10 (Easy) Steps to Helping Military Families This Christmas

1. Check to see if there is a Dollar Tree near you. Go here to do so. Assuming there is, proceed to step 2...
2. Find some cash. Then find your little ones. Ideally, you want to have denominations that you can divide equally among your little helpers.
3. Drive, jog, ride a bike, walk, whatever floats your boat to Dollar Tree. The good news is you will NOT be schlepping a bunch of bags home with you! On the trip there, take a moment to explain to your children that you have a very important job for them... that you need them to pick out special gifts for the children of soldiers.
4. Hand out dollar bills (if your helpers are old enough to hold on to it for a few minutes- if not, you be the keeper of the cash) and head into the store.
5. Head to the toy aisles.
6. Try not to cry as your children carefully select the "perfect" toys for these unknown children and share the reasons why they chose them. ("I give her a magic wand so she can make wishes whenever she feels lonely without her daddy!" *sniff*)
7. Let them fill the cart with as many items as they have dollars.
8. Head to the check-out and-- and this is important-- let each child put his or her selections on the conveyor belt. It MATTERS. Ask me how I know.
9. Tell the new guy- the holiday help with the funky earrings and shaggy hair- that you won't be needing any bags. It's all going in the donation box. Then watch "tough college guy" get all goofy and excited and grinny as he tells the more seasoned cashier next to him that he just got a monster donation "for the kids".
10. Let your children put the toys in the box. Make sure each child puts in his or her own choices. It MATTERS. Ask me how I know.

Finally, leave the store with empty hands and full hearts.

This post is linked to Top Ten (Tuesday).

Five Steps To A Pared-Down Playroom

If you're anything like us- and I have a feeling many of you are- you have tons of STUFF in your playroom. The toys just multiply, don't they? Add in the games, puzzles, blocks, balls, books, and, oh yeah, did we mention the stuffed animals? It gets kind of crazy. And overwhelming. Before you know it, the playroom can become so cluttered with "things" that YOU don't even want to go in there and your kids are so over-stimulated they don't even know where to start.

It's time to end the madness. At least that's what I decided. If you're ready to make your playroom a haven where your children can learn, explore, make-believe, grow, and, well, PLAY, here are five steps to help you get there:

1. Figure out what's been holding you back. Are you afraid it'll be too much work? Better to just dive in- it's only going to get worse. That sounds harsh, but it's the truth. Are you afraid your kids will freak out? They will likely be just fine. They may really enjoy it. And, realistically, if they get all upset about "things", this is a good time for a life lesson... who wants to raise children who are already hoarding and coveting? Finally, and be honest with yourself here, are you afraid that, without all the "things", you're going to have to work harder to entertain them All. Day. Long.? It's a legitimate fear, but I think you'll be surprised. Children's creativity blooms with LESS. They discover new things to do. A child left in a room chock-full of "stuff" may not know where to start. A child given some paper and crayons has direction, purpose, and the tools to feel accomplished.
2. Take it for a trial run. Select a dozen or less toys/activities and make those the only play things available for two weeks or so. I cannot emphasize enough just how valuable this step will prove to be. It will give you confidence and also help you determine what you want to keep. For us, this "trial" occurred when we moved from Indiana to Connecticut and stayed with my parents until we found a home. By necessity, we didn't have much stuff. It was inspiring to see how content and imaginative my children were with: a bucket of play food, a bag of Little People animals, a drum full of musical instruments, some blocks, a few puzzles, a few games, and books. I could write another whole post on some of the games and activities they came up with...
3. Determine what you're going to do with all the "stuff" once it's out of your house. Are you going to have a garage sale? Right away? Or do you need to find a corner of your garage or basement to store it all in the meantime? Do you have a friend or neighbor who could use it? Does your school or church need some of the things you're getting rid of? Do you want to donate it? If so, do your homework. Find out who takes what. Goodwill, for example, is one of the few places that will take stuffed animals (and most of us have way too many of those suckers cluttering up our homes and harboring dust). Schools and libraries tend to love your extra books, while hospitals can't use them. Check with your local Ronald McDonald House. They are a charity near and dear to ourhearts and they can always use new playthings. Whatever you choose to do, figure it out ahead of time so you don't get everything organized and then have nothing to do with it.
4. Get your materials all set. This includes both materials for organizing your final playroom project and also boxes and bags for gathering up the cast-offs. Have everything in place so you don't wind up with piles and nowhere to put it all.
   
5. Clear out and reap the rewards. Dig in. It doesn't matter where you start, just get in there. I like to start with stuffed animals because they take up so much room- we cleared out a large area just by paring down to a few buddies and bagging up the rest for Goodwill. I truly recommend you let your kids get involved in the process. Some parents favor the "let it disappear while they sleep" approach and that's fine too. But if you want your child to learn valuable lessons of sacrifice, giving, and making tough decisions, let them take part. My children loved helping decide what to donate and, in fact, they got SO into it, we had to stop them from giving away the house!

