See, every once in awhile, my thinking is not so bad (geeze) *rolling eyes*
Gratitude Changes Everything

Essence of a Family |
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...Like branches of a tree, may grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one. (Author: Unknown)
I thought, (I know that can be dangerous) anyway, I thought it appropriate, for this the last Quick Pick of November, to look back at Kindness and Gratitude posts. See, every once in awhile, my thinking is not so bad (geeze) *rolling eyes* Gratitude Changes Everything![]() To start us off, Vidya Sury over at the blog of the same name talks to us about how gratitude changes things. It's a heartwarming and completely captivating story. I beg of you, please stop and visit Vidya and her Gratitude post Gratitude Changes Everything! There's a bonus waiting there for you, find out what that's all about by stopping over.
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I am...I'm so thankful you stopped by today.
I'm off sharing this day with my family & friends, Stuffing my face with food and remembering all I have to be thankful for! So, for your reading pleasure, I'm sharing a past post on being Thankful! Enjoy!! Yesterday, we talked about what kindness is; discovering how simple kindness can be. Today, I'd like to share with you what kindness LOOKS like! It looks like 200 ideas are being held captive within 6 amazing posts! Won't you read them and set KINDNESS FREE by trying a few of the ideas?!? Make Our World a Better Place: 44 Random Acts of Kindness"If you have ever experienced a random act of kindness, you know what joy a simple act can produce. This month, encourage your family to spread that kindness to the people who cross your paths during the holiday season..." 29 Ways to Carry Out Random Acts of Kindness Every Day"The time has come when we cannot just rely on others to make the world a better place – each one of us has to do our bit. It is therefore time for people..." Read more ... ![]() You're on your way! Don't stop now! I know you're getting a lot of GREAT IDEAS!! 19 Heartwarming Random Acts of Kindness | Pleated-Jeans ..."I was going to say the exact same thing: since when is it considered a 'random' act of kindness to return somebody their own property. Returning a wallet ..." Read more ... 60 Random Acts of Kindness for Kids - Feels Like Home"A few weeks ago, I got 2 new tattoos on my wrists – live fully with my little blog birdie and love fully with a cross. I get strange looks from people who ask about them; the connection..." Read more ... 25 random acts of kindness that will restore your faith in..."There are moments when we feel just like giving up on the world, on all the bad things that happen daily, but every once in a while we witness a random act of kindness that makes us believe that maybe there's still a hope in ..." Read more ... 23 Random Acts of Birthday Kindness"I was so moved by the original Random Acts of Kindness that started this project that I knew I had to try my hand at my own list of 23 acts in honor of my birthday. So I did just that, over the course of the week that my birthday fell on. What a better way to celebrate than by giving back a little to others?..." WOW! 200 Ideas for YOU to SharePick one or Pick them all! I'd love to hear how you're choosing to create KINDNESS!! Learning to Walk (and Blog) by Faith,
Ours can be a cruel world. Bullying, terrorists, grumbling, abuse, violence, and so much more invades our lives on a regular basis. The news channels replay terrible things over and over again; All of these things can leave us numb and calloused to what may be going on around us. Don't give up! There's hope! There's a way to stop the numbness! There's a way to change the world! It's a small thing. Simple really. ![]() I was rushing through the door one day this week when he kindly put my lunch together for me without being asked and thrust it at me as I waved him a hurried goodbye. Later, at work (still rushing around), I rummaged through my packed lunch for a mid-morning snack so I could fuel a frenetic day without falling over…and I found my son had packed me a banana inscribed with the word ‘Smile.’ See, kindness is as simple as a banana! Who knew, right?! RIGHT! Or Maybe it's as easy as...being challenged to do it! Hmm... Those were pretty simple things! I'm feeling inspired and challenged! YOU? Maaaybeee, it's as simple as knowing it's been modeled for us. By whom, you ask? By God! The key ingredient in kindness is love. Paul said that "love is kind" (I Corinthians 13:4). This must be true since love by definition must seek the good will of another. Kindness is the expression of that good will. This is true whether we speak of the kindness of God toward man (Titus 3:4) or that of man toward man (Romans 12:10; II Peter 1:7). You see, kindness doesn't have to be BIG & SPECTACULAR! It can be SMALL & QUIET The wonderful thing about World Kindness Week is that an act of kindness doesn’t need to be anything fancy! Just a little something out of the ordinary, to let someone know you’re thinking about them. Source:The Neighborhood
November 10th begins World Kindness Week! Have you ever thought about what being kind actually means? What it looks like? What you could do to be more kind? Yeah, me too!! That's why Kindness is the topic of choice for this entire week here at the Essence of a Family Home. I'm challenging you to pay close attention this week for all the times you're kind. Jot 'em down somewhere, because at the end of this week, I'm going to need you to share, or my last post for this week will be empty! Being kind is a worldwide movement! Look ![]() The idea behind the World Kindness Movement (WKM) crystallised at a conference in Tokyo in 1997 when the Small Kindness Movement of Japan brought together like-minded kindness movements from around the world. The WKM was officially launched in Singapore on 18 November 2000 at the 3rd WKM Conference. The mission of the WKM is to inspire individuals towards greater kindness and to connect nations to create a kinder world. The WKM encourages individuals of other nations to set up their own kindness movements. It is also seeking other kindness movements to join the WKM.
