Here it is early early Thanksgiving morning and I’m zipping along 95 headed from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania. “And some homemade pumpkin pie….” (If I’m lucky, that is.)
It’s been quite a while since I’ve chatted here and things have been super busy. Er….. full. So I have a few hours in the passenger seat to kill and thought I’d drop by and say hello. And wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.
It’s been a tough year for so many people. It seems as a nation we’ve gone from one stressful, crisis-filled situation to the next, all year long. It’s wearying isn’t it? So many people deeply affected and on so many levels. I’ve found myself in tears here and there along the way and I’m guessing you have too.
The good news is that there are still many wonderful people behind the scenes, just living. Doing the next thing. Quietly being the amazing people they were created to be and making a difference in the communities where they live.
I want to tell you about something that happened just a few weeks ago in my world that was pretty exciting. As a food blogger I visit a lot of web sites — checking out my friends’ posts, seeing what they’re cooking up in the kitchen. About a month ago I was on my friend Shashi’s site, Runnin’ Sri Lankan and she had a contest sponsored by Smithfield’s. Contestants were asked to pen a few lines about someone who makes a difference in their community, nominating them to win a $1,000 Walmart gift card prize.
Well, I’ll tell you the truth here. I don’t enter contests. I’m not one of those people who ever seems to win. But I thought, what the heck – I’ll “help” Shashi out and enter. So the first person who came to mind that makes a difference in their community is my Hudson’s teacher, Erica. (Hudson is six and has Down syndrome.) Erica is one of those special needs teachers who goes the extra mile. She’s kind and firm. Loves what she does. Understands her students. Pushes them to achieve. And yet most of them have no words to come home and tell their mom or dad even one thing about their day. That’s hard for a parent. Think about it.
Every day when Hudson gets off the bus I ask him how he’s doing and how his day went. He usually give me a huge smile, but never says a word. Not one. And some days I lose a tear or two. Because I’d love to know SOMETHING, just a little snippet, about how my Hudson’s day went.
And that’s what makes Erica such an incredibly special teacher. She takes the time to e-mail me and let me know what Hudson is up to in the classroom. How he loved circle time or singing today. Or a new word he said for the first time. What he loved to eat from his lunchbox today. How funny or stubborn he was about something. These are little details I’d never know if it weren’t for a teacher who cares enough to let this mama know.
Hudson has just a few words in his vocabulary, ‘help’ being one of them. ‘Cake’, ‘cookie’, ‘milk’, and ‘show’ are a few more. A boy after his mama’s heart. You get the idea. Not that his words would necessarily be understandable to you. But I know what he means. And he usually gets his needs across, often pointing when necessary. It takes a person of incredible patience, a special teacher to deal with special needs children at school day in and day out. To believe they can achieve and understand, even if they don’t have any words.
So I wrote a sparse few lines about Erica for the contest. And promptly forgot all about it. Until weeks later I get an e-mail from Smithfield’s saying the person I nominated, Erica won the contest. I could hardly believe it. And honestly, I thought maybe it was a hoax e-mail.
Then I get an e-mail from Erica asking me if I’d entered her into a contest. So I said yes, a little nervously afraid she got on a spam e-mail list, and then she said she WON. And then we both wondered if it was for real! And I said “we’ll know when you get that $1000 gift card.” Then a few weeks later I received an e-mail with a $100 Walmart e-mail gift card attached on behalf of Smithfield’s. Shortly after that Erica sends me an e-mail saying she had received her $1000 gift card. So wow! And I was so excited. Because I didn’t even know that the nominator got a gift card too!
So you see, beautiful, unexpected things are still happening in this crazy, disturbed world we live in. And kudos to Smithfield’s and Walmart for stopping to recognize dedicated people like Erica.
Take heart today on Thanksgiving that there are still wonderful people behind the scenes everywhere making a difference in small ways in their communities. And these little things are really big things to mamas like me. I have no doubt you’re one of those wonderful difference-making people too. Let’s pay it forward…
Wishing you a peace-filled and joyful Thanksgiving weekend! XOXO allie
“Gratitude turns what we have, into enough.” -Melodie Beattie
Nancy. Hammett says
A beautiful post thanks for sharing. Happy Thanksgiving &Gods Blessing .
Allie says
Thank you so much Nancy, I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving with your boys and grandchildren! XO
Rosemary says
Thank you, Allie, for sharing your story of Erica’s blessing and mindfulness as Hudson’s teacher! So encouraging to read of kindness and goodness this morning! Choosing to be thankful everyday in order to be content! Many blessing to you all!
