Demonstrating the Love of God

August 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

Me & Pastor Harrison

Pastor Michael Harrison of The Community Fellowship in Collinsville VA invited me to come and see what was happening in their community for Back2School 2011.  I was honored with the invitation and decided to make the trip to see what was going on in his corner of the world.  What I saw and experienced was nothing short of amazing.

The entire event was very well laid out, from beginning to end.  People came at their designated times, signed in and went to the story area.  They were told about Christ and about washing feet/serving and how we show love for each other by serving and helping.  The next station was where all the children received free haircuts if they choose to. People from his church, community and others that wanted to help make the day special volunteered to cut hair.  Even though it meant standing much of the day, these volunteers were very professional, giving these children great cuts to start their school year off with.

Then the children moved on to received their new shoes and a pair of socks.  I had the honor of working in this area.  There were about 25 chairs set up for the kids to sit in and we (the workers) sat on the floor in front of them.  We removed their shoes, sock and told our runner what size we needed.  As we washed their feet, we chatted about what they wanted to be when they grew up and anything else that came up.  3 of the children that I served were enjoying their birthday that day.

I'd LOOOOVE to have a pair of these!!

The best part was when the new shoes came out and their eyes would light up.  From girly pink converse, to sky blue and then the one’s that had hope, JOY and love on them.  Some of the shoes lit up, some had Speed Racer and the Mach 5 on them, but ALL of them brought mile wide smiles from the kids as well as the parents and grandparents.  I was blessed to be able to pray with each and every child that I served.    Talk about an honor.  Several of the children gave me the biggest hugs and thanked me before leaving. I smiled and said you are welcome and invited them to come and be part of this awesome church, knowing I was just a visitor for a day and that the thanks belonged to a church with a huge heart for others.

They left that area and went on to receive 5 articles of clothes.  This clothing area was nothing like I’ve ever seen.  They looked neatly pressed.  I had the chance to speak with Nancy, who heads up the clothing closet and she told me that 25 precious ladies help keep it neat and in order by volunteering their time each week.

Once the kids received their clothes, they were then able to receive their brand new backpack filled with various school supplies.

I pretty much stayed in the one area from 9:45 am to 5:30pm.  My husband worked in various places through the day.   They started at 8am and I have no clue when the cleanup ended so that services could take place on Sunday morning.

Washing Feet

I can’t imagine the work that was put into this event through the entire year and invite Pastor Harrison to share in the comments below anything his heart desires.

The ladies I worked alongside of were simply wonderful! Everyone was super nice and had no idea I was from so far away, not that that mattered, as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

I felt at home there, serving with them and look forward to going back next year and even helping where we can before then.

It’s my honor to support them financially, to be a voice for them and to do what I can to help.

I went there to spread some joy and be a blessing to Pastor Harrison as well as to see how they are making a difference in their community so that maybe one day, my community can reach out to others in the same fashion.  I received a wealth of information on making a huge event like this happen as well as back2school supplies for my own upcoming event. Unbelievable!

If you are in the area, I invite you to check them out.  If you are on twitter, I invite you to follow @michaelharrison and his church @the_community.

Thank you Pastor Harrison for the invitation and the opportunity to serve your community!

Please visit the following

The Community Fellowship – church link

Pastor Harrison’s Blog

Information on the Dream Center in Collinsville VA

Here is a link to Pastor Harrison’s Summary – in short 938 students came to the event and when you include adults over 2,000 people showed up.  Over 400 haircuts were given, and over 230 volunteers helped to ensure this event was the best it could be.

Amazing.  Completely Amazing.

 

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Christmas JOY – The Celebration

December 22, 2010 By 10 Comments

It started like any other morning before a Spreading Joy event.  A million things running through my mind and this time, it’s a little different because I’m planning and handling much of the Christmas JOY event for the ladies at the Battered Womens Shelter & children from my hotel room in Virginia.  Then it hits me.  SNOW!! It was supposed to snow over night. I hurry to the huge window in my room and sure enough, IT’S SNOWING!!!! The little girl in me is so very excited! I can immediately see that there are several inches on the ground already.  I’m supposed to work a half day and then head home to Charlotte NC and start picking up toys for Friday nights Christmas JOY event!  I quickly get ready and head to work.