Source: World Kindness Movement So get out there
and ![]() Can you believe there are only 47 days till Christmas? *what? * Where did this year go and why is this crazy blogging lady talking about it now? Well to answer your first question: We can't stop the old clock from moving forward so we may as well prepare for where it's heading. And... As for your second question: I'm talking to you about it now because, well, that will be answered in just a short time *sigh* FlashbackThe Sears catalog is here!! It's FINALLY here! Toys, Toys, Toys!! Hooray Christmas is coming!! I CAN'T WAIT! I'm going to go write my letter to Santa right now!! Today we're going to go cut down our tree! I get to use the saw and cut it down. THAT ONE! THAT ONE! THAT ONE! PICK THAT ONE!! Why? <whining> Why do we have to let the tree rest? It didn't do anything to be tired! Our youth group is going Christmas caroling tonight! It's one of my favorite things! We're gonna sing about baby Jesus being born. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! Back to the PresentDo you remember how you used to feel about Christmas? It can be difficult, difficult to remember it's not about the craziness this world has made it to be. As adults, we tend to meet Christmas with a bit of drudgery. Gone is the anticipation, the excitement, the joy. We simply feel the stress. Stress to get all our shopping finished, to figure out what time we need to be at the in-laws, to figure out what we're going to bring as our carry-in dish, and to begin cringing at the thought of the bills come January. Christmas certainly can lose its charm. Where are you Christmas? *Oh! I love that song from How the Grinch Stole Christmas* Simple Things![]() If you've ever heard that song, then you may have realized; Finding Christmas is about simple things. Love in your heart and your mind...simple things Today begins Dear Santa Letter Week and I had a great idea. Grab a pencil, pen, heck! Grab a crayon, grab your child (ren) and write letters to Santa! Don't think about it! Just do it! Try to recall how you felt when you wrote your letter to Santa as a child. The awe, the wonder. (That's right, close your eyes.... Remember) Money didn't matter! You didn't doubt! You believed and because you believed you put EVERYTHING on that list! EVERYTHING you wanted, EVERYTHING you dreamed about and EVERYTHING you desired! You can do this! It's a very simple way to bring joy back to Christmas. It's a TERRIFIC way to create memories with your child (ren) and start a new tradition. Something happens to your heart. Something happens to your mind. Suddenly you're giddy again; anticipatory; excited! Almost ThereWhen you've written all your letters... SEND THEM! That's right, the crazy blogging lady said, SEND THEM! SEND THOSE LETTERS TO SANTA! Santa's Address: Santa Clause 325 S Santa Claus Ln North Pole, AK 99705 OR Email Santa: Santa Claus Christmas is coming! Start rediscovering the joy, excitement, and anticipation of participating in Dear Santa Letter Week! Learning to Walk (and Blog) by Faith,
I have two words for you PEANUT BUTTER That's right, Peanut Butter! Why am I giving you those two words? Well, because November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month! I LOVE Peanut Butter! There are so many things to do with peanut butter! I thought I'd share a few of the ways I LOVE to use Peanut Butter Mmmm, don't all of those things look fabulous? Do you LOVE peanut butter? Tell me what YOU LOVE about peanut butter and your favorite way to eat it? Learning to Walk (and Blog) by Faith,
Hello. I'm so glad you decided to drop in. Friends never need an invitation to stop by, do they? Isn't it wonderful? To know that you are always welcome somewhere To know you don't have to DO anything. AND... On the other side of that, To know you're accepted Just the way you are. If your friend stops by and you're still in your jammies and the house is a mess You haven't combed your hair or brushed your teeth They don't care. You're not judged because they love YOU just the way you are. To know you don't have to DO anything They just want to spend time with you. Feels good, doesn't it? Knowing that makes me think about how lucky I am Lucky to have people who love me just the way I am I'm not lucky How about if we change it Instead of the word lucky What if we use the word Thankful instead Suddenly, the phrase means something more Luck implies something