Day 03--My biggest hope or dream

I have a lot of hopes and dreams and ideas. I'd love to speak more than one language fluently. I'd love to travel abroad again. I'd love to do...well, all kinds of things. And then of course there are the big life things...like I dream of having kids who marry well and study well and grow into prospering, worthy people who come home often to visit and bring me cake when they do. And I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the Kingdom and my dream of one day, as Paul wrote, to "know fully, even as I am fully known."

But my personal dream for myself? I really really hope to become the kind of person that makes a room full of people sigh in relief when they show up. You know what I mean--there are people that when you see them, you think, "Oh, good, so-and-so's here." And even if there is no crisis or immediate chore, you just feel better because you know that you will leave feeling better for interaction with them. People who make you feel important and special and worthwhile. People who are interested in the minutiae and the big stuff. People who will give you advice at the right time and not give it at the wrong time. People whose example inspires you and whose vulnerability makes your fallibility seem less shameful.

I'd like to be one of those.

8 Ways to Win My Heart

1. Say something nice about my kids.
2. Say something nice about my hubby!
3. Send me a little note in the mail.
4. Treat service staff with kindness.
5. Offer to take a routine chore or task off my hands.
6. Talk about books with me.
7. Be willing to go deep in conversation.
8. give me jewelry (okay, I hate to admit this one because it's so materialistic. But I'm a total sentimental fool, and I love wearing little symbols of love and friendship--even if they're a cheap little trinket--because it reminds of me of dear people. It honestly isn't the value--it's the little surprise of seeing something reflected in the mirror and thinking, "Oh, yes, this is from my friend..." or "These are my anniversary earrings.")

Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot.
Day Seven: Four turn offs.
Day Eight: Three turn ons.
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now.
Day Ten: One confession.