Showing posts with label daymaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daymaking. Show all posts

Sunday, November 23, 2014

How to Make Sure You Decorate for Thanksgiving With Children


Recently, my sweet sister got me hooked on Once A Month Meals.  Basically, you sign up with them, and they help you plan menus with all the information (shopping list, prep list, cooking schedule, recipes, etc.) that you need to shop and cook for a month's worth of meals in a little over one day.  We usually break it down into at least two days: The shopping and prep day and the cooking and freezing day.  It's awesome.  Now, there's always a great meal ready to cook every day.  And it saves on the grocery bill as well.  (After setting it up to work out to food for two weeks instead of four, the average cost of groceries was about $160/2 weeks for our family of five.)

  I decided to apply this theory of having things prepared in advance to make a daily art adventure easier.  And to make sure that we have some Thanksgiving decorations to put up.:)

The countdown to Thanksgiving is on... And it's down to 4 days left.  And we still have our Halloween decor up.  So... Since I love doing crafty stuff with the mini's, and I don't feel like I do enough of it, I have decided to prep some projects out ahead of time, then just pull them out over the next few days.  Thanks to Pinterest (LOVE it!), here's what's on the agenda:


A Thankful Turkey Kids Book Craft + More Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids at B-Inspired Mama
Thankful Turkey Book
Thanks to the blogger at b-inspiredmama.com, I found these adorable Thankful Turkey books.  Instead of using paper bags, I simply cut two sheets of  printer paper and a sheet of construction paper in half the long way, folded the printer paper and one half of the construction paper together, then stapled them.  They are tucked into a paper lunch bag, awaiting creation. My little man and baby doll will be able to write in their own books with  minimal help, and the super baby will be able to dictate.  Then they can draw away to illustrate all the things that they are thankful for at this point in their lives.  I'm excited to see what they come up with.


thanksgiving-indian-corn-craft-for-kids
Lego Stamped Indian Corn


Crafty Morning inspired me to set this art project up for my kiddos.  We have a few (TONS!!) of Legos hanging out around here, so this should be an awesome art project for us to do.  No bag for this one, I just printed out the picture and basic directions so I wouldn't be scrambling for an idea.

Top 32 Easy DIY Thanksgiving Crafts Kids Can Make
Turkeys
I wish I knew who to give credit to for this adorable project... :(  Anyways, we have tons of TP rolls hanging out for art projects, and paper plates, so another bag is prepped with those two basic needs to create turkeys to set out to replace the pumpkins hanging out.
rock-turkey-craft-for-kids-to-make
Rock Turkeys
Another Crafty Morning project... When we bought our house, one of the back flowerbeds was landscaped with rock.  Still is, though that is changing in the spring.  But, for now, there were just enough rocks not buried in snow for me to pick out three that are perfect for this craft.  As soon as they are dry, they will go into the next bag to motivate our creativity.

Free Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
Coloring Sheets
Mommy Octopus gathered some awesome coloring sheets.  Little man has already colored in the turkey color by number and the Thanksgiving scene.  These should be some great fillers for the kiddos Thanksgiving day, so we will be printing off extras to share with the cousins (and aunts/ uncles/grandparents/friends) should they feel the desire to do some holiday coloring!

I'm so looking forward to doing some intentional projects with the kids.  There is so much to be gained from them- not the least of which will be the wonderful memories made of doing these things together.

(Huge thanks to all who shared inspiration for the crafts! Everyone I could find a link to give credit to is linked in the caption of the picture!)

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Enjoying the Outdoors

It's been a while since I've written...  There has been so much going on! But, I am here now.  :)

So the snow has been taking a hiatus and we have been getting some nicer (and by that, I mean warmer) weather.  I know that there are lots of people who like the cold and snow, and that there are some great activities to be done with my little family when there is snow on the ground.  But I personally, have a preference for the weather we get in the spring and fall.  Most of the summer is nice here, but sometimes it gets so darn hot and humid, we just don't want to do anything but sit inside and not over heat.

But, spring is here now, and we are finding it much easier to get outside and spend a lot more time enjoying the world around us... Except when it rains, which it is doing now.  But, what do you do?  :)  (Actually, I've always liked the idea of having a rain coat and pair of rain boots on hand to go jump around in the puddles, but my budget so far has not allowed for this.  Sad momma.  But we find lots to do inside when the day is just not what we need for outside play.)

