26 Acts of Kindness - Are You In?

Have you heard about the "26 Acts of Kindness" campaign that's sweeping the nation, and now, the world?

The idea was started by Ann Curry of the Today show in an effort to find some way to honor those who lost their lives in the Newtown shooting.  She took to social media and tweeted this:

Ann Curry

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@AnnCurry

Imagine if we all committed to 20 acts of kindness for each child lost in Newtown? I'm in. RT #20Actsif YOU R in. #MTP #Supersoulsunday

16 Dec 12

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Tens of thousands of people responded and the movement began, expanding to 26 Acts of Kindness to include the 20 children and the six teachers who died at Sandy Hook.

Click here to read more.

The Rush Family is all in.  I have had a total blast carrying out these acts of kindness to random strangers.

Here's what we've done so far:

1.  Bought coffee for the person in line behind us at the Starbuck's drive-thru

2.  Tipped the Starbucks guy working the drive-thru

3.  Gave a $10 Target gift card to a young family going in to shop

4.  Gave a bag of M&M's to our mailman

5.  Left a bag of M&M's on a neighbor's door

6.  Shared news of a free app for Sandy Hook on Twitter & Facebook

7.  Gave a little bonus to one of Lily's favorite aides at her school

Along with these surprise gifts, I am handing off a card that says this:

26 Acts of Kindness

In honor of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting victims

YOU are the recipient of #___ in honor of ____________________.

 I insert the act # and the name & age of the victim in the blanks 

Share what was done for you and what you have done for others on

Twitter #26acts and Facebook.com/26acts

Pass It On!

I cannot tell you how much fun I've had looking for unsuspecting people to bless with a little extra kindness. 

Want to get involved?

Here's a slideshow full of easy ideas to get you started.

Need more ideas?  How about these?

Random Acts of Sunshine - Light up Someone’s Day!

by Sunny Side of the Street on Friday, December 9, 2011 at 2:03pm ·

This holiday season, help make the world shine a little brighter by performing Random Acts of Sunshine. Light up someone's day using the ideas below, or post your own!

1) Call family members just to say hello and you love them!

2) Tape coins to vending machines and bubblegum machines

3) Fill up someone’s gas tank

4) Buy coffee for stranger at Starbucks

5) Tape candy canes and holiday notes to ATM machines

6) Buy a hot cocoa or latte for Salvation Army bell ringers

7) Leave holiday notes with inspiring and encouraging messages in random places for people to find

8) Give a gift bag of food/drink and a blanket to a homeless person

9) Hot coffee/cocoa to someone waiting for a bus

10) Help someone put their groceries in their car

11) Pass out candy canes to folks standing in line at the post office

12) Buy lunch for the car behind you in a drive-thru

13) Take presents to hard-working post office employees

14) Sweep or shovel snow from a neighbor’s porch and driveway

15) Leave an anonymous encouraging message using sidewalk chalk in a neighbor’s driveway

16) Hide money & holiday notes inside books in the Children’s section at the library

17) Drop by your doctor or dentist offices with some treats and holiday notes

18) Leave basket of Christmas gifts on doorstep of a family that needs it

19) Bake and deliver Christmas cookies & bread to the police department

20) Bring hot coffee/cocoa to construction workers outside in the cold weather

21) Find an assisted living facility and see how you can spread some cheer

22) Leave small Christmas treats/gifts in shopping carts for folks to find

23) Find an elderly neighbor that is living alone and bring them dinner

24) Deliver something special to folks who are working and/or recovering at local hospital

If you decide to participate in 26 Acts of Kindness, I'd love to hear about it.

Have a wonderful weekend, my sweet readers. Now get out there and be a blessing to someone!  It's the best way to heal your own heart, too.

Resources for Talking About Sandy Hook and Other Tragedies

On Saturday, I shared a beautiful prayer written by Max Lucado in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting.

Today, I wanted to offer some resources for those people struggling with the eternal question of why God allows evil things to happen.

First, a video from the Spirited Debate segment on Fox News.  The two guests featured on the program happen to be people our family personally knows and deeply respects.

The first guest, Johnnie Moore, is the Vice President for Executive Projects at Liberty University, where my oldest daughter goes to college.

And the second guest is Will Davis, Jr, the pastor of Austin Christian Fellowship.  We've known Will for almost 20 years now and he is responsible for organizing two (so far!) prayer times for our sweet Lily Bird.  So it goes without saying that I love him to pieces.

Click here to view the video.

Will's wife, Susie, has a personal connection to the tragedy of a school shooting in that she herself witnessed one as a child 30 years ago.  Her blog post, "How to Help in Times Like These: School Shooting" is a personal testimony of hope in the midst of fear.  Click here to read it.