unintentional, something by chance or by our own design Thankful implies viewing something as a gift and shows appreciation I'm not lucky, I'm THANKFUL Thankful for people in my life who love me just the way I am There are so many times we use the word 'lucky' When instead we should be using the word thankful. Let me try again I am thankful for people who love me just as I am See? That sounds completely different doesn't it? Try it Try replacing the word LUCKY with the word Thankful Does it make a difference in how you 'see' whatever or whoever you're applying it to? Does it make that something or someone seem more valuable? Where have you been using 'lucky'? Try changing lucky to thankful Did it make a difference? Think of something you say you are lucky to have Change lucky to thankful then Finish this sentence and share it in a comment below I'm Thankful for _____________________! Learning to Walk (and Blog) by Faith,
Every day I see this cute little poster that says: (I actually used that cute little saying in another one of my posts about shutting the door on conflict, did you read that one?) I've been thinking about that little poster all day and with a bum ankle I've had lots of time to think ☺ Being laid up can make a person feel sorry for themselves and can make them a bit grumbly (Whaaat?!! Ok, Ok, you're right! I'm talking about me! How'd ya figure that out so fast?) There are so many reasons to NOT be thankful. Not enough money, not the right job, not the right....anything! Life can suck the life right out of us! It's true! Attitude IS something so little but it CAN make a difference. Make a difference in our lives! I'm here to challenge you to think differently! To be different through November! (of Course it might catch on and YOU might just go beyond November....eek, gasp, oh the horror!) How about a little help to jump start that ol' Attitude of Gratitude? Yep, I'm going to do the start up work and then let you finish up! NO, you won't be alone because I'm going to walk right along beside you! YEP! I won't ask you to do something I, myself, am not willing to do! You and me....thankful together! NOVEMBER N- Name it! Putting a name to what you're thankful for puts it in the forefront of your thinking. (extra encouragement here) O-Open Mindedness! Opening our minds to seeing things to be thankful for even when we don't feel like it (more encouragement here) V- Value Thankfulness! We tend to use and seek things we value (how bout here) E- Enjoy Blessings! Blessings arrive every day, big and small, we simply need to recognize them (yep, here too) M- My Mission! Make thankfulness your mission during each new day (Oh and here) B- Be Thankful! God's directions in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to be thankful no matter what circumstances you may be facing (how bout here) E- Earnestly Seek! Be intentional in your seeking of things to be thankful for (here too) R-Real Thankfulness! True thankfulness can benefit more than our thoughts, it can change our lives (finally here) Change is never easy and changing our minds is no exception! I'm thankful for YOU! YOU CAN DO IT! Learning to Walk (and Blog) by Faith,
I love to celebrate! EVERYTHING & ANYTHING! I look for things to celebrate. Low and behold, this year, I joined a classroom where the teacher I work with has a list of fun, weird, and real days of celebrations. I thought it might be fun if I shared with you a few of my favorites. One for every day of the month of November. That way YOU can celebrate too - At any time, for any reason!! While most of them are national (US) there are international ones too; don't hesitate to celebrate them anyway! I know I will be! Oh! I almost forgot; Some of these would make GREAT blogging post ideas!! Ooooohhhh BONUS!! November
What would YOU add to the list? Are there any fun, weird, or real celebrations you celebrate or know of that might be fun for others too? Would love for you to SHARE them with me!! Thank you to Brownielocks.com, Mikekerr.com, Holidayinsights.com, & Daysoftheyear.com for having and sharing their lists of days! Learning to Walk (and Blog) by Faith, |
RobynHi! I'm a 40 something-ish, working, Christian wife & mom with a passion for faith, reading, writing, frugality, simplicity, diy-ing, compassion, and love. This Month...Would You Like to be ONE of our Featured Bloggers? Submit your info below!
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