30 Days of Giving and Thanks begins–Day 2

Technically, it began yesterday – so I should have posted this yesterday.  Still, I have to say, I am super excited about this month's challenge!  If you missed the rules, here’s a recap:

This Challenge is designed to stir up our sense of gratitude for all the blessings in our lives.  Over this thirty days, we will be finding ways each day to Give or to offer Thanks.  It doesn’t have to be monetary, but it certainly can be. 

 

Here’s what our family is doing:

Even days of the month (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.), an act of “Thanks” - a note-card to a family member, co-worker, friend, or neighbor to say that we are thankful for them.

 

Odd days (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) an act of giving, just because.  We’re going with small gifts that will either be hand-carried or mailed.  From homemade items to small gift cards ($5)

You can do 100 different things.  You can make baked goods and deliver them with a note-card every other day.  You can create homemade crafts.  You can show up at someone’s house and rake their leaves.  You can clean for an elderly friend.  You can volunteer at a soup kitchen.  You know what your family is good at and can commit to!  You can come up with a variety of amazing ways to offer Thanks or Give to others.  Whatever you decide, the discipline is to make it happen all of the 30 days of November.

This is a choice to say that for this year, for this month, for this holiday season - we’re reaching out to those we maybe haven’t been so great at keeping up with, or maybe those we just want to show extra love to, or to those who have needs that we can meet.

Whatever your reasons, and whomever you lavish your Thanks and Giving on…we want to turn-around the habit of taking care of ourselves or always looking out for #1 into Giving and Thanks.  You will be blessed! (trust me…)

Anton took the first week, because he had quite a few people he wanted to express gratitude for.  I’m up next week!  I’m excited about this challenge for lots of reasons, but here’s just a few:

• I’m happy to put the focus from “self” to “others” for a change.  Focusing on showing love to others helps remove the desire of selfishness.  (Something I don’t mind saying that I struggle with…daily.)
• I’m feeling excited about the idea of taking  a whole month to show others that I’m thankful for them.  Whether that be through a note-card or a small gift.
• This feels like such a great opportunity to live by example for our kiddos; showing our gratefulness for others
• I really, really like giving gifts.  Maybe because it’s one of my own love languages.
• I have a massive stock of bananas in my freezer just screaming to be put into warm bread and delivered.
• I also have a lovely supply of note-cards, patiently waiting in the nesting basket…

If you want to sign up to participate – please enter you name and blog address below in the Mr. Linky!  If you don’t have a blog, you can still sign up – it’s good to know who’s making a go of it.

Now, let’s do this, “thankful” style!

More pics to come of the Banana Bread and the ways we are reaching out…

I’m really excited to hear about what your family does!!! 

Is anyone else shocked to find that we are in November already?  How did that happen??