Much like a child that can’t wait to get out in the snow, I find a window and look out.  It is pouring snow!  Buckets! My heart is filled with worry at this point.  How am I going to make it home? I call my sister.  Tell her what I’m seeing.  She tries to comfort me saying, things will be a little stressful but it will be ok.  I quickly tell her that “you are NOT seeing what I’m seeing!”  We chat about the possibilities of me not making it back.  Two of the greatest things I love are both now tugging at my heart, snow and Spreading Joy.  I head back to work thinking ok, it will work out no matter if I get home or not.  I’m just going to enjoy my gift of snow! I finish out my half day of work, head back to my hotel and preparations start.  The phone calls to my mom, sister and friends asking for help.  The planning of who will do what, just in case I can’t make it back into town.  These ladies deserve a wonderful meal, a time of fun and laughter and these toys for their kids.  I’m determined to make it happen and with friends and family that have huge hearts, it goes off without a hitch!

The phone calls come in, “you won’t believe what Clark Nexsen collected for this event!” My friends Dave and Dale from Iron Mountain assure me it will be fine for them to bring the toys to me! Wow! Not only did they collect toys, but made things easier for me by bringing them to me, knowing that I was short on time! Amazing!

We get to the church, start setting up, sorting toys, picking up food, decorating and having fun.  Later that evening I hop aboard a bus with my brother in law and we had to pick up the ladies and children.  We are enjoying a trip back and I tease the ladies that we are having MY favorite meal – HOT DOGS! I giggle and tell them that Olive Garden has graciously given pasta, salad and bread sticks.  We are all excited.

Everyone gets settled, and is eating, laughing, relaxing and having fun.  There are enough workers so that the ladies that need help with their small children can eat their meals without worry for their tiny ones.  I love the view, the children laughing and slurping up spaghetti, the moms smiling and chatting with one another.  Peace, happiness and pure JOY surround me!  My heart is soaring beyond belief!

The children stay in the fellowship hall and I take the ladies with me next door so that they can “shop” for their children.  I thank them for coming and being such a wonderful part of my Christmas!  I have been thinking about them all week and take a few minutes to tell them the wonderful attributes I see in them.  I give them instructions as to where to find the toys, the gift wrapping stations and such.  I wander through the halls as the ladies “shop”, listening to the giggling, listening to the oooohhhhh and ahhhh’s, listening to the thrill in their hearts as they pick out toys for their children.  There are Easy Bake Ovens, dolls, Barbie dolls, stuff animals, play dough sets, Tonka Trucks, footballs, basket balls, games and so much more!  There are literally 4 rooms full of toys for these wonderful ladies to choose from!

The ladies finish wrapping and start heading to get their children and load back on the bus and van.  Several people volunteer to follow behind to “haul” presents as there’s no way all the people and the gifts are going to fit.  I love each and every single HUG that I am receiving! The sparkly eyes, bright smiles and huge warm HUGS are priceless.  Everyone leaves and I look around and the Spreading JOY heroes have already started cleaning up! Wow!! Amazing!

The night is perfect.  Chaos, silliness, fun, Christmas music, laughter, toys, food, drinks, hugs and the mile wide smiles make it memorable!

But, the giving is not over with yet! Sunday, more toys are given out.  To a local church and some for a teacher who has some homeless children in her class.  Thursday NIGHT – MORE toys will be given away!! A week of Christmas JOY, my heart can hardly stand it! It is flooded with happiness and JOY!

We were able to distribute 545 toys and books this year.  This is no small feat as we normally have 8 or 10 companies collecting toys and this year, we didn’t have that many.

Thank you seems so small in the light of what YOU did to make Christmas JOY 2010 possible.

Thank you to the director of Amy’s House, Vicky, for the wonderful work you do to help these ladies! It is my honor to make a difference for them, to encourage them and to remind them just how very special they are!

Thank you to Olive Garden for providing the meal for us! There was plenty of delicious food for everyone to enjoy! Thank you to Jim Taylor and Marvin McAllister for picking up food for us.  Thank you Dave Finley for meeting me with toys and saving me so much time.  Thank you Momma, Angie and Meg for picking up toys on Thursday for me while I enjoyed my gift of snow and stayed safely at the hotel.  Thank you Dale and Jeanne Strickland for being available at a phone calls notice to pick up toys for me and for helping out the night of the event.

Thank you to Pastor Jerry Taylor and Mrs. Taylor of New Grace Baptist Church for the use of your wonderful facilities and being available “just in case” I was snowed in!  Thank you to the wonderful members of New Grace for volunteering to help serve, sort, clean, wrap, entertain and for the great JOY you brought my way!  I could not have made it without your help!

Thank you to Patterson Pope for giving us employees paid Community Service time to make a difference in our world!

Thank you to my family for supporting Spreading JOY the way you do, helping and allowing me to make a difference right where I am.  Thank you Tripp and Bob for driving the vehicles to bring the ladies to the church.

Thank you Quiznos, Iron Mountain, Clark Nexsen, Arthur Squad, Stone Pump and Trench and Linden ARP church for collecting toys.

