It’s late so this will be short. I know this challenge is about giving but tonight I want to say thank you for something I received. On Saturday two very good friends came to my rescue. We have a bedroom that has been designated as our home office. No one has officed in it for a very long time and it had become the drop-off room. Literally, I would open the door and drop whatever into the room and close the door. It was so depressing. And overwhelming. I don’t have any “before” pictures, you would’ve had to judge me.

So, the two friends came over and gave me part or all of their Saturday to shovel out the room and get it in working order. I am working on something exciting in my life and I needed the room to help me be organized and successful in my new venture. I do have “after” pictures and I am happy to show off the newly reformed home office.

I see a new coat of paint in the future, perhaps a sage green. Put new blinds in the window, and I think we will be cooking with gas. My friend “D” who couldn’t stay all day came by Sunday to see the progress. She said it looked like a before and after room on “Clean Sweep”, it was that dramatic.

One room down, nine more to go.

Thanks, “B” and “D”. You made my day, my week, my month!!! Love you both!

Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.
~ C.S. Lewis

I’m about to drop into bed, I’m so tired.

I was the recipient of a great, gracious gift today.  We have an upstairs bedroom that has been designated as our office.  But it really is the drop-off room.  Anything that didn’t have a home got dropped into the drop-off room.  There was barely room to walk through and finding a surface on the desks to work on was unheard of.  I am trying to get a home business off and running and knew I needed that room to keep my inventory and have papers in one spot so I can run my business.  So, one of my dearest friends, B, came at 9:00 this morning and helped me clean out the office.  Another really really good friend, D, came also; she got to stay until 11:00.  B stayed until almost 8:00 this evening, cleaning out, throwing away, sorting, taking me to Wal-Mart to buy all kinds of storage drawers and containers, bringing her good vacuum cleaner and cleaning the room , even the baseboards.

I’m exhausted and must now go to bed.  What a good feeling to know there is a room upstairs that is straight and clean and ready for success.  What a wonderful gift that is.

I was too embarrassed to take a “before” picture.  Not putting that mess on the internet to come back and haunt me later!  So you’ll have to take my word that the difference in the morning’s room and tonight’s room is day and night.

And while I was receiving my gift, Big J cleaned out the closet in the office and washed all the bedding we no longer need.  It was taken away by B this evening to be used in a mission supported by our church.  Someone will be getting a nice bed set.  So most everyone was a winner today.

Sleep, sleep.  Good nite, all.

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We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
~Sir Winston Churchill

 I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
~ Maya Angelou

How do you say “thank you” for sunshine or health…
for clear days or gentle rains…for happiness, joy or love?
You say it by sharing what you have.
You say it by making the world a better place in which to live.”
~Thomas D. Willhite

The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.”
~Duguet

I’ve written about Joe and the SuperStars here, and here. This is part 3 of the story. When Joe said he was calling his students the SuperStars, I thought to myself, “Self, let’s create an identity for the students that focuses on that title. SuperStars.”

So I went home and asked my 12-yr old son, Little J, what he would draw if he were to draw a logo for the SuperStars. He, almost immediately, said he saw a star with a cape blowing in the wind and a mask like the Lone Ranger. So I said draw it. And he did.

 Right on, Little J!

I knew that Joe had talked about his students writing thank you notes for an LCD projector that was given to them through DonorsChoose.org.  I thought it would be fun for the SuperStars to have their note cards to use.  I really got into the designing mode and ended up creating posters to put up in the classroom, a banner with the kids’ picture on it, sticky notes, business cards that say I’m a SuperStar, notepads, magnets with the SuperStars picture on it, caps, shirts, tote bags. 

Maybe I got a little carried away but it was fun.  When Little J got a thank you note from Joe, written on a notecard with his design on the front, he was happy and proud.  SuperStars, hope you enjoy your goodies, because I enjoyed creating them for you.

  Lose yourself in generous service
and every day can be a most unusual day,
a triumphant day, an abundantly rewarding day!”

 William Arthur Ward

I wrote about getting together a classroom library for Mr. Hays and his SuperStars here.

Well, this morning, a picture showed up in my inbox.

What a way to start my morning.  I truly almost started crying, realizing that sending out the call for help resulted in such bounty and encouragement for Joe and the SuperStars.  I do small things for the people around me but not things that I think make a huget impact.  To see the results was such an encouragement to me, also.  I CAN make a difference in someone’s life.  YOU can make a difference in someone’s life.

Thank you to everyone who contributed money, giftcards and money.

Well, finally, I can announce something that happened several weeks ago but I didn’t want to talk about it until I had it in my hands.  Now I have it:

Remember that I entered my friend Joe in a contest to win a $100 OfficeMax giftcard? He, and his SuperStars, WON!  In fact, he won four times, picked by four different bloggers.  Unfortunately, I was only able to accept one card.  When contacted, Mr. Hays commented, “AWESOME”.  He will be using the card for copy paper, laminating, transparencies….and that’s probably the $100 right there.   I put it in the mail today.  I am SO HAPPY to be able to give this card to him.  Thanks to Extraordinary Mommy for awarding the OfficeMax card to Joe. 

When I first put out the word asking for support and help for Joe, I got several nice offers.  Several weeks ago, a schoolteacher friend of mine shipped 118 pounds of books for his classroom library.  She used to teach older elementary grades but now teaches kindergarten and the books had been sitting in her closet for quite a while.  I had some financial contributions and was able to send Joe $140 in OfficeMax cards.  When I sent the $100 card today, I also included a $40 card from another generous family.  Late this afternoon I got a commitment of another contribution that will put the total financial support at over $300.  Not bad for a gal who just started her little blog in June.  Thank you so much to all who are helping Joe and the SuperStars have a successful school year.

I also picked up books at Half-Price Books, dollar stores, eBay, Borders bargain tables.   It was so fun to pick out the books since I absolutely LOVE books and love to read, and I was excited to know that the books are going to a classroom where they will be used and (hopefully) loved.  I ended up sending six small boxes of books, supplies, flashcards, dominoes and other math games. 

 I included some SuperStar goodies but I’ll wait until tomorrow to reveal more. Giving.  It’s a good thing!!

1 Peter 4:7

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

Click her to read about The 30-Day Giving Challenge.

Veterans Day is fast approaching.  You know how I know?  All the Veterans Day sales.

Seriously though, if you check the calendar, you will find it on Wednesday, November 11.  My dad was a vet of the Korean War.  He never talked much about it, but I do have some precious pictures of him which give me a glimpse of his time far away from home. 

There are several freebies available for veterans to thank them for their service.  In no way can they be totally repaid, but I hope the men and women who served feel appreciated and honored by taking advantage of these free offers.  Be sure to read the fine print to make sure you know all the details like date, time, proof of service, etc.  Some of these offers may also be available for active duty members of the service.  Be sure to ask!

Applebees is offering a free meal on Wednesday, November 11. 

McCormick and Schmicks is offering a free meal on Sunday, November 8. Space is limited and reservations are required.

The National Park Service  will once again waive all entry fees to every national park, forest and monument across the U.S.

Golden Corral hosts
Military Appreciation Monday
Free “Thank You” Dinner
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009,
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Outback Steakhouse will show appreciation to our Country’s veterans and active duty military*, with a free Bloomin’ Onion and beverage of choice (one non-alcoholic drink or one draft Anheuser Busch beer except where prohibited by law) on Veterans Day. When:  Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

Here is an extensive list of freebies and discounts in conjunction with Veterans Day.  Please share this information with those veterans in your life, and be sure to say thank you.

In Honor of My Dad

All writing property of LoneStarLifer 2009.