Hello good friends. I'm back, and exhausted, from a wonderful Christmas in Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah. Besides Christmas, we celebrated the engagement of my sweet and special step-daughter. She is planning an August, '07 wedding and we are so excited!

But another thing happened to me that I wanted to share with you before I forgot about it and it became lost in my foggy brain.

While having lunch with my hubby, my son and his wife, one of the waitresses came over to our table and threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug. As she pulled back, I recognized her. "Dee", was an ex-employee of mine, one that worked for me over 10 yrs. ago in Salt Lake City. At that time, "Dee" was a victim of spousal abuse. The bruises that she covered with make-up quickly became larger and the stories she made up to hide the abuse became less credible. At one time, I spoke to her, telling her that if there was anything that I could do to help her at any time, to call me. That call came on a Friday evening. "Dee" had been beaten almost beyond recognition. After getting her medical attention, I offered her a room in my home, a place that her husband would never think to look for her. She spent the week-end with me, resting and talking about her tragic marriage, one that she ultimately ended shortly after this horrible beating.

Our company closed son afterward and we all ended up going our separate ways. I never saw "Dee" again but heard that her ex-husband was arrested for dealing drugs and was in prison.

So, last week at the restaurant, after exchanging pleasantries, "Dee" begins to tear up. She told me that she had been hoping to run into me for years so she could tell me how that one week-end had changed her life. Not only had she divorced her husband, she moved away from their friends who shared his partying lifestyle and drug use. She explained that her marriage to this man had caused her 1st husband to take her to court so their 2 children would not have to deal with him. She was able to get custody of those children back and now one of them was pregnant, ready to make "Dee" a grandmother in March.

She thanked me for taking her in all those years ago. She said it was then that she made decisions that changed her life, that all she needed was someone to talk to and believe in her. She had to get back to work so she gave me one last hug and left.

Now I'm NOT telling you all this story to blow my own horn. NO WAY! It's just that we all hear about taking time to help another person. We do it every day on this site. I simply wanted to tell you how a story actually ended, and how it became my favorite gift of all. You just never know how one act of kindness turns out.

Love to all,
nancyh

welcome home nancy!! you sure were missed.

congrats to your step daughter.

awesome story nancy. thank you for sharing it. most of the time we never know how a kindess effects somebody. aren't you glad you went to utah for christmas? you might neve rhave run into her. i bet it made her feel so good to finally tell you.

Nancy,
How wonderful to get to see the results of your goodness! You should be so proud of you. Isn't it amazing that some things we do so naturally can actually change a person's course in life? What a grand feeling. Yes, you did get one of the best gifts a person could receive.
Happy New Year.
Judy

Nancy that is a very heart warming story. Thanks for sharing! Often we wonder how thinks turn out and never know. It's good to know you helped change her life, for the better. May God bless you!

You have been missed. It's good to hear the good news about a wedding coming up. I hope things continue to go good for you.

My Christmas was so-so. I was sick threw it and still am. I am thankful I wasn't alone tho. I had a friend here and that helped. I got to go and get my hair done in a little bit so better get ready.
Hugs,
BC

BS~
What a heartwarming story! I call that paying it forward. Ever see the movie? I really liked it. In essence, what goes around, comes around; good or bad. We usually don't get to see how we affect people's lives by our acts of kindnesses, so this is awesome that it came full circle for you! This will come back to you Nance....have faith.

I also wanted to say hi to Judy.
Nice to "see" you!

I hafta get moving here. I have a late Christmas lunch date coming. I'll be back later to tell you what I got!! (FOR A PRESENT!!) JEESH! Would you get your minds outta the gutter!!
Hugs,
LS

Hi all, catching my breath after the Christmas rush. I had such a wonderful holiday this year. My extended family had fallen apart after mom passed away and we had not celebrated together in 2 years. So this summer I swallowed my pride and apologized for all the trouble that we had. All it took was one of us to start it and we all came back together. We were all together for X-mas eve and it was so nice to have my sisters back. So I am very blessed to have such a warm understanding family.


I am also still going through yet another health crisis. I went to my gyno and she has found out that I am still anemic and there is something going on with my thyroid. I had a biopsy done on Wed and will have a ultrasound done next week. I have been bleeding for over a month now (sorry for being so graphic) and we are trying to pin it down as to why. I have been so tired and short of breath and thought I just needed to lose more weight and exercise but since I was so tired exercise was the last thing on my mind. Hopefully this will all get straightened out soon.

Nancy, what a wonderful story to read. See what a difference one person can have on another. I always perceived you as being kind and considerate and now it is confirmed. How is your health doing now? I can't remember if you posted the results of your MRI's. What about this wind yesterday. I lost a fence and the fabric cover on my gazebo. I think I may have lost a palm tree but I will wait and see on that one. I saw the temps and wind speed where you are and was wondering if you were home yet.

Well I have written another long post so I better stop now. I will catch up some more later...Sue

SueBabe~

Thoughts & prayers are with you till you get an answer honey!!!
Hang in there!
Hugs,
LS

I put this story here to show how reaching out to one person can really change their lives but I also wrote it because it mirrors what we do for each other every day. A kind word, a humorous picture or joke, and uplifting encouragement are shared between us and keep us going. Personally, you have made my life better and brighter.

Sue - I did get the results from my MRI's & I don't have MS - thank goodness! More than likely, I have a neurogenic bladder. Until I see my urologist next week, I don't know the whole picture on that. It has been nice and quiet today with no more wild winds!! One of these days, Sue, we need to meet up we are so close to each other! I hope your health issues are fixed SOON!

Judy - Hello! So nice to hear from you. Join us again very soon - okay?

Curious - Yes, I am glad I went to Utah for Christmas, even if I had to deal with snow! My hubby and I left for Nevada very early Wed. a.m. and missed that horrible winter storm by a few hours. 11" of snow was dropped behind us - YIKES!

Janster - I LOVE that movie and believe in its message. Wouldn't it be great if the world ran that way?? I love your little stick man thingy - great work.

BC - So sorry you were sick over Christmas - yuck! Hope you are on your way to recovery. :icon_wink:

Thanks again all. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Nancy

pay it forward...what an awesome new year resolution....

Hi there,
I hear ya about being to exhausted to exercise. It stinks. Six months ago i could still run circles around everyone and know at 50, I have to have the Walmart retired volunteers carry my heavy items. What a twist.
God bless their pea-picking souls, and then I have to ask them to slow down. LOL
I am truly humbled and grateful.
Happy New year to you and yours,
Judy