Thank You

I admit it.

I am bad at communicating.

Emails/text messages/phone calls/showing up in person, on time, I basically stink at all of it.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Proverbs 27:6

A friend of mine reminded me that I am really bad at remembering to thank people when they do something kind for me. {Sorry about that.}Thank you notes are certainly part of the aforementioned list of methods of communicating at which I stink.

So, as a result of my friend's rebuke, I am trying to be more diligent about saying thank you because I truly am thankful for the sweet stuff that my friends/family/total strangers do for me.

I figured that since we're only a week into 27 (and since I was completely blessed by my sweet, sweet people) that  I would start by saying thanks for my birthday.

{Back-story} So, a few weeks ago, I put out a plea for a sewing machine.

{Confession} I work for Better Life Bags and haven't a clue how to sew!

But I want to learn so, sew badly.

A few hours after I clicked Send, I got a phone call (which I couldn't answer because I was holding a precious sleeping almost-two-year-old and was unwilling to give up that sweet moment [but more importantly I didn't want to wake him up]), followed quickly by an email. An email offering me a barely used and seriously fancy sewing machine.

I was floored.

And. Oh. So. Thankful.

Check out this beauty. I call her Nina Machina. {I can't even figure out how to thread her.} [But Rebecca will help me with that.]

I also got tons of sweet sewing supplies along with my Nina.

So, I'd like to start by saying thank you (!!!) to my sweet sister, Rose, who has made my sewing adventure possible.

But my birthday was more than this machine.

I was so blessed by my friends in Hamtown.

I mentioned here that I had purposefully scheduled two engagements on my birthday so not to make a big deal over it (totally God-ordained with my week last week - I did NOT feel like celebrating).

At my first appointment, no one knew it was my birthday. It was kind of fun, like I had a secret that I wasn't telling. Only John and I knew.

I failed to make it to the second event (where everyone knew it was my birthday) due to traffic and baseball practice.

I failed to make it to the event where everyone bought me a gift/card. I was totally surprised when I got them all!

So, I just want to say thanks.

To M: Thanks for your life-altering card and the sewing supplies. Your thoughtfulness means so much to me, especially now.

To R: I stinking LOVE my hand-knitted socks. Thanks for the hours of patience and care that you put into making them. Thank you for the beautiful RED card.

To S: Thank you for your sweet words & the strawberries. You know my taste buds so well.

To M.H.: Thank you for the festive make-up & bag. I have never worn such quality face paint in my life.

To A: Thank you for the scarf/notebook/note cards {which I intend to use to write thank you notes ... we'll see}.

To R.S.: I am so thankful for the sewing lessons to come! I need them BAD!!!!!! Also, thanks for the audio Bible. Can you say rulin'?!?!

Chapstick? Somebody gave me chapstick. I need it and I love it (esp. the berry flavor). Thanks!

Beyond that, my family & friends sent cards (filled with $$). :)

The words were really life-giving (especially the two-page letter of mommy encouragement from my Mama. Thank you.)

The money was really gift-giving. Thanks, y'all.

But I have to highlight my favorite card. The one from my mother-in-law.

This card was perfectly what I needed to hear this birthday.

You see, I often wonder if my hubby's family wishes I were different. You know, I wonder if they had some other kind of girl in mind to be his partner. {aka one less messy, one more on time, one more disciplined with John, one more quiet} I second-guess myself ALL THE TIME, and Josh is such a catch that I often tell myself that he deserves better.

It was so wonderful to read these words from the woman who cared for Josh for the first portion of his life. So, Ms. Debby, thank you. It has been a tough week; you have no idea how life-giving your words have been to me.

And if you can hang on for just another minute and go way back with me. Back to when John was still squirming around in my tummy. Back before there was a gold band on which my engagement ring now sits. Back to when there was no engagement ring at all and I couldn't even afford to drink orange juice.

Back when. You gave.

I seldom look at my kitchen table that I don't think of my Aunt Lisa. Thank you.

I cannot mix yummy and delicious corn casserole in my glass mixing bowls that I don't remember my friend who gave them to me. (Recipe too!)

And when I stroll John through the fifth shopping mall this week (must.leave.the.house.must.survive.winter.), Aunt Sharon will be on my mind.

My point? I am so thankful.
Thankful for the ways that y'all bless me materially.
Thankful for the ways that y'all bless my heart. Period.

I am so sorry that I stink at communicating it.