I decided to take the challenge and I posted the above paragraph as my status and I was pleasantly surprised to receive 5 responses in less than 4 hours.  My thinking is that when I’m not taking care of life’s to-do list, I usually always have something in my hands that I’m knitting and I consider myself pretty crafty as well as someone that can bake a mean banana bread. This is a cakewalk…seriously, it’s 5 people—that’s about 2.5 months to plan ONE simple act of kindness.  Bake a loaf of bread.  Knit a scarf.  Buy them a can of their favorite soda.  I got this one, I can DO THIS!

So my challenge to you is not to go and paste this as your Facebook status, unless you really want too, which in that case, that’s great!  But my challenge is for you to think of 5 people in your life, at work, church, the lady at the post office or your children’s school or daycare, that you know a simple act of kindness would brighten their day in 2012.  It’s still January, which means you have 19 more days to plan your resolutions — what a great one this would be!

We were driving home this past August and happened to see all of these going up at the same time and what a site it was!  We pulled over to the side of the road to stop and watch them float into the air.  It was simply beautiful and calming!

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,900 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

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Now that the kiddos are getting a bit more older and refining their crafty skills, it seems I receive a bit of Christmas spirit each day in what they bring home and it makes they day end on such a good note!  Usually they hand it to me and I’ll find something to do with it or it’s special enough that they will keep it tucked away in their school folders or backpacks until the right time to show me.  Some have made it into the trash, like the 12 + foot green and red link garland that we just couldn’t quite find a home for and after a bit of thinking, Caden decided he had enough fun making it and we could throw it away (whew, crisis adverted of how to store that sucker!)!  Then we have things that make it in to the car after elementary school and preschool and sometimes they make it on to the fridge or the tree and sometimes they just stay in the car!  Below are a few of the fun examples that have come home this week!

Small crafts like the ones above make me smile because I can imagine the joy that my children have when making these and expressing their creative sides — to them, it is a beautiful piece of artwork.  Even when I had to ask Isabella what the bottom craft was and she replied to me that it’s a “snow globe mommy — can’t you tell?” and I respond “oh YES…I see it now”…it brings me happiness because I can see that’s she proud that she made this creation to add to the holiday decorations in our home.  To me, it’s a reminder that YES, there IS a Santa Claus and it comes from sharing in the belief of the innocence and joy that children bring to this season.

I saw this quote today while I was spending useless minutes on Pinterest and immediately loved it.  I think so many of us think that we have to have some special talent or something to offer to be used by God and all God wants is a a person who is willing to be used by Him.

he’s OUR very own Elf on the Shelf.  He came to us on December 15th of 2008 and the nice FedEx man delivered him to our doorstep so that when we got home from school and work, there he was!  We got him just as the popularity of this tradition was taking off and I tell you now, if you have small children in your home and don’t have an Elf on the Shelf, go order one NOW!  This is the funnest little tradition known to families.

If you have no idea what an Elf on the Shelf is, go here to see what all the fun is but in simple terms, the Elf travels back and forth to Santa every night and tells him who has been bad or good!  If you touch him though, he will lose his “magic” and not be able to travel back and forth between his home and Santa.  If he falls from where he is perched, you must leave him be…we take this very seriously in our house!

In our house, Eddie always comes on December 1 and although I told the kids last night when I tucked them in to bed that he would be coming throughout the night, the screams and squills that I heard this morning when they spotted him up on our kitchen shelf were priceless!

Trying to find a different place for him each night is also fun (and yes, sometimes tedious) for Kevin and I and as I’m sure you can guess, there have been nights in years past that I have actually woke up in the middle of the night realizing that I FORGOT TO HIDE HIM!  Last year one night, we did forget, and I told the kids that they must have been bad that day and Eddie chose not to tell Santa and that it was their warning!  We do try to get creative and hide him in different rooms, in the Christmas tree, on window sills, etc. Theeennn, on Christmas Eve, before we go to bed, the kids tell him bye and after they are all fast asleep and the Christmas presents put out under the tree, Eddie goes back in to his box for safe-keeping.

