Fairhome Road

This post is a little different – a little special. This is the month of giving of all sorts, so I thought I would take a little time and acknowledge another in this very same world you and I live in that IS making a difference.

Last year, about this time, I became aware of the Hey Stranger Project. Started by a lovely woman Rachel May, who initially wrote handwritten letters of inspiration and encouragement, it is now spreading smiles and positivity WORLD WIDE!

“These cards are something tangible that the recipient can choose to keep, to hold onto, to remember an act of kindness bestowed upon them, or they can pass it on to another.
They are fine by themselves, or may be accompanied by an act of kidnness: the purchase of their coffee, or their meal, or with a compliment. They are for any and all. They are Thank Yous and Tips and little Love Notes. They can be left in magazines, books, under windshield wipers.” – Rachel May

“Hey Stranger.
HEY:
1: (used as an exclamation to call attention or to express pleasure, surprise, bewilderment, etc.)
2.Informal. hello: used as a greeting.

STRANGER: a person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance”

– Hey Stranger Facebook Page

Thousands of cards have been distributed all over this world making thousands of waves and thousands of stories. Rachel talks about Hey Stranger and you just know this lady is giving, positive and selfless. Rachel: a person I have never met but someone I look up to.

I honestly can’t express the happiness that I receive when leaving a card for someone or handing a one at the drive through window. Why would I even try – YOU can participate, too! Join this random act of kindness project! Follow her on instagram, @heystrangerproject, to find out how YOU can receive your own cards and get ideas about how they can be used.

“Every Card is a Person.” – Rachel May

I know we say it all the time but seriously… it’s crazy to think of how fast a year goes by. This year has brought challenges and advantages- all of which we accept with open arms and are thankful they have taught us the lessons we needed. I LOVE how Thanksgiving can help us reflect on the things we do have to be thankful for. This year, we are thankful to be in a place where we can give. It may not be a lot but that’s okay!

Between now and Thanksgiving my family and I will be doing acts of giving – simply because we can.

Tonight the kiddos and I bundled up, set out and gave to the people near to us… literally. We handed out a “slice” of the of the love we have to our neighbors. These people we live right next to and sometimes hardly see. Going into the winter when all of us hibernate I wanted them to know that we are thankful for them, too. And you know what… We really are!! I created a simply card (I didn’t picture these because they have our address – safety first) as a reminder of this.

Thankful for Giving – A Slice of the Pie | Fairhome Road

Okay, so I didn’t make the pies like I wanted to but that’s not the point, I guess. Don’t judge.

I had the best intentions of getting photos of my daughter handing out the pies but we were too into the moment. It’s incredible how these little things can have such an impact on both sides of the giving. It was awesome to watch my daughter be so involved because she wanted to.

An amazing moment, we are already planning out next act of giving! Check back throughout November to see what we are doing…

OOOOHHHH-kay.  Plot twist.

Once home we were reminiscing about the great time we had. I knew it was too good to be true. (Story of my life = no good deed goes unpunished) My son picked up a lid to a soup can and sliced his finger… a night in the ER and 5 stitches later we are home…  OH YEAH – I went to pick my baby up and got in right above the lip with my fingernail… I think its time for bed.

I know we have all seen the many DIY ball ornaments made from twine and a balloon on pinterest. I pinned the hell out of those because – its a good idea! Realistically though – I do not have time to wrap and glue twine around a balloon. TO ME – my time is my money and family time. Get what I am saying?

I wont lie, I kind of cringe at the thought of even calling this DIY. While browsing the craft area at my local Wal-Mart, I came across these decorative accent balls. You know, the ones that you are supposed to put in an even more decorative bowl and set on your coffee table. UM, they are an even better version of the twine balls AND they take me NO TIME to make! Picked up a package of pretty little ornament hangers and we are in business!! This has taken no more than 5 minutes of my time and that is money to me!

Watch for an upcoming post that shows how I decorate my tree with all my fun projects.