Sometimes it just takes a little thing to be a big thing...

As I've said summer has been extremely busy. I know it's that way for most families, but I think we are disallusioned into thinking it will be less busy than the school year and when it isn't we are shocked. It throws me off kilter and I need to find my new normal schedule for the next 2.5 months.

Dinners have been lacking quite a bit at our house. I love to cook and usually cook dinner for my family each night, or at least serve a delicious combination of left overs & a fresh can of green beans on alternate nights. This summer my children have had McDonnald's twice (more than times than we've had the rest of the year) & Little Caesar's more than I care to admit. We've also had quite a few meals on a picnic blanket in the living room. Another area I've had not found my groove in yet is grocery shopping. Last school year I shopped on Friday mornings after dropping Katelyn off at preschool. No kids are a breeze, one kid is a teaching opportunity, two or more kids is survival!  

Last Friday I found myself at Publix with my girls as we were getting ready to have three other families join us for supper club at our house. The theme was Latin America and we were grilling chicken, making black beans and rice, and Maduros (sweet plantains). It was fun to plan and I enjoyed listening to my Best of Gloria Estefan CD in preparation.  Not only did I have a lot of cooking to do, I had to brush up on my Conga line moves and I had to clean my house. When some people say they have to clean their house they mean sweep, dust, vacuum. I mean clean, pick up and put away, declutter, and shove in a closet. My home used to be decorated in Early Fischer-Price, but as the girls grew older we've included more pieces of post modern Disney Princess. I am fortunate to have a husband that steps in and helps get everything ready in times like this. 

It was a typical shopping trip with kids, go get a cookie at the bakery, see if Ms. Monica is in the deli giving out samples of popcorn chicken, exam ALL of the fruit for the best pieces & no squishies. With all we had to do in the next 24 hours I was frazzled and my patience was thin. I'm sure I snapped at the girls. I'm sure I mentally grumbled at the slow people in front of me. I'm sure I didn't smile. 

Then we went to pay for our groceries. I noticed a young couple in front of me. She was beautiful, I mean really radiant and expecting a baby. I think I smiled a little as I watched them and thought, their life was about to change (I was assuming this was their first, but could be wrong). She smiled at me a little too. As they were walking away and I went up to pay  and the cashier handed me a bouquet of flowers and said they were compliments of the couple in front of me.

I was overwhelmed! I called to them as they walked out of the store "THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" It was extremely sweet, thoughtful, and blessed my day. How incredibly mood changing their act of kindness was for me. My kids even asked for candy at the checkout and I told them yes! I never do that!
I was delighted! My girls were delighted. t was such a beautiful act of kindness. I had happy tears.  The girls and I have often brought baked goods to people in stores we frequent or other places we can share, but this was totally random. I loved it! And I can't wait to surprise someone soon with the same blessing. Like I said...Sometimes it just takes a little thing to be a big thing in someone's life. Pass it on!