Make A Difference Day Pictures

National Make a Difference Day Festivities!

On Make A Difference Day, Oct. 25, the nation's largest single day of volunteerism, more than 3 million people turned out to perform thousands of charitable acts for others.

Some of my great friends and family joined me in an effort to be a part of this special day and we had a blast!

Project 1 - Tender Loving Bears

Some amazing people donated a BUNCH of bears and stuffed animals. We tied on a big bright ribbon, a little fleece blankie on some, and a note of love and encouragement. These new friends will be taken to CAPS of Elkhart to be given to a child who has been traumatized or is at risk and in need of some TLC.

Project 2 - Sunshine Delivery

People donated flowers and little teddy bears tha we wrote encouragement and love notes on, then we delivered them to Countryside Nursing Home (we couldn't take any pictures of the residents). I was so proud of everyone - even though it was a really uncomfortable and sad place to be, everyone just jumped right in and talked with people and loved on them. I was especially proud of my son Cody and his friend Bobby Nicks for going with us and hanging out with the elderly folks. A couple of them were Penn Football fans so that was cool they had something to talk about. Penn Football was represented well by these boys!

Thank you to all who were involved:

Dawn * Jayne * Jenny * Leslie * Diana * Brenda * Emma * Connie * Elaine * Cody * Bobby *

Dave Gives Back

Five years ago, Dave lived at the Dignity Village homeless camp in north Portland. Last week, he was buying gas for customers at a West Linn Chevron station.

Dave said he couldn’t have overcome the challenges he faced without the kindness of others. He’s hoping his generosity will encourage others to “pay it forward,” echoing his good deeds.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t had the same thing done for me,” he said Friday afternoon at the gas station. With the death of his mother, Dave said he came into “a little more money than a guy like me should have.”

While he considered donating to a nonprofit group, he ultimately figured doing good deeds could multiply the benefits. “If I buy people $50 worth of gas and five of those people reach out and touch five more people, the world will be a whole lot better,” he said.

West Linn resident Marie Larson was so overwhelmed by the random generosity that tears streamed down her face as she thanked Dave on Friday. She said the kind gesture was especially meaningful, given her 3-year-old daughter spent a week at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital recently with a kidney infection.

How will she pay it forward? With toys, she said. After leaving Doernbecher, her daughter requested they go back and bring the other children gifts.

See the whole story HERE

Once you begin to acknowledge random acts of kindness,

both the ones you have received and the ones you have given ,

you can no longer believe that what you do does not matter

--Dawna Markova

If Everyone Cared . . .

This is such a powerful message.
I LOVE reading the stories about ORDINARY people like you and me
who said "NO - NOT THAT!", moved into just one small action that grew
and left a huge mark on the world! WOW!!!!

"And as we lie beneath the stars

We realize how small we are

If they could love like you and me

Imagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody cried

If everyone loved and nobody lied

If everyone shared and swallowed their pride

Then we'd see the day when nobody died

When nobody died..."

A Weekend in Traverse City

This past weekend Trent and I drove up to Traverse City to explore and see the autumn color. It was GORGEOUS! My favorite part of the trip was Old Mission Peninsula where there are over 20 wineries. It is one of the best locations for growing grapes in the entire world - it's so cool that we are that close to it. We only went to 5 or 6 of the wineries, so we have to go back sometime when we have a designated driver and do ALL of them!





After we spent 2 nights in Traverse City we spent one night at our shack up north and we were lucky enough to catch one more great sunset at my favorite spot in the world - Little Point Sable Lighthouse beach at Silver Lake. It was a beautiful weekend and I feel so refreshed!

Ever have one of these days??

Yeah - me too . . .

I want my soul to glorify you – to show the world an accurate reflection of who you are. I want people to look at my life and know, with certainty, that you take good care of your children. Not that I am free from difficulties, but that difficulties do not overwhelm me. I want people to know how much you love them and that being in relationship with you does not mean more religion, but more FREEDOM! That every day is a heart stopping, thrilling adventure with you.

I want to glorify you in my mind – by focusing on your unfailing goodness at all times. Please keep me from focusing on things that bring me down. Help me to be aware that I can choose what I spend time thinking about, and I choose to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. I won't waste the time you've given me thinking on anything less.

I want to glorify you in my will – by choosing to do the right thing when I’m tempted to take the easy way out. Even when that means doing something uncomfortable that I'd rather not do, I want to listen and obey because I know you have my best, and other's best interests at heart. I want to remember to always speak the truth in love.

I want to glorify you in my emotions – by responding to those around me in love at all times. I want to be done being frustrated or upset with people. Please help me love people unconditionally - to see them through your eyes. Please keep me free from busyness so that I am able to be there for my friends and family that need help and encouragement. Let everyone that I come in contact with feel your love through me.

Lord, I want my life to be remembered as blessed, not for selish ambition, but for evidence that you are real and that you are the God of transformation and restoration. I want to use everything that you've given me and everything that you've taught me to help others get closer to you.

I realize the need to continually point out your many blessings to my loved ones so that when I am gone, they will remember all the mighty works you’ve done. I want them to understand that there is a God in heaven who loves them and has placed them on this planet for a very special and important reason, and when they embrace that passion and purpose and use it for you, life can be amazing, no matter what you're circumstances.

I ask you to extend your mercy to the generations who will come after me, that they too, would know your goodness. That you would help me strengthen and empower families so that we'll be raising kids who truly understand your love and your purposes. That we would take your message of love and freedom to the ends of the earth. That we would bring heaven down to earth. Here I am Lord - Send me.

Amen

(Expanded on a prayer by Donna Partow in the book "Becoming the Woman I Want To Be")

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