Monday, June 24, 2013

kindness

You must, must, must check out this entry on hope before you read any further or you'll miss the significance of today's post.

Andrew, Harriet and I had a wonderful weekend at the cabin. Old friends, good food and better weather than expected. Harriet had a great time playing on a big inflatable jump house our friends brought along. She loved it and Andrew is now convinced we need to buy one for her - a bigger one with three slides and a pool...for only $540.

He's serious.

But after seeing these smiles, can you blame him?






When we returned from the lake on Sunday, we opened our mailbox for the first time in a week. There was so much stuff squished in there, I could hardly pry it all out. Junk mail, magazines, bills...and a mystery package. We tore it open to find this...




I lost it. Just sobbed and sobbed. Andrew saw how touched I was by this sweet gift and he started to cry too. What made this even better was the fact that these prescriptions for hope were sent by an actual pharmacist - a childhood friend of Andrew's whom we see every other year, if that. She included a heartfelt note, handwritten on an official pharmacist pad:

I got a little bit behind reading your blog. I just wanted you to know that you inspire and give so many people hope! So many people are in your corner praying for all of your dreams to come true. Hang in there. You are a strong and beautiful woman and no doubt a great mother to Harriet and all of your future babies and those already in heaven. I know we don't know each other very well, but I think of you often and really hope you and Andy get everything that you could ever want. Hopefully this will bring a smile to your life.

 Such kindness.

And I'll tell you something...the "pills" worked. But they didn't just restore my hope. They also provided inspiration and a new kind of joy - the joy that can only come as a result of the generous spirit and unmatched creativity of a woman I barely know.

A day and a half later, I'm still aloft on her kindness. I think we all are.

And by the way, our pharmacist friend chose Harriet's birthdate as the prescription number.

She couldn't have been more right on. No other day in my life brought me as much hope as the day my precious daughter was born.

But I have to say...today was a close second.







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53 comments:

  1. LisaJune 24, 2013 at 10:01 PM

    So sweet! And glad you enjoyed your cabin time!

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    Replies
    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:49 PM

      We definitely did. Looking forward to going back there soon.

      Delete
  2. EsperanzaJune 24, 2013 at 11:30 PM

    First of all, your daughter is GORGEOUS! What a cutie! I want to eat her all up!

    Second of all, what a wonderful gift. I got teary eyed just seeing the picture. I hope that Rx gives you a little of what you've been looking for. I know it gives me a lot of hope for you...

    And thanks for all the comments on my posts. Each one means so, so much.

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:49 PM

      Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Esperanza!! I have so enjoyed following your blog and engaging in the thought-provoking conversations you raise.

      Delete
  3. SarahJune 24, 2013 at 11:32 PM

    i absolutely love that you posted these pictures of harriet. she is THE cutest girl around! her front teeth! that smile! my oh my she's a doll emily!
    im so glad you got that gift. thats absolutely precious. and i hope its just the start of many new ups :)

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:51 PM

      Funny that you mentioned her teeth! I was just telling Andrew that she has his teeth. I just love them. Her smiles always make me smile.

      Delete
  4. ErikaJune 25, 2013 at 5:26 AM

    Oh my gosh-- SO amazing!! What a wonderful friend, and such a good reminder of how incredibly kind and supportive most people are. I hope you keep those prescription bottles for a long, long time. And also..Harriet's romper is ADORABLE!! (as is Harriet herself, of course!!)

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:52 PM

      And the crazy thing is - she's not even really a friend yet! She's an old friend of Andrew's, but she and I barely know one another. Actually, I passed out cold at her wedding. It was humiliating! But besides that, we haven't had much interaction until now. I am excited to get to know her more soon. My mother-in-law mentioned that we should set up a get together with the families.

      Delete
  5. TuriaJune 25, 2013 at 5:54 AM

    Oh that is just wonderful. What a beautiful thing for your friend to do.

    And thank you for sharing some photos of Harriet! I always love to see other bloggers' kidlets (even though I am incredibly stingy about posting pictures of E.)

    xoxo
    T.

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:53 PM

      I always love seeing pics of the kids too, but don't feel pressure about sharing more pictures. You do whatever you want to do in that regard!

      Delete
  6. AmandaJune 25, 2013 at 5:55 AM

    That is AWESOME! What an amazing gesture! Hope that this is the beginning of more very good, hope-filled moments!

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  7. JessJune 25, 2013 at 6:20 AM

    That made me tear up! What a sweet gift in so many ways. You have amazing supporters out there! :)

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:54 PM

      You should have seen how many tears I cried - all happy ones though!

      Delete
  8. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 6:55 AM

    You're an angel walking on earth sharing love and joy to so many (and dealing with all of the human emotions as they bubble up inside of you, and I love that!) and Harriette, Andrew, and Murphy are your angel pals! May you have more angel pals on earth one day! And lots of hope pills. xxoo

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:54 PM

      Thanks so much for your sweet words, Berni. Your comment made me smile.

