12 Ways to Spread Joy During the Holidays

The holiday season has officially arrived and this year we are focusing on the gift of giving with our kids. Spreading kindness through random acts of kindness and paying it forward is something I personally love doing and I'm excited to see my kids and others experience that joy!

34 Ways to Pay It Forward

Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day and since my birthday in late October I have been on a mission to complete 33 Random Acts of Kindness in honor of my 33rd Birthday, and I am proud to say that I have completed 34 as of today!

Having the Pay it Forward mindset over the last few months has opened up my eyes of simple ways to show kindness, generosity and giving.  Doing these acts hasn't only been a benefit for others, but every time I complete an act I feel blessed.  In fact, I've enjoyed this so much that I didn't stop when I reached 33 and plan on continuing past the 34 I've completed.  Here is a list of what I have done so far:

1. Tipped generously at restaurant.
2. Brought donuts to co-workers (I brought a couple boxes to the shop for all of our employees on the farm).
3. Brought donuts to church staff and volunteers (I guess I love spreading smiles through donuts...).
4. Donated to a friend's Facebook non-profit support campaign.
5. Donated books to local Little Free Library.
6. Sent gas card to family traveling for cancer treatments with a thinking of you card.
7. Participated in a birthday card shower for a friend's mother.
8. Brought flowers to great-aunt just because.
9. Donated board games to nursing home.
10. Brought donuts to nurses and staff taking care of loved one in the hospital (there I go again with the donuts...).
11. Wrote a note to the hospital sharing about individuals who gave outstanding care to loved one while in the hospital.
12. Dropped off food to a family with a new baby.
13. Gave my Fleet Farm Black Friday stuffed animal to woman who wanted one but didn't arrive early enough to get one herself.
14. Donated to every Red Kettle I walked by during the holidays.
15. Sent Advent devotions to a couple of friends.
16. Donated toys to Operation Santa drive.
17. Supported friends who had Giving Tuesday Facebook campaigns.
18. Set out drinks and snacks for delivery drivers at house during holiday season.
19. Participated in my children's school's food drive.
20. Paid overdrawn school lunch account for a family at my children's school.
21. Sponsored a local family in need over the holidays.
22. Donated items to the Ronald McDonald House through local McDonald's giving tree.
23. Donated hams to a couple local families in need through La Luz Hispana and Hams Across America.
24. Reconnected with old friend.
25. Sent thinking of you card to friend.
26. Left positive reviews for three businesses online.
27. Ordered champagne for two people I saw get engaged.
28. Helped a friend's cousin with getting settled in new home after going through some hard times by donating some house supplies.
29. Left positive review for resort that we visited on our anniversary trip.
30. Participated in National Wear Red Day to bring awareness to women's heart disease.
31. Supported friend's Cookies for Kids Cancer campaign.
32. Donated to local grocery store's MDA campaign.
33. Left Valentines in public restrooms wishing everyone who saw the hearts a great day.
34. Donated to a family's medical/health issues Go Fund Me account.

So I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day.  Be sure to comment and let me know what you did to celebrate, or share ideas so we all can pay it forward.  And remember to Comment for a Cause.

33 for my 33rd

Today I turned 33 years old and I have to say 33 feels pretty good.  I have been married for almost 10 years to my best friend and have four healthy, growing children who give me constant entertainment and love.  My Farmer and I continue to grow our farming operation and have even been recognized for some of our accomplishments.  I feel comfortable where I am in life and at the same time am inspired to do more, do better and help others.

And that is how come, to celebrate my 33rd birthday, I'm vowing to help others and give back through 33 random (and not so random) acts of kindness.  I already have ideas written down and am going to put my plan in action tonight when I run to town to go on a parts run (because when it's your birthday during harvest, you take any excuse to run to town to treat yourself for supper. 😉)

So now this is where you come in to help:  First, please comment below with any random (or not so random) acts of kindness ideas.  If you know someone in particular that could use some encouragement, feel free to reach out to me, as I would love to help that person through you or anonymously.  Secondly, reach out to someone and perform a random act of kindness yourself.  When we help others we not only uplift them, but make our own hearts full too.

I can't wait to hear your suggestions, as well as learn how you paid it forward!  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Pay it Forward with #HamsAcrossAmerica

The holiday season is a joyous time for many - celebrations with family, special treats and dinners, and presents under the tree.  It is easy for me to take all of this for granted, but for some, they don't have a support system and money can be too tight for those special treats, dinners and presents.  So My Farmer and I joined other pig farmers from across the country and paid it forward by donating holiday hams to families in need.

We decided to reach out to our local Crisis Intervention Service and help a couple of the families using their services.  Our friend Katy made us aware of the needs of the Service Center after doing a service project for them last month.  It means a lot to us that we were able to donate holiday hams to two families that are clients of our local Crisis Intervention Service, both after struggling with domestic violence.  The director let us know how much each of these families appreciated the hams, as they both have large families and are not receiving any support from the abusers.  Knowing these families are now able to celebrate and feed all of those growing bellies means a lot to us, as those are two things we care about for our own family.

Our family, and other pig farmers from across America, encourage you to pay it forward and give a holiday ham this holiday season.  Who would you like to give a holiday ham to?  Remember to Comment for a Cause.