Things in my life have been so strange lately. From my site getting hacked [it is fixed now] to being without a computer for almost a month [I got it back today!], to being unemployed for 6 months [I’ve started back now for at least 5 weeks] to Christmas and then Kei’s birthday.
I.am.ready.for.normal.
Many of you followed us on Instagram to see what Keilee did for her 13th birthday. The response we got there was unbelievable! Keilee has wanted to spend her special day doing “13” things for others. She researched and made signs and made lists and got everything ready. She got $100 for Christmas and she wanted to use it for doing Random Acts of Kindness. And it took almost every bit of her money.† She was adamant that this is what she wanted to do.† So I told her to go for it. [Secretly I was thrilled that she wanted to do this.] We have been so blessed the past year, unbelievably blessed and she wanted to give a little of that blessing back.
So…here is “Keilee’s 13th Birthday”
We start her birthday the same way we have done since she was 3. We go to IHOP for breakfast. This is the same hat she has worn since she was 3! I asked her if she wanted a new one but nothing doing. This is taped all over to keep it together. 🙂
After that the FUN began. She had gotten everything together that could be gotten together the day before.
1st Stop:† The Mailman. She made cookies and put a card that she put or gave everywhere we went.
#2:† The Park. She threw about $4 in change all over the sand area and on the huge wooden play house. All in quarters.
#3 She made cookies for the Firemen. On the way there she insisted we stop for a gallon of milk. 🙂
#4 Crayons and Coloring Books for the Children’s Area of the ER. She remembered from when my Daddy was in the ER that there was nothing for kids to do.
#5 : A change machine in the ER.
#6 Pay for the Car Behind Us. We went to Starbucks and told the girl what we were doing. She called everyone in the store over to the window to look at Kei and tell them what she was doing!
#7 Give someone a Wal-Mart Gift certificate. She and I said a prayer that we would find the person who needed it the most, then she bought a $10 gift card and walked around until she found someone. She gave it to this younger woman with a baby and about a 2 year old. She handed it to her and told her what she was doing. The lady said, “Is this for real?” and Keilee told her it was.
#8 Put $1 bills in Children’s book at the library.
#9 Give 13 Balloons to people in a nursing home. This was her favorite. She could see the reactions plus this is where my Mom was before she died. Keilee spent 2 months when she was just turned 8 here. She would walk all over the place talking to the patients, playing dolls with them and visiting. There was one lady who Keilee LOVED named Mary. Mary wasn’t very old but due to circumstances she lived there. She remembered Keilee and kept saying, “Keilee! Keilee!”. I almost cried. I thought it would be hard to be back there but it was wonderful. Every single person asked Kei to tie their balloon onto the back of their wheelchair.
#10 Give a candybar to a cashier. We bought something small and Keilee asked her what her favorite candybar was. She told Keilee and Kei said, ‘Ok I will try that” then bought it and gave it to her. She was thrilled!
#11 This was supposed to be to leave quarters in a bag on a washer but we saw this woman and Keilee just walked up to her and told her what she was doing. She couldn’t believe it and just hugged Keilee and gave her a kiss on her forehead. So precious.
#12 Leave dollars in the kid’s section of Dollar Tree
#13† Take 13 Stuffed Animals to the Firemen for kids. [We did the firemen together but Keilee did her video in this order so I did too. :)]
What a DAY! This was our best day in a long, long time and Keilee’s best birthday. What I loved about it was that she will never forget how she spent her 1st day as a teenager.
This was one proud Mama.
She got home and made this video with cards that she had already made.† Enjoy.
We are so ready for ‘normal’ here. I am ready to visit and LEAVE comments and blog every week and do school and just live our lives. It has been so crazy lately.
Happy weekend to all!
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. ~Charles Dickens
For it is in giving that we receive. ~St. Francis of Assisi
Linking up [FINALLY AGAIN]
with Mary at “Collage Friday“
For Christmas I’ve started the tradition of a “service” advent calendar. We do just little acts of service for most of the days of the calendar (mixed in with a few activities like looking at Christmas lights). But of course it’s hard to find activities to do with four year olds. Thanks so much for this blog post with a wealth of creative and easy ideas to make our Christmas fun this year!
My daughter stumbled upon this post and shared it with me. It brought tears to my eyes! The world needs more of this for sure. Not only did she bless the people recieving the gifts, I think she blessed everyone reading this post!
Fantastic!!
