in lieu

You know what job I used to do (in a slightly more professional setting) that I rather enjoyed?

Teaching high school English.

You know what I really liked about it?

(Not grading the bazillion essays, I tell you that!)

My students.

You know what else I like?

When former-students-turned-now-friends drive down for a weekend visit.

And when her brother, another former student, literally drives by and stops in for a visit so we can meet his wee little new daughter.   (What I don’t like? How old that makes me feel to realize that my students can have children by now.)

And guess what else is cool?

When we all spend a weekend laughing, eating muffins, visiting an Apple Festival, chatting, waiting in line for apple donuts, licking cotton candy from our fingers and eating food from a truck vendor parked on a street.

Oh . . .  and do you know what is one more cool thing?

When Jamie and Cole arrived late in the evening after a long drive from the north, they entered our home with one tidily packed bag, pillows in hand (which was very wise as pillows are always in high demand at our house), and a cute take out box filled with homemade cookies.

That was all amazing.

It was great.

But what was really cool was a little typed note tied to the cookie take out box.

And the note said, “In lieu of a hostess gift, a donation has been made to charity:water”.

And that was beautiful.

What a great idea and what a great reminder.

Any reason is a good reason to donate to charity:water.

Any opportunity can be an opportunity to give to a cause bigger than us.

Ah, Jamie and Cole – the cookies were delicious but the donation was much sweeter.

Thank you.