Thank you my precious twitterverse for your online donations, the interviews to spread the word and for using your voice to reach people that I couldn’t reach without your help! You were instrumental in making Christmas JOY 2010 a huge success!

YOU are all HEROES and I hope as you watch the video, read and recount this week of Spreading JOY that your heart is flooded with warmth, love and pure delight for the part that YOU played for Christmas

Thank you!!

{{HUGS}} yall

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Another 50 Ways of Making a Difference

October 10, 2010 By 30 Comments

There is something deep within us all that knows it is better to give than to receive.  That is why my heart is always screaming “There’s NO joy like Spreading JOY!” Just like most people, this economy is killing me financially.  I can’t seem to get out from under the ever growing snowball of horror as far as getting ahead goes.  That does NOT stop me from giving and making a difference.  It’s what I do, always has been, always will be.

This need to give inspired me to write 50 Ways to Make a Difference Without Spending a Penny last year.  I’m honored to say that it has inspired many whose hearts have the desire to give, but their wallet says NO.  My goal with these ideas is to get you to a point that you are keenly aware of ways to make a difference. That you’ll recognize various chances that tend to pop up.   I want your heart to soar as you are doing what you can, where you are, with that you have. And, believe me – it will.

EVERY act of joy, regardless of what it is, has limitless possibilities.  You may never know just how far your selfless act of joy went.

It is my pleasure to present to you ANOTHER 50 ways of making a difference with OUT spending a single penny!

1.  Click on Ads when visiting web sites. – You are already there reading & the owner of the site makes some money off each click, so why not?

2.  Blog Comments – Take a few moments and tell the writer of the article if you liked or even disliked what was written. Feed back is always wonderful!

3.  If you shop Amazon.com USE the affiliate link of a friend! WHY not let a small percentage of your purchase help someone? Don’t know anyone? I know of 2.  Richard @mcProdigal & Brett @ChristianRep (click their NAME to be directed to their sites which has their Amazon link there!)

4.  Make every phone call extremely pleasant. Even the “Non helping” help desk calls.

5.  Post Links to Charity organizational events to your facebook wall or twitter feed. If you can’t donate a financial gift, donate your voice! Do it daily to help promote the event without being asked to.

6.  If you know someone is having a rough day, make a video encouraging them to keep going and email it or facebook it to them. I have received a few of these, and LOVE it!

7.  Donate  your used computer, projectors etc to someone that doesn’t have one.  May take some time to research it, but completely worth it. Many single mom’s would love NOT to have to go to a public library to use the internet.

8.  Leave a comment below with a way of spreading joy without spending a penny. ;)

9.  Establish a monthly “NO Chore Day” for your entire family. Mom – yes, this includes you too. Do something fun with that time. The dishes will wait for you!

10.  Invite a friend over for coffee, dessert and a fun time of chatting.

11.  Color with some children.  Color with YOUR children.  Don’t even stay inside the lines. Be adventurous and color outside the lines.

12.  Email this list to someone who has a huge heart but is without the financial means to make a difference.

13.  Turn off all lights when leaving the room.  (Mom’s all over the world will thank you!)

14.  Send an encouraging text to let someone know you were thinking of them.

15.  Give a HUG – my goodness, just do it! One size fits all, you can’t hug the wrong person and even if you are having an awesome day, a hug will just make it fantabulous!

16.  When making homemade bread, double the recipe and give some away.

17.  If you have someone’s Instant Message or Skype contact info, leave them a message even if they are off line. They will find it and be encouraged when they log on.

18.  Send Ecards to people in your email address book.  I love using www.greetums.com and www.sendwisecards.com for this.  The possibilities are truly endless.  Go, encourage and email smiles!

19.  Recently read a book that you loved? Has a friend given you a book that they had published? Write a review and post it without being asked to on your web site promoting it.  Every bit of promotion helps. (I’m so far behind on this…I’m working on it!)

20.  Surprise your family with a HOT breakfast one morning, instead of the traditional quick milk, juice and cereal as they are running out of the door.

21.  Give kind words freely.  Honestly, after a day of “you didn’t accomplish this, you made a D on that test, you monthly projections were off by a long shot…blah, blah, blah” WE all need to hear more positive things that we did do.

22.  Be generous with the pat on the backs, the handshakes and eye to eye contact.  Positive reinforcement here!

23.  When my head is on my desk, don’t bother me. Honestly, there is reason.

24.  Share confidence! Remind others that they CAN do this. They are excellent at what they do. They are strong and will make it through.

25.  When you are sick with a head cold, don’t write. Just don’t do it. Spare us all the whinybrat ickiness and don’t write.  ok?  (LOLOL, that is a note to myself.  I currently have a cold and can’t think of anything to write here and am feeling kind of bratty!  Thus the “harshness” of #23.  I’m leaving this, but will do a for real #25 and stop writing for the night.)

