Cut burlap into 6-8” long pieces and tie around wreath frame until completely covered. Monogram is made from wooden letters from Michaels that are hot glued together and painted with a gold shimmery color.
October
Complete our Pottery Barn/boat cleat inspired photo gallery projects in the staircase & upstairs hallway
Prep house and backyard to host a 30+ person rehearsal dinner/bbq for one of my best friends
Plan details of our next trip to Haiti
Celebrate 2 year wedding anniversary
November
Possibly start an exciting new opportunity – details to come
Celebrate B’s 29th Birthday!
Host Thanksgiving at our house
December
16th – Graduate from LSUS with my Masters Degree!
TRY my hardest to enjoy the holiday season – my FAVE time of year!
An owner of a U-Haul store in somewhere-ville, USA shared this incredible story with a radio DJ and it is one that I will never forget. The owner wanted to express to the DJ how much of an impact this Christian radio station has had on his life as well as many others. He went on to share that every morning, while walking around the U-Haul truck lot, he would inspect the vehicles & set the radios to play on the same station – every day. He said that he had been doing this for years always wondering if this small action would ever have an impact on someone. He had hoped that maybe the songs that played would give encouragement at the perfect moment or perhaps spark interest in someone’s heart who has never heard a song meant to inspire and build faith. The owner continued to tell the DJ how one day a man came into his store to pick up a truck but ended up returning after 30 minutes with tears in his eyes. He seemed to be extremely confused and panicked as he asked the owner what radio station was playing in the truck and what particular song he had heard. He described some of the lyrics in desperation of finding out more about these words and immediately the owner knew what song he was referring to. The song is called “Ships in the Night” by Mat Kearney and the lyrics describe the isolation and hurt that can be experienced in a broken marriage. The customer ended up sharing with the U-Haul owner that he had rented a truck because he was on his way to pack up his belongings and leave his wife and family. He said that as soon as he started driving away from the shop, that this song came on the radio and he ended up pulling over on the side of the road to listen to the words. It was the words of this song that brought him to tears and turn around to the U-Haul shop and give his marriage another chance.
What an incredible story of how our actions can have the most profound impact on a stranger’s life. When I first heard this story I felt so convicted that I don’t do enough. I felt guilty of knowing I am constantly passing by people in the office, at the store and in my very urban, downtown neighborhood who are in great need and that I am just not doing enough. It is difficult to know what we can accomplish when some problems can seem impossible to solve. But this story is a reminder that we can do something and that even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact. A small act of kindness to a stranger can be the exact action that someone needs to help get them through another day or choose between 2 routes that will forever alter the course of their life.
Ships in the Night
Mat Kearney
Like ships in the night You keep passing me by, Just wasting time, trying to prove who's right And if it all goes crashing into the sea If it's just you and me, trying to find the light
Like ships in the night, letting cannonballs fly, say what you mean and it turns to a fight Fist fly from my mouth as it turns south You're down the driveway, I'm on the couch Chasing your dreams since the violent fifth grade Trying to believe in your silent own way Cuz we'll be okay, I'm not going to wait Have you watched it 14 as it went down the drain, hip-hop stayed the same and your mom's moved away, how many of our parents seem to make it anyway we're just fumbling through the gray trying to find a heart that's not walking Away.
Turn the lights down low, walk these halls alone we can feel so far from so Close.
Like ships in the night You keep passing me by, Just wasting time, trying to prove who's right And if it all goes crashing into the sea If it's just you and me, trying to find the light like ships in the night, there passing Me by, there passing me by, like ships in the night.
I'm at the airport waitin' on a second plane had to pack you had cramps and I was late headed to a red carpet they won’t know my name right ridding in Silence all that we wanna say bout to bored when you call on the phone you Say I'm sorry I'll be waiting at home feels like were burning this out on Our own trying to find our way down a road we don't know.
Turn the lights down low, walk these halls alone, we can feel so far from so Close. like ships in the night they keep passing me by, just wasting time Trying to prove who's right and if it all goes crashing into the sea if it's Just you and me trying to find the light like ships in the night, there Passing me by, there passing me by, like ships in the night.
There are hundreds of opportunites that each day brings where we are able to step a little bit (or a lot a bit) out of our comfort zone to love on someone who may desperately need it. This opportunity may be blatantly obvious like when you see an older woman who is struggling to place her groceries in her car & you take the time to assist her, or this opportunity to serve may be a bit more disguised like when you know a co-worker is having a rough day and you decide to purchase her favorite soda in hopes of cheering her up. We have opportunities like this throughout the day to bless someone else and make a difference in their lives.
I recently came across the following blog and was incredibly inspired to do more for others.
In this blog posting, a woman celebrates her 38th birthday by spending the day with her family as they perform 38 random acts of kindness, TOGETHER. She states that this day was one of the best days of her life as each action blessed others, as well as herself. How incredible is this? How selfless and loving is the thought of focusing on others on a day that is meant to be all about YOU? There are several things that I adore about this posting including that this mother involved her children in this celebration to teach them how to love complete strangers.
Random acts of kindness can be performed through words of kindness as well. A few months ago I was at Whole Foods in Orlando during a business trip. I was exhausted and wanted to pick up a quick dinner and return to my hotel room. I remember that as I was choosing my meal, a little girl started screaming at the top of her lungs as she began to throw the world's largest temper tantrum. The entire store froze and stared at the mother in horror as this girl screamed for what seemed like hours. Immediately I felt for this mother. I may have been tired, but her job doesn't end when she goes home. This mother was strong and stood her ground as her daughter screamed and cried. I felt moved to lay a hand on her shoulder or even hug her and tell her she was doing a good job as she didn't give in handing over the treat that her daughter longed for. However, as quickly as the Lord told me to encourage this woman, worldly doubts took over that thought. I began thinking - I can't talk to her...she will think I am so strange...What if she ignores me? ... What if she doesn't speak my language? - I ended up walking away from this woman without giving her the encouragement that she could have desperately needed.
How many times do we doubt ourselves or decide not to spread kindness to others because we are stuck on our own selfish thoughts or desires? This is something that I struggle with way too often. We must push through those feelings of discomfort to love those who may be battling something so much larger than we could ever imagine. We must love those around us and be His hands & feet.
