Blissfully Unaware of the Chaos the Surrounds Me

700 Club Interactive . . .

So . . . I was on national television. I told John that I was going to put it on my bucket list. And promptly check it off!

The back story? When our Random Acts of Chico Kindness made the the local news in December, it caught the eye of a producer for the 700 Club Interactive. (Yes . . . a spin-off of the 700 Club.) I didn't think much of it and went on my merry way. I did however, kind of think that it was a joke. Me? Me on a religious, faith-based program? All of a sudden I was in a bit of a panic. 

Was I good enough? Was I faithful enough to represent our cause? I really (and I mean REALLY) struggled. What if I was called into question and somehow diminished what we were trying to do?

God came through. (Doesn't he always?) Grace showed up. (Amen.) And I remembered that (a) it wasn't about me and (b) even if it was, I was good enough. Because the God of all creation made me. He ceated me to be who I was. Faults (oh, so many of them) and all. Ultimately, it wasn't about me. It was about what we were doing. It just took me a few minutes (days) to remember and be assured of that.

I talked with a couple of 700 Club Intereactive producers. I did a phone interview to provide background. And then I promptly forgot all about it until the day before. It was actually the night before. And I was most worried about the setting for my Skype interview. (Denial is powerful, people!) I had to actually put away the Chritmas mantle and pull it together!

Amazingly, I signed onto Skype at 7:30, did the technology prep with their a/v guy and was live at 8:00 am. I was done and taking Halle to school by 8:30. How crazy is that? What that actually is, my friends . . . is real life! National television at 8:00 am . . . preschool drop-off at 8:30. Nuts!

The long and short of it? I am so proud of our community. I am so incredibly proud that people stepped up and gave. People gave in little bits and pieces and all-together? People gave big. Really, really big.

And I am so blessed to be a part of it. Mark my words . . . this just the beginning . . . God-willing. We are going to keep giving. More. Bigger. Less of us. More of Him.

A Season of Giving . . .

and receiving.

Having surgery on the 13th of December has forced me to be on the receiving end of kindness and generosity more than I admittedly like to be. Allowing our Shannon to drive up from the Bay Area to basically babysit me (and Halle!) for 24 hours in exchange for her gas money? Was hard for me. Having friends bring us meals when I felt like we could just survive on sandwiches and snacks for a couple of weeks? Difficult for my stubborn nature. But the very smallest of gestures have blessed me just as much as the largest.

My sweet Aunt offered to come and vacuum my house and mop my floors. Because she knows that's a big post-hysterectomy no-no. My BFF drove me to the craft store. And she doesn't even like crafts! Our friends brought us dinners and breakfasts and sweet treats . . . always just when we needed them. Friends called and offered up playdates for Halle, just when she/we needed a break the most! My friends saved us a place at the preschool Christmas performance because they knew I'd be moving really slowly and wouldn't have gotten there in time to find a place to sit. My Mama friends stepped up and drove carpool every day. My Basketball Mama friends drove to and from practice everyday. Most days I didn't even know who was driving, but just knew that those ladies were going to take care of my boy.

I love living in a community like we do. Not just the city in which we dwell, but rather the community that lives and breathes and grieves and celebrates with us. The pre-op nurse who clutches my hand and wipes my tears and she prays for me on the gurney. Our friends who just step up and fill our needs. The people who love us . . . not just with words, but with the heartfelt actions.

My friends Robyn and Karissa are probably about as close to a wife as I'll ever get.  (And if you are a wife or have a husband or have had a husband or been a wife, or heck, seen a husband and/or a wife in action; you will understand what I mean. No offense intended.) They call me when they are out and about to see if I need anything. They bring me things from their own pantries when I am missing an ingredient. They reprimand my (almost perfect children) if I'm not around to do it. They share clothes with me. And boots. We call each other for computer issues at any given hour of the day or night.  Or emotional issues, for that matter.

Yesterday, Robyn went to Trader Joe's for me. I went to Costco for her. THEN, she ordered dinner for us at Tong Fong Low and had her husband deliver it to my door!  (After spending an hour gathered by my tree, sharing challenges, champagne and eating yummy strawberry licorice!)

That, my friends, is community. That is love. That is giving and receiving all wrapped into one. That is relationship. There is no tit-for-tat. There is no scorecard. It just works. And it breathes life into me!

So thank you, friends. You are family to me. Karissa Jean. Robyn. Shannon. The other Shannon. Lauren. Lynn (even if you didn't make me a sweet embroidered Advent craft like you did for Linda). Linda. Karen. Stacy. Janell. Ree. Kathleen. Renee. Marci. Julie. Pina. Keri. Hannah. Becky. Dawn. My basketball Mamas. My carpool Mamas. My church family.

All of you. Bless me beyond measure.

And today? Was beyond amazing. I put out the call on Facebook that I wanted to raise $100 for a local family. I didn't even know who it was when I put out the call. Almost $300 later . . . made with mostly $5 donations . . . we are going to bless 2 single Mamas and their littles, as well as help out another elderly woman. 

Tomorrow, I get to go shopping. And I get to play Santa to some young (teen) Mamas. Girls who have been through the wringer. I maybe even get to squeeze on their sweet little ones as I drop off my goodies. Groceries, coats, toys and gift cards.

Do you have any idea how blessed I am by this? I mean, seriously. 15+ people giving $5 or $10 dollars. One friend giving $25. Another giving $50. My Dad matching my first $100 raised. 

Community. That's what it is. That's who we are. That's what we do.

Random Acts of Kindness . . .

Day 1 . . . 

So this is our deal this December. We are, as a family, committed to doing one Random Act of Kindness every day until Christmas.

Today, I did something that I very, very rarely do.

I gave cash to someone standing at an intersection, holding a sign, asking for money.

I've always been a big believer in giving money to programs designed to help the homeless, rather than to the homeless themselves.

But today, while I was listening to Christmas music (!!), nearing the end of my commute, I rolled up to the red light as I exited the freeway. And there he was. Inches away from my car window. And I had the cash to give. (How blessed am I?) So I gave it.

And you know what? That man might have walked straight over to the gas station on the corner and bought a 40 oz for breakfast. 

But I am OK with that. It's not for me to judge. It's not for me to decide. 

I asked God for opportunities to present themselves to me this month. 

This was an opportunity.

I also felt led to start a Facebook group to encourage local Acts of Kindness. That has already - in the last 24+ hours - been a huge blessing to me. What an encouragement.

What an opportunity.