25.  If you see someone in distress, tears or extremely emotional about something.  Even if you don’t know them, take a moment to smile and remind them that it WILL be alright.  Don’t make light of their situation, but do be encouraging.

26.   Return a favor – without being asked.

27.  Do not assume – Don’t do it.  What you think you might know isn’t necessarily the truth of the actual known fact. You just never know….you know?

28.  Wink at random people.  Make sure you pass along a huge smile too!

29.  Shake hands or some how, some way greet our wonderful Military personnel each and every time you see someone in uniform. Look them in the eyes and say thank you.  Make this a rule! I never pass up this opportunity.

30.  Take time to smell the roses.  You pass them in the store, you pass them in gardens.  Take the time to do it. You never know who is watching and how you will inspire them.

31.  Write a note for your child(ren) expressing how proud of them you are. Leave it on their pillow or put it in their overnight bag.  This is always fun for a lunch box too, especially if your child is young.

32.  Be forgiving today.  Bury the hatchet and let bygones, be bygones.

33.  SLOW down – so you won’t be grouchy! YOU know it’s true. When you are in a hurry every SINGLE thing gets on your nerves and you are grouchy.  (Pointing the finger at MYSELF!! I never do things slowly)

34. VOTE – Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

35.  Tell those that you love, you love them.  Seriously.  Go on….I’ll wait.

36.  Designate your company MATCH to Spreading JOY.  Many organizations will match your contributions 100 % up to a certain amount.  Here are some Corporations that match donations.

37.  Attend the party.  Seriously. You were invited. The Host is working hard at putting it together! YOU will make someone happy…so GO – - have fun, sit back and ENJOY!

38.  When singing in the car, LOUDLY, be aware of the feelings of others – if YOU are not alone.  ;) Make sure its songs they can sing along to.

39.  Phone calls – for NO reasons.  Love this.  Go ahead and make that call. You never know who you will encourage,  whose day you’ll make brighter and how that person just might have needed that encouragement at just that moment.

40.  Eat Dessert FIRST.  You will be a huge spreadingJOY hero to your family when you plan this.  Go all out – do ice cream in waffle bowls.  Have Reese’s Cup Pie (and invite me over) or Chocolate Cake with Chocolate frosting.  Have it first and have lots of fun!

41.  Celebrate your UN-Birthday with your family.  Make a cake from scratch, using basic ingredients from the pantry.  The fun, laughter and the fact that it’s your UN-birthday will have your home filled with great laughter and JOY!

42.  Use a gift card that you received for someone else! Wow. HOW selfless is this?  You’ll make a difference and it will not have cost YOU a single cent.

43.  Share your frequent flyer miles.  Do you travel alot? Have an abundance of miles racked up.  Offer a night or 2 at a hotel to someone.  Let me know that you would be a resource of miles for Spreading JOY.

44.  Do not wake up Grumpy.  Let him sleep. ;) (hahahahaha. Ok, that is as old as the hills, but still funny to me.) Seriously.  If you wake up grumpy, focus on others, think of the millions of little things that make YOUR life big and keep the ickiness to yourself until it passes.  We want to be spreadingJOY not spreadingICK.  Check out Confessions of a Cranky Gal.

45.  Host an afternoon Tea Party with your child(ren).  These will be cherished memories indeed. Before you know it, you’ll be attending the wedding of your princess.  Remember, PINKIES up!

46.  Be happy for someone else’s success AND help them, in any way, shape or form to be successful.

47.  Watch your words.  This reminds me of “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” yeah, you remember that rhyme.  IT IS NOT TRUE! Your words are powerful! They will leave a mark on people! Either positive or negative.  You get to choose!  Choose wisely!

48.  Help your child(ren) complete an act of joy every day.  Starting joyful habits at a young age will instill a kindness that will last a life time.

49.  Leave the mole hill small. Do not make a mountain out of it.  Trust me, you’ll face enough mountains in your lifetime.  Don’t add to it.

50.  End on a positive note.  I realize this cannot always be accomplished, but it is worth the effort.

51.  Leave a sticky note of encouragement on a few of your co-workers computer.  Don’t sign it.  Just do it.

There you have it! Another 50 ways of making a difference without spending a single penny.  I love this stuff.  Spreading joy has never been easier.

I know things are tough, but you are tougher.  You can make a difference, right where you are, with what you have.  Free your heart of guilt because you feel you can not make a difference.  You can.  Do one thing a day.  Just one.

What are your thoughts?

Make sure you come back and tell me – How are YOU spreading joy?