Far and away, my children's favorite place to play- the art table.

Paring down our playroom is one of the best things we've ever done for our family. It looks better. It feels better. My children can find what they need. Clean-up is easier. We know what we have. Don't be afraid to take the leap! I think you'll be delighted with the peace and joy you will find at the bottom of the toy pile...

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How have you minimized "kid clutter" in your home? What questions do you have about paring down? Let's talk about it!

I Admit It- I've Had Some Work Done

I've been blogging now since July of 2008. That just amazes me! During that time, I've shared so much about our lives with a micropreemie with you. I've also shared about the pregnancy and birth of my third child and our move halfway across the country. My, my, how things change!

But you know what didn't change?

My blog design.

Somehow I just kept on chuggin' along with my default, generic Blogger design and layout. Boring green header. Two column layout. Nothing personal at all. Quite honestly, it's amazing I've managed to hold the attention of as many readers as I have.

Why didn't I do something about it? Well, for starters, I'm very technically un-savvy. I don't know how to write HTML or even do much with graphics. Added to that, I refused to pay for it. I don't feel as though I make enough money from blogging to justify paying for a designer at this point.

And so I stayed generic.

That all changed when Alyssa over at Keeping the Kingdom First inspired so many of us to join the 30 Day Giving Challenge for the month of November. It has been deeply inspiring to read about all the ways others are finding to give.

By sheer luck, I happened to pop over to Twitter one evening when Alyssa suggested we head over to Good, True & Beautiful and see how one of her readers was helping other bloggers out through her creative giving.

I checked it out.

Turns out, the lovely Sharon (to whom that blog belongs) was offering the extremely generous gift of a custom-designed header or button to 30 bloggers. I was staggered! I admit it- I hurriedly started counting the comments to see if I had a shot. It looked like I might!

Turns out I did.

Sharon contacted me and asked a few questions about what I was looking for and then she got to work. The result? See for yourself at the top of my blog! I simply ADORE it. It is perfect. It is exactly who I am and what I write about... the pictures of my micropreemie... the soft aqua color... the whimsical dandelion fluff... I love it. Not only did she design something perfect for me, but she also walked me through the "installation process", if you will, because-- as I mentioned above-- I am NOT savvy when it comes to these things.

Having a new, improved look? Well, that is definitely a Finer Thing.

Finding a new, inspiring blogger to read who has such a generous spirit? Well, that's even finer.

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This post is linked to Finer Things Friday, hosted by Amy.

A Reason To Fight

It's hard for me to imagine that any of my readers haven't already read my birth story. On the off-chance that you haven't, you can find it in my side-bar or click here.

For the rest of you, you already know that a large part of what I blog about and a large part of who I am is tied up in my second child, who was born almost four months early and weighed in at 1 lb 5 oz. My little girl's story is one of great triumph, but not without a world of worry and challenges.

No one knows the reason I went into labor at only 23 weeks gestation. No one could ever find a single cause for C's prematurity. I was blessed to have a full-term birth prior to that one and even more blessed to have had one since. But my life will forever be changed and touched by the premature baby I brought into the world...

Today I'm joining forces with close to 400 other bloggers* to Fight for Preemies. Won't you please take just a couple minutes and visit the March of Dimes website? There is a wealth of information there... from what causes premature birth to statistical rates to how your state ranks to how you can help.

Today, November 17, bloggers unite to Fight for Preemies. Won't you join us?

(In an ironic twist, today is also my sister's- a preemie herself!- birthday... Happy Birthday, JB!)

*Update- happily the number of bloggers uniting to Fight for Preemies has soared well beyond 400 now.

Ten Great Frugal Gifts For Preemie Parents

"When my son was born full-term in January of 2005, I received the usual assortment of baby gear... tons of 0-3 month and 3-6 month outfits, blankets, bottles, rattles, baby books, prepared casseroles and meals, etc. All of these were very much appreciated. A mere eleven months later, when my daughter was born sixteen weeks early in December of 2005, I found myself again receiving precious little baby gifts. The difference? With a tiny preemie still in the NICU, our needs were drastically changed. There was nothing "typical" about our situation and what normally constituted a perfect baby gift suddenly became, well, useless. Thoughtful, but useless. So what to give the new preemie parents? Here are ten simple ideas for frugal gifts that are a perfect fit for those parenting these tiny miracles...

Please head over to Baby Cheapskate to read the rest of my guest post! I have lots of ideas to share for thoughtful gifts that won't break the bank...

Sacrificial Hospitality Week 6: The Final Project!

So this will be my last week of Sacrificial Hospitality challenges. At least, it will be my last week of coming up with and posting an idea on my blog here and then following up with all of you on how it went! I definitely have enjoyed making this a part of my life and I think it would be a shame to stop. I have been so touched and blessed by these experiences and, to be honest, it's been very painless. I wonder if more people knew it could be painless if there would be more kind gestures? But I digress...

