Well … December is over and with it, our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness or RACK. This year the girls and I made the Christmas season about loving others and in the process, sharing God’s love for others, by performing one RACK each day of Advent.
Here’s an iPhone photo of our mission completed!
As with my handmade Christmas gifts … I didn’t want to make this RACK activity about “blogging” it … I wanted to be truly “present” with each activity and the girls, so instead of bringing my camera and worrying about blogging shots … I’d grab a random iPhone photo when I could.
Some of our activities included in the photos below:
- Taping candy canes to ATM machines around town
- Bringing the girls riding instructor {and barn manager} hot cocoa and a muffin early one morning
- Taping quarters to vending and toy machines around town
- Grocery shopping for the sole purpose of putting it in the “Food for Families” box in the entryway of the store
- Plugging meters around town {and lots of fun explaining to the girls what “plugging” a meter meant!}
- Donating 72 stockings with treats, candy and a craft for second graders at a school in need
- Ringing Salvation Army bells
- Handing out Starbucks gift cards {$5.00 value each}
Some of our activities without photos:
- Paid past due library fees for 5 people
- Donated a poinsettia to the girls school
- Bought and donated toys for “Toys 4 Tots”
- Brought the girls teachers their favorite Starbucks drinks
- Brought treats to the employees of our local Post Office branch
- Purged from the girls personal “library” and donated to a school library in need
Originally, our plan was to hand out flowers at the mall, but the day before this RACK was planned, CJ had his company program and shared with everyone how we were celebrating the Advent season … that they “were about to be RACK’ed” … and had the girls go through and hand out Starbucks cards to everyone. We had a ton left over, so decided to hand them out at the mall instead of flowers.
I have to tell you … I experienced an incredible surge of emotion and thoughts as we were handing them out. Either people were so shocked and happy, or people would ignore us, shaking their heads and walking by. As people were ignoring us … or more significantly, the girls, I made a solemn vow to grab whatever anyone was trying to give me from now on!
The next day, I received this message …
Hi Tracie! Just wanted to share this with you..
Bennett and I were at the mall yesterday
and of course, I was kind-of rushing through
the holiday crowd to pick something up
(wanting to get in and out) and Bennett tugs o
my hand and said, “Mom, did you hear that?
Someone said they have free Starbucks cards.”
Not even turning around, I told him that it
was probably someone wanting you to buy
something, that nothing is ever for free.
Long story short, when I got home and read
your status, I explained to him that he was right
and it was the perfect opportunity to talk about
all the good that people have in them.
So I wanted to thank you for 1. Reminding me
that there is “good” out there, and
2. That I need to slow down and really listen!
I LOVED this note!! It’s exactly what I experienced from the other side of giving out the cards. And seriously, what another amazing lesson in how when you do something selflessly to bless others, you end up being blessed yourself!
The girls were watching TV recently and something came on explaining Advent … this particular activity was using candles to countdown Advent. I took the opportunity to talk about all the different ways people celebrate, and I even reminded them of our activity last year. When they asked what we’d do next year, I asked what they wanted to do.
Hands down and with excitement they quickly answered, “our kindness activity.” Yep! just like I always say … it’s far better to give than to receive!”
Praying a happy and blessed 2011 for you all!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
UPDATE {11.28.11}
I’ve created a blank RACK’ed activity card … the download can be found in this post. At the end of the post, you’ll find another link to other downloads.
Thank you … SO much … for the response to this little activity we did last year! I’m amazed and excited to think how many people will be blessed this year because of it! If you have a moment, be sure to stop by and let me know how it went for you! Have fun and be blessed!!
Thank you a lot for giving everyone a very superb possiblity to read from this website. It’s usually so pleasant and as well , full of amusement for me personally and my office peers to search the blog at least three times in a week to see the fresh stuff you have got. And definitely, I’m just certainly amazed with the very good pointers served by you. Certain 4 ideas in this article are truly the most beneficial we have all ever had.
I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also
It¡¦s really a great and useful piece of information. I am happy that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
I simply couldn’t depart your web site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the usual info a person supply on your guests? Is gonna be again often in order to investigate cross-check new posts
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!
I have been examinating out many of your stories and it’s pretty clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your website.
I am always invstigating online for ideas that can facilitate me. Thank you!
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, let alone the content!
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¡¦ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What an ideal site.
As a Newbie, I am permanently browsing online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
Well I really enjoyed studying it. This information offered by you is very practical for accurate planning.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your weblog.
You have some really great articles and I feel
I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some
of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some material
for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me
an e-mail if interested. Cheers!
As a Newbie, I am continuously exploring online for articles that can help me. Thank you
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
You really make it appear really easy with your presentation however I find this topic to be actually one thing which I believe I might never understand. It sort of feels too complex and very vast for me. I am having a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
Very efficiently written information. It will be valuable to everyone who usess it, as well as myself. Keep up the good work – can’r wait to read more posts.
Good day! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
Excellent article! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site.
Keep up the great writing.
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
Lovely site! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also
I have learned some important things as a result of your post. I’d also like to state that there may be a situation that you will apply for a loan and do not need a co-signer such as a Federal Student Aid Loan. When you are getting credit through a common loan company then you need to be willing to have a cosigner ready to assist you. The lenders are going to base that decision over a few variables but the largest will be your credit standing. There are some lenders that will as well look at your job history and determine based on that but in most cases it will hinge on your ranking.
You are a very smart person!
You made some good points there. I did a search on the subject and found most persons will have the same opinion with your blog.
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you actually realize what you are speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally visit my website =). We may have a hyperlink alternate contract between us!
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Well I definitely enjoyed reading it. This tip provided by you is very helpful for accurate planning.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Very good blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out
there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any recommendations?
Thank you!
Howdy! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out
and say I really enjoy reading through your articles.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics?
Thanks for your time!
I really appreciate this post. I¡¦ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?
It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of information. I am happy that you simply shared this helpful info with us.
Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for
sharing.
I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to reach my goals. I certainly enjoy reading all that is posted on your website.Keep the aarticles coming. I liked it!
I am no longer certain where you are getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or working out more. Thank you for fantastic info I used to be looking for this information for my mission.
Awsome site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also
Wow, this piece of writing is pleasant, my younger sister is
analyzing these things, thus I am going to let know her.
I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website :)
of course like your web-site but you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the reality nevertheless I will surely come again again.
hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this site, since I experienced to reload the website a lot of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again soon..
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
I’m so happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
I think this is among the most vital info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers
I always spent my half an hour to read this blog’s articles
every day along with a cup of coffee.
You completed several nice points there. I did a search on the subject and found the majority of folks will consent with your blog.
Can I simply just say what a comfort to uncover someone who really understands what they’re discussing
on the web. You actually realize how to bring a problem to
light and make it important. A lot more people really need to
read this and understand this side of your story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular because you surely
have the gift.
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my website so i got here to go back the favor?.I am trying to in finding things to enhance my website!I suppose its good enough to make use of some of your ideas!!
Sling tv coupons and promo codes for november 2018
Hello! I know this is kind of off-topic but I had to ask.
Does running a well-established blog like yours require a massive
amount work? I’m completely new to running a blog however I do write in my diary every day.
I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my personal experience and feelings online.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions or tips for brand
new aspiring bloggers. Appreciate it! Sling tv coupons and promo codes for november 2018