Up and Down

One one hand this is down kind of day.  We are giving our dog Quinn away. He is a good dog but not right for our family.  We are all sad.  

On the other hand I had a phenomenal experience.   I spoke with the activities director  at the nursing home where Mrs O is about reading Big doc's Girl to the residents,  including the author.   We scheduled it for today and for the past week I have been praying about if I should be doing it or not. As usual, I jumped right in.   This really isn't the season for serving in these ways.  My kids are growing up so quick and while I want them to be serving others, I also want to be enjoying and building into them.  I was praying  "Lord,  maybe you don't care if I do this,  anyone can read this book but not anyone can be mama to my children".    

I  actually expected today to flop based on my "feeling" I was getting.  I am reading a chapter book written in 1942 to the Alzheimer's floor residents. 


We did it at 4 so  I could drop off the kiddos first.  I normally bring them with me to the nursing homes.   We did it before dinner so they wheeled everyone in to the cafeteria.   I sat down and practically had to yell so everyone could hear.  Have you ever tried to act out read a story with a lot of feeling while almost yelling?   Added to that the fact that the author was thoughtfully listening to my rendition of her life story, southern drawl and all...............

You could have heard a pin drop, except when a woman kept prattling  and the only  man kept hissing "shut up".  When I was finished they all relayed how much they enjoyed it and how they hope than I can come back.   I am not sure what I will do but I can tell you this.  It is an amazing feeling to brighten some one's day just a little.  Even if they won't remember in five minutes.