I love my friends! I am so abundantly blessed with the most awesome friends on the planet. Both my friends in real life and my cyber friends have been a huge source of support to me.
Some time ago, Jackson put a hole in his bedroom door. It was damaged so badly, it no longer closed. My friend Eric installed a new door so Jackson will be surprised when he gets home. My friend Ginny dropped off delicious chicken tortellini soup and bread for us this week. My friend Doreen picked me up the other night after my little ones had gone to bed and took me out for a drink, a bite to eat, and adult conversation. It was heavenly. All my friends have been calling and listening to me complain, and offering their support. I have tons of readers and friends praying for me. It truly brings a tear (the tears are at the surface and it doesn't take much to bring them out these days) to my eye.
Right before Christmas, an anonymous person sent me a card with a $100 bill in it. I was taken aback. Who does something so generous and sweet and wonderful and thoughtful like that? And I can't even thank them personally because I don't know who they are.
Today, Lisa Belkin from the New York Times (You have to check out her blog, Motherlode, HERE. She writes about parenting and the issues that matter to us.) sent me and my family four meals. How wonderful! I even wrote in my new book, You'll Lose the Baby Weight (and other lies about pregnancy and childbirth) that people should skip the cute baby clothes and bring the new mother a lasagna instead! Nothing is more appreciated than a good, home-cooked, hot meal when you've just had a baby (or you're constantly running back and forth to the hospital/doctor/therapist, etc.)
And today, I received very generous monetary gifts from blog readers Susan and Kathleen in appreciation for entertaining them with my blog. I can't accept them. I appreciate it so much, but I write my blog because I like to make people laugh; I like to encourage others to enjoy their kids, messiness and all. There are no thanks necessary.
I don't even know what to do with all this. I hate being on the receiving end. I mean, ugh, that came out all wrong. I'm very, VERY grateful and honored and touched and so amazingly thankful. But I like being the one to help others. I like being the one to give to others. I like being in a position where I can make others feel good. It's uncomfortable being on the receiving end. I don't even know how to say thank you. "Thank you" just seems inadequate. But thank you. Thank you to everyone. And really, all I want are your prayers. Prayer gives me peace. It makes me feel like everything will be okay.
I'm working on a little vlog to show my appreciation. It's a cake decorating lesson. I'm going to teach you how to make roses out of candy clay. The roses are elegant and beautiful and they look like they must be very difficult and complicated to make. But they're actually pretty easy to do and with a little practice, you can impress the snot out of people with your awesome cake decorating abilities. I hope to have the video up by Saturday, so check back here this weekend. Thank you!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
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24 comments:
Dawn, you write your blog because it makes you feel good. People send you generous monetary gifts because it makes them feel good to do so. If you don't accept them, the good feelings only flow in one direction. You don't want to be the "fun-sucker" stopping up the good feelings flow do you? Just say "thank you" and know that you are making other people feel good by letting them show their appreciation.
My prayers are with you all. You need to accept the gifts offered to you if not then you could be robbing someones blessing from them. They are blessing you because you have blessed so many.
oh Dawn, that post brought tears to my eyes.. Dawn you have given and given so much you have to know that so many ppl that really dont know you personally care so much about you and your family that you have to be able to be on the receiving end of things once in a while. You really deserve it!! Big huge hugs to you and you and your family are constantly in my thoughts and prayers! :)
God has a funny way of making things work. As you said you are usually on the giving end of generosity. There are times when God needs you to be on the receiving end of it. It maybe to keep your heart soft during this "season" and to in the future reflect on what GOD has done. He will use you again. BUT remember Jesus came to earth to live with us so that we knew that he knew what we go through. Embrace the blessings.
This is why God gives us friends, I think! :0) Praying for y'all!
Oh Dawn, I will say thank you for the humor the past few years. I've wanted to come back to Chicago for some time in order to meet you ! (unless you come to Dallas soon,lol) For now I will continue with prayers and well wishes and will keep on laughing!
Dawn,
Know first that I am praying for you and your family through this difficult time. Also wanted to say that while it is easier and more fun to give than to receive, isn't it good to know that when you really need it, there are people out there who love and care about your family to just jump in and help out?
I have three kids myself and one is profoundly handicapped. At times in her life when I was desperate, help arrived, literally, at my doorstep. People who were practically strangers showed up and said "What do you need me to do?" I was overwhelmed, but blessed.
Now, she's medically stable, life is calmer, and we are able to pay it forward by helping out families who are in need like we were.
In addition, I suspect that by writing about all this, you are undoubtedly helping another family to take those first steps to help their own kids through hard times. You may be paying it forward even now without realizing it.
May God bless you and your family!
Dawn, but you ARE on the giving side and have been for so long, sharing with us the gift of laughter - I'm sure all the readers are totally selfish in giving and praying so we get the old Dawn back (no I don't mean that literally of course!).
You'll get back on top, I just know you will!!!
