or hats.  it was a cold day.  I hoped they had something in their backpacks.

so peyton and I were off for home.  I planned on hitting the ground running today.  I have a lot to do, and only a few days to do it in.  but that is probably what every mom is saying…

as soon as we got home, there were the cookies, sitting on the entryway table.

we forgot the cookies.

I would have to take them to the school.

I could take hats and gloves too.

and well, while I was at it, I would go get the gift bags and take the teacher gifts to ashley’s class..

and, well, if I was going to the store, I ought to make a grocery list…

and on it went.

peyton and I went to the store, she as ariel, me as myself, gathered our cart full of needs, and then I realized that I had left the debit card in.the.car.

great.

we ditched the cart, ran out to the car, got the debit card, and ran back into the store, re-claimed the abandoned cart, and went to get in line.  the only open line, with four people already in it.

we opted for the self checkout.

I was tired.  it was only 9 am.

I was hoping that the rest of the day would go much smoother than this first part had.

after getting gifts into gift bags, we went to the girls school, and what I saw changed my mind set.

pink ribbons everywhere…..

I was suddenly grateful.

grateful to be going to my girls school.

thankful to have two little girls that needed hats and mittens, cookies, and teacher gifts.

happy that I could do it.

happy that they were safe there, and it wasn’t an emergency bringing me to their school.

there are too many parents in this world right now who are missing a child, missing the day to day errands and activities.

I found my heart full of thanks for our community and the love and unity they are showing to a family, one of our own, who came here to lay their little girl to rest.  it is awesome to be a part of such a wonderful community!

the rest of my day would be just fine.  so what?  the morning didn’t necessarily go the way I wanted it to.  the things on my to-do list were bumped momentarily, but I was thankful that it went the way it did.

most of all, I am thankful for those fluttering pink ribbons that taught me a lesson.