January 2012 Blog Posts (666)

Today I took my "seatmate" Laronda a small plastic container of jewelry cleaner.  She has a nice wedding diamond and said that her husband is buying her another diamond ring for Valentine's Day, so she'll use the cleaner on that ring, also.

Had a dentist appointment today and I had to have a tooth repaired (glad I wasn't imagining the pain) and filled.  I went to Panera Bread afterwards and bought my dentist's office a baker's dozen of bagels.  They were happy and thankful and I'm glad I did this because they let me be on a payment plan and have treated me great since I first became a patient in 2001!

Almost 8 yrs ago I met my husband.  After we got together & we knew it was a life long relationship I began to meet his family.  My husband has 4 brothers & 1 sister and the family welcomed with open arms like they had known me forever.  They are all very close which is wonderful because my family is very close too but we are a small family.   My husband is Hispanic & I'm the whitest girl on earth standing next to him and now I have this huge family who I wouldn't trade for…

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving,

Make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!”  (Amanda Bradley)

Hi Friends,

I just checked…

Today brought a situation that evoked all my judginess, and I've been debating whether to write it out fully or just write about what I'm learning from it (as always, in the hopes that others will be able to relate). I think the story and lesson merit the full context. Be warned: long post, even for me!

When I was in a real bind financially, two things happened (well, lots more, but two that are relevant to this story): 1) I set up an online Word Sale, where I offered various…

Wow, I am so excited and nervous to star this journey!  I first heard about 29 Gifts through a RSDSA support group newsletter.  I must admit that sharing the same first name (almost) with the author has a bit to do with reading the book :).  I was also intrigued by the fact that someone my age facing a chronic condition had written a book.  So, I downloaded the book on my Nook and started reading.  I love reading on my Nook because I can highlight passages that are meaningful to me or stand…

January 31, 2012

This is my first time publicly committing to the 29 Gifts Challenge. I have read the book three times over the past three or four years, and half-heartedly began the challenge once. I didn’t stick with it because I got wrapped up in life after about 10 days.

I am a teacher. I teach yoga and fitness classes and coach people to incorporate more healthy habits and choices into their lifestyles. Someone famous said if you want to learn something, teach it. That’s…

Lately I have been going through a rough spell, I lost my job before Christmas and since then I have applied to a few new ones but I have mainly been sitting around, spending excessive time on facebook, and feeling miserable and very sorry for myself. Luckily, my parents have allowed me to move back home, so I am under no financial stress. Anyhow, I feel that now is the time to look forward rather than dwell on past sorrows, so I decided to do another round of giving to focus my thoughts and…

Okay, so my daughter lent me Under the Dome by Stephen King - probably last Thanksgiving.   And I put off reading it and started it again just before Christmas.   She drew the line at lending me 11/22/63 (about the assassination of JFK, which I really do want to read)-  until I finished this one first - 1000+ pages.    I found Killing Lincoln a compelling read, which is saying alot from someone who never liked history.  So I let my library books pile up, returned some on reserve and FINALLY…

Day 10: Sunday I was flying home from Las Vegas and I had the whole day to spend with my love, as I took a girls weekend without him. I came home early so that I could spend my last day of the weekend with him. I took this day with him to showering him with love and yummy food. I took him to an awesome Thai restaurant that we discovered. He loved it!

Day 11: Yesterday I ran into a girl who is struggling with substance abuse issues and life... at first I was very concerned, as…

My gift today came early. A friend called on my way in to work. Needed a compassionate ear. I just happened to have one. My heart and soul goes out to her today--I'm sending her all  my good vibes! May she have a good day. May she be filled with peace. May she feel God's grace and prescence in her life today.

THE 29 GIFTS PROJECT

Gave my mom a call yesterday morning and it ended up being a pretty lengthy phone call. I could talk to my mom for hours, I just enjoy my time spent with her even if it's on the phone. She's a wonderful mom, grandma and friend.

This is from my blog - Money and Me- where I wrote about starting the challenge tomorrow.

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Starting tomorrow (Feb. 1st) I am going to be doing the 29-Day Giving…

Day 10: I was on the phone with a good friend, crying over a bit of a broken heart.  She had seen that I'd left a message, and her gift for the day was to call me even though it was late (11pm) and I'm sure she'd have preferred to get to sleep.  My gift was to thank her for being such a good friend - one who would call at 11 and talk to me for as long as it takes to make me feel better (and to gently remind me of the advice we tell each other so often: it's always better in the morning - and…

Today met the definition of a crazy Monday at work.  So when I came home I decided that I was going to relax for the evening.  I cooked dinner and we ate.  I got the kitchen cleaned up and sat down with my Kindle to read.  I almost forgot to post on here today so I decided to take a quick break to write on here and find a snack and then it's back to my book.  I can't remember when I've enjoyed a Monday evening so much!

I received a lot more than I gave today. The sum of my gifts was 1) cleaning the counter at the coffee shop, 2) leaving a dollar in an abandoned doorway near a bus stop. I love leaving things for people to find, and 3) listening to a friend.

What I received: a free coffee this morning (the clerk said, "You're always buying coffee for other people, so now you get one free."), then some pieces of banana bread from another clerk (who is also a friend); then, late in the…

Do all of you know about Freecycle? I finally joined this week, and it is absolutely amazing. If you need a simple way to give gifts to strangers, this is it.

Every city/county has it's own Freecycle network, run by volunteers. (If you live in a rural area, you may not have one.) At least where I live, it's a Yahoo group. When you have something you want to give away, you simply send an email offering it up. Lots of people respond, and you pick one to give it to.

I have been…

Today I gave a friend  a key chain...It reads,"When a door  closes >>>GOD, Opens a window! I really Believe that God is a Blessing to us all, each and ever day. Even in the midst of a dark moment... God has his plan. Close your eyes and pray...cause He's right here to stay!!! It will ALL be O.K !!! God Blesses us all...AMEN! Thank-You for all of you who have followed me & encouraged me on this giving experience. One day left..What will I give?