A Day at Home

This warms my soul. It makes my spirit smile. It's Carter (9) shoveling the sidewalks of our elderly and widowed neighbors. He doesn't do it for praise. He doesn't do it for money. He does it to be kind. He does it voluntarily. No one ever thanks him, except for me. And it's not easy work to shovel brick sidewalks. They are jaggedy, old, and uneven. You can only push for a foot or two before the shovel handle hits you in the gut. Over and over again.

It snowed yesterday. The children had off for Election Day. The snow turned to ice last night. And school is closed again today. So, here we are ...


with a little lady I like to call "Little Red Riding Hood goes swimming at the ballet." She had way too much fun with her dress-up clothes yesterday.

Comments

Karyn said…
Oh Lera, I can only imagine how proud you are of Carter. I think that's so great that he's thinking of others!

And Spenser. Could she be ANY sweeter???????

Have fun today!
10:08 AM EST
Anonymous said…
okay, blogger's being weird again.

anyway, you have to put that picture in this flickr group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/theydressedthemselves/
10:10 AM EST
Sonja said…
Carter's a hero!
10:11 AM EST
nikko said…
Carter is such a sweetheart. I'm drooling over your neighborhood -- the brick homes, the brick sidewalks, the mature trees, the snow -- all things that are foreign to my acre of flatness in Texas. LOL.

Spenser is a cutie!
10:19 AM EST
Alicia A. said…
what a good boy. and so sweet.
10:29 AM EST
Alicia A. said…
p.s. the word verification thingy was just one letter off of "XYZPDQ" just then. hee hee.
10:29 AM EST
Amanda Jean said…
way to go Carter! that is wonderful. and little red riding hood swimming at the ballet...that's pretty darn cute.
10:38 AM EST
Anonymous said…
See, I told you those lessons in kindness and compassion were getting through. What a kind and considerate boy Carter is!

And I hear that Little Red Swimming Ballerina is all the rage these days. :)
11:10 AM EST
Anonymous said…
Love the costume- your girl has style! The perseverence your son shows. Brill life lesson.
11:41 AM EST
Jana Nielson said…
Ah Yes! Little Red riding-hood goes swimming at the Ballet! That is one of my favorite fairy tales!
Too Sweet!
11:47 AM EST
Lauren said…
How sweet of him to shovel for the neighbors.
11:56 AM EST
Anonymous said…
You must be doing lots of things right as a parent to have Carter so willing to give service like that. What a sweet boy!

And I love Spenser's style. AWESOME!!
12:16 PM EST
Sarah and Jack said…
What a lovely boy!

(Spenser suddenly looks so much more grown up! Especially compared to the photo in the header.)
1:38 PM EST
Anonymous said…
There is too much sweetness in this post. I'd be proud, too. Of both of them!
1:49 PM EST
Anonymous said…
what a great boy! (and what a great mama he must have!)

love love love the dress up!
2:40 PM EST
Anonymous said…
it seems the parents give the good example... Bravo Carter!! We are proud of you, just hearing about your kind hearth!
I must say one of mine hasn't been following us and it is rather difficult and distressing for the parents!!...she does not feel or think or have compassion for others...I had to force her to give presents or say thank you...one day she went on a journey and I reminded her to bring back a little something for her brothers and sisters...she did...but not even a barr of chocolate for the parents...I said "thank you for the chocolate!"
"but mumie, you did not say I had to bring back something for you!"
gasp!!
But now at 22, she is very good at choosing the right kind of gift...even if we must remind her birthdays!!!
3:49 PM EST
Hellen said…
Carter and all of your other children are a true credit to you and your husband. They learnt all those beautiful and thoughtful actions from you both from seeing you do acts of kindness. What a family to be proud of!
You must have a great dress up box??
7:11 PM EST
utmommy said…
Sounds like you're raising a great boy!
12:19 AM EST
hooli said…
Good on you! Bringing those kids up well!
1:56 AM EST
Little Munchkins said…
You must be so proud of Carter. All those lessons you have been telling us about has paid off.

I haven't forgotten your package. I wanted to add something else but it is taking me longer than I expected to finish it. Maybe tonight, then hopefully I can send it off tomorrow.
2:13 AM EST
Emily said…
I ditto what everyone else has said times 110% You are doing a fantastic job as a parent!
8:46 AM EST
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