Adding to My Food Storage

My church counsels us to have a food storage in the event of possible emergencies and financial downturns. They never once told me specifically what I had to store. Easter clearance sales on grocery day are the best!

Thoughts on an Easter Sunday

I have two quick experiences/reflections running through my head today I want to share:
First, I spent about an hour of my Easter morning volunteering at our local animal shelter. I have been smitten with this shaggy, partially deaf and blind, little dog, who admittedly looks a little worse for the wear. He seems to be an older fellow, and he was found wandering through a busy part of town when he was brought into the shelter. I wanted to specifically spend some time with him; that was my "catch" if my time was needed on Easter morning--that I got to play with this little guy. As I felt his matted, scabby coat, looked into his cloudy, blinded eyes, I felt so sad for him--how could someone cast him out like that? Such a sweet little guy, roaming our town in such shape, because someone was cruel and uncaring. It really bothered me as he and I walked, as I stroked his fur, and on the way home. But, then I found solace...he, along with so many others, is the reason why the no-kill philosophy needs to be adopted everywhere. What would another shelter have done? More than likely, they would have taken one look at him and euthanized him. He would have been deemed "unadoptable," and that would have been the end of it. I know that. And it is the no-kill concept that enabled me to scratch his ears and his back, to give him love and time, to ache for his need for a home--without it, I more than likely would never have known this wonderful boy that I have nicknamed Sam.

(Sam. If I could have him/provide him what he needs, I would take him in an instant. Pic by my friend, Peter.)

Second, and I prefer to keep the where and the who confidential, I found myself feeling like a heel today. I take a lot of pride in finding nice clothes for reasonable prices for my children. I like it when they look nice. I love buying them gifts, and presents, and relishing the holidays with them. But, I had an experience where I realized not all children are so blessed to have these small things--an Easter dress, or a basket, or chocolate, and the thing is--these kids aren't some news story--they are around us, they live here, they share our spaces. Here I was, priding myself that each of my kids had two Easter outfits, like some spoiled mother, and I saw children who more than likely saw today as just another day. I focus so much on what my kids have, and do, and wear, and there are so many kids who lack these things, who lack special little treats, or knowing they are loved, or who don't have parents who care about their basic needs. And I was so worried about whether or not my baby's Easter dresses were dressy enough? Or whether my son's basket had "enough" in it? These kids in need aren't some sad story on a commercial--they are HERE. The question is, how do we change our own mentality, and how do we help them?

Am I An Example?

My friends and I were discussing Easter egg hunts, and essentially, how they have often turned into a free-for-all, where greedy children are encouraged by even greedier parents to go to great lengths to find eggs at any cost, and how this is even starting to be seen in the toddler age hunts. This has also been apparent to me and other parents during trick-or-treat, where children push their way ahead of others, as clueless parents play dumb when their little darlings are knocking over preschoolers to get more candy, or who take way more than their share when given the opportunity.
As we discussed this, we talked about how this often boils down to a parent's example to their children. When the parent is eagerly pushing their child to get as much as they can, no matter what, what else will a kid learn along the way? The discussion focused so much on the concept of being an example, and at first, my cynical self was feeling more than ready to condemn others, judging from past experiences I have had (although our church's egg hunt was SPECTACULAR today), but then it dawned on me...
What kind of example am I for my children? Maybe I'm alright during Halloween, or an egg hunt, or a play date. But, am I good example of patience, or compassion, or understanding? Do my kids see me say "no" to something I want, or do they see me pick it up and put it in the buggy anyway, whether it is in the budget or not? Do they see me react in love or anger? Do they hear me judging others? Do they see a productive mom, or a lazy one? Will they see a mom with self-discipline and restraint? Will they learn how to take care of a home and others by my example?
Obviously, this is something that I think we all can work on with our little ones. I know I need to be a better example to them. It's not always about egg hunts or holidays. It's what they see in us when they are the only ones watching.

Easter Picture FAIL

I asked Goob to hold his sister during the group photo with the Easter Bunny at Story Time. He chose to look at his goody bag instead and dropped her. I have a pic of this in action. They are the two on the far left. Easter picture FAIL. ;)