Yesterday afternoon, I had the absolute pleasure of receiving a phone call from my husband's grandma. She is his only living grandparent and very sweet. Turns out she's already busy at work making Christmas presents for all of her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Let me just tell you... that is a LOT of people. Apparently, she had been trying to reach my sisters-in-law for awhile now to find out the ages of all the children in our "branch" of the family. She wasn't able to reach them, but she caught me! And I was so glad. It was lovely to chat with her and catch up a little bit. Turns out she wasn't aware yet that we're expecting a baby in June, so that was fun to share!

My "Grandma-in-law", if you will, lives in an assisted living facility. When my husband and I first moved here to Indiana, close to all his family, my father-in-law once suggested that I go there sometime and play the piano for the residents. I smiled and agreed it was a nice idea... and promptly forgot about it. I've never done it. We've lived here for almost four years now, and I've just never taken the time to make it happen. The facility is less than 15 miles from me; it would be no real hardship.

The reason I haven't gone? Well, there are a few. Mostly, it boils down to laziness. I just haven't bothered. There's also the "nerves" factor. We don't actually have a piano in our home so I don't really get to practice and I fear I'll be rather rusty. And you know what? It's just easier to stay at home. I can certainly make myself busy here. I can absolutely convince myself that I am best serving my family and the Lord by staying right where I am and cleaning and baking and singing to my children. Those are all noble pursuits and important roles for me to fill, but the truth of the matter is that I could most definitely find an hour to share some music with the elderly.... Really? We all could. The simple truth is that we MAKE time for what matters...

And so I will. I will make it a mission to contact the assisted living facility and set up a time when I can play the piano, maybe sing a bit, and just visit with these amazing people who could teach me so much...

Honestly? I'm starting to really look forward to it.
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Is there a nursing home, hospital, or assisted living facility in your area? Could you spare an hour to share music, read aloud, or even just to chat with some of the seniors in your community?

Sacrificial Hospitality: Week 5 RESULTS

This week was a successful- and fun!- one. I love how quickly these teeny, tiny hats work up. I made a few different sizes (since all baby heads are a little different!) and worked with yellow yarn to keep it "gender neutral". That little sweater was already partially done- I just decided to finish it off this week and donate that as well. It is a tiny sweater, much more suited to a rather skinny preemie than a full-term infant. Lord-willing, none of my friends or family members will need it...

I had no reason to drive to Indianapolis this week, so I chose to just call the NICU and let them know I'd be paying them a visit later this month. My daughter has a follow-up appointment with her eye doctor, so I'll already be at the children's hospital. We'll be out of "RSV season" by then, so it'll be a great time to pay our beloved nurses a visit! On that same trip, I plan to stop off at the Ronald McDonald House to drop off another box of food/toiletries that I've gathered over the past few months for them. Even though she's still quite young, it will be good for my daughter to be with me on these trips- to witness giving in action and to learn to view it as just a part of who we are. This is one of my wishes for my children... that giving and hospitality will become so second-nature that it does not feel like a "project", per se, but just a normal, everyday part of life.

As I worked on those little hats this past week, I was reminded of how caliming and cathartic crocheting can be for me. I truly adore handwork and I simply must thank my Grandma Jane for teaching me how to do it when I was only six years old. I also enjoyed how the process took me back in time to when my daughter was so teeny tiny and still in the NICU. When she was a couple weeks old, this was the hat that would have fit her little head:



It pays to remember that.
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To read more about this Lenten journey and why I'm doing it, please go here.
Be sure to stop by later today to find out what my sixth and final project will be!

Sacrificial Hospitality Challenge: Week 5

Hard to believe I've been doing these challenges for a whole month now! This project has been such a blessing in my life and has come at a time when, to be honest, it would have been easy to wallow in self-pity. I am forever amazed at how reaching out to others and giving of yourself can leave you feeling so much more fulfilled and satisfied with your own life.

For this week's challenge, I will be crocheting preemie hats for the children's hospital that cared for my daughter when she was born. There are oodles of people out there who knit or crochet baby hats and donate them to hospitals (and hallelujah for that!). A small percentage of those people make them for preemies. But precious few make hats to fit micropreemies. Consider this- a hat made to fit an average newborn should fit on a grapefruit. A hat for a moderately-to-very premature infant should fit an orange. But a preemie born before 28 weeks has a head closer in size to a lime or lemon. That is TINY. I made a hat for my baby girl when she was in the NICU because I was frustrated at how swamped she was by even the smallest hat they had. I was lucky- I already knew how to crochet (and knit- but I'm faster at crocheting). Not all mommies do and I'm convinced their babies still deserve hats that fit their precious tiny heads! I like the idea that this is a challenge I can fit in when I have a few moments- during quiet time with the kids or while watching a TV show with my husband.