((HUGS)) Yall

Sharing this IS spreading joy

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Back to School 2010

September 3, 2010 By 6 Comments

There is no denying that I dream lofty dreams of giving big.  With the help of many awesome people from my twitterverse and a foundation with a huge heart for others, Spreading Joy Corporation was able to distribute 300 backpacks filled with some basic school supplies.  Did that come close to the goal of 1000 backpacks? No, not even close.  Am I discouraged? NO….far from it actually.  I’m encouraged in the fact that we were able to help 300 children start the first day of school with their head held high and their heart full of hope that this school year would be an amazing one!

These backpacks went to a few local churches that ministers to neighborhood children, to Amy’s House – a battered women’s shelter and a school received some as well.

I’ve received a couple of Thank You’s and want to share them with you here.

This letter is being sent to you to express the appreciation for all the book bags and school supplies you donated to our children in the church for their back to school supplies.  The book bags were extremely nice, and the assortment of school supplies inside them were wonderful.  This will be a great help to the children who would not have had the privilege to purchase these items for themselves.

Dr. Jerry Taylor Pastor

Putting it ALL together!

I teach at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Mt. Pleasant, NC.  I received bookbags filled with school supplies from your organization last week.  I can’t thank you enough for your kindness and generosity.  You have made starting back to school more exciting for our students.  There is nothing like a new bookbag and supplies.  I am sure you will be blessed  many times for the kindness you have shown towards others.  Keep spreading your “joy” to those in need.

Thanks again,

Susan Airheart
First Grade Teacher/MPES

Basic supplies included in EACH Bag!

I also had the wonderful honor of hand delivering some of the backpacks to some neighboring homes down the road from where I live.  The smiles and thank you’s can not be expressed in words.  I didn’t tell them who I was, nor how they can thank me, as I believe giving in “secret” is such an awesome thing to do.  My heart was flooded with unbelievable joy as I walked back to my car, smiled and went on to the next road.  Events like this is why my heart screams “There is NO joy like Spreading JOY!”

I’d like to thank Fred’s for giving me such a great price on the backpacks! The district manager even went to his local stores and gathered them for me so that I could easily pick them up from my local store in Lincolnton, NC.

I’d like to thank New Grace Baptist Church for the use of their fellowship hall to spread everything out and organized the backpacks, as I would have never had enough room in my tiny home.

There is no way this could have been accomplished with out the hard work of so many wonderful people.  My family Steve, Todd, Megan and My Mom and Step Father and of course my great little sister, Angie and her children.  Friends that have huge hearts for others – Kevin and Sonia Neal and their daughter Kayla.  Ms. Phyllis, Myra and Vern- Thank you as I could not have done this without you!

Vern & My Step Dad, supervising the project (Ohhhh they are going to shoot me for this!)

We had a lot of fun as well as our challenges.  But when you are trying to make a difference, look for those challenges and work past them.  Don’t let them discourage you or stop you.  The day we were putting the backpacks together, Todd was rear-ended as he was trying to bring items to the fellowship hall.  Much of the unloading had been done by the time I got there and I felt really bad, but we worked through the issues, had fun doing it and our hearts soared because YOU made this possible for 300 wonderful Children!

If you gave towards this project – Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a Spreading JOY hero that is completely in the background.  These children can’t thank you, but know that the difference you have made will have limitless possibilities in their future.

If your heart was crying out to give and you couldn’t afford to financially, but you used your voice to help spread the word of our project, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart too, as your voice was heard and you made a difference using what you had!  I know for certain that there were people who gave because someone used their voice to spread the word.

Here are 2 videos from the day that we assembled the backpacks.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed putting this project together.

Sharing this IS spreading joy

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Finding Joy

August 7, 2010 By 5 Comments

It was my honor and pleasure to be a guest on the Partners in Prayer for our Prodigals Blog Talk Radio with Diane Viere.

Setting Boundaries knows when we love an adult child whose life is out of control we can often feel helpless and hopeless. How do you step back into joy when your heart is filled with sorrow? Regardless of the type of sorrow you are feeling, there are ways of finding joy.

Finding joy among chaos and the feeling that your world is falling apart is completely possible and it was my pleasure to speak with her on that topic. This is a very honest and candid talk about being joyful – even through tears.

