Do Birds Have Baby Showers?

Yesterday as I was standing in the kitchen, I look out the window and see, no joke, 15-20 pregnant Robins scattered around a tree in our backyard.  I’m in NW IN and the weather has been crazy. First we have 60 degree weather and this week we get snow and back down below freezing.  As the birds were pecking around I started to feel sorry for them. Was there supposed to be food and now there wasn't?  Did they migrate back to soon? When my hubby entered the kitchen he asked what I was staring at and I said, “All those birds outside. Do you think they are hungry?”

Without me asking, he went out to the garage, grabbed a bag of birdseed, slipped on his shoes and headed outside. Gazing out the window, I smile as he scattered food around.

He came back in the house shivering, chuckling and says, “I think they were having a women’s convention out there. No probably a baby shower.” 

We both found ourselves standing in the kitchen laugh hysterically over the thought of birds having a baby shower.  I don’t know if it strikes you as funny, but it did us.

Most of my writings are about gifts for people, but yesterday my hubby gave a gift to our flying friends and I had to share.

Have a blessed evening!

Stephanie

Snowed In and Prepping for a Week of Giving

I’m not sure where you live, but I’m in Northwest Indiana and we are getting hammered with snow.  Since I stocked up on a food yesterday and I work from home, I actually enjoy the snow and don’t mind the inches and inches Linus, I guess they name snowstorms, is bringing to my backyard. 

Since I’m stuck I the house and won’t be venturing out anytime soon I thought I would spend time getting organized for the week, going through mail, paying bills, meal planning, laundry and yes prepping for my daily gifts.  Many days I don’t have a plan for my gifts, but projects are starting to pile up and I need to get them moving out of my house and helping others!  I love the fact that everywhere I look a gift is sitting, waiting to be given.  It is my hope that one day your gift giving journey starts to constantly overflow with abundance to others, if it isn't already. 

So what kinds of gifts am I working on for the week?

1.       My Godson’s birthday was back in October and I totally forgot to get him a gift.  I think I was out of town the weekend of his birthday and it just slipped my mind.  He doesn't need any toys so he’ll be getting money for his college fund. 

2.       I've spent time writing thank you cards to clients for their business and friends who have helped us through the difficult time of losing our beloved dog Boss.  Always remember to say thanks!

3.       Wrote a card that I’ll be sending to a client. It’s a note of encouragement with a positive quote.  A little something to brighten his week!

4.       Set bags of towels, linens and blankets out for the animal shelter.  Over Christmas break I cleaned out my linen closet and found a ton of stuff we weren't using.  I knew the local animal shelters uses these types of items so I bagged them up and loaded them in my car. Then I posted about this on Facebook and one of my friends commented that her friend’s son was collecting these items to donate to the shelter on Valentine ’s Day. This is a win win for me. I don’t have to make a trip to the shelter, but I can help this little boy in his giving journey. 

5.       Wrote my annual check to Public Library Friends so I can renew my membership to the Friends of the Porter County Library System.  Last year the Friends provided almost $40,000 to the libraries to help with the purchase of new materials, pay for summer reading programs, purchase magazines and software, and provide scholarships to staff working on their library degree.  I love the library and can’t help but support!

Are you working on any gifts for today?  If so, please share!  I love getting ideas from others.

I’m taking a break and going to go play in the snow! 

Blessings,

Stephanie

Chocolate covered...

I have a confession to make. I was a party pooper last night. I have been dealing with a cold for about a week and couldn't muster the strength to stay up past 10:00p.m. My bed and sleep were calling my name. Before my head hit the pillow, my husband and I did enjoy a nice evening out with friends.  During dinner, my husband and our friend started discussing their plans to go to a friend’s house today for the Blackhawks game and football.  My husband mentioned he needed to bring a snack and I volunteer to whip something up.  They were both razzing me that I wouldn't be in the mood to get up and have something ready by 11:30, the time when my husband would be leaving for the party. 

Not that I wanted to prove them wrong, okay I did, but I also saw the opportunity as my gift for the day.  I decided to make chocolate covered pretzels and Ritz crackers with peanut butter.  Not only did I make enough for the party, but I have some left for a neighbor and a friend I wanted to mail cookies to at Christmas, but didn't. 

