Busy Morning

Knowing there was a lot to do today meant more planning ahead than normal.  Not really for us, but I planned on being more conscious about what is going on around me.  Going anywhere with a 2 year really is like trying to herd cats and takes concentration.  Normally I am focused on her and not the people around me.  This morning I decided would be different.  I had to first drop off a paper at a doctors' office (of COURSE there was traffic well after there normally would be.)  After dropping it off, we left a post it note on a door with a message on it. Then I held the elevator for a woman.  While getting coffee at McDonald's, I found a little change in my purse for the Ronald McDonald House.  After that we headed to the pediatrician and home.  Thinking of others certainly made sitting in traffic and taking Kaitlyn to get shots a little easier and hopefully made someone smile!

So Many Local Heroes

Since it is finally fall and not in the 90's, I decided this is the week to make Pumpkin Spice cookies.  The recipe makes so many, and we don't need more than a couple.  I made them this morning and after getting Lauren from school, we took most of the cookies to the Fire Dept.  Lauren decided to get shy and hide by my leg when I asked her what she wanted to say to them.  (I was a little nervous too, but they were very nice of course!)  We thanked them for all they do and went home.  Hopefully it made their day like it made ours!

Brainstormed Around the House

What gems around your house you can find when you look!  Since I stopped selling Party Lite, I have plenty of the candles left.  I use them, just not as much as I used to.  They were sitting in a box wasting away, so I did something about it.  We have plenty of friends we see less and less since BK (you know, before kids), and I thought one of them would love some candles.  I put some in a cute little basket that was also wasting away and wrote a note.  Kaitlyn and I dropped it off at her house this afternoon.  It was fun thinking of what to put in and fun thinking of her reaction when she sees it.

We Are So Blessed!

I did a tour of MUST Ministries tonight, so I can start volunteering.  Wow.  They do so much for the homeless.  I got a chance to be blessed before the tour even started.  :)  I had to bring the girls with me and James was meeting us there.  Well of course after a month with no rain, it has poured here yesterday and part of today.  This afternoon was pretty dry.  Until we were getting in the car.  James got stuck in traffic (and hail) and was going to be late.  A staff member and volunteer offered to babysit the kids until he got there, so I could go on the tour!  It felt huge to me, but was probably no big deal for them.  See, we never know how much someone may appreciate something small we do for them!
We toured the kitchen, living areas, classrooms and more.  MUST can accommodate 65 people (at this facility) at a time and they help them find jobs.  The thing they don't provide is transportation and most people don't have cars.  The bus runs right in front, so that is how most of them get to jobs and job interviews.  They said getting bus passes donated is like the residents getting gold.  I usually take my running car for granted, but not tonight.  I am thinking of helping them with data entry one evening a week, if they have an opening in that area.  We shall see!

Almost Too Easy

It is Friday (yay!) and I am going to do a weekend long project.  I am going to put a pad of post-it notes in my purse and leave inspirational notes when I am out and about.  This will probably only be the gym, Church, and the hockey game tomorrow night, but it is a start.  We can all use a pick me up, and who cares if it comes from a stranger if it makes us feel better?  

This is Brought to You by JC Penney

Something exciting happened last week, just a few days after I started writing this.  I got a $10 off coupon for Penney's.  I get these a few times a year and get excited about what I am going to buy myself.  I consider it my money and rarely spend more than a few dollars on what I buy (Mom would be proud.)  But when I got this one in the mail last week my first thought was "Who can I buy something for?"  Amazing how fast generosity can spread into your life!  I went to the mall today and bought Carrie's little girls shirts. (Sorry Nathan, I don't know what 9 year old boys want.)  Lauren once again helped and picked out what Maggie would want.

Total spent on a onesie and a shirt: $1.66
Giving someone a gift out of the blue: Priceless

Yeah Yeah I Write a Lot of Letters

Everyone loves a compliment, especially to their boss!  Today I wrote a letter to a company I buy from, telling them how great one of their employees is.  I know I could save a stamp and do it on their website, but I thought it would come off better in writing.  Maybe it could really affect her life.  We all go through life feeling under appreciated at times.  Hearing that someone notices you and thinks you are doing a great job gives a feeling that can last for days.  I hope that is what a few minutes of my day does!

Please Have Your Pets Spayed or Neutered

Since this week is fall break, I have Lauren home all day every day.  I thought it would be a challenge to do my blog, but it has been good.  Last night she was invaluable when we picked up trash (she has a different view point as James put it).  At 4, everything is exciting and fun.  She is old enough that I can explain to her what we are doing and why.  
The other day I heard that the animal shelter needs old towels badly.  After looking, I was surprised how many we have acquired and don't use.  The girls and I loaded them in the car and dropped them off.  Once again, Lauren can understand why we did it.  Kaitlyn's contribution was to meow at the cats and bark at the dogs when we walked through the viewing areas, but it was a start.
My lesson I learned today is that I can make a difference, even if it is in a small way.  But if I do nothing, no difference is made.  Oh and I learned there are a TON of kittens right now that need a home.  Cute kittens.

For a Cleaner Tomorrow

Today I have been thinking about this time a year ago when the whole county (and many others) was under several feet of water.  It was scary, but our neighborhood is very hilly, so it wasn't so bad right here.  Many people still have problems from that time.  I have decided that after dinner-and when it is a little cooler-the girls and I are going to walk around picking up trash.  We can make the neighborhood prettier and make neighbors smile.  But it will also give me a chance to see people's houses and maybe get some ideas on ways to help them.  I often feel I have no abilities to help, but I am refusing to listen to that.  There is ALWAYS a way to help! 