Setting Boundaries & Finding Sanity Blog Talk Radio Interview

Easy steps to Finding JOY when your heart is sorrowful:

  • Give JOY – This should go without saying, but we often forget that it IS better to give than to receive. When we give anything to anyone, our hearts are often flooded with joy. Giving back doesn’t have to always be expensive, huge gifts.  Cards, smiles, hugs – simple pleasures are just as joyful as other gifts.
  • Smile – Simple, yet can often can make a huge difference to a heart that is sorrowful.
  • Do not compare – Don’t do it.  Comparing things, dwelling on the “have nots” is asking for sorrow.
  • Notice and count the JOYs that are swirling all around you.  – So many little things make our life big, yet we tend to miss it because we are counting our “sorrows” instead of our joys. One easy way to do this is by journaling.  When you write down the JOYs, the happiness, the smile starters – you have something you can look at to remind yourself of the good times.
  • Plan JOY – We plan meetings, Dr appts, visits here and there. Plan some joyful things. Plan a family night. Plan a walk in the park. Plan it and then expect joy. The only rule is that there is no discussion of the sorrow that surrounds you.  PLAN and COUNT the joy.
  • Remember, this too shall pass. We will have trials, tears and sorrow, but it won’t always be this way.  Look ahead into the future. Joy is coming.

Some Favorite quotes:

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. Thich Nhat Hanh

Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. Fyodor Dostoevsky

I could talk for days on end about finding joy, spreading joy and the like.  I hope you’ll be encouraged by listening to the interview and you’ll start finding joy.   Once you start looking for ways of spreading joy, you’ll easily begin to notice opportunities for making a difference.

To easily get started, take the 30 day challenge. One act of joy a day for 30 days, to get you in the habit of spreading joy.  If you think you can not afford to be spreading joy, think again!   Here are 50 ways of making a difference without spending a penny.

Are you ready to find joy? If so, you’ll soon realize that “There is NO joy like Spreading Joy!”

Follow Diane on Twitter http://twitter.com/prodigalHOPE as she regularly has free webinars and documents to help you while you are on the road to sanity!

So, tell me.  How do you step into joy when your heart is sorrowful?

How are you spreading joy?  Do you try to make a difference with someone at least ONCE daily?

Did this interview encourage you to find true joy, even through the tears? I can’t wait to hear YOUR story of finding and spreading joy!

{{{HUGS}}} yall

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: choices, difficulties, encouraging, giving, goals, happiness, ideas, motivation, passion, simple, Spreading Joy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No Tomorrow

June 19, 2010 By 11 Comments

My Last pic that I took with my Dad. I miss you Daddy!

The Father’s Day cards, commercials and other various reminders have been going on for a while now.  Just last night, as I walked by the cards, my heart ached as I wanted one more chance to say Happy Father’s Day Daddy.

I need to write more about him, as he was the original Joy Spreader.  Always giving to others, $20, here – candy for bank tellers there, helping out the guy that had a truck load of watermelons by purchasing them all and GIVING them away. Doing all the things I dream of doing.  Making a difference the way I dream of making.

Until last year with Megan, I can not remember writing any poetry of any kind.  But these words flooded my heart this past week and it’s with tears of joy and sorrow, I’m sharing them with you here.

 


No Tomorrow


The times of love, smiles and hugs
The times of grief and sorrow
All have a special place deep within my heart
For with him, there is no tomorrow


I sit and think and smile inside
I wonder what you would say and do
My heart longs to see, to touch and hear you,
To tell you, once more….I love you


Father’s Day is bitter sweet
As you are finally free of pain
My heart and soul realize the miles
As my loss is heavens gain


I love you Dad, I miss you deeply
Your laughter, your love, your smile
This time of separation, free from your hugs
Will make the wait…. all worth the while.

Me and my DaddyI always loved kisses from my Daddy

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: difficulties, encouraging, giving, Poetry, Spreading Joy, thanks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Dream Come True

May 16, 2010 By 16 Comments

I just met Chuck Norris! WoooW!!!

Anyone that “knows” me knows that I completely adore Chuck Norris.  I always have, and always will. I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t completely infatuated with him.  I don’t know why, that is just the way it has been.  It could be his dashing smile, his sleeper hold, or his roundhouse kick – but what ever it is, he has always been the one person of influence I’ve longed to meet, but in my heart of hearts, felt that there was no humanly way possible.

 

Way back 25 years ago, when I was in the 11th grade, a very wise teacher had us to list out some goals and dreams that we would love to achieve.  In this day and age, it’s called a Bucket List.  So, my 17 year old self that was shy, backwards and horribly awkward, thinks of a few things that will satisfy the teacher and turns them in.  All of the items are in random order, with the exception of the first thing! It is the most important.

  1. Meet Chuck Norris
  2. Fly in an airplane
  3. Travel Overseas
  4. Ride on a train
  5. See Washington Redskins play
  6. Go on a Cruise
  7. Visit the Statue of Liberty

I must admit. Number 2 and 3 were a given.  Not much faith required there.  My Dad had sent my brothers overseas for a graduation present and I was graduating the next year, so that was easy.