If you have any interest in joining me in this project, you can find directions for making these tiny hats here.

How about you? Have you ever used your time and talents to make items to donate to those in need? I'd love to hear about it!

Sacrificial Hospitality: Week 4 RESULTS

Last week, I announced my latest challenge: making rosaries for a private juvenile detention center.

Unfortunately, I don't have too much to report this week...

My son and I did, indeed, MAKE eight rosaries together. Here he is with one of his favorites:



But I haven't been in contact with my sister-in-law's sister-in-law who is my "contact" at the center. And so, alas, the rosaries are currently packaged up, ready to go, sitting on my pantry counter. Not much hospitality going on there...

Here's what I can report...

A. and I had an absolutely delightful time making these together. It became a daily tradition, a ritual he would ask for. I am so proud to have a child who would choose to string a rosary over watching a cartoon! This beading time gave us lots of opportunities to pray together too, to review the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be together. Now, my son prefers to SING the Our Father (he is his mother's son after all!), but he enjoyed learning the sequence of prayers for the first time. My daughter, too, who is less verbal at this point, wanted in on the action and was starting to speak along with us... the repetition of the Hail Mary's made it easier for her to learn.

In short, while I would deem this past week's challenge as a failure, thus-far, in terms of delivery, it was still an incredibly fulfilling process. I also know that, eventually, these rosaries will make their way into hands that can benefit from them. Was it worth the time and effort? Oh, absolutely! I can easily see our family starting a tradition of making bunches of rosaries around Easter-time every year. Anyone care to join us? :)

To read more about these challenges and what sacrificial hospitality means to me, you can follow the series here.

Be sure to stop by later today to find out what my Week 5 Challenge will be!

Sacrificial Hospitality Challenge: Week 4

Some of you may remember that I wrote a post about why I like to say the rosary. In that post, I also talked about making rosaries with my then-3-year old son. We still enjoy making them together and that's what prompted my next challenge idea...

I recently got in touch with my sister-in-law's husband's sister (I'll let you work that out for a second...) who works in a juvenile detention center for emotionally disturbed youth. Before I go any further, let me stop and tell you how very much I admire the work she does and the strength it takes to do that job every single day. There are some occupations that I believe take a very special kind of person to do them well and this is definitely one of them.

It is a private center, actually, which is what makes my mission possible.

I asked her if it would be possible to donate some rosaries along with prayer cards showing how to say it. I have a strong suspicion that many of these young men (for it's all boys at this particular location) are very lost and could use a dose of faith. Something, someone, to believe in. Because, disturbed as they may be, no one has ever really believed in them before. It is this fact that breaks my heart... I have found comfort in the simplicity and repetition of the rosary and it is my hope that perhaps even one of these young men might some comfort as well.

Now, let me be clear and let you all know that this will be my most "removed" challenge to date. I will not actually be delivering the rosaries to the detention center. This is because I feel my children are simply too young to visit such a place right now. I don't think it's a bad thing for kids to be exposed to the "real world" at some point... for some, it's a very good thing. But at ages 3 and 4? I just think it's too soon and I don't want to risk scaring them or exposing them to crass language or vulgarity. Since I am their primary caregiver and at least one of them is always with me, I'm going to sit this one out and just pass the rosaries on. As a result, my challenge results next week might not be as specific as usual... but I'll do my best to get a report!

"(Hospitality) is not just about refilling glasses; it's about refilling confidence and restoring hope."
-A slice of pumpkin bread: how hospitality heals, by Christine Cappecchi
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Will anyone join me? How can you share your faith and give hope to others? Can you think of a special way to reach out this week? Share any thoughts or ideas in the comments!

Sacrificial Hospitality: Week 3 RESULTS

Well, unfortunately (ha, ha!), our weather was just too beautiful this past week! I did not have a cold or rainy day available to me to complete my Week 3 Challenge. But I didn't let that stop me! Unloading several children is never easy, rain or shine.

I had to run some errands in town this morning anyway, so it was the perfect opportunity to swing by the school for morning drop-off! My first errand (delivering a few bags of clothes to Goodwill) couldn't be completed until 9 am when they opened anyhow, so meeting the mommies in the parking lot at 8:30 worked out just fine for me.

First of all, let me just say that this ended up feeling like the most self-indulgent "sacrificial act" I've done yet. Don't get me wrong- I still like the idea and think it's an important way to help! But, the simple fact is, I know a lot of these parents and they hadn't seen me in awhile so, in reality, it turned into a gab fest and a whole lot of gushing about my baby arriving June.

Because, while I was definitely enjoying the conversation and attention, it didn't really feel like hospitality-- I worked hard to seek out parents I did NOT know. I found three different families (two mommies, one daddy) who had other children they were trying to juggle while gathering their preschoolers.



And you know what?