When my husband came downstairs, I think he was a bit shocked to see wax paper laid out on the counter, a pile of crackers and peanut butter ready to be dipped, a bowl full of pretzels waiting for chocolate to be drizzled and stirred and chocolate melting on the stove.  What I love, but I also find annoying about my hubby, is he jumped right in and started helping.  I often joke with him that he jumps in to help so he can take claim for my gifts!

The main job he took on was sprinkles.  He dug in our cabinet for maize and blue sprinkles so he could have Michigan University themed pretzels!  Even though they didn't

make it to a bowl game, he has been super excited about the announcement of their new head football coach.  He also wanted to make the chocolate red for the Blackhawks, but unfortunately the coloring I had made the chocolate clumpy so we had to nix that idea.

After the pretzels and crackers were dipped and dried I found several leftover tin dishes from Christmas and packaged the treats up beautifully so he could take them to the party. 

Today’s gift was one I could have totally ignored and my husband would have been perfectly fine swinging by the store and buying something prepackaged for the party.  I like giving gifts that are not expected, but appreciated. Sure there were a hundred other things I could have been doing in that hour, but in this new year, I’m focusing on being intentional with my time, especially as it relates to giving back and making a difference. 

Blessing for 2015,

Stephanie

Gifts of a Garden

Several weeks ago my friend sent me a text asking me if I wanted to go on a garden walk.  I immediately said yes as I had never been on a garden walk, surprisingly I had nothing planned and it would be great way to spend time with my friend and Godson.

Before the event, she gave me a booklet which was my ticket. It had stories about each of the gardens we were going to visit.  When I offered to pay for my ticket, she said it was on her.  An unexpected gift!

This past weekend we went on the garden walk and had a great time.  The gardens were beautiful and it gave me many great ideas for my own gardens.  But besides the event the day was filled with unexpected gifts:

   1.   My friend and I spent three hours laughing as we drove around trying to find locations; getting lost and watching my hair continue to expand as the humidity increased. 

   2.      We went to a community garden and I saw two signs that made my heart smile:

a.       Produce Donation Box Here-Thank You For Your Donation To Local Food Pantries

b.      Veggies for Food Pantry-By Master Gardeners

The first unexpected gift was that we laughed and laughed some more with no worries of time or the multiple mistakes we made on finding the locations. The laughing shouldn’t have been so unexpected but I think sometimes as adults we get too serious and don’t spend enough time laughing. 

The next two unexpected gifts were not gifts to me but were gifts community members are doing for those in need.   

I had never thought about donating food from my garden to local food pantries. What a great idea! But then my friend Toni at Food Just Sayin  introduced me to The Food is Free Project. 

The Food is Free Project grows community and food, while helping gain independence from a broken agricultural system.  The Food is Free Project is a community building and gardening movement that launched in January of 2012. They teach you how to connect with your neighbors and line your street with front yard community gardens which provide free harvests to anyone.

The gardens are built and offered for free using salvaged resources that would otherwise be headed to the landfill. By using drought-tolerant, wicking bed gardens, these low maintenance gardens only need to be watered every 2-4 weeks. This simple tool introduces people to a very easy method of growing organic food with very little work. A wide variety of vegetables along the block promote neighbors to interact and connect, strengthening our communities while empowering them to grow their own food.

I love the quote on the The Food is Free website: “Never underestimate your power to inspire and affect your community around you. Even the smallest of acts can really ripple out.” - John VanDeusen Edwards, Founder of The Food is Free Project

The garden walk was organized by ThePorter County Master Gardeners Association (PCMGA) which is a not-for-profit corporation promoting the art, science, education and pleasure of gardening in cooperation with, and under the auspices of, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service in Porter County, Indiana. I loved to see that they not only hosted events for the community but they are giving back with time, energy and veggies from a garden that they nurture throughout the summer.  Our local food pantries are so lucky to have organizations like PCMGA to support with healthy food.

