UG #4 - Service Project

This past weekend I had the priviledge of helping with a youth event at our church, Quest.  Every year all the middle school and high school students stay at host homes for a weekend.  My friend, Shauna, was hosting eighteen 9th graders at her home and needed help transporting the girls to all the events of the weekend.  I went to her house on Friday after work and we baked brownies and cookies for the girls.  That night we met at the church and I basically was a taxi driver for the weekend!  Saturday afternoon all the students involved in Quest do a service project for someone in our community.  All I knew is that we were going to a single mom's home and helping her organize!  Really, there is not a better project for me!  I love organization!  We arrived at Julie's home and were introduced to her and her two young sons.  Keep in mind that there were twenty girls standing on her front porch.  A bit overwhelming I'm sure.  She asked if we could organize her garage and sweep it.  She also mentioned that the play room needed some work as well.  We divided up in teams and boy did we get a lot of work done in two and a half hours.  I was lucky enough to spend a few minutes talking with Julie.  She explained to me that her husband had passed away two years ago this week from melanoma.  As she told me all the events she had gone through in the past two years (husband passing away and her four month old son having open heart surgery), I couldn't help but feel heartbroken for her!  We stood in her bonus room crying and a group of us stood around her to pray.  I've said so many times since I became a mom that I just don't know how single moms do it.  It meant so much to me that we could help her!  It didn't feel like we did much but sweeping her garage and organizing the boys toys put a smile on her face.  Mission accomplished!  I left Julie's house that day feeling so completely blessed for all the things God has given me!     

Burgers and fries - good for the soul

Saturday night Ethan and I went out on a date.  We started at one of our favorite restaurants downtown, Chuys, and then headed to do some ice skating.  Man oh man!  I forgot how hard that is.  I think my ankle will be permanently bruised.  All of that to say, we had a great time.  On our way home, I asked Ethan if we could pick up some food and find someone to give it to.  We drove through a McDonalds and bought two cheesburger value meals.  Of course I used the $10 I found at Kroger and the meals came to a total of $9.81.  Perfect!  We had them bagged separately so we could find two people to give dinner to.  We drove around for awhile and I was getting a little discouraged.  Why can you always see people with "will work for food signs" when you don't have a meal to give them?  All of the sudden we passed a man walking along the side of the road.  Ethan pulled over and we waited for him to get to the car.  We asked him if he was hungry and he of course responded yes.  We gave him the meal with the drink and he thanked us.  He then proceeded to ask us if we were going in the same direction he was.  Good thing Ethan was with me otherwise I would have let that man get in my car.  Ethan explained to me the risks of doing something like that and while I realize it's not safe it still breaks my heart that he had to walk to his destination.  As we pulled away, I said a prayer for that man.  As we got closer to our home, we passed by two girls on a bench waiting for the bus.  I asked Ethan to turn around because I knew they should be the recipients of the second meal.  Ethan pulled over and I jumped out of the car.  These two girls were wearing heavy winter coats and sitting closely in an attempt to stay warm.  I handed them the bag of food and told them to have a good night!  They were eating the food before I even got back to the car.  I also said a prayer for them that God would protect them wherever they were going.  As I went to bed that night, it made me really stop and think about how blessed I am that I get to go out to eat.  It seems trivial but it really challenged me that maybe I should skip eating out one night and go buy a meal for someone else.  Something to think about...

National Random Acts of Kindness Day!

Who knew that Random Acts of Kindness was a national day?!?  I had no idea until my friend Becky told me!  I think that is so cool.  February 17th every year!  Go out and show some kindness to someone today!

Give a little...Get a little!

After my UG #2 on Saturday, I was at the store Monday afternoon picking up a few things to make for a special dessert for my dad.  You see my parents were so sweet to come over and babysit Addison on Valentine's Day so that we could go out to dinner and see a movie.  Since they were so generous to do that, I wanted to make my dad a treat that I knew he would love.  Anyways, I pulled up to Kroger and the parking lot was packed.  I sat there and wondered what I had missed in the daily news.  Then it dawned on me.  First of all, the weatherman was calling for ONE snow flurry to fall that night so people would be buying enough bread and milk for a week.  Secondly, it was the day before Valentine's Day.  The store would be crowded with all sorts of people buying last minute gifts for their loved ones.  I quickly went in, got what I needed, and headed directly for the self check-out.  I scanned my items and slid my debit card to pay for my items.  As I went to pick up my receipt, I noticed two $5 bills in the change slot of the machine.  Obviously since I paid with a card, I shouldn't have gotten any cash back.  I took the money to the customer service desk to turn it in and she said "ma'am, I can't take cash from a customer.  I guess it's your lucky day!"  How funny is that?!?  I gave a $10 gift card away on Saturday night and got $10 cash back on Monday.  I'll be looking for my next opportunity this weekend to give that $10 away again!  Check back Monday for my next post!

Just what I needed

Yesterday afternoon I left home in the chilly weather to run to Target and the grocery store.  Now if you don't know, I loathe going grocery shopping!  It's just such a daunting task for me!  I've tried everything I know to make it fun but nothing has worked thus far.  Regardless, Ethan likes to have groceries in the house to eat so it must be done.  I ran into Target yesterday before heading to Kroger and was looking for sales on any food items that were on my list.  We consume alot of cereal in our household and I find that Target is generally cheaper.  As I was scanning the cereal aisle, I came across a sticking note on a box of Rice Krispies that said "You are more important that you realize!"  Wow!  As I stood in the cereal aisle at Target, I found myself fighting back tears.  Luckily no one was around me or they might have thought I was crazy.  This one little sticky note on a box of cereal made my day!  I wonder how many other people this little sticky note will have an impact on?!? 

UG #2 - Who doesn't like Chick-fil-A?

Saturday night, Ethan, Addison, and I went out to Chili's to grab some dinner.  Our waitress came to our table and introduced herself.  She just had the most precious smile on her face.  Everytime she approached our table, she was smiling from ear to ear.  While we were at dinner, Ethan and I started talking about this blog and some ideas of things we could do for undercover gifts.  The more I interacted with our waitress the more I felt like she should be the next recipient.  We talked about just giving her an extra tip and then I realized that I had a Chick-fil-A gift card in my wallet that I had never given out at Christmas time.  This would be perfect!  I mean, who doesn't like Chick-Fil-A?!?  So we left her a generous tip and this giftcard.  Hope Krista enjoys a lovely lunch and knows how much we appreciated her!   

UG #1 - Caffeine Anyone?

If you are a caffeine drinker, you will totally understand why I chose this to be my first random act of kindness.  Here is the background story.  My sweet little Addison has RSV and hasn't been sleeping well at night.  If the baby isn't sleeping then the mommy isn't sleeping right?  As I was sitting at my desk yesterday I felt like I needed toothpicks to hold my eyes open.  I went to my purse to get some change for a Diet Coke and of course I had only seven pennies in my wallet.  Seriously?  No quarters and no dollars.  Needless to say, I had to make it through the day with no caffeine.  Last night I texted my husband and asked him to bring me in some quarters from his car. Instead of just asking for four I asked for eight.  This morning when I got to work I posted this on the vending machine in our office.  I hope someone who is sleep deprived and needing some caffeine will enjoy a drink on me! 


P.S.  Just so you're not confused I've decided to label all of my RAOK as UG (undercover gift).