Fly in an airplane – First time in 1986 and since then I have flown several times.  I love it.  Will fly anywhere you send me.

Travel Overseas – My Graduation trip (1986) was to Germany, Austria and Switzerland! An amazing 12 days was spent seeing the castles, learning the history and taking in the breath taking scenery of the area.

Ride on a train – I was able to ride on a train through the Swiss Alps.  We stopped for a snowball fight with complete strangers as well as students and adults that were traveling with us.  The train ride was an experience to remember.

Visit the Statue of Liberty – I have always adored Lady Liberty.  She is so beautiful, strong and a symbol of hope for many coming to the United States for the first time.  Completely unexpected, my Dad sent me, my sister Angie, my Step Mom and my Cousin Mike to New York for a 4 day weekend.  We stayed in New Jersey and took a train into New York everyday.  We were able to visit the Statue of Liberty as well as take the elevator up to her crown and look out over the city.  I completely enjoyed it, even though I’m horribly afraid of heights.  That trip also allowed us to visit the top of the World Trade Center – for which I’m eternally grateful for such a gift.  Again, the fear of heights kept me close to the wall and away from the railing – but I am able to say that I have that memory.  The memories of this trip is full of great laughter as people tripped over luggage or the curb of the side walk several times before we made it home safe and sound.

See the Washington Redskins Play – This was during a time when Charlotte NC did NOT have an NFL team.  I had the privilege of having this dream come true on a basket ball court!  The Washington Redskins played the Miami Dolphins in a charity event at the UNCC college campus not far from my house.  My Dad found out about it and took me to see them.  Hey – the sheet didn’t say that it had to be a football game now did it? Mark another one off!! Side note – years later, when we did get a team, stadium and the works, I was able to see them play a few times.

All of this has happened in a matter of a few years.  I’m down to 2 items, Meet Chuck Norris and go on a cruise.  Every new movie that came out, I’d watch, desire and wish more, but honestly….do I stand a chance of meeting him, naaah.

Go on a Cruise – 1990, I’m several months pregnant and another dream is about to come true. My Dad sends me and my step mom on a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas.  I’m so excited as I get to fly again and mark one more thing off of my list.  The plane ride is wonderful.  I’m sick, but blame it on the baby as I had never been sick when flying before.  We enjoy the wonderful dinners, the shows, the tours, the island and the ocean – the vast, wonderful ocean.  Every night, we would park ourselves out on the top deck and sleep, listening to the sounds of the ocean gently rocking us back and forth, cradling us in this dream come true.

Steve has always known of my fascination of Chuck Norris.  When I met Steve, I used to have a small 3×5 framed picture of Chuck Norris in my room.  Somewhere over time, that picture has disappeared, but the desire never did.  It only grew as more movies came out and then Walker Texas Ranger leapt onto the scene.  Chuck Norris was playing in a new episode every week, right in my living room.   I’d watch the episode, secretly despising Alex Cahill for always getting kidnapped or needing to be rescued.  I’d watch the movies with great joy and hope of meeting this TV star that was virtually unreachable.

In 2003, I revised my list as I had crossed off everything but one item.  I make the additions while sitting beside the ocean during Memorial Day weekend.  My kids were 12 and 8, and because my Dad’s heart was giving out and his death was in the near future, I was in a situation where I was thinking about life, it’s ending and I decided  That the list should be updated with more goals and dreams.  A few of the new items are:

  • Visit and do something in all 50 States.
  • Stay at the Hotel shaped like a sail in Dubai
  • Start a Non Profit and make dreams come true.
  • Read a book a month
  • Read through the Bible multiple times
  • Visit the Equator

This is just a few of the items that are on that list.  I’ll post the list elsewhere at some point.  The point is, the number 1 item was still just that…Number 1 and never going to be crossed off.  (Just being honest here.)

Social media is amazing.  I love twitter and the many, many connections and friends I have made.  I love learning about others and developed a list of things about me that I often share with others.  Number 6 on that list is I have wanted to meet Chuck Norris since I was 17.  (Really, can you help with this?) I share this list weekly  as well as talk about meeting him and on his birthday this year, the entire day I tweeted Chuck Norris Facts.  Many have seen the Chuck Norris request and have asked, emailed and tried to get me to him.  YOU know who you are and I Thank you!!

Every March 10th – I send out my usual Happy Chuck Norris Day email.  It’s his birthday and it’s just what I do.  I may talk about what he has done, his code of ethics, his career, and his handsome good looks or just rattle off my favorite Chuck Norris facts.  I usually add pictures because one can never have to many pictures of Chuck Norris.

