Fall Color

A few days ago, Jia noticed a tree that had turned bright red! She ooohhhhed and aawwwwwed over how pretty it was so this afternoon we took a drive through a nearby conservation area so admire the turning foliage. Jack and I really enjoyed the peaceful drive. And, as for Jia.... I'll let you see for yourself what she thought!!

40 RAOK

Shhhhhh......

Don't tell anyone.

But I've actually been looking forward to my 40th Birthday and I'm going to share with you why!

A few months ago, my friend Aimee from NC, celebrated her birthday by doing RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness) and she asked her friends to do the same to help her celebrate.  I totally forgot about it until the end of the day, and we were eating at Washington Street.  We left our waitress a $20 tip to celebrate Aimee! 

 

So I decided then, for my 40th, I was doing 40 RAOK.

 

This afternoon, the littles (Jory and Jia) and I set out to bless others.  Here we are leaving the house for our adventure.

Jory is there.... begrudingly.

He wasn't into this at first, but after the first stop, he and Jia were fighting over who got the next stop!!

 

 

We went to the nursing home and hospital and left BALLOONS and FLOWERS at the desk.  We asked the nurses to give them to someone that didn't have family visit them or just needed a pick-me-up.

 

Here's one of the tags we attached to everything...

 

We randomly left dollar bills and quarters all around town.

 

We put $$ in every vending, pop and toy machine we could find!

 

Someone at Sonic is getting a little help with their dinner!

 

 

We filled the changers at the laundry mat.

 

Here is the other tag my friend Renea designed for me!

 

I also left money at Royal Inn and just asked the cashier to give it to the next person who come in to eat.

 

Jia gave a flower to the cashier at Casey's.

 

And this one is my favorite!!!!  These guys were preparing the parking lot at Trenton Foods for asphalt.  This was Jory's idea! We had drove by and seen them so we bought some bottled water for them.

 

We also delivered cupcakes to the Firestation!!  I hope the guy in the break room shares!

 

I've had a fantastic birthday weekend! 

It started off Saturday with a visit from a good friend.

Then I received a package in the mail from our friends Dan and Sherry in Texas.

They made a 'substantial' donation to our adoption in honor of my 40th birthday!

I screamed then cried uncontrollably!  Still can't believe that!

Saturday night we took the kids to the fair in Bethany and had a GREAT time!!!

 

Sunday was an awesome morning at church!  Then we went to my mom and dad's where Dad grilled burgers for us!  We had cake and home-made ice cream to!

My mom did put 40 candles on my cake, but as soon as Jory finished lighting them all, he was onery and started blowing them out before I even realized what was going on!

I'm secrectly glad though... I was a little worried about embarrassing myself attempting to blow all those candles out on my own!!!

We finished off Sunday taking Jory to ride his 4 wheeler.

 

Labor day - 40 RAOK and I still have a date with my husband!  Jia says "that's so romantic"!!!

 

All this, and my actually birthday hasn't even arrived yet! 

If you'd like to help me celebrate 40 Years....

Please pass it on and do a RAOK of your own!

Then let me know what you did!  I can't wait to see how all my family and friends blessed someone else to celebrate my special day!!!

 

I do have pictures of the rest of our weekend I'll get posted for you all to enjoy soon!!!

 

I was thirsty and you gave Me drink...‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 25