The random act of love I wish I had witnessed happened yesterday when I told my boys to go make their beds. My middle guy is a bit stubborn and loves to say that he can’t do it. I could hear them arguing in their room and hear him starting to cry because he couldn’t get his sheet on his bed. I then heard my oldest say of course you can do it and this is how. I’m assuming he showed his brother how because I could only hear them. I then had my middle child come running out of his room mommy look I made my bed all by myself. Somedays it’s just great to be a mom.

My lil 20 month old was wakin up today….so I layed by him to see if I could get a snuggle & without opening his eyes he wraps his arms around me with the tightest hugs & gave me two big ok kisses. My Valentines Day was made & it hadn’t even started. <3 and then I get to work @ my Salon….& my husband dropped off an orchid, a basket of planted lily's & balloons!!! I think I'm LOVED!!

This act of kindness is actually something that my parents did this past weekend. My mom and my dad went into Lowe’s Home Improvement and there were girl scouts outside (in the FREEZING cold, I might add) selling their cookies-a-plenty. My mom bought a few boxes and they went on their way. Before they left town, she had my dad pull into McDonald’s so she could grab a few cups of hot chocolate for the girls and scout leader and brought it back to them. They were thrilled that a stranger had taken the time to give them something to warm them up after working so hard selling cookies all day. My parents are wonderful!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!

I left flowers and a special framed note for a friend going through a very difficult time.

This past Sunday my family and I got together for FHE. We had 3 cafe rio gift cards and loads of candy and popcorn. We thought of families in need and packaged it all together- “just popping in to wish you happy valentines” was our tag- it was so much fun to do as a family but better yet leaving then anonymously for those we love.

My kids and I cut out some hearts and wrote cute conversation heart type sayings on them for our valentine’s. Daddy had to work today so when we visited him with a yummy piece of cake we also brought the hearts and gave them to his fellow soldiers that work in the office. I loved seeing how happy it made the soldiers AND my kids. Daddy is deploying soon, so every moment of love we can get we cherish with him. Acts of love towards our soldiers are the best!

My Gpa recenty lost his wife of 64 years to cancer…18 days ago exactly…so this is also the first Valentines Day without her too. Yesterday I travelled back home where I grew up to spend time with him; made him heart shaped cookies and took him out to lunch and also sent him special valentine in the mail. Not only did I get to spend time with him, but also my Dad and Sister…of course I couldn’t leave them out of getting sweet treats too, so I made my rounds delivering to them and a few other special people. Happy Valentines Day everyone!

First thing Sunday morning I went to Starbucks to get something special for my hubs. I went on ahead and paid for the person behind me. I like to do it that way, because their is no expectation for them to say thank you (for them or me) and they get a bit of a mystery! Totally random and let’s them know people still love!

My Aunt is one of the most selfless people I have EVER met. She is always so kind and thoughtful and always doing random acts of kindest. She is simply a wonderful soul. She has been divorced for 15 years and has never been out on a date since. Today can be such a lonely day for many so I wanted to remind her how much she is loved and thought of. My children and I went and picked up her favorite truffles and made her handmade valentines cards and brought them to her work. She is a florist so today she is surrounded by bouquets of flowers, balloons, and chocolates that she is putting together to make others Valentines Day special. The expression on her face when my little boys came running in her with gifts in hand was absolutely priceless! I wish everyone a wonderful Valentines DAY!

On the way home after dropping my oldest son off at school, I noticed a Mom and her daughter walking. It’s crazy cold outside. I hesitated to turn around and pick them up due to our busy morning schedule and we were really low on gas, but decided to turned around and ask if they needed a ride to school. They happily climbed in and we headed back to school and then to drop off the Mom back at her home. The little girl had missed her bus and the Dad had the car for the day. It was a simple act of kindness, but a great example to my youngest son and it opened up lots of conversations for us about kindness and preferring others that night. Now both my boys are always looking for someone we can pick up and help!

