The source of all happiness...

© Cheese Curds and Kimchi

"The source of all happiness lies 

in thinking of others." 

                                                         --Shantideva

If we've learned one thing from this process, it's that small gestures, and simple kindnesses go a long way.

When we first began our homestudy, a card from my dearest friend M calmed me down. She let me know that all the worries and fears I had were not a sign that I was going to be an overbearing neurotic mother (which we both know that I probably will be). That card gets me through the tough moments, reminding me that I'm experiencing the same fears that all soon-to-be mothers go through.

Our fitness trainer asked about "her baby" every week during our training sessions. We'd fill her in when we caught our breath between squats, sprints and lunges. Her joy and excitement always gives us a smile long after we leave the gym.

And when I was frustrated over attempting to learn Korean, a fellow blogger (canigetsomesugarwiththeselemons) shipped out some Korean language CDs. (Thanks Heather!) For the record, I'm still terrible at speaking Korean, but the fact that she reached out to help when I was struggling was really touching.

I know I'll think tons more examples as soon as I hit the publish button, but you get the idea. When I think about all the love, determination and support that goes into bringing a child home...it's quite amazing isn't it?

I know other people need that same love and support for other issues in their lives. And I'm trying to incorporate more giving into my daily routine. One thing I've been doing recently is to participate in the Drop A Love Bomb project (part of It Starts With Us which is also a great project). I get an email once a week, sharing the story of someone who needs support. I head over to their blog and leave a comment. It's that easy.

Photo from makeachildsmile.org

I also just found the Make A Child Smile site, where there are 3 featured kids each month who are seriously ill. You send them a letter, postcard, or whatever you choose to send to help keep their spirits up. The site can be a bit confusing, but dig around for the FAQ and you'll figure it all out.

Do you have other ways that you like to show people you are thinking of them?

And thank you, to everyone who has taken time to show us that they care. It really does make a difference.