For those of you with children who have questions that you aren't sure how to answer, my husband wrote a very helpful blog post titled "Talking to Kids about Connecticut".  Click here to read it.

My sweet readers, I am praying this week that you see God in ways you never imagined.  In places you never expected.  And that you will be forever changed.

In Light of Newtown

I have no words to offer.

Just this.

A Christmas Prayer

by Max Lucado • December 14

Dear Jesus,
It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord.  These children, Lord.  Innocence violated.  Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas.  But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty.  Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children

Taken from Max Lucado's blog - www.maxlucado.com
http://maxlucado.com/read/blog/a-christmas-prayer/

Picture a Gift

When Ryley was home for Thanksgiving break, we had new family pictures taken.  

It was...ahem...a bit challenging as someone who shall remain nameless but goes by "Bird" was not feeling at all cooperative.

Back in the day, I would've had one picture of our family enlarged and put in a frame to hang over the mantel.  But, once again, Pinterest has inspired me.  I've seen so many creative ways to display pictures that I'm going to be doing something a little different this time.  I'll be sure to share the finished product with you as soon as it's done.

Along with that traditional portrait over the mantel, I would've gifted my parents and in-laws with a framed family photo.

But not anymore.  

These days, there are so many truly unique ways to share family photos with the ones you love.  Check these out:

Notebooks - 

Luggage tags -

iPhone cases -

Playing cards -

Plates -

Water bottles -

Wall Decals -

And click here for even more great photo gifts.

All of the products above are available from Shutterfly.

Pinhole Press is another site to browse for nifty photo gifts, like these:

Memory Game - 

Magnetic Portrait Set -

Flash Cards -

Puzzles -

and lots more.

Seeing all these creative ideas has definitely got me thinking "outside the frame".

What about you?  Have you found a neat way to display family pictures?  Or seen some fun photo gifts?  I'd love to hear about it!

Have a blessed weekend, y'all!

It's a Bird! It's Santa! It's Santa and the Bird!

First, a quick note of thanks to all of you for your helpful words and prayers regarding the ongoing saga that is Lily's clothes versus Lily's teeth.  We are trying several new things, per your suggestions, and I'll keep you updated on how things are going, as well as what works and what doesn't.

Now for the annual Christmas photo.

Our church has a wonderful and very active special needs ministry.  One of the things we started last year was "Pictures with Santa" and it has been a happy success.

No more stressful trips to the mall.  No more standing in line.  No more hoping and praying Santa is a very patient man.  No more blood, sweat, and tears trying to get a good picture.

Just a nice, relaxing photo session in a comfortable environment that all the kids are familiar with.  And a very, very patient Santa.

And this year?  A new addition - a real professional photographer to capture the moment.

Now, these photos were snapped with my iPhone. My real pictures are much better. 

May I present..... Santa and Lily 2012.

Have a great Tuesday, my friends!

A Little Help Please

I have been dealing with a particular issue off and on for the past couple of years.  I am currently dealing with it again - and have been since September.

And it is driving me CRAZY.

So I am calling on all my fellow parents, my fellow researchers (those who "google on my behalf" - hello Joanna!), and anyone who is good at problem solving.

Lily is chewing her clothes again.

Remember this post?  And these pictures?

Typically, this little phase ends in a month or so.

But since Lily is anything but typical, it's been going on four months now.

Not only is it frustrating, annoying, and exasperating, it is expensive.  I am surprised they don't recognize me at Wal-Mart when I come in for my weekly supply of 2 for $3 t-shirts.

When shirts are destroyed, I cut the bottom hems off and braid them together to create a kind of "fabric necklace" for chewing.  Sometimes it works but most times, it doesn't.  I think she loves the sensation of ripping fabric.  And the fabric necklaces don't really give that much.

Lately, we've taken to tying bandanas around her neck.  Cute little color coordinating bandanas that come home from school every day totally shredded.  

At a buck a bandana.  

But it spares the shirts.

And whereas before, she would roll little balls of torn fabric around in her mouth and spit them out, now she is actually consuming the material.  I've seen the evidence with my own eyes but I will refrain from sharing pictures with you, if you get my drift.  

But that can't be good for a little kid's digestive system.

So I am begging.  Pleading.  Crying our for your help.

Does anyone out there have any ideas for something safe, non-toxic, inexpensive, durable.... that my kid can wear around her neck for chewing??  Something that can possibly withstand teeth that are like the Jaws of Life, teeth that could possibly tear metal and rescue people trapped in vehicles?  I've seen the Chewelry sold for special needs kiddos but do you know if it could stand up to these incredible teeth??

No idea is stupid.  

I am a desperate woman.

Help. Me.