Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. Whew, we made it! I hope your Thanksgiving was the best one ever. Also, I hope you are surviving all of the Black Friday shopping sales. This Thanksgiving, I was most thankful for the simple things…a husband who loves me, my children, our home, my extended family, my friends, and my jobs (writing is in there, too). I hope you had a chance to ponder all of the blessings in your life. And if you are in a rough patch right now, I hope you know that whatever the outcome, you are precious and loved.
One of the neat things about writing a blog is that you can mix things up sometimes. In the future, I’ll share either be an organizational tip or a recharge tip, plus give a special shout-out to a specific group of people.
Quote of the week: “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not. Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” –Epicurus
Book of the week: Now that we have finally made it past Thanksgiving, we can legally talk about Christmas. Although it is a children’s book, Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner is terrific. It imagines what those lovely snowmen we have created in our yards might be doing when no one is looking. This heartwarming read is for young and old(er) alike. I am still very childlike when reading books that give me a warm feeling inside. This book does that for me. I hope you’ll like it.
Joke of the week: How much did Santa pay for his sleigh? Nothing…it was on the house.
Organizational Tip for the week: Now that Thanksgiving is over but not forgotten, this is a great time to begin purging things you aren’t using anymore. Clothes, books, movies, or anything else that has become problematic can be a huge help to someone else. We always start thinning out our children’s stuff when we know we will add more to it. Be sure to discard broken items. It takes a lot of time for organizations such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army to go through the donations and get rid of things that cannot be used.
Shout-Out of the week: I know they will probably get me for this, but I want to give a special shout-out to Sandy Pricer and Debra Hicks. As the CEO for RiseUP Cooperative, Sandy has invited me to contribute each week with this blog. And as the blog manager, Debra takes what I send her and makes it look terrific in the form you see before you. I am so grateful for these two ladies (and the rest of the board and volunteers), who offer so much time and talent to youth and families in the Chattanooga area.
Have a great weekend. Remember, you are most awesome, and YOU ROCK!
Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.