RAOK #15

My little firecracker, her friend and me went on a  mission to dress up the neighborhood in patriotic fashion.  After flying Old Glory outside our front door, we donated 50 flags to various friends and neighbors.  It was a fun, quick adventure and we had fun doing it!

RAOK #14

Today we joined the members of Asbury United Methodist Church in a community service project. The first step was to check in and pick out which activity we wanted to do as a family

We chose #10, Walt Whittman Elementary School where we hosted a Christmas party for the students and their families.

At our post, we helped the kids make birthday cards for orphans in Uganda.

Other posts had crafts, games, cookie decorating, etc.

And finally, we wrapped up our morning of service by helping label books in the school library.

A great way to spend a Saturday morning as a family and share a little RAOK.

RAOK #12 & #13

My friend Tracy Thompson forwarded me a link to a blog recently. She said that she knew I would just love it. And I do.

The specific post that inspired me was regarding Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. The blog post was from 2010 and yet timeless. More recently, the blogger posted blank templates for the cards that she used for the project. I've since borrowed the idea and am currently doing what I can to implement my own RAOK this Christmas season.

Yesterday I paid for the coffee of the guy behind me in the drive thru. Today I taped $1.25 to the pop machine and attached one of the cards. I am having a ball!

RAOK #11 - One Pint Down

I've been busy brainstorming on things I can do in rememberance of the 9/11 attack that happened almost 10 years ago. I had come up with an idea or two on RAOK activities that would involve my children and I still want to do more. Although I cannot do all that I'd like to do, I can do some.

My friend Tracy Thompson mentioned that she'd read some suggestions about how to remember that tragic day, one of which was the giving of blood. What a fabulous idea and why hadn't I thought of that?!

So today I took my lunch hour at the local chapter of the American Red Cross. It has been a very long time since I last donated. In fact, they had my maiden name on file and I've been happily married for 13.5 years. I was admittedly afraid that I might pass out or hurl on the tile but I ventured forth.

I gave my pint, drank my Diet Coke and ate some complimentary popcorn (it's a snack vending paradise in there!). I asked oodles of questions about my blood, platelets, plasma, etc. and what would happen to it. I was told that single pint would go towards saving up to two lives. Not a bad way to spend the lunch hour if I may say so.

When was the last time you donated?

RAOK #10

Clearly I'm not reaching my goal of doing one RAOK per week but I'm making an effort regardless. Today I left $20 for the dry cleaners clerk to apply to the next patron's bill. She was a little uneasy about holding the cash, wondering if she'd get in trouble with the boss for doing such a thing. Of course I figure as long as they're making their money, it doesn't matter who it comes from. And ultimately she decided to participate because she felt like it was "a good thing". Her only other concern was that it go to someone worthy. I told her it didn't matter. It's random. And while whomever the recipient is may not need the financial help, they may be in need of an emotional lift today. Hopefully $20 will improve someones spirits today, or maybe restore a little bit of faith in mankind and all the while, save them some money on a much overpriced service.

ROAK #9

Today I ordered a bouquet of fresh spring flowers to be delivered to a dear friend who lives 300 miles away...just because she deserves it!

RAOK #8

I've really fallen behind on my ROAK series but it's not because it isn't on my mind at all times. I've just been lazy which is especially awful considering that this is the Christmas season. But I promise to stick with it.

Today's RAOK was especially random. I was headed to the ATM to do a check deposit when I saw a small group of people gathered around a car that was having some obvious mechanical problems. Admittedly, I found the blocked driveway to be a bit of an inconvenience. And although it was 27 degrees and I was in shorts and covered in sweat (coming from the gym) I stopped to see how I could help.

As it turned out, I was the only one of the group with jumper cables and naturally I volunteered to help. So I swung my car around, stood in the cold and helped the poor girl get a move on. It wasn't my greatest RAOK but it beats driving off and staying warm for my own selfish reasons.

RAOK #7

I'm a little late in reporting this RAOK. The latest act happened about 2 weeks ago. The story goes like this.

A couple days a week, I travel to downtown B.A. to participate in an early morning bootcamp workout session. And every morning, on my way home from the workout, I drive by an old auto service shop on the corner of Main St. There is an older gentleman who opens up shop and he regularly stands outside and offers me a friendly wave as I drive by. After months of sharing this exchange, I found myself honking and throwing a wave out my sunroof window in hopes that he catches my gesture. And he does. He will come running into the parking lot to recriprocate my wave with a smile and wave of his own. And he has no idea how much joy this brings me. Maybe it's his smile, his trot or perhaps it's the routine of the cxchange that I enjoy. Regardless, it makes me happy and gets my day started in such a pleasant manner.

So last Tuesday, I bought a dozen donuts and made a pit stop at the auto shop. I met Marvin. I told him how much I enjoy seeing him during my drive by. And though I'll probably never speak to him again, I found him offering up a wave and a smile on Thursday. He's reliable. He's friendly. And maybe he'll pass a little kindness someone else's way.

RAOK #6

This weeks RAOK was the most emotionally moving one thus far.


I purchased three QuikTrip prepaid gas cards. I decided to randomly pass them out to unassuming people.


My first recipient was a 30ish Hispanic woman who had her 1-2 year old in the car with her. She spoke little English but fortunately my Spanish is still strong enough that we were able to have a short dialogue. When I first gave it to her, she was baffled. She looked at the card, looked at me, looked back down at the card. Then she asked what it's for. I told her she could use it for whatever she wanted...gas, food, whatever she wants. She smiled a huge smile and turned around. A few seconds later, she turned back around. "Do you speak Spanish?", she asked. "Solamente un poquito.", I replied. And so she asked me again, what for? And I said to her "It's a gift, a gift for you".


