It was a bittersweet week.  Visits with extra special friends, many meaningful conversations and many tears.  Each of these things are blessings in and of themselves.  And I am grateful!

Each of the friends who visited this week brought the gift of smiles and laughter!   They lifted my spirits!

They brought gifts that were especially meaningful to me.  I treasure each and every one!

They shared words of wisdom with me, that helped me find solutions to problems that had seemed too big to handle.   The gift of peace of mind.

They listened.  Listening is an art, and each of these friends has mastered that art!

They understood the magnitude of what I am facing.  They empathized and cried with me!  I am in good spirits most of the time, but there are times, it is overwhelmingly for me.  Their empathy was so helpful.

They shared their stories of our friendship.  Their stories touched my heart.  I always thought that they did so much more for me than I could ever have done for them.  I had not realized that when I did what I thought were small things, these friends saw them as much more.  An unexpected gift.

They came with their children.  One with a sweet, beautiful toddler, whose smile lit up the room.  One with a young man who had just discovered the joy of reading.  And a family for whom I used to sit, came after too many years apart.   I had missed those three children so much, and now they are tall, but still their same sweet, wonderful selves.  They gave me a photo of the 3 of them, and a card, and each of them had written a touching note.  My first reaction was “They can write!!”  The last time I had seen them, we were practicing making letters, and now they write beautifully!  I am so grateful to have been part of all of these children’s lives.  They added richness and warmth and laughter to my life.  Children are a gift filled with infinite value.  I am grateful to every parent who allowed me to be part of their child’s life.

They offered me creative outlets for my words and feelings.  From a book of questions to help children learn more about their parent’s life, to Zentangle tiles that will offer an opportunity for my daughters and I to spend evenings creating art and sharing our feelings together.  And a box of pale blue paper that I’m using for notes and posters and all kinds of things for my daughters.  A creative outlet is most useful and appreciated.

Hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs!  Each one packed with power and meaning and LOVE!  A heartfelt hug is priceless!

They asked what I needed, and they didn’t push if I couldn’t think of anything, but each one said, “if you do happen to think of something, consider it already done.”  I am thankful for “no pressure.”

A special bonus gift this past week, was hearing from so many of my students.  I received letters, phone calls, emails and Facebook messages.  Each one telling me how glad they were that I had been their teacher and sharing with me what they had learned from me.  I always felt that i received more from them, than I could ever offer to them.  What a rewarding, exciting, joyous gift!

Friends…  a gift of infinite value!