forty-four acts of kindness to do with your kids

I cannot think of a better time of the year to love on those surrounding you than the days and weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here is a list of forty-four ways your family can serve your community. What will begin as you blessing others will turn into a tremendous blessing for you.

1.      Pass out hand warmers to children playing in the park.

2.      Decorate your child’s principal or favorite teacher’s parking spot with chalk, balloons, notes, or signs.

3.      Go to Wal Mart. Greet the greeter and then treat the greeter to a special treat.

4.      Pass out Hugs and Kisses (the chocolate kind) at a nursing home.

5.      Decorate walkers and wheelchairs at a nursing home with ribbons and love.

6.      Read a story with a nursing home resident. 

7.      Take a Polaroid camera to the nursing home. Take pictures of precious memories and leave them with the residents.

8.      Help unload groceries into someone’s car.

9.      Buy a pack of greeting cards. Write letters to friends and family telling them why they are special to you.

10.   Organize an aisle in the shoe department.

11.   Give high fives to the employees in your favorite department store. Tell them you appreciate the work they do.

12.   Choose your favorite restaurant. Go through the drive though and pay for the next person’s meal.

13.   Tape single dollar bills to items in the dollar bin.

14.   Tape coins to vending machines.

15.   Take dog bones to your vet’s office.

16.   Place parking coins on windshields at the hospital.

17.   Purchase used books from the thrift store. Donate them to your doctor’s office for patients to read while they wait.  

18.   Go to your favorite ice cream shop. Ask the cashier what his or her favorite treat is. Buy it for them to have during their break.

19.   Offer to play with small children on the playground so their parents can rest.

20.   Cut coupons from the Sunday paper and mail or pass out to friends who use those items/shop those stores.

21.   Pass out water bottles to shoppers buying Christmas goodies.

22.   Set up a hot chocolate stand in your front yard. Brighten days with a warm chocolaty treat!

23.   Pass out candy canes on Black Friday. Everyone needs a little sweet on that crazy day!

24.   Offer to pump someone’s gas.

25.   Let someone go in front of you in line.

26.   Fill empty vases at the cemetery with flowers.

27.   Deliver goody baskets to the hospital.

28.   Write get well notes to hospital patients.

29.   Bake cookies to deliver to friends and family.

30.   Go to the local library. Place handwritten notes in your favorite books for others to find.

31.   Decorate bookmarks. Donate them to the children’s section of your library.

32.   Pick up trash at a local park.

33.   Chalk talk a sidewalk with holiday wishes or notes of encouragement.

34.   Pass out fancy pens to waiters/waitresses at your favorite restaurant.

35.   Hold the door for others.

36.   Buy flowers for your banker.

37.   Leave a note of encouragement on the changing table for someone else’s mommy. 

38.   An extra perk would be to also leave a Starbuck’s gift card.

39.   Pass out socks and gloves at the local soup kitchen. Baby it's cold outside!

40.   Tell someone why you are thankful for them.

41.   Take a neighbor homemade breakfast (or bread, or pie, or a cup of coffee, or a flower. It can even be store-bought. Just go).

42.   Refill a parking meter.

43.   Leave a surprise in your mailbox for the person who delivers your mail.

44.   The men and women who pick up trash must be frigid! Warm their hands and their hearts with a cup of cocoa.

 

“And the King will say, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:40

“By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:35

 

do as i say. do as i do.

Do as I say, not as I do.

I've heard it.

I've said it.

I never knew how true those words would ring until I saw myself, flaws and all,

mirrored in my son.

he picks up my phone
swipes the screen
answers
walks away
talks
laughs
talk some more
then, "bye bye"


he smells flowers
no matter where he is
when a bloom is in sight
he stops
he sniffs
he grins


he towels the refrigerator door
ridding it of the smudged artwork left by friendly fingers


he picks up a book
finds a cozy spot
curls his legs under him just so
opens the book
turns the page
breathes a hearty sigh
smiles
turns the page


kisses his daddy on the lips


brushes his teeth
spits
wipes out the sink
gives the mirror a toothy grin


opens the pantry door
scours the bottom shelf
closes it empty handed
opens the pantry door
shrugs his shoulders
settles for the vanilla wafers
closes the door equal parts content and discontent


points his finger
puts his hand on his hip
fusses at Harley
throws him a bone anyway


picks up a heated curler
presses it to his hair
retrieves a clip
creates a cloud of hairspray


opens drawer
selects my Bible
stretches his feet out straight
opens the cover
basks in His word

Every time I see him do the things I do, I am challenged to be a person who can say,

"Do the things I say.