They were THRILLED. Absolutely amazed at how much easier it was to only shepherd the one child inside (although, ironically, none of us realized it was easy when we only HAD one child!). In fact, the dad I helped had this to say-

"We should form a volunteer co-op! I could definitely stop by Monday mornings because that would work with my work schedule. We could make a schedule and wouldn't that make it so easy for everyone?"

Now, the thing is, I live 17 miles from town so I can't really commit to being on a regular volunteer schedule. However, I do know I will be happy to stop by the preschool and volunteer a few minutes of "watching kiddos" whenever I have errands to run. If I hadn't been chatting so much (oops!), the whole gig took less than 15 minutes. I can certainly fit that into my day! And I will tell you this... the very fact that my actions may have started some wheels spinning and may ultimately result in a simpler morning routine for several families makes me very, very happy.
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How about in your neck of the woods? Did you find a way to make an everyday errand simpler for someone? I'd love to hear about it.

Be sure to stop by later today to find out what my Week 4 Challenge will be!

To read about why I'm doing all this, please see this post.

Sacrificial Hospitality Challenge: Week 3

I have to be honest... I am truly enjoying myself this Lenten season. I have been so much more MINDFUL of what the season is about this year and sharing hospitality has been such a rewarding journey. It hasn't been too hard to work these challenges with our current budget, but the creative thinking process has been good for me too.

And on to week 3...

I'm hoping this doesn't seem like a lame challenge to all of you! But, as I thought of needs I see out there that seem to go unmet, this one jumped to mind...

Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore my kids' preschool. The experiences and interaction they have there have been incredibly positive. It's an accredited public preschool (hence, on-site therapies, nurse, great resources) in a conservative town (where happily no one complains if you mention God and they DO celebrate Christmas, Easter, and other "religious" holidays). I wouldn't think of changing schools.

However, if there is one flaw with this location, it is the drop-off system. There is not a drop-off lane, if you will, for parents to pull up and have their child met by a staff member and escorted inside like at so many preschools. At our school, you must unload yourself and your child from the car, walk them to the entrance, ring the bell, and wait for someone to let you into the locked secure entrance.

No big deal, right?

Not really. Unless you have other children. And so many of us do! Then, you face the added challenge of juggling one, two, or three ADDITIONAL children while trying to get your preschooler in the building. It's time-consuming. It also often involves waking up a sleeping child. Because it's such an awkward process, I unfortunately witness a lot of mommies doing something that makes me incredibly nervous... they leave the other child(ren) in the car.

While it's true that the school is in a secure location and it only takes a couple minutes to drop off the preschooler, this practice still makes me anxious beyond belief.

We are fortunate, now, to have bus service for both of our children. This eliminates the whole drop-off juggling act for me. But I certainly remember it!

This week, I plan to drive to the school at drop-off and/ or pick-up time once or twice. I don't need to be there for my own kids. I just want to be there to help these moms. I want to offer to watch their sleeping/buckled/in-the-car children while they run in. Mine is a familiar face around there, lest you think I'll be creeping people out. (And, for the record, I seem to be one of the most non-threatening looking people in the country-- seriously, I NEVER get pulled aside for security checks and, in fact, people who are with me are often "released" just because they're traveling at my side... )

I know it would have made MY life so much simpler had another trusted mommy volunteered to keep an eye on my vehicle while my daughter slept inside and I ran in the building...

Maybe I can make some other busy mama's morning just a touch easier.

(**Note: I will be aiming for a day with unpleasant weather- cold and/or rainy- because that makes it even tougher on Mom!)
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How about you? Is there a way you could make an everyday errand simpler or safer for someone?

Sacrificial Hospitality: Week 2 RESULTS

When I headed into town with my 4-year old, it was still dark out and very, very rainy. To be honest, I would have just as soon delayed my errands for another day. I mean, it's not like we were OUT of milk. I could scrounge out another day or two with what we had...

But I had a mission. I had care packages to deliver. And what better day to spread some cheer than a gray, dismal, rainy one?

I had assembled our goodie bags earlier in the week and was all set to deliver them. I was excited, but a little anxious. What if other parents thought I was presumptuous? What if I tried to give one to someone and received a lecture on the corn syrup that was likely in that granola bar? I probably could have talked myself out of the whole idea during the 17-mile drive into town if it hadn't been for the constant singing going on between my son and me!

I used Hefty One-Zip bags to hold the items. I had picked up a box of these for free with a coupon. (Long story, but I bought a box one time and they were all defective. The company, in a true show of excellent service, paid me to send the defective bags to them AND sent me three free product coupons. Anyway...) In each bag, I slid a book (Beatrix Potter classics were clearanced for a quarter at our Target!), a couple coloring pages (I opted for doctor themes), four crayons, and a granola bar. Confession? Those crayons are "restaurant crayons"- the freebies they give you along with the kid's placemat? We don't go out to eat a whole lot, but every time we do we seem to collect more and more of those things. They're not new or pristine, but they still work! And, quite frankly, the ones I usually dole out in the waiting room have all been used too; I've yet to meet a child who cares. I actually usually make our granola bars, but these Fiber One bars were a fabulous deal and I thought strangers might feel safer with factory-packaged treats. I mean they don't know me like YOU all know me, right?? ;)

Sorry about the glare! I love that doctor pic- he looks so trustworthy! Actually, he kinda looks like my dad...

