Thoughts

Yes, I'm the mom that takes a picture of her baby with her finger jammed up her nose.  I'm so proud. ;o)  By all accounts, Ellie had a wonderful birthday.  Lissie came Wednesday afternoon so she could be here Thursday, and Nana and Pop came for dinner, cake and presents.

After dinner and cake, Ellie climbed up on Pop with a book in hand demanding she be read to.  I looked up and found her doing this.  Oh my. ;o)

A very sweet neighbor gave Ellie a gift when she tore into (love the flying tissue paper).  Inside she found a soft pink bunny.  (It should be noted I put in a lost Bunny Unny report with CW but have heard nothing.  I did chase down a little girl I saw snuggling something pink with long ears--turns out it was her bunny.  :sigh:  At least Beanie seems taken with the new Bunny Unny we got her.)  She loved the bunny and the shape sorter inside, as well as her other gifts: finger paints, a smock and paper from Nan and Pop, two dress-up dresses from Lissie, a stroller from Jess and crew, a Cabbage Patch baby from the Lees, and the things we gave her.  Not too shabby, I think. 

She had to immediately put on one of the pincess dresses Lissie gave her, put on her wings, strapped the Cabbage Patch baby in the stroller and took off.  :o)

I have a ton of photos to post and will share tomorrow because I have something preying on my mind I need to share.

I'm a huge soft-touch.  I'm one of the biggest feelers out there and am so empathetic that I hurt when others are hurting.  Today, after RE, a few of us were left in the building when a man came knocking on the doors--he was slightly disheveled and shaking.  He asked if Father was around and was told no, at which point he said he was out of work, had no money or food and was hungry and knew we had a food pantry.  We aren't allowed to hand out food (we don't know the procedure--it's left up to those who run the pantry) so had to settle for giving him the phone number for contacting the pantry tomorrow. 

I felt like a heel.  Here was this man, obviously suffering, and we had to turn him away back out into the rain.  Just before he drove off, one of the pantry workers arrived and I'm guessing he was able to help him out. 

I know Christy helped him a bit too, giving him some cash.  As I was leaving, he was stopped at the stop sign, getting jumper cables out of the back of his van.  When it rains, it pours, and his van wasn't working.  I gave him a jump and he was able to drive away.  I pray he finds gainful employment and is able to feed himself and his family.  I'm still feeling out of sorts four hours later, worrying about this man, and those in similar situations. 

What can I do?  How can I help? 

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Sparklies:

1.  My friend the lazy squirrel came for a visit:

The battery in the feeder wasn't charged,

and apparently neither were his batteries. ;o)

2.  The rain today is wonderful for the plants.
3.  Ron is actually a Rhonda.  Now, that in and of itself isn't a sparkly--especially given the fact Pablo is a boy.  The sparkly is Dr. B made it a point to get her right in for a spaying tomorrow.  Whew!
4.  We had a slug afternoon spent watching movies--The Incredibles (Lil said, "Ellie is just like Jack Jack!"--she's right), and The Muppets.  I'm LOVING this! :o)
5.  Ellie playing with her presents--don't you love it when you get gifts your child actually plays with?
6.  Brien made smothered steak for dinner.  YUM!!


No milestones.

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Ellie has a well child check-up tomorrow and then Lil's ortho appointment in the afternoon.  I'm not sleeping well--I'm desperate to be able to get to sleep before 2:00 a.m.  :sigh:  Maybe once things settle down a bit more?