Monday, April 20, 2009

Paying it Forward - What I Found at the End of the Rainbow


Today started off as a really blah day. I felt tired and worn down because I getting over a head cold. I've been bummed out due to some recent blogging drama and some changes at work. To make it worse, today was a cold, cloudy, rainy Monday. Blah, blah, blah...

After work, I picked up Angel from her tumbling class. I didn't feel like cooking supper, so we went through the drive thru at KFC. We just pulled out of the parking lot, when Angel realized she didn't get her drink. When I turned the car around to go back, I saw the most beautiful sight in the sky. It was a big, bright, rainbow! I went back to get the drink, and I was so happy about the rainbow I even pointed it out to the kid working the drive thru (much to Angel's embarrassment).

The beautiful rainbow was in our view all the way home. I told Angel that it looked like the rainbow ended over by our house. I wistfully told her that maybe we would find our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (to which I received an eye roll with a "yeah, right").

So, we came home, and I dragged my tired body and the bucket of KFC into the house. I noticed a box sitting on the island in the kitchen. It was addressed to ME from Lin from Duck and Wheel with String! I couldn't believe it, this was my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!!

The kids heard my gasp and they poked their heads into the kitchen with curiosity. "Look! It's my prize from the Pay it Forward contest!"I exclaimed. They came closer as opened the box. This was as exciting as Christmas morning! Inside the box was an adorable polka dotted gift bag with lots of goodies. I squealed with delight each time I pulled out one of the gifts (even little Miss I'm 2 KEWL 4 U was impressed). The surprises inside included: Some wonderfully scented Mea Culpa Body Yogurt, an adorable kitty-shaped bar of Happy Goats Soap (it looked like Hobbes, of course), kitty treats, chocolates, candles, a notepad, a nail buffer, and a very sweet note from Lin.

I'm so grateful that I was chosen as one of the prize winners in Lin's Pay it Forward Challenge. My prize came at a time when I really needed a little pick-me-up and a reminder that there are some really great people in the world. Lin's blog is one of my favorites because she is so funny and insightful, and you can feel her kindness as you read her words. If you haven't checked out her blog, Duck and Wheel with String, you really should!

Now, it's MY turn to pay it forward to three more bloggers. Please comment by midnight on Saturday, April 25, if you would like to have your name entered for a chance to win. Sorry, but to keep shipping costs down, only contestants who live in the U.S please. I'm not sure if I can come up with something as good as Lin did, but I'll put on my thinking cap and see what I can come up with. It's a lot of fun, so let me know if you're up for the Pay it Forward Challenge!

9 comments:

  1. That was a wonderful end to the day! It's nice when you get an unexpected parcel, especially one filled with such lovely gifts!

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  2. It is funny how when our day most needs a little cheer, someone comes along to offer it unexpectedly, or something in nature happens to catch our eyes and our hearts. The rainbow you experienced sounds quite delightful.

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  3. What a great ending to a blah day... both the rainbow and the package. Whenever we see rainbows we point them out to our girls who get really excited... but I know eventually they too will just roll their eyes.

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  4. What a great day. I love it when blah, icky days turn into something wonderful because of the kindness of friends. Even though I haven't met most of the friends I have in the blogosphere I don't think I would have gotten through this winter without them. I feel many are closer than the real life friends I have.

    Lin's blog is one of my favorites and she always leaves such wonderful comments. Happy Goat Soap is actually the reason my morning started so nicely. I opened a new bar and the smell just makes me happy. I feel like a complete geek for going on and on about this soap but it is like magic.

    Anyway, here's to more days like this one!

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  5. That is so great. The rainbow was a sign telling you, hey it's not all that bad, cheer up! And the box was your reward for paying attention!

    Isn't it wonderful how those little things are what make the biggest difference.

    Kindness is something we ALL can pay forward.

    I'm glad you got some cheer!

    Kelly
    http://30somethingandsearching.blogspot.com/

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  6. I love that the rainbow did hold a pot of gold for you!! Awesome stuffs you got in your pot of gold too!! I love how it is the little things that can make things so much better some times :)

    I want to play :) LOL

    Sorry about the blog drama - e-mail me if you want to talk about it!

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  7. Roz - Yes, it was so exciting to open the package and find all the goodies!

    laneerg - I agree, it seems whenever we're really down there's always something to help cheer us up if we look for it.

    Quadmama - Yes, rainbows are so beautiful and special. The rainbow and gift really made my day.

    Jen - Isn't so funny how you can get to know people so well without ever meeting them? I'm so glad I've met some super nice people by blogging.

    Kelly - Thanks, it was also a way to show my cynical daughter that there really IS a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, LOL.

    slcolman - I agree, just a simple act of kindness goes a long way. I'll enter you in the contest! You don't need to apologize about the blogging drama. I was just sad to see things go down like they did, but I'm so glad I'm still in contact with all my Today.com buddies!

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  8. Oh, I'm so glad that you liked your package AND it came just when you needed it! Isn't that funny how that worked out??! Yea!! Even the simple joy of a rainbow can make me smile--it's the little things that matter most!

    And I'm glad I "met" you too! :)

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  9. Sherri, I am so happy for you! It is such a gift when a yucky day gets turned around. The power that the people in our lives have to lift us up is remarkable!

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