We had to rush off to Oklahoma this past week due to a death in the family. Our neighbor was so gracious to offer to take care of our cat, keep an eye on the house and check our mail for the entire week! It was such a blessing to us!

My random act of kindness was actually my daughters doing. She at the ripe age of 6 wanted to donate her toys and clothes to little kids who were in need. So I searched the web and found a great organization in our community who help children in the foster system. We then agreed to coordinate with her school and turn it into a school wide drive. She’s been able to promote her cause on her schools morning announcements. She’s helped make posters to hang around her school, and now we are spending valentines week collecting the items our entire school is donating. Next week we will be bringing the items to the charity and touring their facility. I’m beaming with pride! What a great way to spend valentines week by focusing on those less fortunate. LOVE!

The random act of kindness that I did this past week was actually in the ER where I volunteer as a patient liaison. One of the chaplains (he comes out to talk to the families when a trauma patient comes in) noticed the hand-made bracelet that I had made for a co-worker and said he really liked it, couldn’t believe it was hand-made, and really should get his wife one sometime. So, without telling him, I left a bracelet for him to give to his wife. I wasn’t there when he got it, but I’m told he was blown away, and promptly rushed off to get a jewelry box so he could give it to his wife. So hopefully the love was spread through many people in the giving of the bracelet! Happy Valentine’s Day1

My daughter and I have been giving out God’s Conversation Hearts all day to random people we have come across today. It is fun to see the expression on their face when we hand it to them and say Happy Valentine’s Day!

http://www.juliabettencourt.com/crafts/conversationheartscraft.html

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A local 4 year-old boy has a severe form of Type-I diabetes. His family learned of diabetic alert dogs that are specially trained to help alert the child’s caregivers if his blood sugar gets too high or drops too low. This would be life changing for this little boy and his parents to not have to worry about his every move and not knowing at all times where his blood sugar runs. Sadly, his insurance would not cover the costs and the total for the dog is $20,000. Some of his family set up a benefit this past weekend to raise money. My 4-year-old daughter, Cambree, overheard a commercial on TV advertising this benefit. She turns to me and says “I want to help that little boy with that Diabete”. My heart sank with joy that she would think to help him. So we decided she would empty her piggy banks (she has 3) and donate the money at the little boys benefit. I brought her and she bravely poured all of her money into a collection bin without hesitation. She didn’t think twice about donating to help him. She really humbled me and made me realize the caring heart a child can have. (PS….the boy raised enough money to pay cash for the dog and a bit left over to donate to others who needed the same service).

We have a friend whose husband works and lives out of town so she is left to take care of 4 kids on her own. So my husband oftered to watch her children while I treat her to dinner and some shopping. So my husband had (her 4 kids and our 4 kids) for 4 hours and when we came back he said “it was fun when are you guys going again”

Four boys and a 1 year old girl. I can’t seem to get the girl thing going…..Honestly, I struggle. I’m attempting to put her hair into a little side front pony each morning…but by the end of the day, the pony is out and the hair is doing a side “swing” — nothing like Elvis’ hair. But she is my pride and joy and I love her dearly — although after having her in daycare all day, me working 2 jobs and running a household of 7 — sometimes 10 when my husband Jon’s kids come over…. I don’t get a lot of time with her. On her 1st b-day my mom gave her some books to read where you read the word and pull down the page and hiding underneath the word is the picture. It may not be a lot…but I’m able to read these to her at minimum 5 minutes each day and sometimes we are blessed with more time to read and play. The most beautiful thing of all…is knowing where I lack in time, her big brothers will take over, whether it is a bath, a diaper change, or sign language and reading. Their acts of kindness keep me going day after day after day!

My kiddos and I baked sugar cookies and headed off to one of our local nursing homes to spread a little Valentine’s cheer this morning. We visit this nursing home a few times every year but each visit so special. To see all the faces light up at the sight of the kids (and the cookies sometimes, lol!) and I love that it is helping my children realize how even something little can make a big difference in someone’s day. It also helps my kids step out of their comfort zone to hug someone who might look different or be struggling with an physical disability. I never seem to be able to leave without tears on my cheeks!

