Yesterday, I was chasing a naked baby around the house, scolding a four year old boy who was being more naughty than nice, and on the phone with a tech who was trying to restore my wonky internet service (gasp! first world problems!).

So, of course, our wannabe-ferocious dogs began barking at someone on our porch. I toddler-stomped to the front door, myself prepared to bark at the Girl Scout or Jehovah’s Witness I expected to find on the other side of it. But, I was pleasantly surprised (and relieved I wouldn’t have to yell at a Girl Scout), because it wasn’t someone trying to sell me something, it was someone trying to give me something. My dear friend Shonali was dropping of supplies for We See You.

Shonali is an amazing woman. Every time I’m feeling down or overwhelmed, and I run into her, she has a gift for making me feel instantly at peace. She’s has a special spirit and a kind soul, and I’m so grateful to have her in my life.

(Oh, and I failed to mention that just the day before I received a paypal donation from my sweet friend, to go towards supplies. She’s known to many of you as the pee-your-pants-funny Lady of The House, but she’s known to me as a kind-heart and good friend. THANK YOU, lady.)

Anyway, Luca and I jumped in the car later that day and headed over to Hilton Houston to pick up their donations.

Of course, in Houston traffic, a short drive is as common as a snowstorm around here.

We sat stopped on the highway five minutes too long for a four year old, who quickly went into angry dragon mode.

Houston has a huge homeless population, especially downtown, so it was no surprise that we saw many people camped out in nooks under the woven highways.

Luca pointed out a man to me, huddled beneath an overpass, and I told him that is exactly why we were doing all of this. He then handed me his half-eaten bag of goldfish and said, “Mommy, I want to give the rest of these to someone who doesn’t have enough money to buy goldfish.”

Finally, I thought, it’s sinking in.

Then, this song began playing on the radio…

So fitting, because Tere and the rest of the Hilton gang have hearts of gold, and I’m so grateful for them.

We reached the Hilton, pulled up to the loading dock, and waited.

Tere met me outside and let us in to the area of the hotel where all the magic happens.

Luca was impressed.

(I was, too.)

She told me that someone from Housekeeping was on their way down with the donations.

I waited, expecting someone carrying a couple of bags to approach us.

Then, I saw this.

I wanted to cry, but instead I just kept saying thank you thank you thank you.

We went to my car and a nice, quiet-but-strong, man began loading it.

Bags of bar soap. Bags of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion. Bags of toilet paper.

I told them I was preparing 50 bags.

They gave me enough for at least 200.

I unloaded the bags and set them in our backyard. My husband then walked out to this…

Which would have been weird to some, but my husband has been married to me for too long and is seldom caught off guard.

And, then? It began to rain.

I ran inside screaming at him to help me carry the bags inside, hoping to avoid a bubble bath in our yard…and wet toilet paper.

We ran in and out, rescuing the bags as fast we could. We were drenched and exhausted (bar soap is the heaviest thing I’ve ever lifted), and we were laughing so hard our stomach’s hurt.

I hugged him and reminded him, as I often do, that he knew what he was getting into when he married me.

So, today, I sort.

This…

…placing aside all that will fit into the We See You bags, and donating the overflow directly to local shelters to be put to good use.

You know, I’ve talked so much talk for so many years, but I’ve never actually gotten off my lazy butt and done anything.

So, thank you all so much for inspiring me to walk the talk, and for reminding me that people are so, so good.

To be continued….

If you’re are wondering what this is all about…

Part 1.

Part 2.

Part 3.