Spiritual Encouragement from Deborah

Deborah's note

Today our little Bear is at "the cutter." Poor little guy. I had to have him at the neutering joint at 7:30. He was shaking, I don't know if it was his nerves or the cold. It was kind of pitiful.

The girls got their allowance a couple days ago. They live for allowance day and Dollarama. After their Dollarama trip, Deborah had some money left over. She seems to find left over money tormenting. She must spend it or get rid of it.

This morning I found $1.77 on my dresser. On top of the money was this note: "Dear Mom and Dad I Brang you this muny cuz I dont think I need my alowins. Thanck you."

I smiled and took the money to her piggy bank. Why can she not stand "saving" it? I wish I knew.

Notes

Someone asked if my kids write notes of their own volition or if I ask them to make notes. Well, they are writers, each one of them. They've seen Gordon and me writing all their little lives and I think that is why they do the same. They make lists, write notes, diaries, and occasionally they write prayers.

Sunday in church I read over Deborah's shoulder as she wrote this note. It said, "Dear God i am a sonor will you forgive me. I beleve tha Jesus is youronly son. I ask you to come into my hart. your so powifl." Below this prayer she drew a picture of her facing Jesus and walking toward him.

Making Hay While the Sun Shines

This is a busy week for me. My girls are spending the week with Gordon's sister. They've never done this before so we are excited about the opportunity for them. While they are gone, I'm getting tons of stuff done. Yesterday I cleaned Deborah's and Hannah's Bedroom. Deborah has been the untidy one all her life. She wants to save everything. Hannah keeps a tidy room, but woe is he who opens her closet or dresser drawers.

I spent 5 - 6 hours on their bedrooms. I cleaned drawers, closets, mirrors, windows, washed walls and floors. I collected 2 bags of garbage and 1 1/2 bags to take to Goodwill. It was an enormously productive day (albeit disgusting at times).

While cleaning I found notes. They quickly brought smiles to my face.

From Deborah to Hannah, I found:

"I love you I'm glad your my sister and your nise to me. Love Deborah"

After Hannah told Deborah she was ugly, she wrote this note:

"Dear Deborah, I am sorry about the things I told you. I didn't think I would hurt your feelings. I didn't think you would cry. I think you are very very lovely because you are my sister and you are made by God. Love Hannah"

Then I found a note from Hannah and Rachael made for Gordon and me. It is all decorated with camp symbols. It read: "Thank you for paying the money to go to Gull Lake Camp. It was fun. Rachael and I made new friends and loved our cabin leaders. Love, Hannah and Rachael"

Even cleaning bedrooms, I had to smile appreciatively at my little girls and their sweet ways.

Today I'll clean Rachael's room. Her's will be quick and easy, I think.

Deborah and Raspberries

"Dear Mom Im sorry I went to pic razbures with out your permichun. Will you forgive me cirle yes or no. Love Deborah"

In the lane behind the house our neighbors have raspberries galore. The girls pick them often, but aren't supposed to go there without telling me their intentions. Deborah went without getting permission and this is the subsequent note. As you can tell, we write notes a lot around here.

Scrapbooking

Rachael, several years ago.

I admire those of you who LOVE scrapbooking. I don't love it. I love looking at my albums, but I consider scrapbooking hard work. Four times I've had to go to the doctor for muscle relaxers after having scrapbooked.

I wish my scrapbooks were wonderfully artistic, but they aren't. They are straightforward, factual, and less than easy on the eyes. Woe is me.

At any given time, I have 6 scrapbooks on the go. That may be why I always feel snowed by the whole project. I've been trying to catch up. I'm always behind.

Today while working on Rachael's album, I ran across this note she gave me several years ago. I smiled and I hope you will too.

"Dear Mom, I'm sorry but I am running away. You are too harsh on me. Sorry. I am going to Gillian's house. Love, Rachael."

Gillian lives next door. Rachael never ran away. She hand delivered the note to me and we "worked through the problem."

I'm glad I saved the note. It sure reminds me of yesteryear.

Notes from the Kids

Last night I began reading a book that I've read before. When I opened it, a few notes fell out. I smiled at the memories.

Before I share the notes, a little background. Before the following notes were written, the dentist pulled one of Rachael's teeth. It was quite the ordeal. He said most kids would need to be put to sleep for that kind of extraction. The assistant and the dentist remarked several times to Rachael that she'd better get twice as much from the tooth fairy given the experience she'd had.

Well the tooth fairy was short on change that night and Rachael was disappointed. After she went to school, the tooth fairy found this note on her pillow:

Dear Tooth Fairy,
You took that molar from the Dykstra house. You gave me $1.15. That molar was worth $2 to $4. I would really enjoy the $4.
Sincerely, Rachael Dykstra

When Rachael came home from school, she found $2 on her pillow and a note that read:

Dear Rachael Dykstra,
Thank you for your note. I do apologize for the $1.15. I had had a terribly busy night flitting from house to house collecting teeth and leaving goodies. Of course your molar was worth more that I gave you. I don't know what I was thinking. You were very brave in that dentist chair. I hope you enjoy the extra $2.
Love, The Tooth Fairy.

Cute, eh? Oh yeah, I should mention Rachael knows who the tooth fairy is.

The other note I found was from Hannah. She and her sisters had looked in all the Christmas stockings. This is the note that followed me learning they had peeked.

To: Mom From: Hannah.
Sorry Mom, I lied to you about the stockings. I hope you will forgive me for what I did wrong. I am sorry for disappointing you and spoiling your Christmas Eav. I hope you like your preasant. I really looked in all the stockings. Sorry.

Sweet, don't you think?