This might sound lame compared to all the other great random acts of kindness but I haven’t ever made Valentines Day a big deal in our house but my resolution was to make 2012 a great year. So for this valentines day i cut out hearts for all my kids and husband and surprised them with a heart decorated window entirely made from handcrafted items from me. It made my day when I saw there faces. You have also inspired me to do more random acts of kindness every day.

Last year around Easter my husband and I adopted a skinny, skittish puppy (with a broken leg no less) from a local animal shelter. He was only a couple of months old so we decided that we would celebrate his birthday on Valentines Day. Who knows, today COULD ACTUALLY be the date of his birth, right?
Today, he is no longer the frightened, unsure puppy of last spring – quite the opposite actually. He’s amazing! (I wish I could post a picture. Yes. I’m one of THOSE pet owners.)
So, this morning we took him on his usually morning jaunt around the neighborhood but instead of heading inside afterward, we jumped in the car and headed over to the shelter to donate a big box of clean towels and sheets we’ve been stockpiling but no longer use.
(Your last post inspired me!)
So, Thank you! & Happy Valentine’s Day!
Love your accessories!

My 4, 2, and 16 month old made some cookies and delivered them to their papa’s work. It’s a small little work place and all the men there work extremely hard, so I know that they loved and appreciated the cookies we bought them.

We love “Random Acts of Kindness” in our house, we call them “17 Second Miracles”. This week I had to prep a last minute dinner to feed a couple of folks in need. So my older girls jumped right in and helped clean up the house and made a trip to the grocery store with their dad to get the ingredients we needed. I love it when my family pitches in to help. We had a wonderful dinner that won’t soon be forgotten.

I just sent cake balls to an online friend who lives clear across the country and I have never even met her in person. But, I know she loves cake.

I’m not sure this random act of love makes the cake but it does to me. I have been recovering from a tonsillectomy and sinus surgery for the past month. Honestly, I haven’t been in the mode for my 4 kids at all. However, I look into their faces and know how much they want to be with me and to just have all my attention. So today as I was getting annoyed that they wouldn’t let me relax and watch the show I wanted to I realized now is the perfect time to show them I love them. I took 3 of them (the 4th was at school) and said “Do you want to play ring around the roses?” (they are 4,3,& 21 months) and I spent quality time with them, playing games with them, laughing and tickling, and teaching them that mommy really does care and I love them to the moon and stars and beyond.

I was feeling sick so I had to cancel some dinner plans with my neighbor. She sweetly brought me some dinner and cookies anyway. It was such a relief to have something to feed my family ready to go so I could rest!

I was going through a box of my older kids’ clothes this week with my two younger girls. Unfortunately, we waited too long to go through the boxes because there were a lot of clothes that were already too small for my youngest daughter. But she did not get upset about it. She immediately started stacking clothes in piles to divde up and share with her friends who are younger than she is. It really made me proud that she was so willing to share and think of others!

Recently, my husband and I have taken a young man under our wings who was adopted by a lovely couple of a different ethnic background. Moreover, he has had problems with drug abuse in the near past. After going through a rehabilitation program, he has severed ties with most former influences. However, he is lonely and needs companionship outside of what his parents can offer (they are of a different faith as well). Little by little, we are inviting him to our house and taking him shopping with us. Our daughters even light up with excitement when they see him. We know we are making a difference…and our daughters are bringing him joy; you should see his smile when they mention his name to say, “Hi!”

Such a lovely and kind post.

A little RAOK I saw this week was my daughter giving her brother a hug and playing cars and legos with him. Usually she does not like to give hugs and kisses to him because of his wet kisses but she was being so sweet with him

Another RAOK this week is taking treats to some of the Marines on base. I love how happy the simplest treat can make a big tough Marine.

Thank you and Happy Valentine’s Day!

This is kind of a silly one…We made a tiny package of buttons, sequins, beads and charms. We made arrow signs and dotted them along the walking path through the woods in our neighborhood. We placed the little gift at the base of a tree with an arrow sign pointed straight down to it and put a tiny tag on it that says “A gift for you from the fairies”.

