I'm a strong proponent of passion. Yeah, it includes the type that comes to your mind first but it's so much more. Passion for life, for whatever you do. We sure have a passion for boating. But this Thanksgiving we enjoyed one or our other passions. It started in such a small way years ago. We chose not to have kids of our own. Sometimes that sort of sucked at Christmas, all the excitement you have with kids. Still we had some great Christmas traditions of our own. But we got involved with a small orphanage. Well, they had a larger one east in the state but very small locally. We weren't able to do big things back then. But instead of just giving money we'd actually go do the shopping ourselves for some Christmas gifts and as we got luckier we could do more. At first it wasn't much but now when we do our shopping and hit the storesd people think we're either crazy (which we are) or sure been busy reproducing (which we are busy that way but no reproducing). We have a blast. We've just developed very personal relationships with the kids there and went to see them this weekend. God it's so freaking marvelous when they're excited to see you. Now the point of this isn't what we do because we don't do anything so special. The point is that I just encourage each of you, regardless off how little, or even if it's just giving your time, find something you can have a passion over. We don't choose to give to larger charities although many are quite worthwhile. We just have a few passions that we can get personally involved with. That's not so altruistic, in a way a bit selfish as we want to experience the joy of giving. We also ask the administrators what is needed, but the best part is asking the kids. Amazing the small things to make their lives better. I remember the joy one Christmas Eve watching men who volunteered their time putting together all the new playground equipment we'd gotten (heaven knows no one would want to use it if we put it together) and then seeing the kids faces when they found out Santa Claus has surprised them with the equipment. It brings tears to my eyes right now just the joy those kids bring to us. We just got a fill of their beauty this weekend and it's better than any drug known to man. (Not saying of course that I've ever tried any.....not me.....a good girl like me). We have a girlfriend who gets a list of nursing home patients with no family and visits them. Yes, all these groups need money but the people they're helping also need to know that we care about them. Kids who for whatever reason feel rejected need to know that especially. Now we overindulged. We had multiple Thanksgiving meals. First one was surrounded by nearly 40 kids plus a large staff and so much happy noise. Second was at a women's shelter that we've been blessed enough to be cleared to actually visit (as they have to be secret for protective reasons). We returned home with our souls renewed. We're lucky and blessed but the greatest blessing of our lives is having each other and our dear friends. The second greatest then is being afforded the opportunity to actually bring occasional smiles and joy to those not as fortunate as us. So please, for yourself, find any cause however small that you can feel passionate about. You'll help others and be rewarded many hundred fold in return. Brings some tears to us too as we don't miss our house in NC and our friends are doing fine without us but we sure miss these kids. And for those who ask why we never had kids. Guess so we could have hundreds instead of just one or two. I don't how things work out as they do. Just know follow your dreams and hopes and what you wish for probably won't happen, instead something better will. Ok, end of the serious Belle for the moment and back to the playful one.
