Random Acts of Kindness: Day Forty

Random Act of Kindness: Day Forty 
Our Mission: A Tisket A Tasket...A Green and Yellow Basket 
Our Location: Our Neighborhood 
Our Target: A random house with kids. 


The boys decided our last random act of kindness before Easter would be a ding dong ditch. Cooper said that he wanted our first and last random act of kindness to be the same. We decided to fill up a green basket of Easter goodies....A stuffed bunny, a chocolate bunny, two bags of chocolaty treats, bubbles, a windup chickadee, a deck of matching Easter cards and a deck of Crazy 8's, a package of peeps and two long stem bendable daisies: one orange and one blue and the were also pens and filled it with yellow paper grass! We drove all over our neighborhood to find a house to drop off our goodies too. The boys were very excited. We had narrowed it down to just a few when we remembered a house that decorates for Christmas and they always have little girls outside playing. Cooper shouted "Target in Sight". As we pulled up, three girls were riding bikes away from the house along the sidewalk. We turned around in the cul-de-sac and out the boys jumped making their dash to the girls house. They rang the door bell and ran like wild boys back to the car. They could barely contain their excitement and we suspect the girls must have heard the commotion as they turned around to head back to the house. We drove by them and they were smiling and Elliott said "wow, this is what it feels like to be the Easter Bunny". The basket was filled with goodies from the joy, joy, joy, joy, Down in our hearts, (where?) Down in our hearts (where?), Down in our hearts.  We've got the joy joy joy joy, down in our hearts, Down in our hearts to stay!

“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.” ― Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me ~ View of the Moon from my backyard!

John 3:16 - The Story of Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.....This video interpretation is incredibly touching....and life changing.

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-nine

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-nine 
Our Mission: Basketball for a great cause 
Our Location: Ridgewood Elementary
Our Target: Relay for Life.


Tonight's basketball game is between the K-2 Bull Sharks vs. 3-5 Great Whites....all proceeds go to Relay For Life! the boys won the poster contest and get free pizza, popcorn and drink tonight! Jonathan is playing for the Bull Sharks (and the rules for them game are a hoot! He is allowed one free foul after that he will have to go into the middle of the court and do the funky chicken in front of everyone!!) I will be taking pictures of the teams and the game (and quite possibly a video) We'll be donating to a great cause as our Random Act of Kindness today!! Ridgewood Sharks think a cure for cancer would be JAWSOME!

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-eight

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-eight 
Our Mission: Grocery Store Surprise 
Our Location: Food Lion 
Our Target: Someone in the express checkout line. 


We had to go to Food Lion to pick up some pasta for dinner tonight. Cooper was asking what night of Random Act of Kindness we were on and that got us thinking of what to do while we were there. We were in the express lane and noticed the guy in front of us had a few items. I looked at Cooper and he looked at me, and he said "let's do this". When the cashier rang him up I handed her my MVP card and asked her to ring ours up too. The guy had out his money and was shocked at first seeing my items being scanned and he said "that's ok, I've got it" and we told him it was part of our Random Acts of Kindness. He smiled and said "Thank you all so much". The cashier said that this happens several times in their store and I said that is awesome to hear. I told her that one day we hope to be able to buy someones entire grocery bill one day. The cashier said she has never seen anyone do that before, we told her one day we will! Even the lady behind us was smiling. 


No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~ Aesop ~

What Makes a Person Beautiful

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross ♥

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-seven

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-seven 
Our Mission: A Couple of Cupcakes 
Our Location: The Fresh Market 
Our Target: A couple grocery shopping 


The boys made a homemade Kindness card and Elliott decorated it with a large rainbow inside. We went to The Fresh Market and looked around to find a target. Elliott saw the couple first and said "let's give them cupcakes, that couple is smiling" So off to the bakery we went. We picked out two cupcakes..a Boston Creme cupcake and an Oreo Cupcake (after much debate over what we thought the couple would like). The bakery chef placed each cupcake in an individual container with a "gold" plate under each. We paid for them and placed them in a blue polka dotted gift bag and had asked the cashier to help us but as our luck would have it they got in her line. We quickly scrambled as to what to do. We found a manager walking nearby and asked him would he deliver the bag to the couple at the register. He took the bag and off he went. We pretended to be "looking" at trail mix and watched as the girl opened the card and saw all of them smiling. Then we saw the couple talking to the manager and the manager pointed in our direction. I went to the next aisle and the boys followed me. We waited until it was safe to leave the store and went by the cashier as the manager walked up to us. I was laughing and said "We saw you pointing at us, did you bust us in our random act?" He said "No, I thought you all knew that couple, what you did was really cool, nice job guys" " and gave us all high fives! The boys were so excited and told him and the cashier we are paying it forward during Lent. He said that what we were doing was a wonderful thing and he was very impressed! ~ Life is Uncertain, Eat Dessert First ♥

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-six

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-six 


Today was an everyday kindness, spending time with someone....spent the entire day at the hospital praying for a family friend and spending time with his mother when she needed a break and on the phone with his sister. Emotional day and my heartaches for them. 


"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." Stephen Grellet Quaker Missionary ♥

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-five

Random Act of Kindness: Day Thirty-five 
Our Mission: Sunday at the Theater 
Our Location: Greenville Grande Movie Theater 
Our Target: A couple of unsuspecting students on a "date" 


The boys made a "Lights, Action, Camera...Kindness card" with drawings of popcorn, a free ticket, and a stage. We went to the movie theater and waited for an unsuspecting couple to come up to the ticket counter. As they approached they were deciding on which movie they wanted to see. Our ticket was good for any movie except a 3D movie. We listened to them try and decide on a "girl" movie or a "guy" movie. They decided on Hunger games even the girl said she hadn't read the book yet. They approached the counter and Cooper gave him the card. As we were running off, they were reading the card and they said Thank you that is so nice! It made us smile listening to them debate over a movie and it made them smile to get a free ticket!! We got home and opened the mailbox (we forgot to check it yesterday) and inside we found two envelopes without return addresses (although I knew they were coming, the boys did not) inside were two handwritten cards thanking the boys for the good job that they were doing with their Random Acts of Kindness....The smiles on their faces were truly priceless! As we walked our dog Harley they were wondering who sent them the cards. I told them that I post our Random Acts on Facebook and my blog and people are reading them all over the world. Elliott said "I bet the nice lady in the Dollar Store told somebody and they wrote us to thank us". It made me smile to hear them talk about where their Random Act stories may continue by others.....


These smiles couldn't have come at a better time after receiving heartbreaking news this weekend. So to that couple at the movies, and the "friend" who mailed the sweet kindness cards to my sons, and to all of you who have been praying for my friends who are dealing with the unimaginable heartache this weekend....Tonight, I am giving thanks for the Smiles you all have given me today!! And wouldn't you know this song came to mind and it feels like another divine appointment (as my friend Andrea would say) because it is from a "movie: Smile, though your heart is aching. Smile, even though it's breaking, When there are clouds in the sky, You'll get by... If you smile! With your fear and sorrow, Smile and maybe tomorrow, You'll find that life is still worthwhile, If you just...Smile. Light up your face with gladness, Hide every trace of sadness, Although a tear may be ever so near, That's the time you must keep on trying. Smile, what's the use of crying, You'll find that life is still worthwhile. If you just...Smile.