We are planning on having Easter dinner at Grandma’s house this Sunday.  The neighbors are coming over too, so we should have a fine time.  Grandma’s making a ham. I’m bringing roasted chicken.

I DID make you Easter baskets again this year.  I haven’t done it every year.  But I seem to remember giving you Easter baskets filled with goodies in previous years.  One year, I bought you both a beach bucket and filled it with goodies like beach toys, bubbles and, of course…a little candy.  Remember?

No, you cannot see them yet!  You’ll have to wait for your story on Sunday.  But I promise, these are teenage girl Easter baskets.  You’ll like the crazy fun things I put in them.  And I had a GREAT idea: I’m going to keep making these baskets UNTIL I get to see you.  You are probably wondering what I’m going to do if we don’t see each other soon…Well, I decided I’d make these baskets for you every year and keep them.  If I do not see you by the next year, I’ll make you each another Easter basket and then DONATE the old baskets to the Domestic Violence Shelter.   I’m sure some homeless teenage girls will appreciate them.  If I cannot give them to my sweet sisters, I can give them to someone else and let them know that I’m doing it in your honor.

I’ll “pay it forward.” Have you ever heard that expression?  It means that you give to someone and instead of that person paying YOU back they “pay it forward” to the next person that needs something.  There was even a movie made out of this idea.  Check it out!

This really happens sometimes.  At Starbucks, I drive up to the window and someone has already paid for my drink.  Very cool.  So I pay for the next person and so on and so forth.

So, the next time you want to do something for me…do it for someone else.  Maybe your teacher would appreciate your being quiet when he/she has a substitute.  (I know, it’s fun to heckle subs – but DON’T DO IT – for me?!) Would you NOT do it and help out your teacher?  Pay it forward ladies…I’ll get your love that way – eventually.