My brother shared that the year 2020 would be a year of CLEAR vision. One of the presents I received for Christmas was this beautiful Nikon 7500 from my hubby. I have been wanting a camera for a while because I want to start taking pictures of birds. My cousin, Kasey, is a MASTER in birding. I only hope to be 1/100th this talented.
This camera takes such clear pics. Just take a peak at a few of my favorite subjects.
And of course, my honey. We went to dinner last night for a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Doesn’t he look amazing? I think the camera clearly captured our adoration for each other.
Tot popped in for a pic. She can’t handle being outside of the fun.
And one more of my honey.
What a great start to a new year. We shall savor every blessing. I love you, Family. I look forward to living with a clear vision with HIS help.
I was reminded today about a poem I once read. All of this from a simple act of giving out stickers.
~*~ A Pebble ~*~ Author James W. Foley
Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone; But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on, Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea. And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget, But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet, And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown; You’ve disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone; But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on. They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go, And there is no way to stop them, once you’ve started them to flow.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget; But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet, And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred, And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone; But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on, Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave Till you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget; But there’s gladness still a-swelling, and there’s joy circling yet, And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.
This poem has profound messages. But, what I notice most is that a single act (positive) can lead to many blessings.
About a year ago, Tatum began giving out stickers at Einstein’s. She receives a bunch of them at Trader Joe’s, and then she proceeds to give them out at Einstein’s. The patrons and employees LOVE it. Well, the manager, Cindy, wanted to return the favor, so each time Tot would come in, she’d give Tatum a sticker back. Then this led to Cindy instructing her employees to make sure Tatum always received a sticker, so she had stickers always at the register.
Now, it has been about a year, and Cindy has moved on, but there is one employee who has run with this sticker graciousness:
Cynthia.
Yes, as noted a few blogs ago, Cynthia, now not only gives stickers and lots of love to Tatum, but she walks around with a tub to all the kids giving out stickers. Parents are so blessed by this as the kids love to come to Einstein’s now. ALL THIS BEGAN WITH TATUM AND HER STICKER-GIVING HABIT.
It’s a great lesson to teach Tatum and really all of us. You never know what can happen when you do something kind.
They would head to the McCormick home to check on the remodel. Tom and Monty were there making all the ducks to be in a row. They rarely are in a remodeling process, but with Doug and Monty working together, the ducks seems to stay in formation and paddling in one direction.
Today, Tatum helped Daddy at Home Depot. This is Doug’s happy place. I think he’d move a cot in there and have sleepovers if he could. He’d browse and play with various tools and contraptions at all times in the night. But today, he’d bring Tatum to buy more cement for the stucco fix on the roof. Tatum was going to help him clean. I love all the training she is receiving. Just look at these helping hands.
Later on they’d play a game together. Doug has taught her how to play chess. I still do not know how to play. They are actually really good at it, and it is so cute to see them playing together.
When Tatum was almost three, she was hired at Trader Joe’s.
We have been going there for years now, and she continues to make friends every time we go.
Well, we also frequent Einstein’s next door. I get my coffee there, and I love the people. They apparently adore Tot (as does everyone who meets her). Every day we go there, she gives out stickers to patrons and to the staff. They now are commanded (ordered by the manager, Cindy) to make sure they give Tot a sticker every time she comes in. Cynthia, (one of the workers) gave her a Christmas present!
She also got a new name tag and is hired by Einstein’s too. She is going to be so busy!
It didn’t end there today. We had a coffee date with my dear friend, Susan, and she went off to meet people at the coffee house. Two ladies started talking to her and asked her about her new journal that Cynthia gave her.
She sat down and just started chatting away with them like she had known them forever.
They apparently wrote her a little note in her book.
They don’t even know Tatum and they identified her uniqueness, her preciousness, her charm, and her adoring personality. See, I am not biased!!!
Everywhere you go, Tatum, you spread joy and and sunshine. KEEP BEING YOU.
Tatum had her teeth cleaned yesterday. She is looking good! The dentist suggested she see an orthodontist next year. 8 years old! Wow, they do it differently these days.
