My birthday project...42

I love that my birthday is in July.  It's not like it's December where there are a lot of holidays/celebrations to compete with.  However, inevitably I spent most of my Junior High and Senior High birthdays at various church camps.  They seemed to always be scheduled for mid-July.  This may be why I always associate birthdays with being surrounded by friends.  

So in keeping with the spirit of including as many of my friends as possible for my birthday, I want to let you in on my birthday wish list.

To celebrate my 42 trips around the sun, I have been working on a list of 42 ways to "pay it forward" or "good deeds" throughout the month of July.  I saw this idea back in February and absolutely loved it.  Here's where I am asking you to join me in my celebration...some time during this month, or specifically on July 15th, I am asking you to do a "random act of kindness" towards either a complete stranger or someone you know.  Here's the hard part for some of you: own it.  That's right, you need to let me know.  You can post it on my fb page, or send me a message...however you want to let me know.  Consider it your gift to me for my birthday.  Why?  Well, quite simply, it makes me smile.  It also inspires others.  And, quite frankly, it is just good to see "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13)!  

I will keep posting my stuff too.  Personally my goal is 42 of these intentional acts of kindness by the end of the month.  I am only on day 3, but I can tell you this: it. is. fun.  I am learning alot about myself as well.  Here's a few ideas to get you started (but I know you people are way more creative than I am):

1. Serve food to families whose children are long-term hospitalization (I did Ronald McDonald House)

2.  Thank a security officer for standing at his post, day after day, to ensure my safety going back and forth to my car.

3.  Write my grandmother a hand-written thank you note - for teaching my mom about Jesus. Best.inheritance.ever.

4.  Buy a gas card and give it away.  Who doesn't need a break at the pump?

5.  Watch someone's child for free without them asking.

6.  Give that someone some $$ or a Starbucks card so they can treat themselves.

7.  Write someone who has lost a loved one more than three weeks ago.  Tell them I have not forgotten and know the first year is just hard.

8.  See that pregnant woman at Target? Waddling through the aisles?  Tap her on the shoulder and tell her that she may not believe you, but she is beautiful.

9.  Give a tray of goodies to a volunteer rescue squad with a note of thanks.  They search for people who are complete strangers to them, yet people we love.  I am having a hard time with this one...because there are no words in  my vocabulary to thank these people enough.

10.  Put away someone's grocery cart for them.

11.  Pay for the next person behind you in the drive thru.

12.  Give a compliment.

13.  Tell a single mom she is doing a good job.  It's hard being both mom and dad...and you always feel you somehow are never enough.  Encouragement goes a long way!

14.  Pay for the guy behind you at the vending machines.  Best 75 cents I have spent! ha

So now you get the idea... let's party!