After the day was over I came home and walked around my yard and looked at the beautiful gifts of vibrant colored flowers God gives to us. My flowers are one of my favorite things in life.  Even though I hate weeding, I love waiting for all of the seasons that produce tulips and daffodils in the spring, lilies and daisies in the summer and mums in the fall. Who knew gardens could be filled with so many gifts?

Do you have a garden?  Are there gifts you can give others from your garden?  If so, I challenge you to see how you can share the fruits of your garden with others. I know I will be sharing some squash!

Blessings,

Stephanie

Part I: Please Help Honor World War II Veterans

Several years ago as I was boarding a flight from Chicago to Boise, I was stopped in my tracks as I started to walk down the aisle to my seat.  I saw a sea of black hats.  I immediately recognized the hats because my husband has one on his dresser, it was his grandfathers. The hat signifies what war a soldier may have fought in, if they are a veteran and sometimes what branch they served.  I was overwhelmed, wanted to take a picture because it was a beautiful sight, but I didn’t want to offend anyone. I quickly learned I was on an Honor Flight full of World War II Veterans.  They were flying back from Washington D.C. where most were seeing the World War II memorial for the first time.

When we arrived in Boise, the veterans were the last to exit the plane. Many of us on the flight stayed around and welcomed them home, a Hero’s Welcome they never received after the war.  Tears welled up in my eyes and all I could do was clap and smile as one by one they passed by. 

Indy Honor Flight is a non-profit organization created solely to honor Indiana’s veterans for all their sacrifices.  There are similar organizations throughout the country with the same mission: to transport America's Veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their sacrifices. Currently, the top priority is given to the senior veterans-World War II survivors, along with those veterans who may be terminally ill. 

“Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation- and as a culturally diverse, free society. Now, with over 700-900 World War II veterans dying each day, our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out.” Indy Honor Flight

Several weeks ago a fellow colleague sent out an email asking for support in writing letters to veterans that will be going on an upcoming honor flight.  I knew this was an opportunity to give and hopefully get others involved.  This is TOP SECRET!  The Veterans on the flight don’t know it, but each Veteran will receive 10 or more pieces of mail.  The emotions that “mail call” raises are a testimony to the character of these men and women and how much these small acts of kindness mean to them. 

My Cisco colleagues, Vic Minatel, accompanied his uncle on an Honor Flight trip last September and stated, “During the war, mail call was a great day! It was a day that raised their spirits.  Mail call during the honor flight is a total surprise and they were humbled and very grateful for all of the letters. The veterans are humbled by the outpouring of support that is shown to them by friends, family and strangers.”

If you are reading this blog, you have freedoms that were fought for by the men in World War II and other wars. 

Please take a couple of minutes of your time to write a letter to say, THANK YOU!

Deadline for letters: March 28^th (if you miss this deadline, there is another flight in May)

·       Please address your letter to: Dear Veteran

·       Do not date your letter

·       Example signatures: Stephanie, Mrs. Jones or simply A Grateful American

Please mail cards and letters to:

Indy Honor Flight

c/o Mail Call

9093 S SR 39

Moorseville,IN 46158

The schedule has the veterans returning home to Indianapolis on April 5^th and another flight returning home on May 10th.  Again, I would encourage all of you to take a few minutes and jot a couple of notes to our Veterans who will be on the flight thanking them for their service and sacrifice that allows us to enjoy our enduring freedoms and liberties.   

“We can’t all be heroes, some of us need to stand on the curb and clap as they go by”

–Will Rogers

Thank you to Vic Mantel and Indy Honor Flight for pictures and information on the Indy Honor Flight experience. To learn more about Indy Honor Flight check out their website at www.indyhonorflights.org

The Christmas Shoes

I read a lot. I love to read!  For the most part I try to read positive or inspiring books. Every so often I’ll get pulled in by James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club books or a book on Navy Seals. I have a bit of an obsession with the SEALs.

Anyway, Friday night my hubby was having a guys night so I decided to throw my “to do” list out the window and take a little time for myself.  I first stopped in at Edible Arrangements to pick up a fruit bouquet for a friend who had been spending the better half of the last month at hospice with a family member who unfortunately passed away yesterday.  I’m so glad I listened to that nagging feeling that kept telling me I needed to do something for her, something to bring a little sunshine in the dark.