Today, we got outside for probably 45 minutes so the older two could practice with their bikes.  We took little man's training wheels off last weekend, and baby doll wanted her's off too.  So, off they came.  They both are working hard on take offs, heading down the road, and stopping without crashing or tipping over.  So far, there is some progress, and the rest will come with practice.  And all the while, the super baby is loving zooming up and down on his trike, with a smile on his face.  :)



I didn't get any pictures of it, because I am working on not bringing my tablet and/or phone out with me when I am spending time with the kids, but yesterday we played in the backyard on the swing set and with our boccie ball set.  I just found \out how much my kids like boccie... yesterday.  Never would have guessed, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.  A game with the objective of throwing a ball?  For sure a kid favorite.

My kids are lucky (and I am lucky) to know their uncle Dave.  Dave is a great hiker, and blogs at Hiker Adventures.  One of my all time favorite blog posts that he has written was about his other nieces and nephew from Florida, and the things he discovered about getting them interested in going on hikes with him.  As a professional teacher of young children, I love that he (an awesome teacher, though not someone who had chosen to make teaching children his life's work) discovered so seemingly easily how to motivate these children to want to hike.  And his tips are so right.  :)  

Uncle Dave

Finding the key to interest and excite a child to a new activity- it doesn't have to be about the hike, but about finding something that interests the child.  Mud, wildlife, bugs, plants, photo opportunities.  Anything to make them realize that they have an opportunity to explore what interests them, and even better, that you want to make it happen for them.  

Stopping before they are bored with the activity can be a tricky balance, but it is good to keep in mind.  If a child gets bored with an activity before they (or you) move away from it, it holds less appeal the next time it is suggested.  They will remember those feelings of boredom, or overdoing, and associate them with not having as much fun.  If you are able to leave the activity while they are still interested and not over tired, that keeps them thinking about it, and wanting to do more.  They associate hiking or biking or boccie with fun times.  :)  Dave also made a great point about ending on a high note.  Ending with the memory of not having fun and enjoying the activity promotes the likelihood of resisting a return to the activity.

Celebrating the activity, and the accomplishments found, is a great wrap-up to any outdoor activity.  Had a great hiking trip?  Go for ice cream.  Mastering biking techniques (without the training wheels)?  It can be as simple as stickers and a high five.  Or, take pictures and/or video of them, and send them later to remind children of the fun times you had together, and all they have learned.  Let them know that you are proud of them and what they are learning to do.  Children (and adults) crave the attention that you notice what they are doing, and the reinforcement that they are doing it right.

All of these tips are great for any activity, but especially for getting children motivated to spend time outdoors.  Teaching children to love the outdoors, and all the movement and learning opportunities presented is a gift that cannot be replaced.  Get up, get moving, and find what motivates your child (and you!) to spend some time in one of the greatest classrooms of all.


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Earth Day

I love Earth Day.  Not that I don't give thought to how the choices I make and encourage in my family and friends affect the planet every day, but I love that there is a day dedicated to thinking about how we affect this planet we live on.

Now, I am not insistent that each and every choice be the most green/least environmentally unfriendly choice available.  But I am glad that we do make the efforts that we do to use the resources we need with as little waste as we are able.

Some things we do:

1.  Composting...  I know it's not for everyone, and it took me a lot of thought to make the jump.  But now, it's almost without thought that compostables go into a bucket to be taken out to our compost barrel.  We are coming up on a nice batch of awesome compost to be tilled into the gardens to help our veggies grow.

2.  Gardening and farmer's markets.  This allows me to get as much produce as I can for my dollar, without having a lot of packaging to dispose of with it.  Sure, there is one farmer's market that I go to that will put bushels of beans or tomatoes into garbage bags for me to transport them home.. But I need garbage bags anyway, so they are reused for that.  Otherwise, they are sent for recycling.

3.  Recycling.  Helping keep recyclable trash out of landfills helps prevent piles of un-biodegradable trash from just sitting there, year after year.  It also helps me to not need to purchase or use so many garbage bags, because we are able to use a single sort recycling cart.

4.  Opting out of non-reusable trash where possible.  If I don't bring extra trash home, I don't have to recycle it or throw it away. Both of which save room for the things I do need to dispose of, and makes our overall use less.