It was so much fun imagining someone finding it…we hoped it would be someone who would be delighted by the magic of it.

Last night for Family Night we made Valentines Cupcakes (complete with heart sprinkles:) and delivered them to a couple of new families in our ward. We wanted to make them feel welcome and to let them know they had a friend in a new place. It was great to see my 3 year old so excited to spread some love around to others.

I came around the corner into my kitchen yesterday and my kids surprised me with a clean refrigerator! They loved doing this little thing and it makes me smile every time I see my fridge now. It’s these little things that remind me of how sweet and innocent and that even at their young ages they want to show love to me. Thanks so much! Happy V-Day!

After reading the blog & everyone’s comments a few different things came to mind, but one truly stands out. Sunday was our golden retreivers 8th birthday & unfortunately we could not be home with him the whole day due to a family event. Our 5 y.o. son made sure we made a special shopping trip to petsmart the day before & picked out multiple toys for his dog. He was super excited to hug & wish him a happy birthday 1st thing in the morning and we love seeing the bond between our furry kid & our human one.

The elderly woman in front of me at the grocery store line was short 6 dollars and was about to put back a grocery item or 2 and I stepped in and paid the amount she was short. Someone did this same thing for my Mom years ago and I am glad I had the chance to pay it forward in memory of my Mom who passed away in 1999.

Such great ideas!! I left a note and a bag of snickers for my mom’s mailman. He is so good to her, and he totally deserved it! Thanks for the chance!! Love me some Whippy Cake

I LOVE this! I got tears in my eyes reading about the activities you did with your kids. I love it! I’m totally inspired to get out there with my boys and spread some love

We sent some care packages to my nieces who live far away for school. I know they are missing home- especially on holidays when we used to all do things together.

After the boys nap, we are going to take some treats to our single next door neighbor

My best friend unexpectedly took on a 6 year old foster child who had been pulled from his adopted family because of abuse. Needless to say, this child was taken from his parents for abuse as well. She has been so overwhelmed this week trying to get him registered for school, doctor appointments made, counseling sessions scheduled, buying school supplies, and in the meantime trying to be a good wife to her new husband. She’s never been a mom before and graciously took on this responsibility. She is an angel on this earth. To help her out, I went and put together a care package with socks, shoes, underwear, toys, toothpaste, and shampoo for her precious little boy. I also brought dinner over so she wouldn’t have to cook. I just got back from taking her to lunch for Valentines Day to show that what she is doing is appreciated. If I won, I would give this gift certificate to her.

I have kinda adopted the RAOK for the entire year. On January 1st I decided I would send one thank you note out every week during 2012. That is a least 52 thank you’s for the 52 weeks in 2012. I am having so much fun doing this. And I have taken it to the next level. Along with my local thank you’s (those I can hand deliver) I have added small treats- homemade baked goods, candy, stamped notecards, etc. I look forward to this every week! I am noticing that I am showing gratitude in both my thoughts and actions for people I have taken for granted in the past (the dentist, postal carriers, orthodontist, family doctor, local fire house, etc).
This week I am also offering a 25% discount off any Close To My Heart orders that are placed through me in honor of RAOK week (I am a CTMH consultant).
I remember learning about RAOK week last year from you, Becki. I wrote it down in my calendar and was so excited to be able to celebrate it this week. My three children and I are preparing a sandwich bar basket to take over to our priest at church onThursday. Fr. Rick is a very dear friend and priest. He is extremely dedicated to our little church, spends lots and lots of hours there and is incredible to our community. He never ever puts himself first. We want to give him a little something to show just how much we appreciate him!

My boys, ages 5 & 3, took a bouquet of flowers (that they picked out!) to a widow that lives across the street from us. They loved doing it and it was special to be able to watch them say “Happy Valentine’s Day!” to someone who didn’t have a valentine today.

