NanceXToo Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 We are moving into our fifth week of our Random Acts of Kindness Challenge and it's been great hearing about what you all have been doing! To reiterate, it doesn't matter how big or how small your Random Act of Kindness is over any given week. The idea is to just improve somebody's life, mood, spirits, week, or day in some way, no matter how big or small. Happiness is contagious. By doing nice things for other people, you're bound to make not just them feel good, but yourselves, too! And by involving the kids, the whole family, you'll be making THEM feel good, and teaching them to do good, too...it's a win/win! It doesn't matter who the recipient is. It can be a friend, a relative, someone in your own household, a complete stranger, an animal friend. It can be someone truly needy, or truly deserving, or it may be one of those weeks where it is just someone you allow in front of you on the checkout line. Just DO something to brighten somebody's day each week. I hope you'll join in on this challenge and post to the threads I'll be posting each week to let us all know what you did! This way, we can offer each other accountability to continue on with the challenge, inspiration as we give each other new ideas, can share fun stories of what we did and how people reacted and so on, and, okay, give each other a little bit of well-deserved recognition, too. :) This is the place to chat this week, which runs from Sunday, December 18 to Saturday, December 24. Come share your ideas, ask for ideas, tell us about the things you end up doing, comment on other people's stories, and so on. Looking forward to hearing from you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 (edited) Sorry, today sort of got away from me what with cookie baking and my homeschool group's holiday party and whatnot, so starting this thread quite late today! Speaking of cookie baking I suppose it can count that I made extra cookies and plan to drop some off tomorrow to a couple of the librarians at my library. Especially the one who orders the many, many interlibrary loan books I order and the children's librarian. By the way, Dolphin, I saw your post from the tail end of last week's thread and that was incredibly generous of you! :grouphug: Looking forward to hearing from everybody for this week! Edited December 19, 2011 by NanceXToo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I gave a $10 off $50 coupon to the lady at the register next to me at Hallmark. She thanked me profusely and said I had really made her day! I told her that her response had made *mine*! She seemed so genuinely pleased over the coupon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I was a recipient!!! I parked in an unfamiliar city this week and didn't realize that the area I chose was metered. Someone paid for my parking and put the slip under my windshield wiper ... I'm pretty sure it was one of the teens hanging around outside the tattoo parlor that I parked in front of because they were the only ones there when I arrived. :D Made my day!!! Now I get to figure out how to pass it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 We were recipients of kindness this week also. I had vertigo most of the week (still have sour stomach from being off) and took myself to the doctor. While there, I had a really bad attack that resulted in a shot of phenagren so I wasn't allowed to drive home. DH had to come get me, stranding his car 35 minutes from home. A casual friend took DH all the way back to get his car the next morning. A good friend spend 7 hours at my house the next day; she got some groceries for lunch, showed DD how to make egg salad, and entertained the kids and I since I was upright by then. As for giving, DS4 has been the champ. He wanted to give gifts to his other two Sunday school teachers (one got a gift from him last week) and a friend in class. So, I gave him homemade ornaments for the teachers. He picked out beads and DD11 made a bracelet for his friend. He demanded each recipient to open their gifts immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmall Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I have been sick, and my daughter just came out while I was reading this thread. She handed me a bag, inside was a card she made me. She drew a picture of an old lady jumping into a well, and she wrote, "Why did the old lady jump into the well?" On the back it said,"To get well soon!" In the bottom of the bag was a little pillow that my daughter hand sewed. Sometimes my children can be so sweet. But I did ask her about the old lady thing!:lol: AL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaAkins Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 We are bringing a meal (plus enough for leftovers for the next day) for a couple from our church. We've never met them, but found out that the wife has been put on strict bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy (another 13 weeks). I've also offered to do anything else she needs (grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Our plan tomorrow is to go to KMART and become Law Away Angels. DD has to find her money or we would have gone today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I have to ask.....what's a layaway angel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarmom4 Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Last night our family delivered several gifts to a family in our church who is struggling right now. We had a few gifts for each child from 'Santa's Helper' and then had a bag full of toiletries/cleaning supplies, a box of diapers, a huge package of toilet paper, and a present for the parents. We put all the presents on the porch, rang the doorbell and ran to hide. I expected them to be a little surprised...and I expected them to be grateful...but I didn't expect this sweet friend to burst out in tears and repeat thank you, thank you, thank you as she carried the gifts inside. I am SO thankful my children were able to hear her words...and I know their hearts were truly touched with the spirit of giving. (I know this family's hearts were touched, too). I just keep thinking today how it was such a blessing for our family to do this...and how we need to do things like this more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarmom4 Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I have to ask.....what's a layaway angel? My guess is someone who goes to pay off another person's layaway balance?