Giving Tuesday!

Did your Thanksgiving feast include more leftovers than you could possibly eat? Ours did! My son-in-law baked a 20-pound turkey for the four of us. Obviously more than we could eat, but we had a plan. A plan to give.

We tried to serve at a homeless shelter and other charitable organizations but they were fully staffed with volunteers, so we did our own thing. We used our "plan overs" to make individual bag lunches for the homeless. The homeless are not worthless. We tried to make a meal that would be a tiny feast for each one. 

Everyone pitched in and the dog waited patiently
to clean up any dropped tidbits.

My Sweetheart carved up the beautiful bird.

Son made turkey sandwiches on hearty sunflower bread.

I made GigiSnaps!

Bagged 'em up!

Son-in-law washed and dried the apples!

Set up our assembly line of 30 bags.
With our sandwich, apple and cookies,
we included a bag of chips, mayo and mustard
 packets, a holiday napkin, and a handwritten note!
Oh, and a Wet Wipe!

Put them in totes for easy distribution.

Found a park with willing recipients.

In five minutes or less all those lunches disappeared.

We learned from our new friends that they eat well on the holidays and most weekends. However, food is scarce on the weekdays. Don't wait for a holiday. Do your own thing whenever it works for you. Teach your children to give back. It brought us so much joy. The only sad thing was that we didn't do more. 

Happy holidays!

Life in the Bubble

In March we moved to a lovely community in Peachtree City, Georgia.The town encircles a nature preserve which offers frequent views of deer, squirrels, box turtles,and an occasional raccoon. Almost a hundred miles of cart paths wind through the forest, around lakes and golf courses. A relaxing evening for us consists of a cart ride to dinner and a stop along the lake to watch the sun go down.Peace envelopes us.

The teenagers nicknamed Peachtree City as "The Bubble." Their logic being, "There's nothing to do here." That makes me smile. Yes, there is a strong police presence. You will get a speeding ticket for going more than 40 mph.I am very grateful for that.Independent businesses thrive because box stores are limited.No movie theater exists within the city limits, but there is community involvement like I have not seen in decades.

On Halloween night our neighbors set up chairs and tables at the end of their driveways to dole out generous amounts of confectionery delights.Families decorated their carts and delivered scores of children to enjoy "drive-thru" trick-or-treating.Attracted by the brilliant orange lights outlining our cart, neighbors dropped by to introduce themselves. I might never have met them. Downside--I can no longer leave the house without make-up because I now know my neighbors.

Life in the Peachtree City Bubble does not protect me from political and social drama.The most distressing conflicts are those within the Christian world. The Enemy loves to watch us tear each other apart.If we do not extend mercy and grace to each other what can unbelievers expect from us? Not much.

My life in the Bubble must include God. Faith makes things possible, not easy. My trust is in Him. What does me expect from me?

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
Except to be just, and to love[and to diligently practice]
kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown
sense of importance or self-righteousness]? Micah 6:8 (AMP)

That's pretty simple. Would you join me in praying for an extra measure of grace to let go of "any overblown sense of importance." If we let go of that, I believe it will release us from the anxiety and fear of judgment by others as we no longer judge them.

Snickerdoodles

Photo by Naylor Made Photography

Rolled in cinnamon and sugar, baked until crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle, these cookies bring a sense of warmth and happiness. I've been known to call them "boy bait" 'cause I've never met a man who could resist them.

SNICKERDOODLES

1 cup soft shortening (part butter)
1 ½ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 ¾ cup flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. soda
¼ tsp. salt
Heat oven to 400. Mix shortening, sugar and eggs thoroughly. Blend all dry ingredients; stir in.
Roll into balls the size of small walnuts. Roll in mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Place 2” apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. (These cookies puff up at first, then flatten out.) Makes about 5 dozen 2” cookies.

Double the recipe and put half the dough in a quart-size freezer bag. When things get crazy during the holidays or your kids pull an "Oh-by-the-way-I-need-cookies-for-school-tomorrow!" you will be all set!

How to Avoid a Zombie Apocalypse!!!

A friend of mine said based on what she saw in the news and posted on social media a zombie apocalypse is imminent!! The news is full of the worst of mankind: bombings; riots; and, intolerance of every kind. Then there is the election! I can't EVEN!We don't need zombies to finish off civilization. We are doing a pretty good job all by ourselves.

The only way to avoid a Zombie Apocalypse and beat evil is cover each other in love.A random act of kindness is a seed of love. Just a small thing, planted one at a time.

