A Good End to the Year

At Lifeway now, you can donate a few dollars that buys a Bible.  I did that, and they scanned the Bible that gets put in a box and donated to a crisis pregnancy center.  So maybe I changed a life for the price of a latte at Starbucks!

A Good Morning Finally

Now that I am feeling a little better, we could get out of the house!  I did something I haven't done in a while.  While at the gym I wrote on 2 post-it notes "You are beautiful the way you are!" and left each in the bathroom stalls.  When I went back in over an hour later, they were still there.  Maybe lots of women got a smile and confidence boost!

Just a Little Something

So I found a little notepad with a bear and it said "Keep smiling.  It makes people wonder what you are up to."  It was cute, and for some reason made me think of our neighbors who home school their 5 kids.  Who knows why it makes me think of them, since their kids are always so sweet!  Maybe it is because they are a smiley, happy family.  Now I am wondering if they really are up to something.....I took it to their house, but had to leave it with a note since they weren't home.

My Gift to the World

Yesterday I started getting sick and today wasn't better.  So I stayed home and rested and kept my germs to myself.  That is my good deed, especially since it meant keeping 2 small children inside and entertained. 

Publix is the Chick Fil A of Grocery Stores!

The employees there know me, and the woman at the deli even remembers my order each week.  Going grocery shopping is never fun with a kid or two, but they make it as painless as possible.  Today I got 2 cokes and handed them to the cashier and bagger.  We had had a great conversation while they did all the work.  :)  They were very happy to get a treat and it helped my Monday morning mood too!

Merry Christmas!

I went to get coffee this morning and actually left a tip in the jar.  Normally I am too cheap to do that, but hey, it is Christmas Eve.  :)

Oops I Forgot

I had planned to do something but then forgot when I was out.  I just remembered a little while ago.  So I obviously wasn't supposed to do it today.....Instead I saved some postage and sent people messages on Facebook to either encourage them or make them smile.  It inadvertently made ME smile!

Ho Ho Ho

I realize I must look ridiculous when I try to be stealthy, but it is fun!  Today I was thinking about an old friend who lost his job months ago.  I had one more mug with coffee and took it to his house.  The note said it was from the elves spreading Christmas cheer. (What?  My kids are little-they could pass for elves!)  It is a good thing the kids aren't older and will probably not remember when Mom used to sneak up to someone's door and then run back to the car.  I can only hope!

Out With More Old

So we can have room for new on Christmas.  Tonight the girls and I went through their toys and found a bunch to give away.  (Well I had to sneak a bunch of stuff in the trash bag that they don't play with.....Haha)  I will take a big donation to Goodwill next week so this is a good chunk.  Some kids and babies are going to get some new toys!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells

With Christmas in a few days, I have both kids home.  So for today I decided to have them make Christmas cards for people.  I am trying to think of some new fun things to do this week to involve the girls.  This is the perfect time of year to start them thinking of others!

My Pinch Hitter

Today I spent dealing with sick children and doctors on little sleep.  There wasn't a whole lot I could do.  But James stepped in and helped someone!  Every year there is a thing called Cobb Christmas at the fairgrounds.  He volunteered from 9-1 and helped parents "shop" for the kids Christmas presents.  Everything is donated, and he was one of the people who picked out gifts based on the kids' ages.  I like the way MUST does their toy shop better, because I think the parents should get to pick out their own kids' presents.  But so many families were blessed because of my husband and other volunteers today!

Books Make Us Smrt

My little Lauren is having a book exchange tomorrow at school.  We are supposed to bring a wrapped book to give to another 4 year old.  Well, I got 2 and wrapped them myself!  This time of year makes people want to give (and ask for donations).  I just wish we all felt like giving and helping those who need it more than one month out of the year!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Yes I just quoted National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on my blog.  You're welcome.  We had 7 muffins left this morning, so I sent them to work with James.  Anything put in that kitchen lasts a few minutes at best.  We don't need any more here, and I would rather bless someone else's waistline than my own!  :)

A New Muffin Recipe

I spent the morning making chocolate cinnamon muffins for Lauren's teachers.  Her assistant teacher saw them on the seat beside me and said "Yay Yay Yay!"  Her face lit up.  The other time I brought them, she had been out sick and was so disappointed to miss them, so I am really glad she got one today!  And we have dessert tonight at our house. Works for me!

Who Doesn't Want a Coke?

Well, for starters, the cashier at TJ Maxx today.  I saw the idea to buy a Coke and give it to your cashier, so I tried it.  I said, "this is for you,  Merry Christmas."  She looked at me strangely and said I didn't have to.  We argued about it for a minute so I told her she could give it to someone else there.  She then asked me to stay for a minute and called her manager over, so the manager would know I had given it to her and she hadn't stolen it.  sigh.  I tried.....

Christmas Shopping for a Good Cause

I am ending the week by taking my girls on a trip to Target.  Our Church is helping MUST ministries supply parents with gifts for their kids.  We are getting play-doh, a puzzle, a blanket, and make up for a teenage girl.  Then we are bringing it to Church unwrapped (so glad to not have to wrap!) on Sunday.  Although Christmas is not about gifts, I still want kids to have them from their parents on Christmas morning! 

Out With the Old

This whole week has been tough, and today was the worst.  I hate to say I didn't want to do anything nice for anyone!  I kept telling myself I would feel better if I thought of someone else, but that didn't make me want to.  But I went into my closet and pulled out clothes to take to Goodwill.  I do know that there are so many people right now, in my area and all over, that have less than me, or have medical problems, or are looking for a job.  Now that I have thought about that and gotten a donation together, I do feel better.  (Maybe that is partly because the girls are asleep, but who knows for sure?)

Singlehandedly Keeping the Post Office in Business

Monday would have been my cousin Lee's 33rd birthday, and his mom is taking it hard.  She has been on my mind more the last few days, so today I am sending her a picture Lauren drew and a note from me.  I just want her to smile and forget her sorrow for a few minutes!

It's Pajama Time!

No one but my husband and kids will get that title, as it is the name of a book the girls love.  Tomorrow Lauren gets to wear pajamas to school and they are having a pajama drive.  Today we went to Target and got a pair of new pj's to bring in.  Yeah, I waited until the last minute, but at least I remembered at all.....

Oh So Easy!

Monday is my day to do grocery shopping, so I killed 2 birds with one stone.  I remembered that at the front of Publix they have a big barrel to donate food.  There happened to be buy one get one free specials so I purchased some extra cans and dropped them in the barrel on the way out.  Good start to the week I think.

Nice Surprise

Well, tonight James and I went to dinner without the girls.  I decided to do what is generally said to do when you want to do something nice for someone.  I gave a bigger tip than normal.  We figured out what we normally would have given and then gave a few dollars more.  Happy weekend to our waitress!

Coooookies

FINALLY! I made cookies for our new neighbors and took them over tonight.  It is a young couple with a little boy and they are very nice.  Maybe I made a new friend by being nice!  Meeting new people is something I need to do more of since my heart almost beat out of my chest when I got to the front door.  I used to be so good at it!

Dang UPS!

The project for today was going to be baking cookies and taking them to our new neighbors, finally.  Well, I had to hang around all day waiting for a package that didn't come until almost 6!  It is too late to make them now.  Maybe I shouldn't be taking them cookies.  Hmmm.....Instead I am sending a card and pictures to someone who needs a reminder of what is great about life!