Day 10- Keep getting CAUGHT!!!

Today we stopped in to a FAVORITE watering hole...some places everyone hits up Sonic happy hour...in Alva....the hot spot it the Rialto Movie Theater, they have walk up non movie Happy Hour prices ALL DAY- its where most people go!!!

Today, thats where our project took us. Again to took a little convincing of the worker that yes I did indeed want to pay for OTHER PEOPLE'S drinks....so I left a tab for the people who would come in after me to receive a FREE drink. Too bad there was a guy RIGHT behind us in line who ordered his drink and told of his good fortune BEFORE I could get out of the store- He thanked me :)

We of course had to get a Dr. Pepper for ourselves while we were there ;)

Simple little things!

Day 7-9 Getting caught up

So our own very busy schedule has gotten in the way of a DAILY service project so we had to combine couple of activities and do them in one day.

Today we did TWO very FUN and REWARDING projects.

First, something we wanted to do last year but again waited too long to get it done and the opportunity wasn't available. We went with the intention of paying off one family's lay-a-way at Wal-Mart. We had a dollar amount in mind that we'd like to stay around but it was hard to find that amount- either some were too high (we wanted to pay it off not just some) or they were way under what we had come expecting to pay. So the workers had an idea to pay two with the combine total of what we wanted!! PERFECT!

When the first associate came to help us she was shocked and felt like she had to go as permission to do such a thing. Once she had gotten permission, I had one associate and TWO managers helping me with our project. They kept going on and on about us and our family and how amazing what we were doing was. And I over and over told them how blessed we are and we are just trying to help others be blessed! The associate even let me write a little note to each family saying "Merry Christmas- Pay it Forward When You Can".

What a rush that was!


Next we participated in You've Been Jingled This was probably by far one of our favorites yet! We filled 8 bags full of goodies and a sheet with instructions and took them to 8 friends houses, left them on the doorstep and RAN!! As Caleb got more courageous he would ring the doorbell or knock. We did get caught one time but only once out of 8 isn't bad :)

The point is- when you've been Jingled you hang a sign in your window that you've been jingled (so it doesnt come back to you) and you secretly take another bag of goodies of your choosing with directions to a new house and so on and so forth.

Thats what really got Caleb excited- when we started thinking about how many people could be having fun like us "Jingling" others and how many people would be blessed by getting goodie bags!!

Also, I was able to take the opportunity to explain to Caleb through both of these activities why we do things in secret. Its not to give our name glory but to point everything we have and all we are to Jesus!!!! We had sooooo much fun tonight- thanks for letting us share. And remember you can start a Jingle all on your own without getting one first!

Just for fun I have some video of Caleb jingling and running!! ENJOY!!

Day 6- Serving is Contagious

I am soooo excited that we were able to make today happen!! I wanted to make this happen LAST year but acted too late so I started with a plan this year to get this done EARLY (well I beat the deadline by one day)

Today we signed 50 Christmas cards that will be delivered to soldiers who are in the hospital during the holidays. What a simple and easy way to say thanks and spread some holiday cheer!!!

Through the Red Cross' Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign we are sending our Christmas cards to military men and women who might not otherwise get any and/or won't be home for Christmas.

What is even more awesome is the fact that this serve project was CONTAGIOUS. Since Jeremy runs an after school program 4 days a week we dont have much time during the week at home that we aren't eating dinner, going to church events or getting ready for bed; so we had to work on this project at our youth center. Student after student came by wondering what we were doing and I told them signing cards for soldiers in the hospital- almost everyone of them immediately asked if they could sign as well. By the end each card had more than 10 names in it!! One student even asked if we could go buy more cards to sign!

It was so much fun to have this project reach outside our family and into our students we work with.

I'm sorry to report this is more than likely you will not be able to join in with us on this project as cards MUST be postmarked Dec. 7 2012 (which is tomorrow) to make sure they get to the distribution center on time. If you act fast you can get a couple in the mail tomorrow. But you can also put it on your list for next year. If you plan properly this the cards can cost as little as $.30 for a box of 25 if you wait for a 90% off sale! BAM! Saving money AND doing good what more can you ask for!?!?!!?

One additional note: when sending bulk cards- they want them loose with no envelopes in a big envelope that will help the processing of them. Save your self the frustration of buying 50 stamps when you can just ship them together for $5!!! Lesson learned!

Day 5- secrets and encouragement

Some days I am reserving the right to keep our projects hush hush. Day 5 was one of those days...be confident we are out there making a difference in people's lives.

