Ordinary Acts of Kindness

I am so excited to announce the following two ideas!

Before the announcements, a “brief” aside:

I have written before that I started this blog at a time in my life where I was craving something MORE. I wanted a place where I could record the little, simple, beautiful things in everyday life that otherwise go unmentioned or unappreciated due to the basic act of trying to survive another stressful day.

I started blogging (selfishly?) for me.

I wanted a place where I could record how amazing the first daffodils of spring look after a hard cold winter, and how a homemade pie can take the edge off even the most stressful of work days. I am a simple girl at heart. My husband would be the first to tell you that nothing makes me happier than crawling into bed at night with freshly washed sheets.

To my amazement, other people began reading this journal of the little things, and somehow I have had nearly 100,000 visitors to this site in less than a year! As the blog has grown, so have my ideas and desires for this little corner of the world. (details below)

I encourage you, today, no matter what the circumstances, stop and pick some wildflowers outside your front door (weeds count, even leaves from a tree, I’m a big weed picker!), put them in a vase in your bathroom and enjoy the colors and textures of Nature. Wash your bedding, crawl into bed tonight and breathe the scent of fabric softener and know how lucky you are to have a bed and a home. Bake something, even if it is out of a box! Make sure it has lots of sugar and butter! Indulge and embrace the simple things that make life meaningful. If you have children, hold them tight, scratch their backs when they crawl into bed at night and take the time to smell the sweet smell of their hair. Remember the texture of your little one’s favorite stuffed animal or blanket, soon enough it will be relegated to a closet or a basement. If you are blessed with a spouse, hold them close and tell them they are your hero. Love deeper, if just for today. Sit back and watch what it does to your heart.

In effort to love deeper, if just for today, I’m excited to announce the following!!

1. I would like to open up FREE advertising on my blog to anyone who is running, or just beginning to run, their own Etsy shop, or self-started small business. I think it is so important to encourage each other in these simple ways and I know that many women start their own small businesses, on Etsy or elsewhere, in order to earn extra money to stay at home with their children. Please email me if you would like to advertise here. proverbs2434@gmail.com I will get together the details. Space will be limited on a first come first serve basis to make sure the blog is not taken over by ads. 🙂 Right now my plan is to cycle ads each month. No fees, no hidden agenda, just an ordinary act of kindess.

2. A sweet friend nominated me for a blog award at the site Divine Caroline in the Home category. The winner in each category earns $250 and I would LOVE to win that money to send to this incredible husband and wife team who gave up the easy life in the U.S. to become missionaries working with orphans in a hospital in Ethiopia. If you want to be inspired to dig deeper and love bigger, check out their site, because they are inspiring in every sense of the word. And please follow the icon at the top right to vote! (Edit, or here is the link: http://www.divinecaroline.com/awards/Aug-09/2153-rare-and-beautiful-treasures) I do think you’ll be prompted to “register” after you click “vote” by supplying an email address and making up a password (sorry for that inconvenience).

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

If you stuck with me through this whole post/epistle, THANK YOU! I am so glad you are here! Now go forth and bake something with lots of sugar and butter and soak up the last days of summer.

darling image at top from here .