One of my favorite things to do is to pay for the food of the car behind me in a drive-through. It brings me so much joy and excitement, I've been known to drive off without my food.

If I change my mind about purchasing an item, I return it to the shelf or give it to a clerk. I return my shopping cart to the bin and sometimes, stray carts as well. When shopping I place fallen clothing to the hanger. No one knows about this small deed, but I get a rush knowing I made some clerk's day a little easier. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Peter said: "I make the Master proud of me by being a good citizen. I respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, I might cure the ignorance of the fools who think I'm a danger to society. I exercise my freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. I treat everyone I meet with dignity. I love my spiritual family, revere God, and respect the government. 1 Peter 2:13-17 (The Message)

Leave me a message here or on Facebook and let me know if you found a way to be randomly kind. I promise it will bring you joy.

Here are some other suggestions which I found at www.daretobeanangel.com:

	Compliment a stranger sincerely
	Write a thank you note to someone
	Look around you that can be fixed up, picked up, or attended ie, put shopping carts up, pick up some trash laying around, pick up something that has fallen over
	Give a lottery ticket to a stranger
	Send handmade cards or a letter to someone you care for
	Write a note to management or someone who has treated you nice while doing their job (waiter, clerk, sales person...ect.)
	when you go somewhere to get or do something, ask someone around you if you can pick up, drop off or do something for them while you do
	Cut coupons out and leave them at the grocer register for others
	Cut an article out of the newspaper that would interest a friend and mail it to them.
	Put together a writing kit with stationery, envelopes and stamps, pen and give to hospital/nursing home
	Put a comment on someone's webpage that you really like...... let them know you enjoy it
	Send a card to someone in the military overseas
	Start a conversation up with a co-worker that you don't know
	Leave something cheery or nice for all your co-workers (in spring bag of seeds, fun post-its, fun office supplies
	Put change in a row of vending machines
	Visit a nursing home. Spend time visiting with someone who doesn't get visitors
	Put something you no longer need on Craig's list free spot for your area
	Leave something for someone at an area where it most might be used, (book in reading area, umbrella near door on rainy day)
	Leave a book you have already finished somewhere for someone else to read.
	Drop off a toy or game at a hospital
	Drop off a toy or game at a homeless shelter.
	At post office leave some extra stamps at the stamp machine.
	Send a picture you have taken which includes a friend and send it to them with a note remembering when it was taken
	Buy a phone card and give to a homeless shelter for them to give to someone.
	Open the phone book, pick a name, and send them something (movie tickets, thank you card, you are appreciated card, book, etc.) anonymously.
	Take flowers to a hospital ward and give them to someone who hasn't had any visitors.
	Take some cake, chocolates, flowers etc. to the neighbors, or a senior citizen nearby
	Send someone a small gift anonymously
	Donate one hour of your time if you offer a service for a living, or one product, or one seminar, or one class, or just one of whatever it is that you do as a gift to someone else.
	Invite someone who is alone over for dinner.
	Share a comic strip or something funny with someone else.
	Leave a chocolate for a co-worker.
	write a note, send a e-greeting "just to say hello" to someone who might need a pick me up
	Visit hospitals with smiles, treats and friendly conversation for patients.
	Send a thank you to the employees at a hospital, or anywhere else that a cheerful thank might add a smile
	Put a quarter in a parking meter that has expired
	Write a thank-you note to a person from your past who has made a difference in your life.
	Drop off a plant, flowers or apple pie at a public service organization or your neighbors house.
	Send someone an animated greeting card on the internet.
	Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
	Drop off teddy bear to police department to give to traumatized children
	Drop a few coins in an area where children play, where they can easily find them.
	Copy a favorite recipe and give it to someone
	Buy a copy of your favorite book and donate it to your local library or hospital
	Write letters of appreciation to groups who are helping the community, the environment, etc.
	Send a card to a friend or relative you haven't seen for some time. Include a photo of yourself and/or your family.
	Make a point of introducing yourself to someone you see all of the time but never say hello to.
	Send an anonymous scratch card, lottery or theater ticket to someone you know - or a gift voucher, a funny card, a chocolate bar, or whatever you feel they would enjoy
	If you know someone who is having a hard time financially, pop a $5, $10 or $20 note in an envelope, disguise your writing or type the envelope, and post it to them.
	Offer to baby sit
	Donate clothes to Salvation Army.
	Put change in a charity change bottle
	Bring cookies or some snack to work for office
	Drop off cookies at a random establishment

I challenge you to conquer the darkness of this world by spreading the light of love.