start and complete the 29 gifts project

These were all little things: donating a little money for a cancer charity, giving a little money to a children’s charity, buying two toys for Toys for Tots this year, and letting my son have the extra 10 minutes he asked for last night.

I stopped and picked up a surprise for my husband tonight on the way home from work. He had taken a (rare) day off and I thought he might enjoy it. Plus I knew our parents were keeping our lovely children (3 and 5 – they truly are lovely and lively) for the night.

I’ve noticed something since I started this project: things boomerang. Suddenly, things are going my way – my parents offer to take the kids, we get an unexpected check, and so on. I cannot explain it, but since I have been actively giving to others, I have been receiving so much that I am speechless. Perhaps it is a change in perspective…but maybe not. It is interesting. I recommend trying it: 29 gifts in 29 days…and really, READ the book – its great.

Today I told a dear friend how much they mean to me, and really thanked them for all of their support. Sometimes that sort of thing goes unsaid – and it shouldn’t. :-)

I took my children over to spend some time with a great-aunt. My great-uncle died recently and she is missing him badly, I think. She loves my kids – and me – and I do think that it really brightened her day to have us visit for a while.

I gave the person who waited on us at lunch a bigger than normal tip, and I was cheerful and upbeat. I tried my best to brighten her day a little – I know that’s a tough job.

I have been writing notes, taking friends out to lunch, and tonight I made my mother, stepfather and a cousin lunch. My mother’s life has recently become VERY complicated (long family story/issue) and I thought this was something simple that I could do that would make her night easier. It was delicious and fun!

I’ve prayed all day, off and on, for a cousin whose family is having a tough time right now.

Not a big thing, really, but I know it made my son happy. I let him watch a little bedtime story a second time, even though he was already up a little late. Sometimes it is a good thing to just give a little treat now and then, for no reason :-D

Since I let this fall by the wayside in the midst of everything that has been happening lately, I am starting over with my goal of giving 29 gifts in 29 days. I suppose it is pretty appropriate at this time of year, particularly, as well.

Today, my husband and I had a parent-teacher conference with our son’s kindergarten teacher. It went well and we learned about some important areas that need attention, but we also found out how much she likes having our son in class. My gift today was to send her an email thanking her for all the hard work she does, and the amazing effort she is making to help our son excel. I hope it means as much to her as I think it will. I do truly appreciate how much she cares for the kids in her class.

Well, I don’t know if this counts or not – it seems too easy and too vague. I went to the Hunger Site (and the other associated “click” sites) and clicked through. I browsed some of the ads. I really wasn’t out and about much today so there wasn’t much opportunity today.