1. My in-laws.  What a blessing they have been to Kevin and I and the kids throughout the years and especially in the past two years as we dealt with Kevin’s layoff, etc.  I am truly thankful that I enjoy being with my in-laws and enjoy their company.

2. My sister.  She is my best friend, my voice-of-reason.  It’s weird for us not to communicate somehow, someway each day.  She too, has just been a huge blessing and influence in my life and I am so thankful that we have kept our “sisterly” bond all these years.

3. My husband.  He is the calm one between the two of us when life gets hairy.  I appreciate this quality about him although sometimes I secretly wish he would stress out with me to make me feel normal!  ha!

4. My kiddos.  I was telling a neighbor this morning that sometimes I wake up and think “wow, I have kids”!  Having children is the hardest, most enjoyable thing anyone can do but wow, what an adventure they provide!

5. My dad.  I don’t see him as much as I would like but I love my dad.

6. Extended family such as Aunts and Uncles that love you and support you just as much as if they were your own mom and dad.  My brother-in-law for his willingness to help us with car problems or fix things around the house!

7. Our church.  Our church is just so alive and I really enjoy getting refreshed and energized when I go each Sunday. Church to me is like taking your car to the gas station…a place to get refueled for the week.

8. Eddie, our dog.  He is so sweet and loving and sometimes, you just need someone to put their head on you and show you that they appreciate you; no matter what…he does that.

9. Good neighbors.  Truly, I love our neighbors.  A good portion of us on the street have lived next to each other for over think we all have the general feeling that we would help any one of us out if we needed it and I love being able to walk down the street and see everyone out and say hello.

10. A job.  And one that I actually enjoy.  I have a good work/life balance in my position and in having four kiddos and a hubby that works evenings; it’s what I need.  My boss is just a really good person to work for and I just really can say I enjoy it.

11. Technology.  Think about, I am able to drive down the interstate at 70 mph, carrying 4 children in the seats behind me, while they are playing their games on their hand-held DS and I’m talking to my sister on a phone that’s the size of a credit card.

12. Food and water.  I think about various countries around the world such as Africa, where children are still dying for lack of water, and I appreciate that even some nights if we have to eat only hot dogs and chips, other children would think that it’s a feast.  It’s all in your perspective of things.

13. A washer.  Sounds simple and stupid maybe but can you imagine having to do laundry for 6 people by hand?

14. Knowledge of knitting.  Again, maybe another silly one, but it seriously calms my nerves and soothes me in the evenings after I’ve had a long day with work and the kiddos.

15. Medications.  Samuel has ADHD and when he doesn’t take his medication, it’s a bumpy roller coaster ride.  But with them, he acts like any other normal 9 year old would and for that, I am thankful.  I know many people may scoff at this one but for our family situation, it’s the right choice.

16. Samuel’s sense of humor.  Samuel was blessed with a wonderful sense of mischievious and humor!  He can make me laugh out loud at times.

17. Caden’s sweetness.  Caden is my “cuddler” and loves to hug and be told that I love him.  I appreciate this and hopes he always keeps his loving nature about him.

18. Isabella’s sassiness!  Wow, she truly is something but it’s because of this, I know she’ll do fine in life.  She’s so confident in herself and I love that about her.

19. Evelyn’s age.  She’s at that age where everything is so new, learning new words, curious about everything but yet at the same time, still wants and needs her mama.  Love it.

20.  Seasons of weather.  I am thankful that we get to see God’s handiwork all throughout the year with the various seasons…the coloring of the trees in the fall, the uniqueness of each snowflake that falls in the winter, the beautiful spring flowers and then warmth of summer days,.

21.  Sunsets and sunrises.  Reminds me that YES, there are new days and chances to get another day right.

22.  My home.  I often envy those that have bigger, newer homes; ones with basements, one with big yards; those who have land out on a farm — but when I think about basic necessities and what’s important in life, I know that we are blessed in that we DO have a home that keeps us sheltered from the weather, keeps us warm and provides a place for us to be together each day.

23. Family Dinners such as those on Thanksgiving.  What a great thing to do, get together with all your family to catch up on news and laugh and have a good time.  We all should do it more often than just mainly Thanksgiving and Christmas.

24.  God’s unending love and mercy.