      Delete
  9. Gypsy MamaJune 25, 2013 at 8:30 AM

    Wow, how touching! You are so blessed to have friends like that supporting you. And those photos of your daughter are SO cute!!

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:55 PM

      You're so right...I"m feeling really, really blessed lately to have a great support system.

      Delete
  10. AmieJune 25, 2013 at 8:33 AM

    Something so sweet like that just makes you realize that there are such wonderful people in the world. Your daughter is just the most precious thing I've seen :)

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:55 PM

      You're totally right about that. Things like this sure restore hope in humanity!

      Delete
  11. JosJune 25, 2013 at 9:23 AM

    Oh Good Lord - I just broke down sobbing at my office!! What an amazing gift.

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:56 PM

      Yep, I was right there with you...tears, tears, tears.

      Delete
  12. RisaJune 25, 2013 at 9:38 AM

    This made me cry! Wow. What a heartfelt gift. And those pictures of Harriet are just precious!

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:56 PM

      Me too. Sounds like lots of tears all around from this community. All the good kind though, I think.

      Delete
  13. CristyJune 25, 2013 at 12:12 PM

    I love this!! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  14. dspenceJune 25, 2013 at 1:52 PM

    Tears!! This is the sweetest, kindest thing I have heard in a long time. You have been blessed with a wonderful friend!

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:57 PM

      You're right about that. Feeling very blessed.

      Delete
  15. Team HarriesJune 25, 2013 at 4:46 PM

    Wow. Love that. God is so good and love how he speaks life through other people!!! He wants you to have hope and I pray it's been restored through this sweet and thoughtful gift. Cutest pics ever, by the way :)

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:57 PM

      He definitely speaks through others. I'm sure feeling that a lot lately.

      Delete
  16. FionaJune 25, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    OH MY GOODNESS!!! Now you have me in tears. What an amazing thing for that friend to do! :)

    And wow, it has been too long since I have seen photos of Harriet because she seems so grown up here! She is one absolutely beautiful girl!!!

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 8:57 PM

      She is definitely growing up fast! It's all so bittersweet but I'm just so in love with the girl she's becoming.

      Delete
  17. KaceyJune 25, 2013 at 9:10 PM

    Wow what a wonderful surprise! And Harriet is such a cutie :-)

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    1. EmJune 25, 2013 at 9:15 PM

      It truly was a wonderful surprise. I honestly don't know if I've ever been more surprised! Well, I suppose I probably have, but not in recent memory!

      Delete
  18. hilarykruegerJune 25, 2013 at 9:26 PM

    What an uplifting story. There really are good people in the world. I also love those little toofers :)

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  19. Jessah @ Dreaming of DimplesJune 25, 2013 at 10:02 PM

    What beautiful pictures of Harriet! I love that you got that package. Some people's compassion and effort to cheer you up is amazing! Hope indeed.

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  20. Aubrey June 26, 2013 at 5:00 AM

    Wow- what a wonderful act of kindness! Harriet is beautiful!

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    1. EmJuly 1, 2013 at 8:25 PM

      Wasn't that just the best thing ever!?! I wish I was that creative.

      Delete
  21. KateJune 26, 2013 at 6:49 AM

    My goodness, what a fabulous gift! She's right, there are many people hoping for your dreams to come true. Also, Harriet is really adorable, and she sure does look like she's having a blast on that bounce house!

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    1. EmJuly 1, 2013 at 8:25 PM

      Yes, Harriet had a SERIOUS blast on the bounce house...and we actually did buy one. We're kind of crazy about her that way. (-:

      Delete
  22. Elizabeth :: Bébé SuisseJune 27, 2013 at 4:12 AM

    Gorgeous pics - I love her toothy smile. And what a sweet, thoughtful gift and letter from your friend. I'm glad to hear your hope has been restored.

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    1. EmJuly 1, 2013 at 8:26 PM

      Yeah, it's kind of strange how some M&M's restored my hope, but they really truly did!

      Delete
  23. Em ClimacoJune 27, 2013 at 9:30 AM

    Em,
    What an amazing gift -- two gifts, actually -- the Rx bottle of hope and the adorable Harriet. She is an absolute doll! Thanks for sharing!
    Em
    : )

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  24. StephanieJuly 1, 2013 at 7:40 AM

    That sweet girl of yours has the best smile! Who couldn't smile themselves after looking at that face? And that gift? So wonderful. It would have brought tears to my eyes too.

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    1. EmJuly 1, 2013 at 8:27 PM

      She gets that smile from my husband. I feel so blessed to have a double helping of those smiles every day.

      Delete
  25. AmelJuly 2, 2013 at 8:07 AM

    What a gorgeous little girl with lovely eyes and smile! I've just read a few of your other posts, but you sure do have a way with words. :-) THANKS for dropping by my blog and leaving encouraging comments. :-)

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    1. EmJuly 9, 2013 at 10:46 AM

      So glad you have enjoyed my blog so far. And thanks for your sweet words about my daughter. We're pretty crazy about her. (-:

      Delete
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