A thank you note .....

 ..... to my friends.  Especially to my "couple friends".  

There are so many women out there who eventually feel the sting of rejection from their couple friends (as well as single friends) when their husband dies.  Couples stop inviting them out, coming over, spending time with them -- as if being widowed is contagious or something.

I have been blessed to not feel that sting.  At least not from any of our "couple friends".  There have been a few friends who seem to have completely dropped me.  I don't take it personally.  I guess they can't help what they feel.  But they can help the way they act -- or don't act.

     Anyway, to all of my couple friends ..... I thank you and I thank God for you.  I thank Him that instead of rejecting me you have enveloped me in your love, support and strength.  You continue to invite me to spend time with you and you continue to accept my invitations to spend time with me.  I thank God that both Jim and I had so many couples in our life.  

     And I am also thankful for the "check-in now" e-mails from certain airlines.  And especially thankful for the one that I received today, which made me remember that Daughter #1 is coming tomorrow and not Wednesday!!!  I had forgotten that I booked her flight for tomorrow. So yay!  I am so excited and happy that she flies in at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon!!

     And I'm thankful for friends who care so much for others.  A friend of mine has decided to help out a family who lost almost everything they have in the wake of Hurricane Ike.  Their home was severely damaged and everything that survived the storm did not survive the mold that followed.  So now they are in need of everything.  And the husband just lost his job last week.

There you have it .... the messiness of this thing called "life".

And my friend is trying to help them through the mess.  She's taking any and all donations of household items, furniture, paint, lumber, whatever people may have in their homes that they don't really need or use.  She'd also like to collect things for the kids for Christmas.

And yes, she'll take things like Wal-Mart gift cards, grocery gift cards, cash .... whatever you may find in your heart to give, as well as donations of time to clean, paint, drywall .... or whatever can be done to help the weekend of Thanksgiving.

Some items that are definitely needed are:

*a borrowed truck to pick up lumber and big things 

*tape and float to hang drywall

*a hole digger so posts can be put in

*3 beds -- any size would be welcomed

*a dresser

*sheets and towels

*bathroom shelving unit

 There is a teenage daughter who wears size 2/3 and could use a used computer (hers was damaged) and loves music; a son who loves reading and music and wears size 29 pants; another son who loves games and graphic novels and is a size 12 slim; a 4 yr old daughter who loves Barbies; and a son who needs size 3 pants and loves trains and tractors.  Her husband would like a Christmas tree for the kids -- and a job and the mom wants ...... laundry soap.  That's all, aside from the happiness of her children.

If you think you might be able to help this family please e-mail Christie at mmmmd@embarqmail.com.

     And thank you --- because I know that you are all so very generous --- I've experienced that myself with your comments, thoughts and prayers.  

     Thanks to each of you .... for being there.

:)