Good for Bad

So I've been having trouble with this post and I've been contemplating what to write.  You see, my Uncle Terry passed away on October 15th.  I really, really struggle to comprehend death.  I suppose no one is really good at it.
I am happily naive by choice... I avoid the news and if someone is sick I believe in miracles and tell myself they will be fine and then I push all those thoughts way way way into the back of my mind.  And this works just fine until a miracle doesn't happen... and someone dies.  My uncle fought bravely for over a decade and eventually had to give in to what seems to be the most cruel and unrelenting disease out there.  CANCER.  I didn't know him extremely well, but what I did know was that he was a kind, good man.  You know, one of those people who are just warm and easy to be around.  They feel like family even if you don't get together a lot. I can't even imagine what it must have been like for his family to watch him deteriorate.  I know it was tough for my mom... and when she talked about it all I wanted to do was plug my ears and say "la la la la la".  Anyways... I've been thinking about how I can deal with this stuff.  And I happened to be reading a magazine that contained an article about a lady who was afraid of turning 40 so to deal with it she made a list of 40 charitable things she wanted to do in the year before she was 40.  And I really like this idea as a coping method.

No, I'm not turning 40! That is also something that I have pushed way way way into the back of my mind!  But maybe if whenever I hear about something terrible, I can do something good. Then someone else's suffering wouldn't be completely in vain.  Then instead of feeling helpless I would have a small purpose.

Now I'm not getting all crazy here.  The fact is, we have a family of 6, one income, and a very tight budget.  Time is also at a premium.  And I want to set attainable goals.  So don't judge me if my good deeds seem small and almost insignificant. You gotta start somewhere and I'm going to use my blog to help hold me accountable. Now a part of me is saying, "you shouldn't need something bad to happen in order to do something good."  And that is very true... but instead of feeling guilty about that I'm just gonna stick to my damn plan.

So... in honour of my Uncle Terry, I have booked an appointment for the beginning of November to donate blood.  I have always meant to do this and now I am finally going to get it done and hopefully be able to do it regularly.  When I had Griffin, I found out I'm a universal donor (O- blood type).  I know this doesn't come anywhere close to embodying my uncle's life... but its something.

Now I need to brain storm some more little "goods".  Any ideas??

And because I can't do a post without sharing a photo, here's a cute shot of Sunny to lighten things up a bit. I caught her sitting in this little chair, rubbing her baby's back, all peaceful like.