Ren Allen

" This is corny but I was folding laundry yesterday and
looking at all of my two year old's tiny little dresses and sweet
clothes I was able to actually enjoy folding them and realize how
short a time they are going to be this small. "

No, it's not corny at all!! It's wonderful and hugely important.:)

I had a laundry epiphany too....several years ago I was in Alaska
caring for my mother, who had cancer but was still doing fairly well.
She'd broken her hip though, and I had stayed up North to help out
until the rest of the family could re-arrange their schedules to fill
in when I left.

I was in the basement one night (forgive me if you've already read
this 100x, as I've shared this story a lot), feeling very tired and
overwhelmed. My kids really needed some clean clothes so I was doing
laundry.
As I sat there feeling a bit negative and grumpy about the laundry I
"had to" do, I started folding my Mums clothing. I sat there and
realized suddenly, how VERY blessed I was to be able to fold her
clothes and care for her, because she wasn't always going to be there.
Then I looked at my childrens clothing and thought how very grateful I
was for their health and how I would feel about doing their laundry if
one of them was in a casket.

I folded each piece with care, holding my love for them in my mind as
I handled the clothing. I really felt such an overwhelming sense of
gratitude and to this day, I remember the color of my mothers clothes
I folded that night, because I knew I might not get another
opportunity to do that.

She died four years ago. I'm so thankful I got to fold her laundry and
feel a sense of gratitude while doing it.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

Donald and Sandra Winn

OMG...that just put some conviction in this moms soul.
Ren, I've never seen this before and all I can say is
thank you for sharing.

Also, I'm so sorry for the woman's whose daughter has
leukemia. Your words as well as others here really
make me change my perspective on things.

~Sandy



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Melissa

Wow Ren, that is so deep. It breaks my heart, but offers so much
inspiration. Thanks for sharing again, I've never heard this story.
Melissa

On Feb 14, 2006, at 12:15 PM, Ren Allen wrote:
As I sat there feeling a bit negative and grumpy about the laundry I
"had to" do, I started folding my Mums clothing. I sat there and
realized suddenly, how VERY blessed I was to be able to fold her
clothes and care for her, because she wasn't always going to be there.
Then I looked at my childrens clothing and thought how very grateful I
was for their health and how I would feel about doing their laundry if
one of them was in a casket.

I folded each piece with care, holding my love for them in my mind as
I handled the clothing. I really felt such an overwhelming sense of
gratitude and to this day, I remember the color of my mothers clothes
I folded that night, because I knew I might not get another
opportunity to do that.

[email protected]

That was a beautiful. Your story will stay with me. Thank you for sharing.

Robin


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[email protected]

Ren,
I never heard that story about you and your Mom's laundry. I'm glad you wrote
it, even if you have written it a lot before. I was a real nice story.

My Mom died of cancer also, it was a pretty rare kind at the time. She had it
for 91/2 yrs., it returned each year, big tumors, worse than the year before
and we watched the cancer take more and more of her each time. A very long and
sad story. She was this tiny, soft spoken, petite thing, but inside, as I
learned more over time, she was a rock, the one who pretty much held our family
together the most in hard times.

I can soooo relate to you. We used to stay with her in the hospital around
the clock taking shifts between my Dad, my sister and me. One time I had been at
my in-laws home and half of my dh's family (not my dh, he's so darn easy
going, not much gets to him) but most of the rest of the family that was there was
arguing about something stupid, don't even remember what it was. I was taking
the midnight shift at the time and not really having to leave that early, I
decided to any way. I got the heck out of there early to stay with her. When I
got there, I peeked into her room and there she was sitting there all alone
staring into space, (my sister had gone to get her something) when she looked up
and saw me, her face lit up with this huge smile. I couldn't believe how
someone so sick could be so happy and all of the people (family!) I had just left
were being so nasty to each other. I crawled beside her on the bed and we just
laid there and talked like we did every night. It was so peaceful there with
her. Even in the middle of all that pain and suffering, she still had so much
to give and did so happily and freely. There were many wonderful things that
happened like that with her that I really won't ever forget, being reminded of
those times is always such a comfort. You just reminded me of that time. All
of this mess around here, the dog hair, kids messes, laundry, dishes
etc......is really not that bad of a thing.

Thanks and you can share your stories any time with me,

Nancy
check out my art at!
<A HREF="http://www.picturetrail.com/nancysart">PictureTrail</A> or
<A HREF="http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vol9Issue3/KMenendez/KMenendez2.html">Woodcarver On-Line Magazine, Pyrography News, No. 34</A>


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Paige

> Then I looked at my childrens clothing and thought how very grateful
I
> was for their health and how I would feel about doing their laundry
if
> one of them was in a casket.

After our little son died,when the very last of his laundry came out
of the dryer and I folded it and put it away I cried and cried. There
really is something about doing for the ones you love that makes it a
blessing instead of just a chore. I was thinking about this thread
this morning while I was cleaning the cats litter boxes...why do I go
and scrape up their leavings every week??? Because I love my
cats. :) Why then, do I get after my kids when I have to pick up
after them, I love them so infinitely much more than the cats. ;) It
all comes down to if I am feeling like I am having time for myself...I
have to make "me time", but everyone benefits from it, in the long run.
Paige

[email protected]

Oh my gosh Paige, how very sad for you. I am so sorry about the loss of your
son. I can't even begin to imagine losing a child.

In Peace,
Nancy


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