After dropping off the fruit bouquet I pulled into the Walgreen’s parking lot.  I had an appointment with a coaching client and wanted to give her my full attention. I didn’t need to be driving and talking anyways.  Not very safe! After catching up with my client I headed to Target. Oh I love not to be rushed in Target.  I had a short list of things I needed to pick up, but I also enjoyed looking at shoes, office supplies and kitchen gadgets. I impressed myself that I didn’t buy anything that wasn’t on my list.  I’m really trying to stick to buying needs over wants this year.  It’s a work in progress but I have to start somewhere and getting out of Target with no extra items was a little miracle in and of itself.

I considered going home, but Barnes and Noble was calling my name.  Okay, so I peaked inside Pier 1 and after picking up a few things, I put them back. Again, things I wanted but didn’t need.  My husband would have been impressed. I spent zero dollars at Pier 1.  Get the Guinness Book of World Records to Valparaiso, Indiana because that has never happened!

Finally, I entered into the world of my true weaknesses…Barnes and Noble. I think I literally smiled and took a deep breath as I pull open those large, heavy wooden doors and entered.  It’s like the land of adventure for adults.  I had no particular book in mind. I just love to browse. I picked up many books.  I read the inside covers then put most books back down. Some I made a mental note to pick up at the library and others I don’t think are worth my time.  Then, as I always do, I stumbled upon the clearance books.  They had an entire table of $2 books.  SCORE! I was ecstatic to find three that peaked my interest and that I would purchase.  Think Like a Winner, Lost December by one of my favorite authors, Richard Paul Evans and The Christmas Shoes.  I had read the Christmas Secret by the same author and loved it. I also remember my mother mentioning this book. 

I finished The Christmas Shoes, by Donna VanLiere, this morning. I must be honest I cried through the last forty pages. My husband even walked in and said, “Really, a book is making you cry that much?”  Well I’m emotional and yes, it’s a sad book!

Besides The Christmas Shoes having sad moments it also had the underlying lessons of what this giving journey has taught me and what I’m on a mission to share with others.  The mission and message is simple.   It’s this. It is that things don’t make you happy.  That being rich with money and having nice things or going into debt to have nice things will never make you happy.  Thinking that children will be happy with rooms full of toys and stuff. That we have to spend lots of money and give tons of time to make a difference in the lives of others.  None of that is true.  My gift giving journey hasn’t been about big gifts and giving people things, though it may happen once it in awhile. It’s about the small things that may impact people in ways we will never know. It’s the small simple things that literally may change the course of someone’s life.  It may change the course of your life, like it has mine.  It’s holding a door, giving a smile, a hug, or a compliment.  It’s making a meal for someone in need, praying when there is no other way to help, sending a card to a stranger, and the list goes on and on as there are always simple opportunities to give.

I encourage you to read The Christmas Shoes. It may change your life and it may not.  I hope the author, doesn’t mind, but I’ll leave you with the Afterword (some of this won’t make sense if you haven’t read the book, but you’ll get the point):

“If we’re open to it, God can use even the smallest thing to change our lives…to change us.  It might be a laughing child, car brakes that need fixing, a sale on pot roast, a cloudless sky, a trip to the woods to cut down a Christmas tree, a schoolteacher, a Dunhill Billard pipe…or even a pair of shoes.

Some people will never believe. They may feel that such things are too trivial, too simple, or too insignificant to forever change a life.  But I believe. 

And I always will.

Blessings, Stephanie

P.S. I would like to send my copy of The Christmas Shoes to someone that wants to read it and will pass it along.  If you get this far in the blog and are the first to respond, I’ll send you my copy of The Christmas Shoes.  Once you read it, if there are others that want the book, I ask that you send it along to them. Email me at 1makingadifference@gmail.com if you are interested. 

How to Give Gifts during a Blizzard

Gift giving can be a bit difficult when one is stuck inside for a day or moredue to weather, illness or lack of transporation.  My original gift was thwarted (you will see it in the next couple of days) so I had to come up with Plan B. 