I cleaned out my closet recently and gave the gently used clothing and games to the ministry closet at my church for the needy. It was just set up, and God has blessed me so much, so I wanted to give back. It was awesome to see the look on the director’s face when I came in with my donations. That was worth more than anything because I got to help someone else!

I also gave a pair of my black boots only worn twice to the director of the closet ministry. She was shocked and grateful because she hasn’t had a paycheck in two weeks.

Love this post! We lost my dad last summer and his birthday was Sunday the 12th…it was very bittersweet. We celebrated his birthday w/balloon release and then dinner made up of all his favorite foods. My mon has had a tough time as she’s still grieving the loss of my dad her best friend. When you talked about a friend who lost his wife I almost cried where you said hopefully its a special to him and not just a reminder his true love is gone…for my mom thats what today is. Last year dad gave each of us girls a rose and a note that said, I love you. So special then…even more so now. So today I’m taking my mom a few of her favorite things that my dad would have gotten her so that today will be a day she remembers how much she is still loved and thought of
Saira

Our random act of kindness went towards our dear friends who just adopted their youngest son (5th child and 2nd from China). Before they returned home I went to their home and deep cleaned, washed all the towels and sheets, made beds back up, left freezer meals for them to use whenever, and left fresh flowers on the table. We did this not only because they are our friends, but because we knew it would bless them to be able to come home, after being gone for 16 days and after a 36 hour flight, to a fresh clean house and not have to worry about anything like cooking or cleaning up:)

I’m so inspired by your “RAOK’s”!!! I remember the first time I read about you doing things like this was on your birthday about a year and a half ago. I wanted to tell you about the ripple effect. I am a leader at church with the Mia Maids, and when I read your post on your birthday, decided it would be a great thing to do with my girls. We have chosen several nights throughout the year where we have given out balloons to children at the mall, or delivered goodies to new people in the neighbourhood to welcome them, left nice notes for people, and a variety of other things. It’s been so fun to watch the girls experience what this feels like, and they can use these activities in completing their personal progress. The last activity that we did with our whole YW group was a RAOK night! They all wanted to be a part of it, so we did it as a large group. We divided the mall up into sections, and made reindeer pencils to give out to the kids throughout the mall. We all had a blast! Thank you for the wonderful ideas and for the example that you are! I L.O.V.E. it! It will be a continued tradition as long as I’m serving with the YW, but in my life as well. It feels so good to do nice things for others!

This week my neighbour is having a baby and we are taking dinner over to their family tonight! Thanks again for inspiring me! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

The kids have really got onto the RAOK bandwagon. One a week they search out a child that they don’t usually play with or who is not playing with all the others and go and play with this child. They receive money for canteen once a fortnight, half of this they use to pay for some-elses canteen – usually just the next kid in line, but sometimes needy kids. I must admit I have not been as frequent with my RAOK, but they area shining example of what we all should do.

I raised over $1,000 for the American Lung Association in honor of my Father who lost his battle to lung cancer 8 years ago. As a result of entering this event, I will be climbing 94 flights of stairs on Saturday March 24th in downtown Tampa at the Bank of America building. It may seem like a difficult challenge to most but when I think about the fight that many people face everyday from the effects of lung disease, I am just thankful to be able to physically take this on. I hope to get more people motivated to participate in events that raise money to bring us closer to a cure!

This week was love week in seminary. The person I was assigned to, I don’t know very well but he’s pretty popular at school. I didn’t know what he would like but i gave him two real-live goldfish and he loved it! It was so fun to see his reaction! Since he didn’t know who they were from, he was telling the whole class.

So, I was kind of lame and didn’t do anything special for my amazing husband for Valentines thins year. I thought about it a lot but between the crazyness of life, business, and sick kids I didn’t find time to plan a romantic evening, or even a gift. Lame, right? I don’t believe in excuses and I was feeling really bad about it today so after my kindergartener got home from school I got impulsive and we packed the kids in the car and drove to Dunkin’ Donuts to get 2 dozen donuts for him and all of his Co-workers, because I wanted to share the love with them too. I called him on my way there just to make sure he would be in his office. Me and my boys dropped the donuts off and left feeling so happy becuase I not only got to surprise my hubby with something but I got to spoil everyone he works with too.
Thanks for the RAOK inpsirations Becki. I might have to take my boys to the Fire Dept. too.

