Unexpected Surprises

Normally on a rainy day, we do school and try and get some chores done. An acceptable day is when we don't annoy one another too much and get some things accomplished. A good day is when no one gets in time out and we get quite a bit done and possibly have fun in the process. (We won't talk about the bad days, right now.) Today was an EXCEPTIONAL day!

Dd2 has a special relationship with my aunt. My aunt has always been the classiest, flashiest, most driven & outgoing person I know (until I met Dd2). Several years ago she was diagnosed with cancer of the mouth and wasn't expected to ever talk again. She's worked very hard at it and hasn't let that stop her from communicating with us. Some people in the family are better at understanding her than others. Dd2 seems to understand Aunt Sue without trying. They have the same kind of spirit in them.

Several times a year, Dd2 writes Aunt Sue a letter. I try and do very little editing of the letter so it's really her own work. Today a package came from Aunt Sue to Dd2. All the other kids were so excited for her. They all commented that they never receive packages, although Aunt Sue remembers all of them when she sends something to Dd2. School came to a stand still as you can with Ds3 & Dd1 both still holding the school books they'd been working with when the surprise came!

In the package was a Jane Austin Book, Emma, because "she was homeschooled just like you" (although it will be a few years before Dd2 can read it). Candy, pencils and glue sticks for each kid and highlighter markers for me to start our school year off well! It was such an exciting surprise!! Everyone was energized. Dd2 will write Aunt Sue a thank you note and who knows what she'll say in it -- it's always an original. I'm so thrilled that Dd2 can get the kind of attention from someone who understands her to the core and that Aunt Sue can mean so much to Dd2. It's such a lovely piece of heaven for each of them!