5.  Getting the kids outside and using non-battery toys.  I love being outside with my children. I will admit that there are days where my idea of being outside with them is me sitting in a lawn chair watching them play,  but those days are balanced by the days that I go play with them in the sandbox or on the swings, or when we go for a walk or bike ride.  Many of the toys we have don't use batteries, and several of the ones that do do not have working batteries in them-  and my kids don't care!  It's great that they will still use the toy as if it has batteries, but use their own imaginations for what the toy is saying or doing.  :)  Not relying on battery operated (or plug-in) toys decreases our need to dispose of used batteries, or having to buy rechargeable.  I know that you may save with them in the long run, but I personally feel that rechargeable batteries need some tweaking and improvement before I really want to invest in them for the battery operated toys we keep working.

Getting outside and getting your hands dirty with caring for the Earth is a great way to teach children about so many things.  Picking up trash along the road on your block invites the opportunity to talk about littering and the whys (besides the legal fine you could get) on properly disposing of your trash.  Planting a tree can be a way to teach children about growing things, and the cycle of reliance between living things and plants (like the birds who will use the tree to support their nests, and the fruit or nuts you may be able to harvest).  Planting a garden teaches children to appreciate where their food comes from, and allows them a part in getting it from seed to table.

Teaching children about reducing the waste they accumulate and reusing where they are able allows them to learn about really seeing what they have, as well as possibly encouraging them to share what they may not use with someone who has less.

Earth Day- and EVERY day- is a great opportunity to teach your child about caring for our environment, which in turn teaches them about caring for each other.  There really is no learning about one without seeing the other in action.

Make every day Earth Day.  Make every day count.


Friday, April 11, 2014

A Lifetime of Learning... It's Not Over Yet!

I am so unbelievably grateful for all the opportunities for learning that I have had in my lifetime.  I was lucky enough to have several early teachers who were able to encourage my interest in learning, as well as the natural classroom of the farm where I grew up. College brought some more awesome professors, who continued to encourage my love of learning something new, especially when it was on the topic of children and families- my chosen area for my professional training.  I have also been blessed enough to have several 'unofficial' teachers along the way in the form of family, friends, co-workers, and classmates.  I truly believe that everyone comes into your life to teach you something, be it something you want to learn more about or something you know you need to avoid.

Having all these opportunities for learning has allowed me to change my perspective and thinking on a lot of things, and hopefully they are moving toward the better for me and the people I interact with on a regular basis.  :)  Here are some of my most important lessons...

1.  There is always time for doing good.  Even if you are in a hurry, there is time to do something that will make someone else feel special, or just noticed.  Doing the family shopping, it takes no time at all to give someone a smile, to thank someone for offering to help, to offer your help to someone who can't find or can't reach an item on the shelf.  Paying it forward at a restaurant or drive through only takes a moment, and can let another person know you understand or care, even if only from a distance.  A phone call to a friend, just to talk for the moment, or to plan something more.  Volunteering your home for a family get together.  Taking time to play Lego's with the children...  All of these only need a little of your time, but can mean so much to the recipient.

2.  Children truly are only little for a little while.  They grow so super fast!  It seems like yesterday that my little man was just a newborn, but now he can really read and do math and is such a sweet, independent boy. My dolly is such a sweet caretaker, and is learning and growing so much every day.  And the super baby really isn't a baby anymore- he is very firmly almost a preschooler.  While our lives are busy and sometimes hectic, I have never been one to schedule us for this, that, and the other thing every day, and so I have been able to spend a good amount of time with them every day.  (This was definitely helped by my career choice and the awesome employers who made it easy for me to bring the munchkins to work with me!)  However, there are times that a part of me wants to feel bad for taking time for doing things for myself (like sitting around with my nose in a book... Or my Kindle, which my husband insists is not a book...)  But I do know that it is good for me to take some time for myself too.  It is good to know the balance.

3.  It is ok to change your mind, your perspective, and how you see the world.  As you learn and grow, you have to incorporate the new information into what you already have.  Sometimes, you will learn things that can contradict what you know or previously thought best.  It can be so difficult sometimes to let go of being right in favor of learning to do what might be better in the situation for everyone.  Trust me, I know.

4.  People will move in and out of your life, and there isn't always anything you can do to stop them.  There have been friends I thought I would never be without, who are no longer a part of my day to day life.  I mourned when our friendships changed from what they were, but with time have learned that things worked out the way they were supposed to.  I have wonderful people in my life now, people who challenge me to try new things, who are there to support me as a wife, a parent, a co-worker, an employee, a sibling, a child to my parents.  I treasure them, and will for every day that I get to keep them.

