Changing the World: One Small Act of Kindness at a Time

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,

who has the need of help from me.

Anytime this song is sung in church my dad cries. And so do I.

 

I have been blessed so abundantly in my life. I feel like I am given most of the righteous desires of my heart. I love contemplating my blessings, especially in the month of November. But this month I wanted to do more. I wanted to serve Him by serving other people and show my gratitude for all that I have.

Together, with my family, we completed 100 acts of kindness this month leading up to Thanksgiving. My heart has been open to revelation and I have had more joy than I have ever known.

 

A lot of these acts were done more than once, but here is our 100 Acts of Kindness!

 

100+ Acts of Kindness for Thanksgiving

 

1. Took a meal to a family who had a new baby

2. Gave an elderly woman a ride to church

3. Helped someone change their tire on the side of the road

4. Gave anonymous treats to my co-workers

5. Babysat for family & friends

6. Visited with a widow

7. Gathered stray carts in the parking lot and returned them to the store

8. Got a shirt for a friend that they had been wanting

9.  Gave money to a good cause

10.  Picked fruit for an elderly neighbor

11.  Donated items to charity

12.  Made cupcakes for a friend

13.  Gave money to a stranger

14.  Scraped snow off someone’s car

15.  Visited and taught people about Jesus Christ

16.  Left treats for our postal worker

17.  Took “thinking of you” treats to our neighbors

18.  Took in neighbor’s garbage cans

19.  Made a meal for a busy mother

20.  Wrote a thank you letter to a mentor I had growing up

21.  Befriended my neighbors

22.  Cleaned the church

23.  Thanked my mom for making dinner and cleared my plate without being asked

24.  Fed the missionaries

25.  Helped someone make a purchase that they didn’t have enough $$ for

26.  Raked neighbors leaves

27.  Helped an elderly lady into her car

28.  Helped a friend study for an exam

29.  Gave extra money to the church missionary fund

30.  Helped a co-worker with computer problems
31.  Took rolls to neighbors
32.  Made comfort items for humanitarian kits
33.  Indexed names for Family Search
34.  Had someone over for dinner

35.  Took flowers to an elderly neighbor

36.  Donated food to the food bank

37.  Did grocery shopping for a homebound sister

38.  Delivered treats to our local firefighters

39.  Gave a priesthood blessing for several people in need

40.  Helped at a funeral

41.  While driving, let other driver's in front of me

42.  Made everyone’s beds in my family

43.  Got medicine for someone who was sick in the middle of the night

44.  Helped an elderly woman lift heavy groceries into her cart

45.  Ran errands for my mom

46.  Sent a card to someone I had been thinking about

47. Did service at the food bank

48.  Helped my mom clean the house

      49.  Left encouraging notes for strangers on their cars

50.  Got someone their favorite treat

51.  Donated items for a church activity

52.  Babysat for someone while they went to the temple

53.  Took a treat to someone who was sick

54.  Tutored a younger student

55.  Left extra money in the parking meter

56.  Helped an old man put his walker in his car

57.  Picked up litter in the park

58.  Wrote a letter to someone who has influenced my life

59.  Held the door open for a pregnant lady with 2 children

60.  Went visiting/teaching with the Sister Missionaries

61.  Paid for the woman’s order behind me

62.  Helped with carpool

63.   Special effort to hold elevator door open at work

64.  Purchased a needed item for a Missionary

65.  Picked up my spouses favorite treat as a surprise

66.  Left money on a strangers car

67.  Helped my baby sister down the stairs so she wouldn’t fall (without being asked)

68.  Donated fundraiser items for battered women’s shelter

69.  Paid someone’s bus fair

70.  Wrote a note to a friend who is battling cancer

71.  Made a new friend at school

72.  Wrote a surprise note to someone

73.  Shared my lunch with a friend who forgot theirs

74.  Helped my little sister pick out & put away her clothes

75.  Attended the Temple

76.  Helped fulfill a food order

77.  Unloaded the dishwasher for our mom

78.  Gave a woman a coupon for her purchase

79.  Helped fellowship an investigator for the missionaries

80.  Took dinner in to someone

81.  Helped coworkers in need

82.   Called to check in with family and friends

83.  Went to a viewing to show support for the family

84.  Took treat to family member who had surgery

85.  Had family members over for dinner

86.  Got someone their favorite drink from the gas station

87.  Did the dishes for my spouse

88.  Held someone’s crying child

89.  Left cash at McDonald’s to pay for the next person’s order

90.  Helped an old man with the self checkout at the grocery store

91.  Did the dishes for someone else

92.  Woke up early and made my spouse breakfast

93.  Took a note & treat to someone who visited my church

94.  Donated pies to a Thanksgiving meal for a family in need

95.  Left money at the store check out

96.  Donated my hair to locks of love

97.  Gave an elderly woman a ride to the doctor’s

98.  Took a treat to a store clerk who is always happy and provides great service

99.  Left a generous tip
100. Donated plasma

101. Took food to a struggling family
102. Took Thank You treats to our Bishopric thanking them for their service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spray Paint Projects

I had fun with some DIY projects today. 

