Thursday's Challenge and Promise...

Before I get to the next challenge, I wanted to report on the one from 2 weeks ago. I had intended to do it last week but didn't, so sorry about the delay.

Last time, I challenged myself and any others interested in participating to bake something delicious and take it to your least favorite or least familiar neighbor.

I got this response from my sweet friend, Kelley.

"I took your challenge to heart. The very day I read your post (at 12:30 at night, by the way), I had had an altercation with my neighbor. I felt terrible about it, and didn't know how to resolve it. When I read your post, I knew exactly what I needed to do.

Though the next day was totally crazy, I took the time to make her a loaf of homemade bread. I stressed all day about taking it to her, but when I knocked on the door with the loaf, it was like the problem had never happened. I felt so much better, and I want to thank you for giving us that challenge. It was pure inspiration."

Thank you so much for sharing, Kelley. I must say though that I can't take credit. What you did was brave and an example of true charity. I'm not sure I could have done the same thing.

As for my experience, there are many faces I don't know in this neck of the woods. I think I need to do this a couple of times in the next few weeks and meet more people.

I picked my neighbor right next door. She is a first time mom by day and a yoga instructor by night. Adorable. I brought over pumpkin bread a little bit ago and have really enjoyed getting to know her.

I attended one of her yoga classes and discovered she's an amazing instructor. Even more, she's a great mom. Sometimes she sits outside with her baby boy and soaks in the sun on a lazy afternoon. Other times she'll just sit and swing while enjoying the moment with her boy. Watching her and getting to know her better is teaching me to slow down a bit and avoid being so frantic.

So, do I owe anybody some toilet paper?

This week's challenge comes as a reminder to myself. It's something I've felt I've been slipping away from.

I may have shared the advice a clergy member gave to us a few years ago: When someone comes home, make their entrance a big deal. Make them feel important by letting them know how excited you are to see their face.

We instituted this in our home during a time when, day in and day out, arriving meant leaving only a few minutes later for He-Man. Working 80+ hours a week was emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausting. The days seemed to blur together and we became a bit mechanical in our effort to muddle through it.

When we were given this advice we took it to heart and put it into practice.

The results were almost instantaneous.

I noticed an extra pep in my husband's step as he walked through the door...which makes sense considering he was expecting 5 adoring fans clambering for hugs and kisses. (Justin Beiber, you've gotten nothing on He-Man!) And after awhile, I noticed the kids watching me with smiles and anticipation to see how I reacted to the sound of his car pulling up.

Each of us knew what we were doing as a family so there was no secrecy. We hammed it up. There was a lot of 'Yay! Daddy's home!' as if he'd been gone for 2 weeks, much whooping and hollering and a lot of over-the-top slobbery kisses.

Someone else may want to play it a little cooler.

The time we had with him was still brief, but that first moment seemed to change the tone of our whole interaction.

So today, I recommit to dropping everything when he or one of my children walks through my front door after being away. I commit to an over-the-top welcoming that may make them roll their eyes because of the dramatics.

Here's the promise: It will change the mood in your home even if it's for a brief moment. Of course, I wouldn't recommend you greet your husband in only an apron and socks if he's bringing home dinner guests (however it's not a bad idea if it's only you and him in the house at the time). But I would encourage you to read his body language to determine what kind of welcome your guy needs at that moment.

If you make an effort to greet your person, whether it's your spouse, kids, roommate, etc. in a sincere and loving way and truly listen to what that person has to say in that time, you will connect with them for a glorious moment. It may be brief and it may take them a few days to notice, but trust me, they'll notice and appreciate you all the more for it.

Go on. I dog-double-dog dare you.