Now My Hands are Baby Soft

Yesterday went well and the girls and I literally took time to smell the flowers.  After reading a bunch of books, they wanted to watch a movie.  While they did that, I had a chance to research volunteer opportunities I am interested in.  It seems they take time to be approved, so they won't be happening quite yet.  But soon I will be helping strangers weekly!
Today is about my mother-in-law.  We are planning on seeing her tonight, so Lauren and I decided to make a body scrub for her.  Anyone who knows me knows 2 things about me.  1.) I already have what I need for this, including a pretty glass jar to put it in.  2.) I love giving people things.  I am always the one Christmas morning saying "Open my gift first!"   So naturally I gravitate toward giving people things as my way of doing something nice.  (This would be why I am trying to do volunteer work.  Left to my own devices, I would just give people things every day and we would have no money for bills.  I am choosing to mix things up AND step out of my comfort zone by serving when I can.)  Hopefully my mother-in-law Jane will appreciate the body scrub, especially since her granddaughter helped make it!  We can't wait to see her face, and I will bet Lauren will tell her she has to cook it.....

But I Am Doing the Right Thing!

After the morning I have had, I was tempted to say my good deed for the day was to not tear into the people who ticked me off.  Real grown up, I know.  As this whole thing gets more difficult, I know it means I am on the right path.  Doing the right thing is never synonymous with doing the easy thing.  It would be easier for me to just be selfish and not think of others, but who would benefit from that?  Instead, I am attempting to put a few bad hours out of my mind and focus on what is important:  Showing someone I care.  I think I will take the next few hours between school and dinner to give my full attention to my children.  Play time and giggling go a long way to making me feel better and reinforcing my love.  If some way to help someone else comes along, well that is just icing on top of a very strange cake of a day!

Justa Note

This challenge is changing my life already.  Two things I am noticing:  1.)  I am obsessed with finding creative things to do for people.  I suppose this will lessen as I get used to the idea.  2.)  I am finding I already want less for myself as so many have great needs.  And this is only the first week!

A friend was on my mind all morning so I took that to mean she should be today's  person.  I wrote her a note anonymously.  (I wish I could be there when she tries to figure out who sent it, but I would so give it away.)  It is in the mail now, and I feel so devious!  Doesn't take much to entertain me I guess.

Day 2

What I am learning today is to not have a bunch of ideas planned for each day so that I end up just going through the motions.  I have a few things in mind that I can do for people, but nothing specifically for today.  I want to be open and flexible and looking for a need.  It kind of defeats the purpose to be so rigid that I miss an urgent issue.  It has been frustrating to know I should be doing something today, but I was thinking.  Then on our walk this morning, I was talking to Carrie about my next door neighbor Paul.  He told me this summer that he has cancer and he and his wife Sue have been updating me.  He had surgery that removed part of his lung and was in the hospital for 2 weeks.  He really wanted to get back to work last week and feel a small victory.  When I saw him get home that first night, I could tell it was a rough day.  So this morning I was telling Carrie that I want to do something for them, but bringing dinner does not seem appropriate.  She said, “Make cookies!”  Now why didn’t I think of that?   

So the girls and I sliced and baked 2 kinds of cookies (Because that’s how we roll.  I honestly can’t imagine having the girls “help” me make cookies from scratch!)   We delivered the cookies when they cooled and the only ones home were Paul's son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.  I don't usually chat with them, but I think they know who we are.  I saved cookies for us (obviously), so I suppose this one counts as a twofer-blessing my neighbors AND my family.  Can't beat that!

Hello World!

So I decided to start a blog, but until yesterday I had no idea what to write about.  Since I have stayed home for the past 4 years, my life pretty much (read: completely) revolves around my children.  As great as they are, I knew no one would care about my mundane life after a few entries.  Not even my family.  I even get bored with being in the house ALL THE TIME.  Knowing how blessed I am to have a healthy family and a husband with a good job that provides everything we need isn’t always enough to keep me from having a pity party and feeling stuck here.  I always say I am going to volunteer and help people, but then I always think of an excuse.  The usual excuse is 2 years old and occasionally there is a 4 year old excuse thrown in.  I decided yesterday to do something nice for someone every day.  I need to just throw myself in all the way and do it.  No more “I should,” but “I will.”  I am scared of this because there are 365 days a year and that takes a lot of ideas! 

Writing about this seems like the perfect way to go.  I want to be held accountable and not just say to myself that I will do it.  (Because half the time I don’t even listen to myself.)   It will get me out of my own head and instead thinking about how to help the world around me.  Growing up I was surrounded by family members who were constantly going out of their way to help others.  They saw needs and filled them.  My brain doesn’t seem programmed like that, but I want to be a good example to my children.  And maybe anyone reading this will be inspired to help others more.  I know I am fortunate to have a schedule that allows me to do this every day and write about it, but everyone has time to do something small. 

Today is an easy day to start as I have already taken care of it!  Our wonderful Church NorthStar is amazing at community works and has September’s Big Give to fill up barrels for MUST Ministries.  At the grocery store today I picked up some extra canned goods and now have a bag waiting to go.  This blog won’t always involve monetary donations, but today did.  Sometimes it will be for a family member, neighbor, friend, or stranger.   Now that I am doing it, I need to constantly be looking for ways to show kindness.  Welcome to my challenge and thanks ahead of time to those who will support me in this!