I will be sharing this with ‘my’ kids at work, and Keilee has inspired my lesson plan for a week. Not sure which week I’ll do it, but we’re going to do a ‘random acts of kindness week’. I will let you know what the kids do and where and why and all that so you can pass it on to your lovely girl.
So glad to see your blog back up and running, and be able to put you BACK on my sidebar where you belong!!!!
And so happy to hear you’re back to work!!
So AWESOME!!! You are raising this girl well. 🙂
Kei is so awesome! I may steal her “acts of kindness” idea on my birthday. I’ll owe the world 47 acts of kindness. Egads!
Oh, I’m so glad to have you back, Karen! I was heartbroken when I couldn’t access your site. This is probably the loveliest thing I’ve read in a very long time! I read the random acts your Kei did for others while my two older girls were gathered around the laptop (secretly hoping they’ll copy her kindness!!) Happy Birthday to your generous, thoughtful daughter! Many blessings!
Oh, and glad that my computer security is no longer saying, “BEWARE” when I click on your blog! Missed reading ! 🙂
You’ve got one special young lady there! No doubt about it!
That is so amazing. I felt teary watching the video. What a girl to have thought of it! Davan and I both think it’s really cool and may even borrow some ideas, but I don’t think we’d have come up with it on our own. Way to go, Keilee!
This is so great and so inspirational!!! Go, Keilee!!
What a wonderful way to spend a birthday! How kind!!! I was crying a I read this… very touched. Makes me realizes what little, & creative, ways there are to spread KINDNESS!!!
Beautiful, Karen!
The joy on Keilee’s face as she gives and serves is evident and beautiful:)
You girls rock!
Love and hugs to you both and prayers for an amazing 2013.
Love Joshua 3:5 and the promise therein, “…Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
When I stop crying, I’ll come back and comment. 🙂
I LOVE this. You are raising the most wonderful daughter. What an inspiring thing to do for your birthday. I hope you have a great deal of “normal” this year.
Blessings, Dawn
My daughter and I watched this together and loved it! We are inspired to do something for someone else. Thank you for sharing!
Goosebumps Karen. I watched throughout your day glued to Instagram like it was breaking news on the television to see what this amazing child of yours would do next. Watching the video is so inspiring. What song is this?
Bravo to you both for making the world a better place.
I am in awe of you.
This was a fab way to spend your birthday. She has inspired me. Have a great weekend.
Blessings
Diane
Happy belated birthday Kei. I can’t wait to show my girls the generosity of your heart! Karen, your daughter is a beautiful young lady, even more so on the inside!
Wow, Karen. Wow. What an amazing young lady .. I mean woman.
@ Susan: We were going to do it at the end of January to celebrate Amber’s Baptismal birthday and the 1 year anniversary of our homeschooling journey – which happen to be the same day!
Ooooh, this just give me goosebumps. So cool! It’s hard to even imagine all the joyful people from all these acts of kindness! 🙂
Amber and I watched the video together, I tried really really hard not to cry. I didn’t quite succeed. Keilee is so wonderful, generous, and has a truly kind heart. It was such a great way to celebrate her birthday.
We’re happy for you that life is changing for the positive, but I’m not sure anymore that there is ever a “normal”. There is just what you are going through at the moment. Sometimes it is more predictable than others times. 🙂
Have a great weekend both of you, and we’ve missed reading your blog posts.
I am so glad that you are getting back to “normal”…I can’t think of anyone who deserves that more!!
I have commented on Instagram and on Keilee’s video, so you all know how I feel about the 13 Random Acts, but I will say again that this is just the most beautiful idea and I just LOVE it! We are planning to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week the week of Valentine’s Day 🙂
Your girl is wonderful! My kids watched her video yesterday and were so amazed! I, of course, started to cry the minute I saw Kei with her cards. I was so, so moved by what she did, by what you guys stand for and the way you live your lives with so much positivity and gratitude that I couldn’t help but totally tear up. You both truly inspire me. I am so glad I know you!
I am glad your normal is coming back, and SO glad you have work happening, but I’m guessing your lives will never be “Normal”! Because you are both so open to experiencing new, bright and remarkable things, and are so very generous, so full of life and giving and love, that I think your Normal will be Extraordinary and Sparkling, always.
Much love to you and Kei! 🙂
This is amazing and beautiful. I can only imagine how proud you are, Karen. You are doing a FABULOUS job raising your beautiful girl!