5.  There is always something new to learn.  I work with children, and the research and knowledge is always changing and growing.  All I have to do is look at how things have changed just since my little man was born to know how fast things can change.  There are so many different things we know now than we did just a few short years ago, and that will change more.  I am learning about food, nutrition, and diet, and the information available now is so different from what it was... and what it probably will be in just a few more years.

Learning and growing, to me, is one of the best gifts of my life.  I love to learn new things- new crafts to do, new foods to make for my family and friends, new ways to improve my home and gardens, new ways to be the best mom and teacher that I can be.  And all I have to do is ask the question.

It's that easy for you, too...  :)

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

On Being A Daymaker

The book that inspired me...  


I was introduced to the concept of being a Daymaker by my older sister.  One visit, she brought me my first copy of this book, and I read it cover to cover in a weekend.  Then I read it again.  And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to incorporate some of the ideas in this book into my life.  And so I did.  :)

According to David Wagner (author, salon owner, Daymaker), the biggest positive impact on the world can be made through intentional acts of giving, as opposed to random acts of kindness.  While both seriously beneficial, the biggest difference between the two is that a Daymaker looks for opportunities to make someone's day, where random acts are allowed to happen by chance.  Simply setting the intention in the morning of passing on kindness and positivity creates the opening for intentional giving.

The book is divided into sections of the people in your life you can be a Daymaker for- your spouse and children, your extended family, your friends, your co-workers and classmates, the people you interact with in your daily (or weekly or monthly) commute or routines.

Being a Daymaker for my spouse has looked like this...  Picking up a set of DVD's for him to watch during the downswing at work (he is overnight front desk at a hotel).  Grabbing a treat when I am at the grocery store.  Setting aside a portion of a meal that I am making before I add the ingredients I know he doesn't like, or not making some things in the first place.  Encouraging an entrepreneurship in his hobby/interest area of collectible card gaming.

Being a Daymaker for my children has become....  Creating moments for my undivided attention for them.  Including them in decisions for meals.  Encouraging their interests.  Exposing them to nature and the side of life that doesn't happen on the TV screen or with batteries.  Leaving notes for them to find that tell them, "I love you."  Creating for them with my sewing machines and crochet hooks and knitting needles.

Being a Daymaker for my family includes....  Getting us together to spend time together.  Skyping with my family who lives just far enough away, and with different enough schedules to make getting together in person a little more difficult.  Encouraging their interests and hobbies.

Being a Daymaker for my friends and co-workers is....  Asking about and actively listening to how their lives are happening.  Encouraging anyone whose day is made by another to publicly acknowledge the action with a Daymaker Note in the break room.  Contributing to treats to bring up positivity and morale.  Being a listener.

Being a Daymaker for people in my greater circle became...  Wishing people a sincere wonderful rest of the day.  Saying "Thank you"... A lot.  Helping someone with mobility issues (or height issues) reach items on a high shelf at the store.  Allowing an individual to merge or pass in front of me at an intersection.  Paying for the next person at a drive through.  Leaving (or giving) a good tip for a service person.  Becoming involved with Team Briley to fundraise for the CF Foundation.  Perhaps even in writing this blog I am offering someone information or perspective they may need to make their day.

All of these things are relatively small things for me to do, but it took concentration and deliberate effort to include them in my day and routine until they became habit to offer to others.  Being a Daymaker is listening with your heart, and being a link for someone between their dream and the opportunity to realize it.  Maybe your encouragement, listening, or notice will let them get through another day toward their goal.  Perhaps your allowing them to get to an intersection ahead of you will allow them to be prompt for the job interview of their lifetime.

Your positive involvement with the world creates one less space for negativity to grow.

Be the change you want to see!

Monday, March 31, 2014

Date Night Out

Ok, so it was more of an afternoon out since we caught the matinee, but it was still nice. :)

Last week, the husband decided we needed an afternoon out.  He waited until midweek, when I was feeling a little down from my new friend-baby at work; he was still having a hard time, and I was trying to see what else I could do to help him adjust and settle, and it wasn't working so well.  The husband announced that we were going out, and I was feeling just frustrated with myself enough to not be very agreeable with the plan.

As the week went on, things got better- as I hoped they would.  And the more I thought about going out, and relaxing at the movies, the better the idea sounded.  So he called my momma to hang out with the babes, and I decided what to see.

The day arrived, and I was rushing around, getting the last of my cleaning done so I didn't have to worry about it after we came home.  The kids were so excited that Nana was coming over, they didn't even sleep/rest well for their naps.  I was not thrilled that I hadn't finished all that I wanted, that they hadn't slept, that I was rushing to get ready for the movie so we weren't late. Grr....