Do the things I do."

having it all has nothing to do with all you have

Today I am reminded of how finite life is.

 

We simply have 

a beginning and an end,

a hello and a goodbye,

a start and a finish.

 

And a few fleeting minutes in the middle.

 

Having it all has nothing to do with all you have.

 

 

 

It's not about stuff.

Or crossing off to do lists,

or accomplishments or accolades.

 

It's not about where you live,

or what you drive.

 

It's not about what's lining the shelves of your refrigerator,

or hanging in your closet,

or boasting quietly in your trophy case.

 

It's not about job titles or degrees,

or paychecks or bonuses.

 

It's about making chocolate chip cookies from scratch,

baiting a fishing hook,
reading a bedtime story,
taking a Sunday drive,
splashing in puddles,
listening to stories about the good ole days,
making mudpies,
walking hand in hand down the sidewalk,
handwriting notes.

It's all about love that endures,

grace that saves,

friendships that persevere,

family that supports,

memories that sustain,

and hope that restores.  

 

Tonight, as we tuck in tightly, snuggle up soundly,

and whisper our bedtime prayers,

I can't help but realize, and be eternally grateful, we really do have it all.

 

Capturing Joy

 

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,

but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”  

Thich Nhat Hanh

 

This summer has been so joy-filled.

 

We have made memories with sweet friends,

fell all over again in love with each other,

and captured joy in every part of our everyday.

 

Joy is living and living is joy.

 

For us, joy is

 

 

watermelon and seed spitting on the back porch with your best bud, 

 

 

and getting to do life side by side in your favorite chairs,

 

eating Popsicles until your tongue threatens to turn to one,

 

enjoying sunsets with your best girls on a no boys allowed beach getaway,

 

 

and getting texts from your husband letting you know your child is well cared for,

and dressed to impressed (Daddy style)

 

 

splish splashing at splash pads and stopping to savor Fun Dip with sweet friends,

 

top knots, jersey dresses, and bathroom mirror love notes from your one and only,

 

stealing kisses from your future bride (a mom can hope),

and the bond shared by the parents of these two precious angels that says "I get it,"

"I'm here," "I understand," "We got this."

 

 

trying out every playground in town, and then doing it all over again and again

to choose an unbiased favorite,

 

 

and using midday power naps to gear up to do it all over again.

 

Mark Twain nailed it, “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”

Joy captured is joy shared.

all you need is less

A friend posted this picture last week, and if she didn't live over the river and through the woods, I would have hugged her.

Hard.

(click on image for link)

 

all you need is less

 

In a world of more, more, more, I can't help but love the idea of less being best.

 

less time spent on social media

less worry weighing on our hearts

less pain

less energy trying to please others

less stress stealing our joy

less clutter clouding our homes

less comparing ourselves to friends and neighbors and complete strangers

less yes

less hate

less hurt

less rush

less me

less on the dreaded to do list

less angry

less busy

less

less

less

 

My heart has been craving this.

My body has been longing for this.

My days have been needing this.

 

all I need is less

Pinspiration

I love Pinterest.
I love, love Pinterest.

It saves me from dinner party fiascos, helps me fill an otherwise daunting set of built-ins, provides countless hours of entertainment for on-the-go toddlers, gives 12,477 uses for pallets, helps you clean everything from here to Timbukto, and is a great time passer for carpool lines and waiting rooms.

Aside from recipes I may never cook, and the DIY home projects I'll likely never DIY,
one of my favorite things to pin on Pinterest are words of inspiration.

This is one of my favorite boards to scroll through for fist-bumping, butt-kicking, be a better daughter of His, and wife and mother of mine, get 'er done motivation!

 

These are some of my favorites.

 

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You are you and you are awesome!
Have a booty-kicking, fist-bumping, fabulous Friday!


What words inspire you?