Shout out time!

I'd like to dedicate this space to Ellen  She is my 2nd cousin, once removed (?) or something like that.  However the relation, she is family.

Ellen surprised me one day, not too long ago and sent a little treat in the mail.  Actually, this is the 2nd time Ellen surprised me by sending me an unexpected package.  The first was when she received an extra copy of Elizabeth Hasselbeck's Gluten Free cookbook and thought of me.  I know Ellen more from her Facebook posts than anything else and was tickled pink that she went to the trouble to mail me the cookbook.  It was a very sweet gesture.

But that's not all and this latest surprise in the mail from Ellen has been a real treat -- both for me and for Ian.  Ellen had read on my blog about putting notes in Ian's lunch and encouraged me to never stop.  She wrote and said that even though her kids are teenagers, she is still writing notes and leaving it for them to find.  In the envelope sent to me were a package of printed lunch box notes.  And not just mushy "I love you notes" (like the kind I was writing and embarrassing Ian with), but really, really cool ones. There were 25 of these notes in various colors.

On one side of the card is a sweet note: "Thanks for being honest", "Your smile brightens my day", "I love your creativity", "Your thoughts and opinions matter to me.", "Treat people the way you want to be treated", etc.

Then, on the other side of the card is a fun trivia fact:  "Did you know?  It is believed that a snail can sleep for up to 3 years."  "Did you know?  Just like finger prints, each person has a unique tongue print."  "Did you know?  That girls blink nearly twice as often as boys."  "Did you know?  To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, push your thumb into its eyeballs.", etc.

Without letting Ian know I had a new supply of lunch box notes, I put one in his lunch.  I picked this one.  "My favorite job is taking care of you."  And on the other side, "Did you know?  Wrigley Field did not have lights until 1988."

After school, Ian ran into the house and asked, "IS THAT TRUE!?!?!  You know about Wrigley Field?" 

Me:  Oh, Ian.... you saw the note I put in your lunch?

Ian:  Yes, I LOVED IT!  You can do that again.  Like every day.  That was cool.

A big hug and kiss to Ellen.  Your kindness is very much appreciated.  I know that you've been spending many, many hours volunteering to help the people affected by Hurricane Sandy get back on their feet.  The state of New Jersey is very lucky to have you on their side.

It was incredibly sweet of you to think of me and send these notes our way.  Ian and I thank you very much!  I am a big believer in karma and I know something amazing is going to happen for all the good you do and continue to do.  You rock!