31 Random Acts of Kindess: Catching up

      So over the last 2 weeks or more, I've completed tons of acts of kindness. I've tried to help tons of people, but I don't think that I can remember everything that I've done. I've given big tips, left a slew of quarters at different places that I'd been on the candy/toy machines, made even more cookies and dropped them off at church for the staff, and also kept some to give out on the playground for AnnElise and all of Sonshine School friends, we've helped take carts into the grocery store when they were completely out, bought care bags of toiletries to hand out to the homeless as we see them out on the street begging, I've sent random notes to people to let them know I appreciate their friendship, tried to pick up a girl walking with groceries in both hands (the kids were staying with their grandparents, otherwise I don't try to pick up strangers), but she refused so I helped her understand M'boro public transportation, "Rover"(she was asian), helped mom's with kids put groceries in their car, and I've volunteered to help out at church. I'm sure there's more, but its been a while since I last posted.
      Over the last couple of weeks, I've read countless blog entries about helping people out, but they all spend SO much money on these things. We just don't have SO much money, and its really opened me up more on the everyday things that I can do for people on the cheap. I also love that I have the kids with me most of the time. I hope they can learn to go out of their way to help someone when they see it.  I have also learned that some people are just not so thankful, but to just keep on doing and giving without expecting anything in return.
    I've taken several pictures in the process of this, but I'll save it for the last post.
   

Acts of Kindness the last 5 days

    Well, once again, I've found myself busy, busy. You'd think a stay @ home mom wouldn't be so busy, but I am. Play dates take a lot of our time. I don't necessarily try to do a lot of play dates, but it just happens. I'm finding more and more stay @ home moms that have kids around AnnElise's age and she just loves these sweet girls so much, particularly Aden, my friend Claire's little girl and Anna, our friend Catherine Robinson's little girl. I am so glad that Catherine moved back from Colorado and I'm sure she's so happy to be back around friends and family.
    So the last few days, I'm finding it hard to think of easy, free or cheap acts of kindness. If I don't start out thinking about it, it slips my mind. One that came easily to me was our adopted student, which we still haven't met. We were given his name 2 Sundays ago. I thought it may be a while before we could invite him over for dinner or talk to him b/c of our random schedule, so I went out and got him a Starbucks gift card and dropped it off at RFC through which we adopted him. While I was there, I also dropped off a couple of platefuls of homemade chocolate chip cookies for the college students. It also counted:) The student lounge was full for a Friday and at least one full plate was emptied before I even left. Food doesn't last long there. The next day I picked up a shift for a friend in Cool Springs. She needed coverage that day and it was more than I'd prefer to work on a Saturday, but I stuck it out. I also handed out more than than the usual of samples for people who weren't buying. I also did a makeover/consultation even though it wasn't on the schedule. During events, we usually want an appointment b/c we're busier than usual. Sunday, I taught a class full of the sweetest, smartest 5 year olds. They've been learning about Moses. There's so many great stories to tell about him. I have yet to do an act of kindness today, besides taking the kids out of the house so Daniel could have a quiet house  for a bit and get some stuff done. I have to get out and run tonight so maybe something good will come out of it!
   I feel like lately, even though I'm making a point to give more and be more open to seeing needs/wants that I'm receiving more than giving. I do have some of the sweetest, most thoughtful friends and family in my life. Maybe I can even it out and give more than I receive, but I am so grateful when it falls on me from time to time.

31 Acts of Kindness: Rethinking Leftovers

    I don't know how it is in most big cities, but I imagine it to be the same as it is here in Murfreesboro. We currently have one of the fastest growing cities in America. With the rapid growth we have, we also have an insane amount of street beggars. Its mostly at big intersections that make it very difficult to actually talk to them, but easy to wave a hand of money out of the window while waiting for the red light. Some of these people have to be making a ton of money based on what I've seen. Until recently, a lot people are seen handing out food and money to them. Lately, it seems that people are becoming jaded for seeing the same people day after day at the same location. I am as well. I expect someone to eat what I give them having their needs met for the moment and to put down the sign momentarily to enjoy a warm, free meal. I usually drive away seeing them put it near their backpack to continue holding up their sign probably to never eat a bite despite telling me that they're hungry. But, I'd much rather waste money on food for someone than to drop off money never knowing if I'm encouraging bad habits through gifted money.
   I began dinner tonight, very early, and with intentions of making a plate of warm food for someone who needs it. If your cooking is anything like mine where you grossly overestimate how much everyone will eat, you'll be tired of leftovers after the two days and still have more than you know what to do with. We're always throwing out food. The dogs, goats and chickens love that I cook too much. Tonight, I still had leftovers even after dishing out a very large portion of spaghetti. I've helped a guy out with food before that I randomly met through church as he was trying to find a NA group there. I called him several times today thinking my dinner tonight would be for him, but I couldn't reach him when it was time. So I loaded the kids up and headed to the Y so I could go workout. On our way, I figured that I would see one of those beggars with the cardboard signs that reads "Homeless, anything helps!" and do a drop off. It took us a while to see one tonight. I guess they mostly go home to eat with their families around dinner time and already made their "wages" for the day.
  Today, I hopefully helped out someone who needed it and it was little to no worries for me. It actually helped me out! I still had leftovers, but not so much that we couldn't eat it. I hate seeing food rot in our fridge. I'd like to think that our grocers give out food to a local homeless ministry before they're too bad to eat, but not many people think about doing that in our own kitchen. I hope I can change my mindset to think of others outside of our home to help out when I make way too much to eat. I will find someone ahead of time to ensure that its actually eaten and appreciates the freshness of it:)
     I remember someone telling me that they were so grateful every time one of my family members invited them for dinner b/c they didn't have to worry about whether or not they'd eat that night. At least once a week I cook too much, so I'd like to keep this going. Maybe it'll give others a good idea for their leftovers. We have a hunger crisis going on all around us, but its difficult to find sometimes.

31 days of intentional acts of kindness

   Recently I began thinking that I don't help others as much as I should. There are times that I've had a clear opportunity to help someone out. Most of the time its in the grocery store with someone in front deciding whether to get chips or broccoli and when the total comes up, the person throws out the broccoli and several other items as they count what money they have. Who couldn't help those people afford something as simple as food. They are always grateful and I leave feeling good about it and even more thankful that I am able to help. So, for the next 30 days, I will be writing about some acts of kindness that I am doing with little or no money b/c we're raising a family on a single Firefighter's salary.
   I don't have a plan for each day. Last night I got out late to do my running at the Y, then went to get groceries, but nothing popped out at me, until I started driving home. I started thinking about how much Daniel has been working, studying, driving, then coming home to help me out with the kids. Daniel has been working a ton. He has 2 jobs now, is in EMT school, has to complete a certain number of clinicals that are 12 hour days each, he's a deacon at church, and comes home to work really hard on the house/yard/farming/raising kids. So, my intentional act of kindness yesterday was giving Daniel a massage before bed. I never do that for him! He even begged me one night to massage his shoulders and neck b/c his doctor blamed a week long headache on tension.
   Most days my acts of kindness will be directed at strangers, but there are days when it be for family. They deserve it too and are sometimes the most neglected by my kindness. I'll try to post everyday on it, but our days this month will be busy sometimes. Everyone loves the Fall with throwing parties, watching football, going to pumpkin patches and hayrides. Its all so much fun, but sometimes it goes by way too fast and we walk away with few memories b/c of the crazy fast pace of the days that were intended for lots of memories.