Random Acts~ Part Four...

Today started out like any other day... Getting up, making sure that Tristin & Tyler eat breakfast, while I make Lunch for Tristin.  Once they get done, we brush teeth & it's time to dash off to school.  Then from there it's a myriad of things to get done, till it's time to go back & pick up Tristin from school.  Today I decided to try to help a friend complete her Christmas shopping.  I am pleased to say that after a few hours...  We got it all done!  As we were checking out, I got a call that a friend was having a rough time of it so... Three bags of groceries and a Turkey later, Tyler went with me to spread some much needed holiday cheer.  Early last week a friend & neighbor of hers passed from complications due to breast cancer.  The house was full of flowers... As not wanting to waste them, she made bouquets of flowers and passed them out to nursing homes, friends and people who could use a smile.  I was touched that in her time of mourning that she would be thinking of others and want to bring a smile to someone's face as her heart was broken from the loss of her friend.  I made one last stop before picking up Tristin.  It was to visit a friend, that has a heart of gold but he has lost his "Spark".  After the loss of his leg due to diabetes, he was served even a more devastating blow.  His wife filed for divorce.  Ever since moving to Ashtabula and meeting him, I have made a point to go and see him whenever I can.  Every year he gets a Christmas card and I invite him to everything under the sun.  He always politely declines.  My heart breaks to see him so broken and left feeling as though he has nothing to offer anyone.  Today we went to deliver him some "Sunshine",  even though it was pouring rain and a dreary grey outside.  We chatted for about 45 minutes before I had to leave.  Right before I left it was still raining lightly, but the sun came out.  He told me that was me chasing away the darkness... I had tears welling up...  He asked me to stop back by after picking up Tristin as he wanted to see him.  I said we would be back about 3:30.  When we went back he was waiting for us.  He seemed so pleased that I came back with the boys.  We talked for a while, and then as we were getting ready to leave he handed me an envelope.  I was puzzled.  He said that he was in awe of all that I have on my plate, but I can still find time to do & give to others.  I opened the envelope and tears that I have been holding back, came pouring down my cheeks... He wrote a check out to the Susan G. Komen foundation for $200.00!  I could not Thank him enough.  He told me that no Thanks were required, & that it was just a little love coming back to me, for all that I send out into the world... Even now, typing it out I have a lump in my throat.  Upon getting home I noticed a request from a friend, for a little girl that will be spending her Christmas in the hospital.  When I told Tristin about it, his response was... " I got this one Mom..."  He made 3 beautiful pictures to send off to this little girl that he has never met, but wanted to bring a smile to her face.  I Love his Giving Heart... So, tonight as I close out this entry, I guess all of my rambling is to try to say, that we all have something to give to someone.  A smile, hug or a kind gesture.  Sometimes it truly is the littlest of things that can mean so much. 
                                                                             XoXo

Random Acts~ Part Three...

Today with the weather being 45 degrees and raining I decided to share a little home made love with people that sun, rain, wind or snow are out doing their job.  I gifted 3 cinnamon buns and coffee to 3 well deserving crossing guards.  The look on their face was priceless.  They were even more surprised to find out that I had no children that attended the school they were working at.  The number one question was "Why"... My response... Why Not?  Sometimes it's just nice to have someone notice that you are doing a good job.  How many times do you just wish that someone would notice all of the hard work that you put into something?  Anyways, who can really resist a warm, out of the oven cinnamon bun and a cup of hot coffee?  I left them smiling and at least one still puzzled as to why I was did this...  Why do we always feel the need to question everything?  Why do we find it so hard to believe that someone is doing something purely out of the goodness of their heart?  Not looking for a pay back or for money in return.  I guess that as a whole we have become conditioned not to trust, or believe that someone is just doing it just because they want to.  I guess that is one of the things that I have come to miss so much out of the 3-Day experience.  That you trust the person next to you. You believe that they only want the very best for you, as you wish the same for them and most importantly,,, You do things for people that you have never met before, because you can, & you genuinely want to.  If for no other reason than to just see them smile, or to leave your side better off than before they got to you.  Even if you only get those few precious moments in time with them, you left them with a smile...

 XoXo

Random Acts~ Part Two...

Today was busy!  Tristin had his Christmas Concert at school.  They sang some wonderful songs and we really enjoyed getting the chance to go as a family to hear him sing.  Then we scooted off to Walmart to get some shopping done.  While we were there I ran into to people that I had never met before.  One woman was looking at the Hallmark Charms that look like the Pandora Beads, they were charging $10.00 for a bead or a series of 3.  So I decided to send her to my friends shop, "The Jewelry Box".  Barb, who is the owner, is having to close at this time due to health issues.  So, I figured instead of having this woman pay for the more expensive beads she could get so much more for her money, and at the same time I was trying to help a friend.  Then as we were getting ready to leave I bumped into an older man at the crossing of a isle we almost ran head on into each other.  It was pretty funny actually.  At first I thought he was going to get cross, then we exchanged some witty banter.  I wished him a "Merry Christmas" with my big Ol smile and he returned the pleasantries.  I thought that would be the end of it.  As we were getting ready to check out he came back around the corner and started to sing to me... I was pleasantly shocked.  He Thanked me for our "Uplifting" and witty banter, apparently he had been having a rough time of it lately and wasn't in the Christmas Spirit until we met.  Later in the afternoon we had the opportunity to meet "Chad" from Alltel commercials.  We were at the end of the line to meet him and I got a chance to talk to him for a bit.  He asked about the pink hair.  So, I told him all about the 3-Day walks.  He signed a head shot for me reading "Sunny, Keep Walkin'! "  We talked about this blog, and what I was doing for the next 12 days.  He thought it was a really cool idea, and he said that sometimes words can mean more than a physical gift.  So, today the gift of "Good Cheer" was passed along.  Never forget the power of a smile, or a kind word.  It may seem like so little, but may make a huge difference in someone's life...  

XoXo

Random Acts~ Part One...

So, to start off the 12 days of random acts, I cleaned out my house of all the diapers & wipes that we had.  I found them stashed in different bags, boxes and in baskets around the house, we no longer have a use for them so I decided to gift them to someone in need.  I called one of our local shelters and asked what they were in need of.  They gave me a list with all sorts of things & at the very end of the list was...Diapers!  I boxed up all that I had, and then decided to wrap them up like a gift.  Apparently, I made someone's day.  There was a woman that was residing at the shelter that was in desperate need of diapers.  I also decided to give a gift to someone that always is there for everyone else.  She will give away her last dime, and then somehow manage to stretch what she has to make due.  She never complains about what she doesn't have she just works harder.  With two children that are disabled she always leaves me in awe.  In an attempt to help lighten her load.  I took a big box of canned goods over to her house and left it in her front room with a note that just said, "Merry Christmas".  Tonight as I get ready for bed, I count my blessings for all I have.  Sometimes to regain perspective, you have to venture outside of your routine.

XoXo

12 Day Challenge...

I have been thinking a lot about this Christmas, and how there are so many people that are struggling this year.  So, for the next 12 days I am going to randomly do something for someone.  It may not be a huge something, but sometimes even a little something can mean so much.  I am also going to challenge you to join me.  You don't even have to spend any money.  Sometimes it is as simple as telling someone that they look beautiful or donating your time helping someone out.  I wish that I was in a position to finically help someone out, but I'm not.  So, until that Publisher's Clearing House van pulls up in my driveway, or a lottery ticket miraculously wins for me.  I will continue to do my little random acts of kindness and pay it forward.  In this life you never know when you will be the one needing the helping hand.  

XoXo