Merry Christmas, Abbie and Scott

This year we thought long and hard about an act of service we could do that would be meaningful to both us as well as for the people whom we served.  We really wanted to do something for someone we knew, or at least someone local.

We have some friends who we have become very close to over the last year.  The father is in his final year of law school and working part/full-time, the mother is finishing her last year of her bachelor's degree and they have two little kids, a 2 1/2 year old boy and a 1 year old girl.  As you can imagine, their lives are very, very busy.  The reason that we chose them to be the recipients of our service was not only based on this, but mostly because they are the type of people who would stop whatever they are doing and do anything for us.  They have truly become great friends and great examples to us of service.

I think it is a natural reaction when you have parents as busy as these that other things in life sort-of start falling behind like, house work, meal planning...etc.  This has been a real struggle for our friends because they really want to keep a clean, orderly home, but just have not been able to find the time.  They also value education and find great value in the mother being able to finish her degree.  We really felt that you, Abbie and Scott, might be able to relate to this family... going through law school, and also experiencing both mother and father in school with kids.

This is where we came in.

They have gone out of town for the Christmas Holiday to visit their family, and left their key with us in request that we bring their mail in for them.  They left their home in a pretty similar state that it has been in for the last semester which, for lack of a better word, was messy... really messy. We had already had plans to go to the local "Food and Care" coalition, but decided to shift to serving these deserving friends.

We cleaned.  We deep cleaned.  Their whole apartment.  (Actually we left their bedroom alone so they wouldn't feel completely violated.)  But we spent a good 5+ hours in there making the place shine, cleaning nooks and crannies that have gone neglected even in my own apartment.  You know, the stuff you never get too, like pulling out the couch and vacuuming underneath and wiping the base boards, scrubbing the refrigerator...etc.

When all was said and done, it seems like a pretty small thing to do for someone because in a few days, messes will re-appear and things will need to be put away again.  But, I cannot express the relief that I feel when coming home from a vacation to a clean house.  Not needing to worry about taking care of yesterday's messes, but looking forward to tomorrow's.

We really felt this would be meaningful to our friends because they value having their home in order but have struggled with balancing their lives over the last few months while mom has changed her role as the sole-home-maker to full-time-student.  A lot of people have a hard time asking for help in times like that, and we have found it is best to just give help rather than asking, "What can we do for you?"

We didn't take any before and after pictures and we don't plan on telling our friends that it was us (although I am sure they will have their suspicions) because we want them to be able to just enjoy being served without feeling they need to give anything in return.  Everyone deserves to feel that every once in a while.  No matter what time of year it is.

Merry Christmas, Abbie and Scott, and Ella!  We love you guys!!!