Here are a couple of ideas of gifts to give when you are homebound:

·         Donate airline miles or hotel points to friends, family or charities

·         Online financial donations to non-profits, as most have online giving options

·         Send encouraging texts to friends or family members

·         Write letters (I would have done this, but since mail doesn’t come on Sunday I couldn’t.) Note: When I write letters, I count it as a gift the day I send, not the day they receive it. Just makes it easier for me to track since many times I write to people I don’t know.

·         Phone a friend or family member

·         Bake goodies and deliver to neighbors (be careful if conditions are extreme)

·         Make treats or dinner for your family

·         Spend quality time with your family baking, playing games, building a puzzle, working on a project, setting goals for the year, planning a vacation, dreaming, etc with no interruptions from the phone, iPad and computer.

·         Shovel snow for a neighbor

·         Pamper your pets

·         Email favorite recipes to friends

Today since I’m stuck in the house I donated
United AirlineMiles to the Wounded Warrior Project. 

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to honor and
empower service members who incurred a
service-connected wound, injury or illness on or after September 11, 2001. WWP started when a group of veterans and friends was moved to action by the stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq. Through 18 mind, body, educational and economically-empowering programs, WWP helps wounded service members and their families make a successful and well-adjusted transition back to civilian life.

Please share other gift giving ideas for when you are stranded at home.

Be safe and stay warm,
Stephanie

Follow me on facebook at www.facebook.com/1makingadifference2

Tips for donating clothing and coats this winter to shelters

Today my Gift Idea of the Day came from a friend who posted on her FB page that she was cleaning out her coat closet to donate coats to the local shelter.  This is a wonderful idea!

Over the years I have had the privilege of volunteering with many organizations that house and help the homeless.  Every organization is different in how they operate and what donations they will accept.

Here are some tips for donating your clothing and coats this year:

1.       Search your closets for gently used clothes that you haven’t worn in awhile or that doesn’t fit.  Something that you consider no longer useful may be considered valuable by someone else.

2.       Check for stains, holes and other defects.  You want what you are donating to be able to be worn and to make those wearing the clothes feel good about themselves. Rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t wear it. Don’t donate it!

3.       Check the pockets of the items you are donating for personal items, money and other valuables.

4.       Wash the clothes and make sure they are clean and fresh.

5.       Identify the shelter where you want to donate your clothing/coat items.

6.       Verify the shelter is taking clothing and coat donations.  You can either do this by calling your local shelter or check their website.  For instance, in my community the local men’s shelter takes clothing and coat donations but the women’s shelter does not as they receive their clothing donations from local resale shops.

7.       If they accept donations, verify collection dates and times. 

8.       If they don’t accept clothing donations, either locate another shelter accepting donations or donate to a resale shop that donates their profits and clothing to shelters.

These are just a few tips I thought of off the top of my head this morning.  Please share other ideas and recommendations for donating clothing. I love learning from others!

Blessings,

Stephanie

Follow me on facebook at www.facebook.com/1makingadifference2

January 3, 2014

Several months ago my husband started a new position at work.  He now spends some days in the office and others out on the road.  His first week at the office he comes home and says, “You know the other guys wives make treats to take in to the office so if you can start making stuff to take in that would be great.”

Well I have tried to live up to the standard of making sure my man has goodies to take into work. This summer I picked apples from the tree in our backyard and made homemade applesauce. This was a big hit!  I also made homemade salsa.  Mine was a little plain so my hubby added more jalapenos to the mix to spice it up. Then it was good. I have made several types of cookies, candies and even a cheesecake.  Today one of my gifts was a plateful of homemade candies.  It included the pretzel/rolo/M&M candies I mentioned yesterday and then Trisha Yearwood’s Crockpot Candy.  Note to self on the Crockpot candy, only cook for 2 hours instead of the recommended 3!

