If your are a regular at the House of Shine then you know today's post is coming a day late.  Usually Saturday's are reserved for honoring our Yellow Envelope Project recipients.

Sometimes life throws us curve ball and we are forced to handle the unexpected.

I think the true test to shining comes in deciding how we will handle those situations.  Do we get mad or resentful, figuring all is ruined or, do we respond gracefully, believing that to every cloud there is a silver lining.

Funny this should be the weekend I am reminded of how people who shine are most likely to respond to the unexpected.  This week's recipient of the Yellow Envelope Project is a brilliant example of someone who, when faced with curve balls, chooses to respond like an all-star.  Take a look at what her nominator wrote:

"Ruth is one of the most giving individuals I've ever known. I've known her my whole life (she's my Mom) and she's been giving of herself for as long as I can remember. During my gradeschool days she helped make meals for the priests and helped with parish laundry. She also got up at 5 a.m. one Saturday a month for several years to make donuts to share for donut Sunday at church. She could almost always be found on weekends in the church kitchen cooking for festivals and weddings, something she is still doing today. When my father became ill, she took care of him until he passed away, then she took care of her father - driving from Sturtevant to Beaver Dam and back to take him to doctor appointments in Milwaukee. When he passed away, she began to care for her brother - a veteran who ended up at the VA in Tomah. She spent several weekends a year visiting him or picking him up at the train station in Milwaukee to have him over for holidays. The list goes on and on and includes her mother and a family friend from Japan named Kay to name just a few others. From helping her foster sister and her husband move back to town from Tennessee (both of whom suffered from mental illness - her foster sister passed away but my Mom is still looking after the husband and just finished cleaning out his apartment to move him for the second time - this time he is going into a home) to cooking meals for friends who are down and out for some reason, to helping raise funds for someone at work who has a sick child in the family - - I can't even begin to describe how she keeps going.... Did I mention her three acres of plants that she groomed for a garden show last summer (again - sharing of herself in so many ways). She potted up many of her perennial plants and gave them away to share with others. She doesn't like to hear how wonderful and generous she is - in fact it makes her uncomfortable but I don't know of anyone who gives more of herself and is more generous with her time than Ruth Thomforde. She shines like the sun every day! While I will never live up to the high standard she sets every day, she has set a shining example for my sisters and I for how to give back to make the world a better place!"

Most people, including Ruth, are not prepared to deal with sick and aging friends or family.  Instead of wallowing in all the ways her life plans must now be altered, it seems Ruth responds generously and, in turn, creates silver linings where once there were only clouds.

I read the long list of ways in which Ruth gives to others and I cannot help but wonder how many of you will be moved enough to give generously of yourself.  How many of you will take ten minutes out of your day to send Ruth a short note thanking her for making our world a kinder gentler, more humane place?

I know asking for extra time during a busy holiday season is like throwing a curve ball at your already busy schedule.  I know.  But that is the point.  When Ruth is thrown curve ball after curve ball after curve ball she responds with generosity, not apathy or indifference.  It seems fitting that we should do the same for her.

Participating is simple.  Simply jot Ruth a short note sharing one reason why you think she shines.  Then, seal it in a yellow envelope (or white, decorated with yellow markers or stickers) and address it to the mailing address listed below.  Commit to sending it sometime before next Saturday when we meet here again to recognize another worthy recipient.  That's it.  That's all it takes.

This weekend life threw me a curve ball.  Today, I dedicate my response to that curve ball to Ruth - a strong woman who repeatedly musters up her energy and helps others.  I hope you will join me.