My random act of kindness happened the other day when one of my customers came in for a converter box for his TV and we didn’t have any, but I had one still in the box that I will never use so I offered it to him. I work in a very poverty strickened area near Philadelphia Pennsylvania. So the next day I brought it in for him and he came to pick it up.

My random act was to buy a pink rose for my daughter to let her know we love her. She loves pink. )

My hubby works hard. For Valentines day I gave him a massage gift card. I went ahead and booked the appointment for him because I know he may not go if I don’t . I love doing random acts of kindness for strangers but doing it for family is sometimes harder. Sounds strange, right? We can take our families for granted. Sometimes we treat the ones we love the most the worst. Challenging other families to do RAK for each other is something I believe is important.

Happy V-day!

I love RAOK. We have a dear friend whose hubby has been called out of town long-term for a job and he was going to miss Valentine’s Day. We had her and her family over for our annual Valentine fondue dinner and had so much fun!

my random act of kindness: i decked out our apartment with valentines day decorations, ribbon, and ballons, and bought all kinds of valentines day goodies for my roommates

My baby is just born so we stay at home with my sweet baby.

I was able to help a friend jump her van battery, after discovering it was dead.

A random act of love we like to do as a family is leaving treats for church members on their doorsteps…ringing the doorbell and running off. My kids love doing it. :0)

We were baking cookies for classroom valentines the other day and my 7 year old daughter asked if she could have an extra bag for a surprise for someone special. She proceeded to put on her snow gear and walk across our field to the home of an elderly couple and deliver the treat. Watching her from the kitchen window was a pure treat for me as well

My son was up before I was and while I was getting ready for work he pulled out the treats that they were to take to school for their Valentine’s day parties and set them on the counter where he was sure I would see them. When I came out he told me that he wanted to make sure that I didn’t forget them and that he wanted to make sure I would have a Happy Valentine’s Day too. He’s just too sweet and thoughtful (and he is right, I most likely would have forgotten ).

My sister and her husband just had twins and are extremely poor right now. My husband, myslef and our baby , who are poor as well, tried to save at least ten dollars from our grocery funds the last several weeks and took that money and got my sister and her husband a gas gift card and left it on their car annonymously. It wasn’t much but we wanted so badly to help.

My random act of kindness was during a shopping spree for this week (my friend’s birthday was Feb 13th and I had last-minute Valentine’s items to pick up). <3 There was a family outside of Michaels and all they said was "please" when I walked out. It was a family of five. I gave them the money I was planning on using for my friend's birthday lunch on Monday (I had been to Target, Trader Joe's and Michaels that day – if I could afford to buy non-essentials at all of those places, I could afford to give someone money who needed it). It turns out our boss paid for my friend's birthday lunch (meaning, everyone's lunch!). There is so much kindness out there, that it feels like it's poured on you when you give yourself!

I helped my teacher pass out handouts on Monday. It’s something I always do, just a little act of kindness to make her day.

I have a friend from church who is a “single mom” most days:) Her husband is a pilot and she has 2 very young little ones that are EXTREMELY difficult little boys She sounded like she was having a rough day so I made her some cupcakes and chocolate strawberries

Well this random act of kindness by far has been one that has spoken volumes of a parents love and a persons willingness to give to those whom serve. Monday morning our family received our weekly email from my brother who is serving a 2 year mission for the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. (spanish speaking in mesa,az) He not only described one of the most challenging weeks he has had but that he and his companion woke up to there one form of transportation (bicycles) destroied. Some one through the night specifically broke all the spokes, cut the break lines, shredded the tires and tubbing and then took there bike seats. Now to paint this picture a little better, all there neighbors bicycles (which are also left in front of there appartment doors) were untouched. My brothers companion is from Mexico and comes from an extremely poor family and purchasing a bike is not cheap especially in the states. You can imagine the feelings, concerns and thought of these two young men.
This next part is what spoke volumes to me. My mother contacted my oldest brother and his family who live in the Mesa area also and asked if he would be willing to get bikes for my brother and companion if they sent him the money. 3 hours after the original email was sent my oldest brother was able to deliver 2 brand new road bikes. I was told that my missionary brother and his companion were so taken back that they both cried and were extremely grateful for the act of kindness my parents had done for them to continue there service.

