Thank you!

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!