For a "53 Mondays" blog challenge. I didn't make any resolutions this year except to be more charitable. My layout tells the story of me meeting a single young mom and her three daughters that will forever change me.

Journaling reads: 2009 ended with an encounter that has caused me to do some soul searching about who I am. I had posted an offer for one of my daughter's dresses that she had outgrown to our local freecycle. After having someone show up at my house for multiple bags of my daughter's clothes in a brand new Lincoln Navigator, I added to my posting "I know times are tough all around but I'd really like this to go to someone who is really struggling that needs a dress for something special like a school dance or Christmas eve services". Within a few hours, I received an email from Christie. Seeing frequent "wanted" postings on freecycle from Christie, I knew that giving the dress to her daughter was the way to go. We were in the process of cleaning out drawers and closets and Christie told me she could use the clothes for her girls - ages 8, 13, and 15. I took the dress to Christie two days before Christmas. Christie was a vibrant and friendly young woman who very obviously tried to do her best for her girls. Her daughter was so excited to get the dress I brought her. She tried on the dress and matching cover-up and although it was a little big on her, she excitedly asked her Mom if she could wear it to church. Christie kept hugging me and thanking me for the clothes that I had brought them. Her daughter wanted to hug me several times. While making small talk with Christie, I noticed a small 3 foot artificial tree sitting on the kitchen floor. The tree had a few lights and ornaments on it. Underneath the tree was only a few gifts wrapped in newspaper. Christie quickly explained that she had used newspaper to wrap the girls' gifts so that she was able to use the money saved on pretty wrapping paper to buy them each one more gift for under the tree. As I left their house, I realized that my heart was heavy. Heavy with sadness that in all probability Santa wouldn't be making a stop at their house. I am willing to bet that reality had replaced any childhood belief that Santa put the presents under the tree while the girls slept. A reality that makes an 8 year old giddy with excitement to receive a hand-me-down dress from a stranger. It was at that moment that I stopped and took a look at myself - at who I was, where I had been in life and where I was going. I realized how much I take all that I have in my life for granted. My family is healthy. My husband and I both have good jobs. Our kids have plenty to eat, clean clothes and a warm home to live in. And it is because of meeting Christie and her girls that I've decided that the only resolution that I will be making this year is to be more charitable toward others.

Credits: Spearmint Infusion by Captivated Visions
Extra Long Dates by Kellie Mize
Flutterbies - Dotty Gel - Teal alphabet by Mari Koegelenberg
Template by Sugarplum Paperie
staples from Pri Rocha's You Rock kit
font: DJB RachelM
magnifying glass extracted from a stock photo

LuAnn