Today was also cleaning today. I am blessed enough to have someone clean my house once a month.  I know what you are thinking, “her house only gets cleaned once a month!?” No, my husband and I clean it the remainder of the month, it’s just nice to have a break every couple of weeks. Anyways, we have a 90lb German shepherd, Boss.  For the most part he spends his days either in the police car or in his indoor/outdoor kennel in the garage.  If you live in the Midwest you know it has been like living in the arctic around here lately. Due to the cold weather we keep Boss in the house most of the time.  He sheds like crazy. I’m a bit of a neat freak so his hair drives me CRAZY!  Last night I was glad the housekeeper was coming because I needed to vacuum and I knew she would clean it up.  But when I got up this morning I thought, no you are going to vacuum the carpets and sweep up the hardwood and tile floors of the dog hair to make her job a bit easier.  So I did just that. Not a glamorous gift, but still a gift!

My final gift I will blog about later as it is something this journey has taught me.  Check back later to find out!

Blessings,
Stephanie

Start your giving adventure today!

I can’t believe it has been several weeks since I have posted a blog. Time flies by when you are having fun and living life!   My gifts over the past couple of weeks have been rather simple and I have had a little bit of writers block trying to blog about the daily gifts.  To check out my daily gift list click here.

A couple of month’s back I was contacted by a lady who stumbled upon my blog and has started to follow my gift giving journey.  She had many questions about how I got started, how I figure out what gifts to give, etc.  She e-mailed me first and then I followed up with a phone call to her.  I love hearing from those of you that follow my blog and getting to talk to new people and making personal connections is even better.
I let her know that I had read the book 29 Gifts and that it motivated me to start not just giving only 29 days, but for an entire year.  That year made such an impact in my life that I have continued into year two.  I explained to her that in the beginning, gifts were sometimes hard to come by and many days I relied on creativity and seeking and searching for opportunities. But, as the days, weeks and months went by opportunities started to present themselves and the gift giving became a daily habit.  What do the experts say; it takes 21 days of consistent actions to build a habit?

I checked in with this young lady at the end of her first month and she gave me permission to share her response and experience. Here it is:
“Hi Stephanie- I am so excited to tell you about my 29 days that unintentionally has turned into 31 and going.

 Well, it hasn’t been easy, but it has been interesting and very surprising.  I found that on every single occasion that I gave something, I got something in return.  This was not my intention what-so-ever but I have received an award for every act. 
The most interesting incidence of giving happened one day when I was frustrated very upset and couldn’t focus on something to give. So I took an idea from you and while I was running errands, I drove through a drive-thru and purchased a coffee drink and of course, paid for the car behind me.  On my way home, I noticed the same car behind me.  I didn’t think anything of it but then I actually started to wonder if I had offended the driver somehow. 

Well, she followed me home. I got out of my car ready to apologize when an old friend popped out of her car and thanked me for the coffee and wanted to know why I hadn’t just waved her down so we could have coffee together.  I had no idea I knew the person. It has been a few years, I didn’t recognize the car and I deliberately didn’t look in my review mirror because for some reason, this particular act was made me nervous.
Another beautiful thing I am finding is that every time I talk about this with family and friends, I get more “leads” if you will for giving and others are considering a journey of their own. 

On day 29 an acquaintance asked me to provide them some consultative services for a fee.  I volunteered my effort – that leads to a nice contract for the spring. Completely unexpected but very cool! I have continued with day 30 and 31 and will keep going. I do think it is a habit now, another reward for me.

So when I started, I did not expect rewards.  It is strange. I love giving and in the past, over thought things so much that when I gave, the recipient often felt like they had to give something back to me which was very uncomfortable for both of us.  This journey, while I think about it every single day, has made things so much easier in that the gifts are simple, unpretentious and don’t render that feeling of obligation on anyone’s part

So glad I caught your blog on this!  It doesn’t matter if my gifts are even acknowledged by the recipients or if I even know who directly benefits- I think the practice of just giving changes so many things we can’t be aware of unless we make the effort.”

I hope this young lady’s story inspires you to start your gift giving journey today.  I encourage you to start on this amazing adventure. Even if your goal is to just give a gift for a day, a week or month.  It is a start.  I can almost guarantee that if you make it to 21 days, it will not only become a habit but a lifestyle that will change your life and those around you.

If you have questions or need ideas drop me an e-mail at 1makingadifference@gmail.com or leave a comment.