Allie says
Hi Rosemary, loved hearing from you, thank you. Hope you and all your boys had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And now it’s on to Christmas. So much to be thankful for. XO
Gaila says
Allie! what a beautiful thing you didi for Erica. I am glad you could somewhat help or reward the person who is helping you! I wish you and your beautiful family a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful to have came in contact with a lovely, nice and kind woman like you!
Big virtual hugs my dear Allie!
Allie says
Thank you so much Gaila, I’m thankful we’re getting to know each other on this blogging journey. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and wishing you a beautiful Christmas season to come. XO
Ellen says
I am so glad that Hudson (and you )are blessed to have Erica in your lives! What a blessing! Thank you for sharing! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your boys! Safe travels. God bless.
Allie says
I’m so thankful for Erica too, it really eases my mind knowing she is with Hudson at school. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your boys, Ellen, and I would love to catch up soon. XO
Sheryl says
Love, love, love hearing about Hudson’s awesome teacher! So glad to hear you both won!! And Hudson wins all around with a wonderful family AND teacher!! ?
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Allie says
Thank you Sheryl, we’re SO thankful for Erica. And not surprisingly, my winnings have already been spent on Christmas presents! 🙂 It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and glad we spent so much of it together. XOXO
Aunt Pinkie says
Can’t wait to give you and yours Thanksgiving hugs all around! May God grant you traveling mercies! Am so glad you and Nancy have already touched base! 🙂
Allie says
It was a wonderful Thanksgiving Aunt Pinkie, thank you so much for hosting us. Nancy was delightful. We loved our time in Pennsylvania catching up with the family and enjoying the lovely town of Lititz. XOXO
nancy mcmahan says
Beautiful way to start my Thanksgiving. Thank you Allie. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Allie says
Thank you so much Nancy, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were in Amish country in Pennsylvania with our extended family. We saw many beautiful farms, some horses and buggies but mostly just spent time with family. It was a great trip. XO
Linda Jenkins says
Hello, Allie, What you did for Erica was so wonderful, but even more important is that it came from the heart without any expectation of reward or acknowledgement. It is a perfect message, and I hope it inspires more people to open their hearts freely, just doing good because they really appreciate others and their deeds, not because they are looking for a pat on their back not because it could bring recognition but because it is the done in the generosity of spirit. You are one of those people who spreads joy, peace, and grace in everything you do, and you do it from the heart without ever expecting even a simple thank you. What an example for all of us. Peace and blessings to you and your family not only on Thanksgiving but also throughout the year. You inspire me by your example. Let’s all work to make the world a better, kinder, and more peaceful place for everyone. Much love!
Allie says
Dear Linda, thank you so much for all the kind words. I could say all those nice things about you also, and it is so wonderful to know like-minded people and that we are all out there doing our little part in this big world to make it a better place. (Queue Michael Jackson. 🙂 I was glad to hear you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and now it’s on to Christmas! Hard to believe. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas season! XO
Barbara B says
A most touching way, the first moments of my THANKSGIVING DAY, to hear about my dear friend and her heart warming story about her precious son and remarkable school teacher! There really are special people everywhere that make a tremendous difference in their world, unheralded, but spreading joy and love just where they live! You Allie do that in your family, on your blogs, everywhere heralding the message of hope to a world starving to hear that there is much good in spite of disasters and evil we read in our daily papers. You encourage me and others never to give up, keep spreading the good news and know deep down, God is always in control, knows the end from the beginning, and hope is everlasting!! Have a super day and enjoy your trip and be safe!! LOVE AND HUGS TO ALL Godbless
Allie says
Dear Barbara – thank you my friend for all the kind and hopeful words. So thankful for our deep friendship and looking forward to spending time together over the holidays. I hope you and Carole had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our trip went well, the travel was long but the company was good! And now it’s on to Christmas. Can you even believe it? I hope you are 100% better now. XOXO
RuthAnne Fuller says
What a wonderful Thanksgiving message of grace and compassion. Blessed Travel as you head to PA.
Happy, Grace Filled Thanksgiving!!!!! xoxoxox…love you Dears!!!!
Allie says
Thank you so much RuthAnne – I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving also, surrounded by your beautiful family. Our trip to PA was wonderful. Much love to you and Herb. XO
Barbara Child says
Such a nice thing for you to do, and how wonderful that your entry was the winner!! I’m sure your talented writing and enthusiastic endorsement of Erica made a big difference in the company choosing her for the award. A lovely Thanksgiving message. Thanks so much! XOXO
Allie says
As always, thank you for the kindness Barbara. Erica was easy to write about. I know you had a very busy Thanksgiving week between your entertaining on Thursday and your time with family over the weekend. I hope it was a wonderful time. Love you. XO
Susie Mandel says
THIS.IS.AWESOME. Congratulations, Allie, and I think Erica is a true heroine!! Please give your family hugs for me. 🙂
Allie says
SUSIE!!!!! Hugs to your family too. Erica IS a heroine, and I so appreciate her ever single day. It makes putting Hudson on the bus so much easier. How was Thanksgiving for you? I can’t remember if you were traveling or stayed put. Hope it was a wonderful time, and now we have Christmas coming. ‘Tis the season. I love Christmas, now all we need is some snow. XO
puja says
Great post Allie. And you are right that little things are really big things for people like us. Happy Thanksgiving Allie.