I had made up a half-dozen of these bags and that ended up being just about perfect! I was able to give two of them to the harried mom of twin newborns with two more kids about 3 and 5. I think because it was rainy, people seemed even LESS likely to be prepared. I could envision these poor parents dashing out the door with their sick little ones just trying to get to the car without getting soaked to the skin.

I received so many thanks and smiles... my son was absolutely delighted! He was so proud to hand them out. One woman gave him a Hershey's kiss as a thank you. It is true that one parent seemed afraid that I was selling the things and she seemed stunned and skeptical that I would just give it to her child with no strings attached. Again, this made me realize how infrequently we see such little displays of hospitality...

"Hospitality is a mark of affirmation, a signal that someone is special, like the ribbon bow on the baby shower invitation or the gold ink used to announce the retirement party. Little touches, big impact."
-Chirstine Capecchi
"A slice of pumpkin bread: How hospitality heals"

How about you? Did you find a little way to make someone's life slightly easier? Were you able to meet an unspoken need? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
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Be sure to stop by later today to see my challenge for Week 3.
To read what my Lenten journey is all about, see this post.

Sacrificial Hospitality Challenge: Week 2

Since last week's challenge was a definite success and my spirits are high, I am excited to face week 2 of my Lenten journey!

So here's something I've noticed...

Every time I go to the doctor's office for one of my kids- whether it be the regular pediatrician or my daughter's follow-up appointment at the hospital- I seem to be one of very few parents prepared for the wait. I always have snacks, books, crafts, coloring books and crayons, small toys, you name it...

And you know what ends up happening? Kids gather around me. I end up reading to a small crowd (which is perfectly fine, by the way!) and tearing out coloring book pages and doling out crayons. I really don't mind doing it, but I have to admit I sometimes feel sorry for the kids. And sometimes the parents seem somewhat embarrassed.

This week I plan to put together small "waiting room packages" to hand out. Children's books can be had for pennies at thrift stores or a dollar at Target. Or, quite honestly, I could retire a couple of our own for this purpose. We have a whole lot of crayons and coloring pages are easily printed up. I figure four crayons, a couple coloring pages, a small book, and a little snack (like a granola bar, for instance) would make a nice, neat package to help keep little ones happy and entertained. I look forward to being able to share these little treats with other parents and maybe making their day a little easier... it's not always easy to remember to pack those things when you're worried about a sick little one!

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How about you? Have you ever found yourself sharing with another family's children? Or perhaps you've benefitted from the generosity of others? What ways do you think you could reach out in a hospitable way? Feel free to join me on this challenge and be sure to come back for my results next Thursday!

Sacrificial Hospitality: Week 1 RESULTS

I rose bright and early, before the sun, on Tuesday morning and headed to my kitchen. I donned a pretty apron and set out ingredients to begin a marathon baking and cooking session. First on my list? Apple cinnamon muffins for Farmer Joe.

I mixed up my batter and, while the oven finished preheating, I started a pot of vanilla coffee- regular, not decaf, because unlike me Farmer Joe is not expecting. :) My kitchen started to smell divine and, as my spirits lifted, my voice rose in song. My 4-year old was my ever-willing assistant and the once frigid room quickly warmed up with the muffins in the oven.

Within a half-hour, the coffee was poured in a thermos, the muffins were fresh from the oven, and I was ready to head out to see Farmer Joe.



As luck would have it, those first bands of light were just appearing over the horizon and I knew he'd be heading for his tractor any minute.

I was there when he got there.

I actually think he was afraid something was wrong at first... which to me meant I don't do this kind of thing enough. When I handed him the coffee and warm muffins, his cheeks turned pink and a shy smile crossed his big face. Since it was still only in the teens, I knew some warmth would be welcome. He thanked me- several times- and promised to return the basket and thermos (as if I had worries or doubts! ;) ). I headed back to our house to return to my baking marathon...

The cost of all this? Well under a dollar of cash and a half hour or so of my time.

The benefit? A much brighter morning for me and, hopefully, for Farmer Joe. Also, I hope my actions may serve as an example to my children of the joy of hospitality and having a giving, thoughtful spirit.

Did any of you surprise a neighbor? Did you reach out in a way you might not ordinarily? I'd love to hear about it. Please share in the comments or, if you've blogged about it, leave a link so I can stop by and read about it.

For more information about my Lenten journey, click here.