One encouragement I want to give. We recently sold a few things on FB/Craigslist that we had been trying to sell FOREVER. Well just like that TWO items sold FAST. I am going to take that EXTRA money to fund our projects! I firmly believe you can't wait til you can afford to be generous- generosity begets generosity!!! I can't promise how it will come back to you but I can promise you WILL be blessed for your generosity. Jeremy and I were just talking yesterday at how blessed we are with electronics over the last year, few of which we have actually paid for out of pocket. And I told him I firmly believe we are blessed in part due to our generous hearts. I don't say that to be haughty or think highly of myself or encourage you to give so you can get but simply to share that we are BLESSED beyond comparison and we LOVE to give beyond comparison. THAT is my challenge for today....look where you can start giving TODAY- without reservation just do it!

I did read a story on a friend's Facebook page that when she was at Starbucks her drink got paid for by the person in front of her and all they asked was to pass it on. The drive thru workers said this had been going on for FIFTEEN CARS!!!

If you need ideas for getting started contact me- I've got soooo many ideas!!! And please please please feel free to pass this blog around to your friends. Its not meant to be kept in a holy huddle. 

Day 4- a simple dinner at home

Sorry this is a little late in getting posted but we were having such a wonderful evening at home with our serve project that I never made it back to my computer to report in on our evening.

Last night we had two college students over for dinner. They don't care what I fix. They don't care how nice my house is. They don't care that my son loves to show off for a crowd. They just LOVE being in a HOME and having home cooked food!!!

As we near the end of the semester most college students are weary and ready for a break. Although, I wasn't able to give them time off of school; I'd give them a break from the monotony of a school cafeteria and dorm living. We sat and shared about Christmas family traditions and the future of schooling and careers.

It was simple at best but a nice way to serve a group of people often forgotten for a home cooked meal and nice conversation. I hope someone reaches out to my kids when they are away a college!

Day 3- Packing food bags, picking up trash and other fun adventures

Today was one of my favorites from last year but I was able to tweak it a little to conform more to Caleb's age and attention span.

Today we worked at our local food bank but this year it was just Caleb, myself one of his friends and his friends mom (who happens to work there :) So we could really taylor the jobs they were doing to their skill levels and attention spans. We had a great time packing bags with potatoes, oranges, toilet paper, paper towels and onions for distribution this week. Caleb also got to stock canned veggies on the shelves. The hit of the day however, was going outside and picking up trash (gloves included!). I think the boys just liked being outside anyway they could b/c they were VERY upset when their bags were full and we were done.















It was a great day and we successfully helped serve at least 20 community families that will receive the bags we packed. We also found out about special project they are working on for Christmas goodie bags they need deodorant and goodie bags- any of my readers have a stock pile or deodorants or Ziplocs? Get with me and I can get them in the right hands!!!

Days 1 and 2- Getting Caught up

We've been busy at work the past two days

DEC 1-December first we kicked off our Big Serve 2012 edition with a donation of popcorn to a couple of organizations in Wichita. Our contact Jen is the founder of ITC SOS who partners with a few other organizations like the OZ and Carpenter Place

Something super simple and easy to do yet makes a difference in the lives of other. Both of these organizations work with teens in crisis and need funds and resources readily available. Popcorn isn't HUGE but I am sure it will get eaten!

Because time allowed we were able to sneak in a SECOND serving opportunity on Dec. 1!!! A simple gesture of asking another family out to dinner and then offering to let their child stay the night. Allows for alone time, time to get extra chores done and get to bed earlier or later with no fighting!!! :) We were soooo happy to bless our friends AND Caleb with a sleepover buddy!!!


DEC 2- Tonight our community hosted a Christmas parade held in our downtown area. Luckily enough we happen to run a youth community center in that same area. With a smidgen of planning (generous babysitting help) and some teens willing to pitch in; we were able to hand out over 5 pump pots of hot chocolate for FREE to watchers. It was truly amazing to watch people open up and receive this gift (at first with great hesitation until they were told it was a gift). With no fanfare as to who we are but with a simple Merry Christmas and have a good night we were able to touch several families with such a simple task.

We've really been struggling with getting Caleb in the mood for service and Ive been pretty disappointed with this stinky attitude- which is the EXACT reason why we are doing this. I want to teach a willing and giving spirit in him from the start. We've talked about greed and what it means to put others first and he was still grumpy and reluctant. But once we got out there and people were so completely receptive to him; he got very energized and was ready for more. "Mom, what are we doing tomorrow?" So, even if you're not in the mood to serve.....give it a try it might turn your day around!!!

 What's up in the days ahead? Teacher lunch. Cards for Soldiers. Paying off someones lay-a-way!!! AND MUCH MORE!!!!