 I came up with some ideas to add simple (meaning cheap) decorations to my kitchen. I also had some ugly folding chairs that I have been wanting to makeover.

 

I tend to lean towards a more formal look in decorating my house, but for my kitchen I want something bright and cheery. I searched forever for perfect printables and finally found 4 that I loved. I wanted bright colored frames around them. I found my frames for $1 a piece at D.I. and bought 4 cans of spraypaint. My whole project cost $17.  I chose the colors of spraypaint I wanted for the kitchen and then used the leftover paint for my chairs.

 

I painted the frames on the chairs so that I didn't waste any paint. 

Friday Night

I'm not a big fan of chilling at home, but this Friday we planned a stay-at-home date night with the kids. We tried a new Chinese take-out restaurant, got drinks from the gas station, and watched cartoons. We had so much fun. I will have to be more open minded to staying home sometimes :)

It's Autumn Time

 

Being A Stay At Home Mom

I have found myself pondering why I have chosen the occupation that I have.

It has caused me to look deep inside myself and ask why I have chosen this life. Through prayer, scripture study, personal reflection, and last week's LDS General Conference, I feel more empowered than ever in this sacred role. I want to document this for my own girls so that they will know why I have chosen this for me and my family.

I choose to be a stay at home mom because:

• My mom stayed home. She was/is an intelligent woman and could have done her nursing career full-time, but she chose not to. She chose to put her 6 children first. She was at every assembly, every performance, and there every day when I came home from school. She listened to me and was there for me.
• I grew up thinking I would be a stay at home mom. Partly because of my mom, partly because of my religion (I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) which teaches us to put family first.
• My husband and I have tried to pattern our lives after The Family: A Proclamation to the World (Read it here: https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation)
• I love my girls so much. I don't want to miss a single moment of their lives...until I have to ;) I could never leave them in someone elses daily care when I know and love them better then anyone else ever could.
• I enjoy making a home. The cooking, cleaning, budgeting, decorating, organizing, teaching, all of it. It fulfills me in ways I had never imagined.
• For my husband. Nic has always supported my decision to stay home and always wanted a wife that was willing to stay home. Statistics show that husbands are more fulfilled and happy when they are the sole providers for their families. I also have more time and energy to be a good wife because I don't have a separate career outside of the home.
• I get to do service everyday for the people I love most.
• The list really could go on and on, but I will end with these quotes from the Apostles & Prophets of our church...

President David O. McKay put it beautifully when he said, speaking of mothers, “This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God. In her high duty and service to humanity, endowing with immortality eternal spirits, she is co-partner with the Creator himself.” (Gospel Ideals, Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953, pp. 453–54.)

Elder Jeffrey R Holland said:
In speaking of mothers generally, I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers. The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. The young years are often those when either husband or wife—or both—may still be in school or in those earliest and leanest stages of developing the husband’s breadwinning capacities. Finances fluctuate daily between low and nonexistent. The apartment is usually decorated in one of two smart designs—Deseret Industries provincial or early Mother Hubbard. The car, if there is one, runs on smooth tires and an empty tank. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life.
That one made me cry!

I have also recently read "In Praise of Stay at Home Moms". Dr. Laura has helped give me perspective on what it is I actually do. This book has changed how I view motherhood and my decision to be a stay at home mother.

I used to be embarrassed or feel that I needed some kind of excuse when I told people I was a stay at home mom. Not any more. I am proud that I stay home with my children. I feel fulfilled with my life and passionate about home and family. I am now much happier. I don't care if the world says I am of no value. I am trying my best to benefit my family and I am trying to do what my Heavenly Father wants me to do.

Ogden Nature Center: Up close with the turkeys!

 We have seen the wild turkeys at the Nature Center, but only briefly. Well today we spent the whole morning with them and kept seeing them everywhere we walked.

 

 

I didn't have my zoom lens on for this picture! This turkey came right up to the picnic table where me and the girls were sitting! He seemed very curious of us/the camera.

Can you see the bees busy at work?

It makes me so happy to come here. I love being outside and exploring with the girls. It's so beautiful and I love having a little oasis like this so close to my house.