To find out what I'll be taking on as a challenge this upcoming week, be sure to stop by later today.

Sacrificial Hospitality Challenge: Week 1

I have a very kind neighbor. I shall call him Farmer Joe. He's always ready with a wave and does sweet things like plow our whole driveway without our ever having to ask. I wave back and let his big, goofy black dog romp through my yard. We don't "hang out" together; he's probably 30 years older than me. But we have a good relationship.

Recently, as I pondered just how gung ho I wanted to get over my garden this year- what-with being due to have a baby in June and all- there was a knock on my kitchen door. (To many people, this would be the "back door", but here in the country-- well, that's the door EVERYONE comes to!) It was Farmer Joe. He wanted to let me know that he was planning to plant a half-acre fruit and veggie garden on the land between our homes. He wanted to make sure we felt welcome to take and use whatever we wanted from that garden since it would be far more than he and his wife would need. I was so incredibly touched. And, well, relieved that I needn't plan a huge garden of my own to tend!

And so, for this week's hospitality project, I want to reach out to Farmer Joe. He has some early mornings. I often see him heading out to his tractor with the very first light. My goal this week is to meet him out there one morning with a thermos of vanilla coffee and some fresh apple muffins. It's still darn chilly around here in those early mornings (and often throughout the day too) and I think something warm might brighten his early day just a touch.

How about you? Do you have a neighbor who could use a lift? Is there something you could deliver that might make his or her day just a tad brighter? Feel free to join me! I'll tell you all about how it goes next Thursday. For more information on why I'm doing this, please see this post.

Sacrificial Hospitality: A Lenten Journey

With today being Ash Wednesday, I wanted to share with all of you a project that has been brewing in my little head since before the Advent season.

Back in November, I read an article in The Catholic Moment entitled A slice of pumpkin bread: How hospitality heals. And I was touched very deeply by the author's words:

"Lately I have been reflecting on hospitality, a virtue that doesn't get nearly the air time as charity or forgiveness, patience or moderation," Capecchi writes, "... this neglected virtue can invite holy exchanges. And we can practice it every hour of the day- no matter the size of our bank accounts or our knowledge of Martha Stewart tips. Hospitality is not just a virtue you exercise when hosting a party in your home; it's something you carry wherever you go, whether you serve are are being served.... it's not just about refilling empty glasses; it's about refilling confidence and resoring hope."

How true is that? Don't get me wrong- I appreciate a beautifully set table as much as the next gal, but true hospitality goes beyond that. It involves anticipating one another's needs and striving to meet them.

And so, throughout this Lenten season, I will be embarking on a journey to provide more hospitality. I learned a very personal lesson in the value of hospitality when my daughter was in the hospital for almost four months. My life was made so much richer by the selfless acts of others.

Each week I will take on a new "project", if you will, that I think will brighten others' days and meet unspoken needs. The "sacrificial" element comes from the fact that any time or materials needed to complete these projects will have to come out of the money in the budget and hours in the day I already have. I am confident I can make it happen.

My original plan had been to involve all of you, to invite you on this journey with me. I had intended to set up weekly Mr. Linky's so that you could all document your hospitality projects and share here. But, hmm, did I mention that it's already Ash Wednesday? It would be unfair at this point to expect you all to jump on in. So, instead, I will be sharing my experiences with you each week. I'll announce my project for the week each Thursday and give an update on how the previous week's went.

Be on the lookout tomorrow for my first mission. I'll be starting kind of small. :) Please feel free to join in! I would love to read about your experiences in the comments or, if you blog about it, leave your link in the comments so I can be sure to hop over and read it. If there is significant interest in this type of project, I'll be more than happy to host a more organized version later in the year-- after all, hospitality is most certainly not something we need to limit to Lent.

A New Year's Commitment: Pop Tabs

I've written about collecting pop tabs before. As this New Year rolls on, I want to re-address the topic and share a little more information with you all.

Ronald McDonald House charities have established houses all over the world, mostly in larger cities with significant children's hospitals. These houses are set up to provide lodging to families with a sick or hospitalized child. Most of them charge on a sliding scale (and usually no more than $10 per night) and they provide all the necessities you could need during such a difficult time. It is an amazing organization that relies heavily on the generosity of sponsors and donations.

I want to encourage all of you to commit to help this year. And here's why...

• Collecting pop tabs is ridiculously easy. You can find them on beer, juice, soda, and diet drink cans. You can also find them on soup and pet food cans. Removing these tabs does not interfere with recycling the rest.
• The tabs can be turned in at numerous places. Many McDonald's restaurants accept them, the children's hospital will take them, the actual RM House will take them, and lots of schools have ongoing collections going.
• Every little bit helps.

Consider this...

It takes 1,267 pop tabs to add up to one pound of aluminum. One pound of aluminum sells for about 40 cents. Yikes. But, even given that, last year alone, here are the amounts a few cities raised just on pop tab donations alone...

