“Hello.”
“Hey!”
“Hey! What’s Up?”
“I lost Mom.”
“You what?”
“I LOST MOM!”
“Are you in Walmart?”
“Yes? How did you know?”
“I have done it…she just takes off!”
“I KNOW! Those carts are fast! I turned around and she was gone!!!!! We were just coming in for 1 thing- bacon!”
“ She NEVER goes in for 1 thing! It’s a ploy!”
“I know. I asked her when we came in and she picked up some cucumbers, ‘We are getting more than just bacon, aren’t we mom?’ and she just grinned and zoomed on!”
“You will find her.”
“I’m about to make an announcement! Wait, there she is… looking at the clearance clothes!”
“Have Fun - Tell Mom hi!”
“Ok - Bye!”
“Bye!”
Our sweet little momma…. SHE IS THE BEST! She is a sale shopper for sure. She ALWAYS has been. She says it started back when we HAD to buy things on sale. I don’t think my sister and I ever realized how “cost efficient” my parents were - especially mom. My grandmother sewed and taught my mom, therefore many of our Easter/special occasion dresses were ‘created with love by mom.’
We also loved to get things from garage sales or thrift stores and redo them WAYYYY before Flea Market Flip and other DIY HGTV shows were popular. The love for redoing/repurposing furniture has continued as we have gotten older. If you ever saw my classroom, it was evident! Garage sales are still some of my favorite ways to spend Friday or Saturday mornings- especially with my mom and sister. It takes me back to some great times!
Through the years, the need for the thrifting and saving every little bit to live changed, but the good habits did not. Our parents were always aware of the ones who helped them and were now able to help other people and give back…and they have.
Mom always gives back to others. When she buys something new to wear, she pulls something else out of her closet to give away. She goes through her cabinets and drawers on a pretty regular basis, figuring if she doesn’t use something- she doesn’t really need it. However, she knows that there is someone somewhere that will need it. She puts these things in her “give-back box”. “We are just people helping people! That’s what we are called to do!” Momma always says!
Where do all these things in the “give-back boxes” go? Well, Mom also has connections everywhere - people who take clothes, medical supplies, furniture, etc… . If she doesn’t know someone - she will find someone. I guess this is where my sister and I got the “community service“ spirit. It was genetic - we just always thought that’s what you did. You give to other people who need it. It’s the only thing we knew. I don’t think it’s ironic that both my sister and I were educators and now in our retirement, both work a bunch with nonprofits. We like helping people.
Lately, I've seen LOTS of social media reels and videos of people helping people - giving food and money away to random people - just because! I will sit and stare at my phone or computer watching these and cry - it makes me happy! I want to go out and do this and surprise people! BUT I guess….. until I win a big lottery, I’ll get up and go clean out my closets, I’ll go through my junk drawers and cabinets and I will start filling up my “give-back boxes”. Like my Momma says, “We are people helping people and that’s what we are called to do!”
Keli’s Korner Challenge: This week take some time to clean out your closet, a drawer, the garage or look around your house for things you don’t wear or use anymore. Could someone else use them? Start filling up your “give - back box!”