Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, single moms!

Enjoy your kiddos, and the simple gifts of hugs and laughter.

 

From my home to yours…..

 

 

 

Seasons

Hello Friends!

It’s a new season… fall!  There are four seasons in every year.  Four seasons of change.  Of course, the amount of change in one season is relative to where you live.  Here in southern California, there’s not much change.  In fact, today was the hottest day of the year on record in Los Angeles at 113.  It was blazing hot!  However, the beach breeze started up again and it’s cooling down.  Doesn’t seem like fall today.

Our summer was cooler than usual.  A haunting marine layer crept along the coast daily.  I ended up wearing my ugg boots and a sweatshirt at night because the nights were on the chilly side.  Go figure.

Life is filled with seasons of change.  It can be difficult to adapt, especially when it’s not necessarily change for the good… or so it seems.  I’ve gone through a lot of change in the past 4 years.  Some good and some not so good.   I’m getting through it.  I am actually thankful for much of the change, even though it was an extremely hard season for me.

Whatever change you are experiencing, just keep a song in your heart.  Put on some classic Barbra Streisand and watch some silly comedies.  Laugh. Keep loving.  Keep embracing your path.  It will be change for the better.  You can make it happen.

I love this excerpt from the Bible:     “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,  a time to build up and a time to tear down, a time to work and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…  God has made everything beautiful in His time.”  Eccl. 3

Whatever time it is for you, use it to love where you are and to make a difference in those whom God has put in your life.   Make it a season to remember.

Happy Fall!

Jolene

Will you be mine?

I used to get so excited as a little girl when it was time to make a box for Valentines Day in school!  I’m sure you did the same thing.  Get the shoe box, cover it with pink or red paper, glue on some cut-out hearts, cut an opening on the top of the box and wait for the sweet valentines and treats.  I loved it!  Of course, I saved the special one from that cute boy that I secretly had a crush on.  Every girl loves a valentine.  Every girl loves to think she is special in somebody’s eyes.  It hasn’t changed just because we’re grown up women.  We still love to feel that we’re special.

It’s been quite a few Valentines Days since those innocent times as a girl.  Who knew that romance would be so complicated?  Well, actually falling in love may not be so complicated, but falling out of love sure is.  Being the recipient of a dozen roses, a box of chocolates and a heart bracelet sure makes February 14 a special day, especially from the one who is in love with you!  It’s hard when the love is gone and you’re all alone on that day.

Of course, Valentines Day is a commercialized holiday.  There are plenty of businesses who profit from romance.  That’s a good thing, especially in this economy.  However, it’s a day that may be a disappointment for some.

Last year, I was taking my dog for a walk and had a God-thought… I need to deliver roses to single moms on Valentines Day.  Who doesn’t love roses?  And who is more deserving of some love on Valentines Day than single moms?  They work hard, love and care for their kids, try to keep a positive balance in their checkbook while figuring out how to work a second job.  They may yearn for romance and someone who will bring them flowers, but it’s all so complicated now.

So, I put the word out to my friends and hand delivered roses, chocolates, a song and a love letter from God to about 20 single moms.  Wow, you should have seen the response from some of them.  They were clearly excited and filled with joy!  I had no idea the effect that a simple delivery of love would have on these moms.   One mom, in particular, was overjoyed.  My friend told me that the single mom was going through chemo and life was really tough.  I knocked on the door of her condo and wasn’t quite prepared our interaction.  She slowly came to the door with nothing on her bald head.  She apologized  profusely for her appearance as I stepped inside her place.  I told her that I was delivering a gift from her friend.  She said, “Oh, that girl!  What has she done now?”  I told her that it was just a little something for Valentines Day.  She was so happy!  Her eyes filled with tears as her face was consumed in a brilliant smile.  She kept saying how wonderful it was as she thanked me over and over.  About a month later, I heard that her son went to school the next week and told all of his friends about the delivery.  He kept talking about how it made his mom so happy.  It was just one ordinary Valentines Day that had a special moment for one single mom.

I can’t even express how satisfied that made me feel.  Wow, to have an impact on someone’s day like that made all the driving around and preparation more than worthwhile.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Christmas Grace

My son, Andrew Shubin, sings “Christmas Grace” in this music video.  Our best gifts are the hugs and love that we share with others.  Grace was born on Christmas.

Merry Christmas!