It's the Thought That Counts

She walked in our door last evening with a jar in her hands.

"This is for you, Marmee. It's a cicada I got for you," she said as she handed me one of her mom's drinking glasses covered with a cloth and tied with ribbon. There hung a big black and orange cicada among leaves she had added for him to eat. I stared at him and he was probably buzzing at me. I'd had more than a little up-close and personal time with about 10,000 of his nearest relatives, but he was special. He was a gift. A gift from the heart of my beautiful Bri. He looked extra buzzy and I gladly placed him on the kitchen counter. She was pleased.

My neighbor came down our drive with a box in his hands. In it were two tomato plants. I had been needing some tomato plants since our Big Red excavated our garden plot so well that Nothing is safe there anymore. I took them with great joy and gratitude because there is a promise of a possible "real" tomato in my future from my very own flower bed...now mini-garden. He knew I love tomatoes.

A couple of weeks ago two of our grands spent a couple of days with us. My dog, Fluffy White,

was placed in solitary confinement because of her grouchy attitude toward my Audrey and my Whitaker and any other active person within her domain. After they were safely at home once again, I sat down to do a little catch-up computing. From behind me I hear a sound, "Hummph..

hummph..." Low, but persistent, I tried to ignore whatever it was but it was not to be daunted.

I turned in my chair to find Fluffy White wagging her tail and staring at me. In her mouth was one of the grands' stuffed animals, making her voice sound like a pillow talking. As I started to fuss, I realized that their had been very little time for dogs the last couple of days, it was time now for a little "toss the toy" before she went to bed for the night. Her gift of the unharmed toy, only

dog slobber, was a reminder that everyone needs a little attention, especially spoiled have-you-all-to-myself dogs.

Walked into my daughter's home after their vacation and was met by two grandchildren, Whitaker giving me a cross covered with shells he had picked from the beach. He was so proud to give it to me. Then Audrey presented me with a piece of paper covered with some of her favorite stickers destined for my refrigerator door. It always helps to know you're still remembered when someone is far away.

Just last night my Xavier crawled across the kitchen floor to me, pulled up on my crop-pant-legs and hugged me. That was a first hug from a rough and tumbling tiny tot now so mobile it's scary.

From cicadas to tomato plants to art projects to talking dog to crawling hugger...it all adds up to small gifts given and smiles exchanged and joy happening. It truly is the thought that counts...and putting that thought into action is best of all.