Colorado Springs: $3,000 Kansas City: $19,600 Milwaukee: $20,038

Since the pop tab program began in 2000, over 4 million dollars has been raised for Ronald McDonald House charities. I find that amazing.

It is so important to me that I share this information. I would love to know if any of you are already collecting pop tabs or if any of you are willing to commit to start. It is a cause near and dear to me since we stayed in a Ronald McDonald House for 3 1/2 months after our little girl was born. But, even with that, I know there are friends and family of mine who are not currently saving their pop tabs. Which makes me wonder if people who don't have a personal story would even bother...

I already save them (though I didn't know about the soup tabs before doing the research for this post!) so I'm committing in 2009 to tell as many people about it as I can.

Please feel free to ask me any questions or share any concerns in the comments! I'll do my best to respond to anything you throw my way.

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For more ideas on how to do things the frugal way, please visit Crystal's Biblical Womanhood every Friday!

Blessed with Hand-Me-Downs

I don't know about you but, to me, hand-me-downs are one of life's great blessings. My husband and I are each the youngest of three children and we have ten nieces and nephews. Since my son was a newborn, I have received boxes full of beautiful, classic clothes to use thanks to my sister who has two boys of her own (and taste very similar to mine!). My brother has girls, so when C. arrived, I had a new source. My siblings and siblings-in-law will tell you-- there is very little I will turn down. Similarly, as we've had essentially back-to-back pregnancies, my sisters-in-law and I have passed a box of maternity clothes between us, each adding more as she goes.

I adore hand-me-downs. I can't imagine how much I've saved.

If you have a preemie, especially a very tiny preemie, you usually end up with a fairly large collection of preemie-sized baby clothes. These are garments designed for babies under 5 lb and, while I'm sure they all look super tiny to most people, there's actually a huge variance in how preemie sizes run. So, within your collection, you probably have a spectrum of sizes.

The thing about preemie clothes is this... hopefully, your siblings, friends, and neighbors won't need them. You can pass on those 0-3 month sleepers and feel confident they'll fit for at least a couple of weeks (!), but preemie clothes? Even small-ish newborns find newborn size clothes a better fit.

If you don't know anyone personally who has a preemie, I encourage you to talk to your local children's hospital. Whatever hospital has the highest level NICU in it. (FYI, this is often a teaching hospital.) Many of these hospitals are happy to accept used preemie clothes. And, in reality, my preemie clothes would be the only size that was completely "new to me". So they're in excellent shape. For all sorts of reasons, there are lots of NICU preemies who don't have families supplying them with clothing. The nurses are happy to have a collection on hand to use for these babies. Clothing, like blankets, can be washed and re-used. It happens, even in hospitals, all the time.

Most clothing drive campaigns for preemies request new garments. And that's wonderful. But if you're looking to contribute, and what you have to offer is gently used, contact your hospital... odds are good your generosity will be much appreciated and you won't have to shell out extra cash to make a difference.

For more frugal ideas, visit Crystal's Frugal Friday!

Three Painless Ways to Help

When it comes to hospitalized children and their families, there are few among us who don't want to help in some way. As someone who needed an awful lot of help almost three years ago, I'm glad for that generous, caring spirit that exists in so many!

But it's hard. And we don't all have much in the way of extra funds. Or even extra time.

Here are three things you can do to benefit hospitalized children without breaking the bank or taxing your schedule:

1. Collect Pop Tabs-- If you or anyone in your family drinks canned soda, juice, or beer, don't forget to pull the tabs off. You can still recycle them for full value. Those tabs play a huge part in the funding of Ronald McDonald Houses around the country. Ronald McDonald Houses exist to provide a place for families to stay to be close to their hospitalized children. If you're not close to a RMH or a children's hospital, you can also drop them off at any McDonald's Restaurant. Some even have a collection bin in the drive-thru. Also consider putting a pop tab collection box in your office break room, church hall, or even dorm lounge. These boxes are available from any RMH or, if you'd like, send me an email with your address and I'll pick some up and mail them out...
   
2. Consider buying books and stuffed animals at Kohl's-- Kohl's has a program called Kohl's Cares for Kids that is ongoing throughout the year. During any given season, you can find approximately four different books and corresponding stuffed animals for sale up by the registers. These are often excellent books by renowned children's authors. Each hard-bound book or animal sells for just five dollars. All proceeds go to benefit local children's hospitals and charities. In our state, a good portion goes toward carseat research and programs that help ensure every child is safe. Five dollars isn't "free", but it's a good deal for a book or toy that will make a great gift.
3. Sign the Prematurity Awareness Petition-- Taking 30 seconds to add your name to the list helps show that these tiny babies matter to you. Raising awareness and ensuring continuing research and education is dependent on the voice of many.

Sometimes, it really is the little things that count. Children around the country are counting on us to do those little things.