But, we got out the door on time, and got some snacks (holy crazy what they want for one drink and nachos at the theater... Not doing that any more!), and settled into our seats.  The previews were pretty good- I saw some movies that I wouldn't mind seeing in the future, and the movie was AWESOME!!  It was even better that I found out it was based on a book, and I now have the trilogy on my Kindle.  (Love that thing.)  And the few hours that I didn't have to think about the cleaning and the kids were great.

We got home to the kiddos trying to talk Nana into a game that she didn't really know (I don't even get that one, but they love playing it with the husband), and we got the rundown of all  that they did while we were gone.  In short, time with Nana was the best.  :)  Spirograph, play dough, dinner, and games were on the list I got when we got home, so they had a great time.

This was a great reminder to me to take the time for myself, my husband, and our relationship, and to encourage my children's relationship with my mom.  The schedule my family keeps gets hectic at times with all our appointments, interests, and friends- but I can't imagine it any other way.  However, this allows for the husband and I to not put ourselves and our relationship where it needs to be sometimes, and this was a great time for us to hang out together.

It is great for the kids to spend time with their grandparents, to know the extended family that loves them and enjoys all their interests as much as we do.  It truly takes a village to raise a child, and allowing them to share what they know and are learning with that group allows them to practice those skills more, and in different ways.

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

Monday, March 17, 2014

Techno Babies

After we got home from school and work and day care today, my older kids asked for their InnoTabs to play with.  After about 20 minutes, they were finished and moved on to Lego's and Barbecue Party.  I'm always glad to see them using their own imagination to entertain themselves (and each other, since my baby doll was helping the super baby play Barbecue Party).  I have seen so many children who don't know how to entertain themselves without a battery operated toy/computer/tablet/television, and it breaks my heart to know that they have become so dependent on something that really isn't giving them the benefits that are advertised.

Some years ago, when the little man was still a baby, I saw an ad for an infant video game system in one of the magazines I subscribed to at the time.  The Husband was all about the video games at the time and thought we should get one for little man.  His side:  It teaches shapes, colors, and numbers. My side:  It teaches him how to push a button.  Our finances didn't allow for us to do more than discuss it, but it really demonstrated the different ends of the technology spectrum to me.

I grew up in a household that had one TV for the longest time.  We finally got a little one in the kitchen, but it was mainly used when we would "sneak" downstairs on Saturday mornings for cartoons.  (The kitchen was further from the parent's bedroom, the light and sound didn't reach in there... Home free, right?)  My brothers got game systems, but not until they were working and able to purchase them for themselves.  And, you know, that was okay.  We played with dolls and blocks and our imaginations.  We had the run of the woods behind the house, and we built the most amazing villages out there where we could bring the dogs and ponies that were around for us to enjoy.  We rode our bikes in the yard and on the driveway.  We read books, and drew, and had a great time together.  At the time, every now and again, we would be bummed that we didn't have what 'everyone' else had.  But looking back on it, maybe we had it better.

Fast forward about 15 years, and here I am with my own little ones.  Reading and hearing about all the research about how too much screen time is not good for little ones.  Being frustrated at all the advertisements that touted the newest product to teach your infant to read or speak or learn best from using that product.  When did it become a business to replace that precious time with parents?  To teach your child to read from watching TV instead of snuggling up with books?  To teach your child shapes and colors on the screen instead of busting out the paper and crayons?

Having all this thrown at me made me want to do it differently.  To not take what felt, to me, like the easy way out.  So, here I am, with a cabinet full of books to rival the library available at the center where I work, with another cabinet full of art and sensory supplies, to SPEND TIME with my children, learning with and from them.  And, you know what?  That 20 minutes, a couple times a week with the InnoTab, plus the 2-3 times they watch a show or movie is just enough screen time for us.  We have so much more time to create and hang out playing games, and the husband and I get to feel the pride in their learning.

This isn't to say that any amount of screen time is terrible for children.  We are just looking to encourage depending on it less, and looking for alternatives to spending so much time glued to the screen.

Last spring, I broached the subject of cancelling our cable subscription with the husband.  As there was quite the list of DVR'd shows always available on the box, it wasn't the easiest sell.  But we gave it a shot, and switched to Netflix and Hulu.  It definitely cuts down on the TV watching the kids and I do, because I don't usually feel like waiting to fire up the TV and Wii to get to the shows.  (And I sure liked the cost difference- that extra $50 not going out for cable isn't bothering me a bit.)