You aren't JUST on the receiving end ya know. You DO GIVE - right now you're GIVING all you have to help your children and yet you still find time to GIVE to your readers. You've shared the funny things life throws at you and you've bared your soul so that others who might be able to relate can feel that they're not alone. You deserve to be on the receiving end once in awhile. :)
Dawn, it is much harder to receive. I love to give, but it's much different being on the receiving end. I have been there also. But don't refuse the gifts, for then the giver won't receive the blessing of giving to you. God provides in different ways!
This is where I tell you how awesome and funny you are. Lots of us are thinking about you and praying for you and hoping the day when this is a distant memory hurries up and gets here! As for receiving - well, we all take our turn. This is just yours. Best of everything to you and your family.
Most of us are taught to give to others and help them out. But we can only do so if others are willing to accept our generosity. For the majority of your life, you will be the one serving others. But now is your brief window of time to allow the rest of us to give service. Thank you for giving us that opportunity.
I think our reluctance to be the "receiver" is connected to our need to be in control. We all hate to be the "receiver," but like so many said before me, accept all help with a gracious "Thank-you" and remember your feelings when it is your time to be the giver again. Can't wait to try to make roses out of candy clay.
Dawn, a heart felt Thank you is a complete sentence and totally adequate. Let people bless you. Have a wonderful day
This wonderful story helps to show how those who receive are sometimes more of a gift than those who do the giving. It's a fantastic read - you might like it.
http://now.eloqua.com/es.asp?s=567&e=110644&elq=b31588259c1242b88d74505c68ef10c1
One quick question. You said you're working on a video to show us how to make roses out of candy clay?
Uh, I guess he's your kid and you can dip him in candy if you want and I'm sure he won't mind BUT how are you going to get Clay to sit still enough to shoot the video?
Its always hard to accept things when we are on the receiving end, just take it because at some time you will be able to pass on something to someone else in need. We women like to think we can handle it all and not need any help, but truly we do need our girls and friends to help us out whenever we do or do not ask.
Prayers going out to you and the kids, sometimes we don't understand why all of this is happening but we do know that somewhere down the road GOD will help us to realize why we went thru what we did. Keep on blogging as we really do enjoy hearing all your adventures!
Precious Dawn,
Melissa beat me to it--you'd be the LAST person to want to rob another of the blessing of being God's instrument to encourage you and provide for you!
It's a wonderful thing to say, "I can't accept this". . . and an even more wonderful thing to say, "But I do believe I've listened to my friends who love me, support me, and pray for me. . . and I'll change my mind. Thank you very much."
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, GIRL!!
I love you Dawn! Always praying for you and your munchkins <3
XOXO
Funjenny
Dawn,
You have no idea of the true giving you've done. I can't tell you how many times I've been frustrated with my child (and I only have 1!), and I think, "WWDD? What would Dawn do?" I continually say to myself (and my husband), "In 5 years will this really matter?" That's because I learned that from you. You should take the gifts that people send you. They are only giving back the joy, laughter, and help that you've given all of us.
Shannon
As a not-single, working mom of ONLY two (boys), but worn out, tired beyond anything I can explain... I can't imagine what your life must be like. I go to work each day... to get a break from my three children (husband included in children definition).
So... What I wanna say is, to be able to give, you have to have something to give. And I don't mean physical means, I mean all these things that people are doing for you and giving also lifts you spiritually so you know that you are not alone. There is an entire world caring for you. Right now, I'm looking at "who's visiting my blog right now" There is the WHOLE of North America and Europe, Two countries in Africa (I'm one of 'em by the way) some in Asia and whole bunch of Aussies...
The only way we can truly understand giving is by learning to receive! It keeps us in balance. Had to learn that one after a few mini break downs.
And you DO give, EVERYTIME someone reads your blog: They receive the gift of your words.
Dawn, all of the best with all the crap that is going on... Always thinking and praying for you!
This just gives me goosebumps Dawn! Love you and have been thinking about you and the kids sooo much! xoxo
Dawn. I know exactly what you mean. I feel like I'm walking in your shoes right now in the "receiving blessings instead of giving them" department. My husband left last Sept. with the army and is in Kuwait until next fall, my mom suddenly passed away in October at the young age of 68, my dog was hit by a car the next week. I could write a book on the acts of kindness shown to me. Every single week a meal has been brought to our family, huge gift baskets and numerous gift cards have been given to us. People just want to make everything better because some days life just stinks. In the middle of all this I have to say that for some reason life doesn't stink. The only way I can explain that is I know a ton of people are praying for us.
Oh, and I totally get what you mean by having tears on the surface.
Thank you for reminding me to count the blessings in my life right now! I have a friend who is going through something very similar to you and I am going to cook some meals for her and buy her a gift card to the grocery store so she can use what little money she has on other things and not have to worry about feeding her family for 1 week. Thank you, thank you, thank you! (See you are giving - you gave me the idea to help someone else out!) Blessings to you, Dawn!
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