Allie says
Dear Puja – thank you so much. Thanksgiving was a very nice time here and a great way to remember all those things we are blessed with. I sure hope the currency situation has improved there. I have thought about you and I know it has been a difficult time.
Denise Q. says
I’m recovering from hosting Thanksgiving and sitting down with a nice cup of tea, in my cozy chair. What a beautiful gift this post is. There are so many people working quietly behind the scenes. Thank you for writing your blog with not just wonderful recipes but stories that touch our hearts.
Allie says
Dear Denise, It always makes me happy to think of you sitting in your cozy chair with a cup of tea reading my little posts. You’re a very special person in my life and I’m thankful for you. Sniff. I’m so glad you have family around here, because that insures that we’ll see you often in the coming years. Love you friend. YOU, are one of those people working quietly behind the scenes, and I’m especially thankful for you this Thanksgiving season.
Aunt Margie says
A beautiful piece of quiet inspiration, Allie; people like you recognizing the gift that Erica is to Hudson, and rewards going all around. I’m so happy for you both who received Thanksgiving surprises to crow about. Loving wishes to the huge family gathering in Pa. from the smaller contingent in CA!
Allie says
Dear Auntie M – thank you for taking a few minutes to comment here. I know your life is more than busy right now, so I’m especially glad you could drop by. Your contingent was not that much smaller, 17 is quite a crowd I’d say. Love and prayers for you — always. XO
Carina says
Dear Allie, what a beautiful post. It did my heart good to read it, really. It’s good to remember in these challenging times that there are a lot of good people doing good things, behind the scenes, as you say.
How wonderful that such a worthy recipient won the contest! Neat idea your blogger friend had to run that contest, too. This reminds me (spoiler alert, I might post on this later) , you might remember Carlita (the dog staying with my mom). My mom now takes her as a volunteer to visit special needs students at a centre near where she lives. Carlita is so great with everyone, and loves to do tricks. It’s a great experience for everyone- the students, the staff, my mom, and Carlita! Take care, friend. XOXO
Allie says
Dear Carina, thank you. You are one of those people who are quietly making this world a better place. I look forward to reading about Carlita and the difference she is making. (So your brother must still be in France. Woo hoo!) I have a friend whose dog was trained to be a therapy dog and she takes her into nursing homes to visit with the residents. It brings them so much joy! Yet another way people are quietly doing good things behind the scenes and making a difference. Have a wonderful week my friend! XO
Carina says
Thanks, Allie. By the way – my brother and his family are back in Canada. They decided to let my mom keep Carlita…The two had really bonded, and there would’ve been two broken hearts if they’d had to part. Take care!
Allie says
That is so sweet of your brother and his family — your mom must be enjoying Carlita so much. She really is an adorable dog.
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
I so love this post! I so love that you took a chance and entered that contest – I so love that your sweet gesture of trying to help me resulted in helping you – you have such a beautiful soul, Allie, and I sure am so glad you won that gift for Erica and you!
BTW, I love Hudson’s words of choice – life is made more gracious with cake, cookies and milk – at least I think so! xoxo
Allie says
Dear Shashi – Thank you for running that contest on your site. It was a blessing to Erica and to me and to many others who read this post. I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you through our blogging friendship and look forward to meeting you in person in the new year. You are a very special person and a funny one too. I rely on you to make me laugh throughout the week with all the shenanigans between you and your daughter. Have a beautiful week my friend. XO
Tracy says
What a beautiful Thanksgiving post! What a wonderful story. At first I thought you were going to say someone nominated you!! I am so glad both you and Erica received a gift! Well deserved! Hudson is one lucky little boy to have two incredible women in his life!!❤️ I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones?
Allie says
Tracy, THANK YOU!! And I am grateful to have incredible women like you in my life. We did have a very special Thanksgiving, the travel was nearly without incident. We drove in tandem with my brother and sister-in-law to PA and Charlie got carsick. But in THEIR car. It was one long rest stop getting all that cleaned up. (Poor them.) I hope you had a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving with all your sweet boys. XO