I went inside to buy my coffee and pay for gas. When I came back, she was still there. Smiling a smile so big I almost didn't know how to receive it. She asked me my name. And even though I'd just gone running and was a pile of sweat and stinkiness, she reached over and pecked my cheek, gave me a hug and said "Gracias" in a the most pure, sincere and grateful way.


I cried.


The second recipient was a police officer dressed in uniform but pumping gas for his personal vehicle. Although we had a much shorter exchange, he was grateful. And I was sure to thank him for his service.


And the last recipient was an old African American woman who I spotted while she crossed the parking lot to prepay her gas. I just thought she looked sweet. So I stuck my hand out the window and asked if I could give her "this". "What is it?" she asked. A gift card. "Take it and have a wonderful day!" And she did. I drove away with her smiling in my rear view mirror.

RAOK #5

We hit the "Trash Pot"!

I absolutely LOVED this week's RAOK. This past weekend, our family plus one went to the lake to enjoy looking out different windows and spending our downtime some other way. We packed in all sorts of activities...fishing, boating, roasting marshmallows, watching movies, etc.

We also participated in our RAOK #5 and this one was for Mother Nature.



Doc was out fishing so the kids and I found some gloves, gathered some plastic bags and drove the golf cart up to the main road that takes us to our private drive. I gave the kids a few safety instructions (cars, poison ivy, etc.) and off we went on a treasure hunt to see who could find the most litter hanging out roadside. We had a separate bag for the recyclable items so that we could dispose of them separate from the garbage.

The kids absolutely loved this project! They were practically racing one another to see who could find an object first and who could fill their bag the highest. On multiple accounts they told me that "This is FUN!". And Miss Elle was insistent that part of our group cover one side of the road while the others checked the opposite side so as not to miss a single item.

We found lots and lots of beer cans and practically made a game out of seeing how many brand names we could locate. BTW, the kids had never seen a jumbo BUSCH Light can before (that may have been the only surprise)! Dakota was happy to find this Coke can that's been litter so long it's sun faded.

I'm so proud of my lil' clean up crew. All in all we spent $0.00, one hour of our time and filled 5 bags, gathered recyclables and taught the children (with a gentle reminder to myself) about the importance of giving back to Mother Earth and our community.

RAOK #4

This week's random act of kindness was somewhat impromptu. I suppose they all are to a certain extent but this one had zero forethought.

I find myself going into the PennWell canteen each morning so I can get my fill of java to help kick start the day. Undoubtedly, the flavor of my choice for that day, no matter which one, is almost always empty. And naturally, I spend time restocking the flavor that I'm drinking so that the next poor soul in need of a caffeine fix will be pleasantly surprised to find that flavor completely restocked.

But today I restocked all of them! Now all my co-workers will be happy (not just the drinkers of my variety). Well...they'll at least be happy until noon when restocking is required again.

RAOK #3

I'm trying to decide if random acts of kindness are only classified as such if the you give anonymously. I'm thinking yes but then again, some very basic things can be done at random to those you love and it's still considered kindness. I suppose the rules aren't important anyhow.

So today was a good day. First off, I elected to stop by the donut shop after my morning workout and get some donuts for the kids...a suprise breakfast if you will. This doesn't count. But, while I was there I bought donuts for the neighbor kids too. Hopefully that counts for something even though they know they came from me.

And tonight I prepared a gift bag of fall season goodies. I included a candle, some earmuffs, body wash and peppermint lotion. I also added a Happy Fall notecard addressed to my neighbor, any neighbor.

When Elle arrived home from soccer practice, I let her choose a random house of those who would receive today's RAOK. We went down the street, she delivered the bag and rang the door bell and took off! I caught a horrible, dark picture of her running away from the house and unfortunatley, the ones I captured of the homeowner at the door did not turn out. But boy did we have fun with our giving!

RAOK #2

Yesterday evening was the school carnival at the kid's elementary school. While I was supervising the silent auction tables, a woman talked to me about her son's disappointment for not winning an inflatable toy prize given at this particular carnival game. He was too little to successfully complete the game's task and kept walking away with only a Tootsie Roll.

Dakota had already won 3 inflatable toys. So I asked him if he'd mind giving one up to a little boy who was struggling to win one. He said yes and so we found the mom and her son and Dakota presented the boy with a blown up football on a stick. The kid was SO excited.

This is a photo of the boy playing with it just moments after receiving this RAOK in OK.

RAOK in OK

So, my friend over at Two Little Miss Fritts had a link to an inspiring blog about random acts of kindness on her Facebook page. The owner of the blog wrote about how she celebrated her 38th birthday doing 38 random acts of kindness all in one day. I was so inspired by the idea that I decided to share it via email with several family members, friends and co-workers. A few folks were impressed and a few others were equally inspired to do more.

Thus begins my journey to make a conscious effort to do some random act of kindness (RAOK), Oklahoma (OK) style at least once a week for an unspecified amount of time. I'm hopeful that the newness of this quest doesn't wear thin. And I'm hopeful that I continue to be inspired by how I feel while and after doing these acts of kindness.

Tonight I paid the bill for the lady in the drive thru line behind me at Braums. I didn't stick around to see her gratitude once she realized that her bill was already taken care of. But when the cashier asked if I knew the woman in my rearview mirror and I replied "No", I was pleased to see her joy at the thoughtfulness of the jesture. And so...here we go!