My husband Adam is a coin collector. Every two weeks on payday when he goes to the bank, he asks them what uncommon coins they have. Then he cleans them out.
A few weeks ago Adam got nearly $200 in half-dollars. He opens up the rolls, pulls out any he needs for his collection and then we spend them.
This week we were toward the end of pay cycle and I was out of cash. Adam reminded me we had several rolls of the 50 cent pieces, so I took them and spent them.
At CVS I picked up my prescription. $9 in half dollars was put through the drive through window. I apologized for all the coins, but the employee loved them. The clerk was so excited, he said, "I feel like a pirate!"
Yesterday my grandfather had surgery, so after I secured babysitters for the kids, I stopped by Whataburger for a biscuit. I often drive through this Whataburger have wondered why it takes me 10 minutes or more to get my food. Since it was just me and I didn't have to deal with any kids in car seats, I decided to walk in and avoid the drive-thru line.
What I found inside amazed me. Every employee had a smile on his or her face, and everyone was working as fast and as hard as they could. Since it takes so long to get food there, I had assumed there were a bunch of teenagers slacking off talking, but I was wrong. They made every order fresh and to specifications. There were probably ten people behind they counter and they darted around each other working like a well-oiled machine.
I paid for my biscuit with half dollars and the cashier was jubilant. "I love these!" he said. He even gave me a free drink in appreciation of my coinage.
Yesterday I was blessed with two lessons. 1. Don't be ashamed of what you have. Sometimes paying in coins is fantastic. 2. Have patience at the drive thru. You can't see what goes on inside, and the employees just might be working as hard as they possibly can.
Here's a place where Sarah writes what's on her heart and mind for whomever will read it. Sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes it's little pieces of life that I'm grateful for. Enjoy!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Being a Hippie
I consider myself a modern hippie. I've always loved peace, love, and 1970s clothes.
I've been this way my entire life. When I was in kindergarten, my teacher labeled me the class "peacemaker." When I was in middle school, I was on the "spirit team." When I was in high school, I wore bell-bottoms and flower necklaces. I made sure that no one in Haltom High passed me by without a cheerful hello.
Today I am much the same way. Don't even try to pass me on my morning walk without receiving a greeting. The same goes for church. If I see you at church, you are getting at least a smile and a hello, if not a hug.
Last Christmas, Adam and I sent out about 200 Christmas cards. No one ever gets dropped off our list and every year the list grows.
I say this not to document how awesome I am, but to tell you sharing love always pays off.
Yesterday I spent an hour or two writing cards and sending pictures while the kids were playing. I keep our address book on a clipboard and flip through, writing cards for anyone we haven't had contact with in a while.
Later in the day I received a call from an elderly lady at church who wanted the children to have some hand-made dolls she owned. She had left them for me in the church parlor. We were all honored to be the recipients of such cute grandma and grandpa dolls.
Not only was that lovely, we received another gift last night. Alex, who used to be our favorite sacker at Tom Thumb, and now is a busboy at a local restaurant, bought the kids each a pumpkin for Halloween. I was so humbled that he would spend some of his small and hard-earned paycheck on my children.
So I am here to tell you that when you offer love, it is always returned. Not always from the same place that you gave it, but it always comes back. Take it from a hippie who knows.
I've been this way my entire life. When I was in kindergarten, my teacher labeled me the class "peacemaker." When I was in middle school, I was on the "spirit team." When I was in high school, I wore bell-bottoms and flower necklaces. I made sure that no one in Haltom High passed me by without a cheerful hello.
Today I am much the same way. Don't even try to pass me on my morning walk without receiving a greeting. The same goes for church. If I see you at church, you are getting at least a smile and a hello, if not a hug.
Last Christmas, Adam and I sent out about 200 Christmas cards. No one ever gets dropped off our list and every year the list grows.
I say this not to document how awesome I am, but to tell you sharing love always pays off.
Yesterday I spent an hour or two writing cards and sending pictures while the kids were playing. I keep our address book on a clipboard and flip through, writing cards for anyone we haven't had contact with in a while.
Later in the day I received a call from an elderly lady at church who wanted the children to have some hand-made dolls she owned. She had left them for me in the church parlor. We were all honored to be the recipients of such cute grandma and grandpa dolls.
Not only was that lovely, we received another gift last night. Alex, who used to be our favorite sacker at Tom Thumb, and now is a busboy at a local restaurant, bought the kids each a pumpkin for Halloween. I was so humbled that he would spend some of his small and hard-earned paycheck on my children.
So I am here to tell you that when you offer love, it is always returned. Not always from the same place that you gave it, but it always comes back. Take it from a hippie who knows.
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