Random Acts of Kindness

Hi friends! So I'm not sure how many of you saw my challenge last week (see bottom of the post), or even accepted it, but I'm checking in on your Random Acts of Kindness! Did anyone go out of their way to do something nice for someone else? I'd love to hear if you did. I bring it up because I wanted to share some RAK's from my family this weekend that really brought me a lot of joy in the midst of a trial our family is going through. 

I won't go into a lot of detail, but my sweet Mom has been dealing with health issues (a lot of pain among a few other things) that are both frustrating and exhausting, as well as confusing for all of us. It's the worst to see someone you love in pain. You feel so helpless because you want nothing more than to make it go away, but there's nothing you can do, besides pray.

Well my Dad had recently set off on his annual motorcycle trip with one of his best friends to go watch the Laguna Seca motorcycle races in CA, and my Mom was thankful he could get a break and a chance to get out of the house for awhile (he's been an angel taking care of her). Just a day or two after he left, she really wasn't doing well, and even called me Thursday night to see if maybe I could go out there last weekend instead of asking my Dad to come home. Of course I was more than happy to, but she texted me later that night saying my Dad was leaving his trip early to come be with her and I didn't need to go. I texted him the next morning to make sure and he responded by saying "I love RA (my mom) way more than any motorcycle trip...Mom would do the same for me." Which brought me to tears because I loved that this was my Dad's heart and that I have parents who still love each other so much after being married for more than 33 years. 

Mom's arm party. Super impressed. And I love how the turquoise 

bracelet on the right was made by my Grandpa using dried potatoes!! 

Do I see a DIY coming soon??

After explaining that story on Friday to someone I work with, she looked at me and asked if I would like her suggestion. I said yes, and she told me to go out there anyways. I had already made the decision earlier that I wouldn't need to be there since my Dad would be instead, but her suggestion rested on my heart and it didn't take long to realize that was the best thing for me to do. So I woke up somewhat early on Saturday and headed out to Bend first thing. Didn't tell anyone I was coming. When I got to their house, no one was home and I wasn't really sure what to do. But after waiting just 15 minutes, I saw my Mom pull up with a confused look on her face and when she got out of the car, I gave her the flowers I had gotten for her and told her I decided to come anyways. We both started crying and I felt so thankful to be there and so grateful for Linda's advice telling me to come. It turned out to be such a wonderful weekend. Lots of tears, but good ones thrown in there too (I cried again as I watched my Mom cry and hug my Dad when he came home that night, she was so thankful for his sacrifice, and so was I), sunshine, good talks, and mostly lots of love.

Mom's sassy jeweled sandals

Something that I experienced this weekend was the deep joy that can surprisingly come out of deep sorrow. I got to hear how my Mom's relationship with God has deepened to a new level through her ordeal. I met and hugged neighbors I didn't know, yet felt an immediate connection to because of my gratitude for their help with my Mom. I saw a marriage filled with love and strengthened by trials. And through all the yuckiness of the world at times, my hope for a future in Heaven only grows, which in turn gets you through each day. 

Love that this is my view when I lay out in my parent's backyard

All that to say that I think my Dad wins the award for best Random Act of Kindness. And I'm glad I could make my Mom happy by being there this weekend, though I can't fully take credit for it since someone did suggest that I do it. But maybe I'll count the flowers and CD I brought my Mom as my RAK ;) Oh and my Mom helped save a dog and return it to it's owner. Good job Mommy!

Since my Dad didn't make it to Laguna Seca, he dressed up in his motorcycle

leathers and helmet with his Foster's beer (tradition) to watch the race

and had me send a picture to his friend who was there. Made me laugh :)

A super cute dress my Mommy passed along to me. Yay.

Hope you have a wonderful day my dears, and if you are going through a hard time, are able to find the unexpected joy that can still come out of it.

xoxo