I am not yet a mother or parent but I learned something great, that we must live and prepare ourselves to always be able to give in times of need to those of whom we love. My parents didn’t have to buy 2 bikes and speed a thousand dollars but they did because they love there children enough and will support them in anyway they can. How many of us are willing to go the extra mile for our loved ones or for those around us that we love.

I love how Becky taught her children this week and I love how my parents still today 23 years later are teaching me the sames values and principles. May we all learn from these experiences and make this world a better place one random act of kindness at a time.

This totally sounds stupid, but I work at home depot, and sometimes when customers are done checking out they wonder where they are supposed to put their carts (the cart return is on the opposite side of the store) so I always offer to take them for them! It totally makes their day and it is such a small little act.

ps I LOVE your idea for valentines. When my little boy gets a little older (he is only 10 months) I would love to have valentines be a RAOK day!!

I am grateful for the random acts of kindness from my dear husband. I have been quite sick for about 4 months now with a flare-up due to Crohn’s disease. There have been some really awful days during this time and I know it would have been much harder without my husband. He has taken over all the household work: cleaning, dishes, and cooking. He also brings me heating pads, runs the bath for me, rubs my back, and so one. He really has “nurtured” me and taken care of me with such kindness and patience. I love him so!

This weekend he surprised me with flowers, chocolate, a lovely card and a movie “date”. We saw “The Vow” together. He knows how much I love romantic movies! He said he wanted me to know that he loves me….and not just on Valentine’s Day but everyday. He’s a “keeper”!

I had become a bit jaded about people who stand with signs out on highway ramps when I had offered someone some fresh cucumbers in my car and a man said nice try, he needed money. Lately it has been on my heart again to think outside myself. The other day my 3 year old was in the car with me and asked what a man’s sign said. It said “Hungry, Homeless, Will work right now. Anything will help. We had seen the man everyday on our way to work and Annabelle, my daughter said “will this help?” and held up her bag of oranges. The light changed and we had to drive away but we talked about what being homeless and hungry might be like. Annabelle said a prayer for him. The gesture was so sweet that we decided to do something for Valentine’s day. We got a hot latte from Starbucks, a cinnamon swirl coffee cake and a bag of apples and Valentines morning we gave them to him on the corner. I don’t know if it made any difference to him, but I am happy to be a role model to my daughter. We just have to have faith after we let go of our RAOK that God will make it meaningful to someone. Thanks for inspiring me to think outside myself and to begin thinking of others again Becky!

I mean Becki! Sorry about the misspell. I hate that.

I helped a sweet little old lady to her car from Wal-Mart in the snow and loaded her groceries for her so she didn’t have to be out in the cold. Then I paid for the person behind me at Carl’s Jr. So much fun!! My 5 year old loved paying and then driving away to surprise the person behind us.

What great service ideas! I recently went with the YW to heart attack a family’s home and deliver cookies and brownies we made. This family recently brought home their 3 month old baby as he has been in the NICU since birth and has had several heart surgeries already with more in his future. It was wonderful to see their happy faces and to get a glimpse of Baby Nicholas. <3

I have a single neighbor that is the most precious person ever. She is praying hard for that special someone. I sent her a sweet Valentine text to wish her some love on Love day. She responded that she appreciated that more than I knew.

I took my two kids over to the nieghbors house and decorated it with hearts and signs to let them know that we love having them as neighbors…Super fun and the neighbors loved seeing it when they got home! What a great idea on going to the fire deparment!!!