I sat beside the ocean January 1st, 2010 and dreamed of what this year would hold.  Never in a million, bazillion years would I have guessed that I would be writing this article.  Never.  In fact, I talk about meeting Chuck Norris, laugh at my favorite jokes, but had just decided that it would never happen.  He turned 70 this year and in my heart of hearts, I felt that there was no way that I would ever get to meet him.

May 12, 2010 I get an email that said Chuck Norris is going to be in Charlotte on Friday at the NRA Convention. Well, the convention center was 10 minutes from where I was sitting. I hop online and it’s sold out.  Wouldn’t you know it? So close but so far away.  Friday, I’m pouting on facebook.  I even make a statement like ” Ugggh!!! How can I be soooo close….and yet sooo far away?!?!?!? *pouting* what in the world?!? [shaking head]

Friday afternoon, my cousin Mike calls and tells me to check my email. A sales guy just left their office, leaving them with none other than tickets to the NRA at the convention center – which in HIS mind and MY mind equals ONE THING!!! OH my GOSH, I get to meet Chuck Norris!! I pick up the tickets, HUG my cousin and float through my night.

In line on Saturday morning, to purchase the book Black Belt Patriotism, it hits me…Today, I’m going to meet Chuck Norris! The tears start flowing.  I get the book and get in line.  Not far from the front of the line, Todd turns me around and points and sure enough – there HE is! WOOOOW!! I see him!!! I’m going to actually meet and talk to him! (more tears)  We wait patiently! He’s been signing books and chatting for a while, now.  I’m speaking with one of his workers and seeing that Todd and I are next in line when the worker tells me that Chuck Norris is going to take a break for a little bit.  I laugh!!! How funny is that! I’ve waited 25 years to meet him and he walks away!  I tell the worker that I’m tweeting that, and send outa tweet that said I was “next in line to meet Chuck Norris and he leaves….come back!!!”   He watches, making sure that I’m not sneaking a photo.  Altho, I’d love to have a photo with him, but that just was not the case today.

You are looking at a Dream Come True!

He comes back, I extend my hand and Chuck Norris shakes it.  I clasp his hand with my left hand and I’m giggling like a child on Christmas morning holding the best present ever! I look him in the eyes and get the chance to tell him that I’ve wanted to meet him since I was 17 and have waited for these 25 years.  He doesn’t rush us.  He listens and even comments that me wanting to meet him for so long is sweet.  He looks up and smiles, says Thank you, calls me by my name and shakes my hand again.  *grinning* “I TOUCHED Chuck Norris!!” I think to myself!   I do the 2 handed hand shake again…I have his hand in BOTH my hands!!  Wow..my heart is pounding.  It’s racing. I just met Chuck Norris!  I tell Todd to shake his hand, and he does.  Todd then takes a picture of “the hand” that shook Chuck Norris’s hand and facebooks it.  It’s nice to see my son excited!  I call Angie first.  I’m crying and can hardly speak. I met him!!!  She laughs with me! She knows how I’ve desired this for all these years.

I gaze at my autographed book.  With the hundreds of people that were there today, he will not likely remember me, unless he remembers the silly “older lady” that bounced over to his table immediately following the first break, giggling like crazy.  (and clapping) But me…well, I will never, ever forget that today is the day that a 25 year old dream came true.  Never! I can’t even begin to express how I’m feeling.  How my heart is full of unspeakable joy.  It is just amazing that this dream has now come true.

My best friend and her husband called to “check on me” later on in the evening.  The only way I could describe myself was that I was “paralyzed with JOY”  – I was (am) so happy that I didn’t know what to think or do.  I tried to write this article earlier and the words wouldn’t come.  My heart was soaring well beyond cloud 37 ½!

What dreams do you have?  Do you feel like they are simply out of reach?  Have you waited 10, 20 or 30 years and still have not had your dream come true.  Don’t give up.  Don’t!  While this may seem very insignificant in the realm of things, it has always been important to me.  I’ve joked about it, laughed about it…and have desired it greatly.  Don’t give up. Keep Dreaming and then move in the direction of your dreams!

I called my Mommie today.  I told her, Mom…guess what?!?  Finally, mom, finally.   I met Chuck Norris…can you believe it?  With that, the tears started again.  I could hardly talk.  I Love you Mom! I’m so glad I could share my joy with you!

Angie said: "Step away from the signature....step away!" I can't stop gazing!

[whispering….] Hey Dad….guess what Daddy?  (Tears falling) Did you see today?  I got to meet Chuck Norris! [nodding] and it was completely awesome!  I touched him and everything.  I wish you were here….I do.  I miss you so.

{{{HUGS}} Yall.

Sharing this IS spreading joy

Filed Under: challenge, choices, difficulties, encouraging, fun, giving, goals, passion, Spreading Joy, thanks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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