So, what does one do instead of fixating on the screen?  Well, I'm so glad you asked!

Art-  Keep a bin of crayons, markers, pencils, pads of paper, stickers, ink pads and stamps, paints and brushes, scissors, and glue handy.  Haul it out and  create away.

Playdough- Sensory, only slightly messy, fun.  Need I say more?

Sensory bins- Beans, rice, sand, pasta, water, cloud dough (2 parts flour to 1 part oil), easter grass and small plastic toys, snow, ice, aquarium rocks, water beads, marbles... Go wild!  (Just make sure that your young ones are closely supervised... Guess that means you get to play too!)

Have a dance party- Put on some music and be silly.  Just think of all the endorphins you can give yourself!

READ!  Reading to your child is one of the absolute best ways to teach your child.  Reading stories gives you snuggle up time, it encourages conversations you may not have had otherwise, it brings up vocabulary that you wouldn't usually use.

Cook-  Involve your child in making your meals.  Have them pull up a chair or stool, and wash the fruits and veggies at the sink, or measure out the pasta into a bowl, or spread bread with butter or jam.  Encourage them to set out silverware and napkins, or choose the fruit that will be served.

Go outside.  This, by far, has to be one of my favorite alternatives to do with my children.  I was lucky enough to be able to spend so much of my childhood outside, and I need to make up for not having the kind of backyard that I wanted for them the first few years of the older two's lives.  We are gonna be spending every spare minute out there (as soon as it is warm enough), and make all the memories we can.

There is so much to do and experience!  Go do it!  It'll be the best daymaking experience your child can have....

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Treasure the Small Moments with Family

What a wonderful week it was.  The little man had the week off from school for spring break even though we haven't really moved into spring yet. There's still so much snow, I think it's going to take until June to clear up!  The others had a great time learning about the circus at daycare, and putting on a circus on Friday.
Today, we took the munchkins swimming at one of the local hotels.  There are a couple around here that allow open swim for a reasonable price.  Since it was my momma's birthday a couple days ago, and I love any excuse to hang out with my parents and siblings, the text went out (along with a phone call to my parents who haven't figured out the joys of texting yet), and the date was set up.  We had a wonderful hour and a half or so swimming with about half of my side of the family, followed by a crock pot lunch at our house after.  As we hadn't been able to visit with my mom on her birthday, the munchkin troop and I headed to Target this morning to pick up some birthday decor.

Even though the doll baby spilled the beans about the birthday decorations and balloons that we had waiting, my momma was one happy lady when she walked in and saw it.  And the kids sure had a blast having a party for her.  Much fun and relaxing were had by all.

These are the moments that I sure live for.  The moments when  you are surrounded by the ones you love, the ones who just get you and all  your weirdness.  The moments when you can put a smile on someone's face, and make their day just that much brighter.  I love it!  And I sure love how my babies are figuring out how to do the same kinds of things already.  :)

There are two good reasons to become a facilitator of moments like this....

1..  You never know when this day could be your last chance to create memories of or with someone.  I recently was able to be a listener for a coworker, explaining how the 4 year old daughter of a neighbor, a child who had played frequently with her own children, had died in a tragic accident the night before.  Things can happen so fast, so you need to make sure that you are taking each and every opportunity to store up memories of the people you love and enjoy being with.

2.  You also never know when your kindness and the time you offer could mean the world to another person.  I love reading the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one particular story that still stands out is of a middle school boy who befriended another, after the second had his stack of books knocked out of his arms.  They became good friends, and it was only at their high school graduation that it came out that the second had planned to commit suicide that weekend.  The actions of the first boy convinced him that there were more reasons to go on and find the help he needed.

I was given the opportunity to read Life as a Daymaker, by David Wagner a couple years ago.  This is truly an amazing book!  The philosophy of creating moments of conscious giving to others is so simple, yet so profound that it can change lives with a single act of thoughtful kindness.  I strive to utilize the ideas that I read in this book to be the best parent, spouse, employee, co-worker, child, and friend that  I can be.  And the rewards that I get are truly priceless.

Life as a Daymaker

I recently purchased the book Bucket Filling from A to Z through the book order program at my younger children's day care.  We haven't had a chance to read it together- yet- but after flipping through it, I am glad that it is now a part of our library.  There are so many ways to give, to make someone else's day, and this will be another way that we teach our children the power of giving back.

Bucket Filling from A to Z

One last bit before I go tonight....

They truly are what matter most.