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I'm not positive because I'll have to call ahead to see if people will be there, but the plan is to go tomorrow to the low-income housing development for the elderly that we've ministered at to deliver some bags with toiletries, warm gloves and a card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 These are fun, everybody! --made dinner last night for a neighbor/friend who had knee surgery a few days ago, then went over today to help her w/some things for a little while. My youngest two walked her dog. Neighbor did her own RAOK by loaning her car (since she can't drive right now) to another neighbor/friend who's having car issues and can't afford the repairs. Nice! --gave homemade candy to the mail carrier and UPS guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 This is not so much a RAOK I did but I more set it in motion. A family I work with is in rather dire straights and were not able to provide anything for their 3 kids under 3yo for Christmas. Another family I work with asked me if I had any needy families because their church had collected things to give away. I could not give them any information about who the family is because of privacy issues but did mention that I knew a family with 3 small children who were in need. The other family and their church donated so much stuff that it will fill the backseat of my car...clothing, food, and toys. I was in tears when the mother told me about it, thinking about all those people giving for others they don't even know. I cannot wait to deliver it all tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iquilt Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I paid the dinner bill and tip of another table from our server's section and had her tell them after we left. My kids thought that was pretty cool as we watched their smiles from the register. We will definately do that again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Ds9 brought me a tiny present this morning that he and ds12 had wrapped in construction paper and topped w/a bow. It was a bite-sized Twix! Yum! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Ds9 brought me a tiny present this morning that he and ds12 had wrapped in construction paper and topped w/a bow. It was a bite-sized Twix! Yum! :001_smile: :001_smile: MMMMmm. Your boys need to teach my dd that attitude. She just wants to raid my chocolate stash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 OK - this was hardly random since it required us to drive 45 minutes each way to do it;) (That and I announced on this thread earlier that we were probably going to do it today.) But we took Christmas cards, gifts and love to the low income elderly housing that we've ministered to over the years. Nothing has changed. Mary still cried and wouldn't stop hugging me. . . Manuela still complains about every ache and pain but won't let you leave empty handed. . . . We had a very nice time visiting different people both at their apartments and in the halls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 OK - this was hardly random since it required us to drive 45 minutes each way to do it;) (That and I announced on this thread earlier that we were probably going to do it today.) But we took Christmas cards, gifts and love to the low income elderly housing that we've ministered to over the years. Nothing has changed. Mary still cried and wouldn't stop hugging me. . . Manuela still complains about every ache and pain but won't let you leave empty handed. . . . We had a very nice time visiting different people both at their apartments and in the halls. Now that's SWEET! Sweeter than any ol' chocolate! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Layaway Angels People have been going into Kmarts and paying off balances. We went yesterday with ds. I was so happy. I told him to get get his wallet and we sat and talked about how lucky he is. I asked him if he thought he was going to get presents on Christmas and he said yes. I asked why, and he said because we get him presents every year, and his grandparents, aunts and uncle etc... I reminded him that a lot of children would not be so lucky. I told him about the lay away angels and asked if he thought that it might be a nice idea. He said yes. So I asked how much he wanted to give and told him we would drive him over. He emptied out his wallet. Then asked me if God would still think he was generous is he kept his special $1 coin (that he has held onto for over 2 years). I told him that he does things that makes God smile every day, and that God wouldn't mind him keeping $1. So he donated $19 and I gave him one more to make it $20. We drove over, and dh and I matched the donation so we donated $60. My son walked in and said said he would like to be a lay away angel. The girl working in the store was so happy, she said she had been hoping someone would come in. A family had $45 left on a $296 layaway that were late and the items were going to be restocked. There was a bike, a sesame street board game, a skateboard, some towels and clothes. So we paid it, and the family got a call yesterday that their balance was paid off and they had a $15 credit if there was something else they wanted to get:001_smile: In the spirit of the layaway angels and anonymity, I am only telling you ladies that we did this. (I have posted a link to the article on my FB page hoping it inspires others though) Merry Christmas everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKapers Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 A lady in the car in front of me kept having her car slip on the ice. Therefore, she couldn't make it through the light. I got out, went to the guy behind me and said we need to help. You could tell the guy's heart was into by the look in his eye ;) He did help though. We pushed her car until she was free of the ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 At the grocery store today, an elderly lady was putting her groceries in her car which was parked next to mine while I put mine in my car. We finished up at the same time so I asked her if I could take her cart back up for her. She was grateful and she smiled and said, "What a nice Christmas present!" Tonight we are attending a Christmas party and the hosts are collecting food for the local food pantry and animal food for the local animal shelter. I thought those were both wonderful ideas. Dd and I had fun picking out a number of items for each donation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 I think this is only the second time I've seen this! I will say that I am trying REALLY hard to reach out to ds's gf this Christmas. I told dd12 that we needed to order her some special earrings last month but I forgot to! Until today! So I ordered her a cool earring (yes, one..... apparently this is the right way to wear this type of earring), will wrap a pic of it in a jewelry box, apologize for it not coming in time for Christmas, and also let her open the card addressed to dh and her. It will have a gift certificate to a restaurant with AWESOME food, including lots of vegetarian selections. She's vegetarian. It will also have movie tickets. So I'm trying with her. Regardless of whether or not she tries with me. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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