ACT OF KINDNESS

Last year I wanted to focus on service and teach my kids the act of giving. I also wanted them to remember that serving is not only during the holidays, but on our everyday. We called it "Act of Kindness". We started in November, with the goal of doing an random act of kindness or just showing our love to someone once a week. We tried doing it weekly and, starting in January, monthly. Unfortunately I didn't keep track of what we did after February and by May, I think, we stopped it ... unfortunately. However, throughout the year, there had been many times when the kids did something for someone and referred back to the "act of kindness" that we did in the past. 

Even though we were not consistent throughout the year with the goal, I am pretty sure they learned a lot about giving. I hope to always teach them that giving is MUCH better than receiving. 

These are the things we did that I was able to keep a record of.

Nov. 12th 2012

Spencer wrote a note for the mailman and gave him one of his Halloween candy.

We drove to the Dollar Store and Isabella and Spencer left $1 by a toy. I bet it made a kid very happy.

Nov. 19th 2012

The kids took cookies to a fire station. The fire fighters were so excited and the kids got a private tour of the big fire truck. After all they got a batch and for the rest of the day they were fire fighters :) 

Nov. 26th 2012

The kids drew pictures and glued some pictures of them on papers and we mailed it to their grandparents in Brazil. They had no idea about it. 

Nov. 30th 2012

We took a member of our ward, who is blind, to Costco for him to buy some things. It was great for the kids to help a person in need, specially a person with a physical challenge. That night, during our family prayer, Isabella thanked Heavenly Father for our body in a very special way. 

Dec. 2nd 2012

Spencer turned to me and said "I know an act of kindness ... I want to write a thank you card to my teacher". Within 10 minutes the letter was ready to go! Here's his sweet letter with a little candy attached :)

Dec. 3rd 2012

The kids decided to give some of their toys to another kid(s). Isabella chose her friend Kaydence from our ward. She gave her a purse with a note and a lollypop. We drove to her house and she just put it by the door. Cute enough, the next Sunday, Kaydence brought a little treat to Isabella with a thank you card. 

Spencer chose his friend Ian, also from our ward, and his brothers. He wrote a note for all of them and put one toy for each of them in separate bags with their names in it. We drove to their home and he put them by the door. It was cute to see him running so they wouldn't see us. Their mom told me later how happy the boys were with the new toys from Spencer. She was planning on doing the same thing to somebody else. 

About a week before Christmas, we went to temple square to see the lights and the act of kindness was to give away a merry Christmas note with a candy. Each of them had about 6 notes to give out. Below were Isabella's notes. 

They were a little hesitant to do so but I went with them and helped them. It was so cute to see the kid's face when they got it, and the parents face too :). I know some people were touched by it. Spencer and Isabella were a little "shy" but I think they will remember it.

From January on, the goal was to do an act of kindness a month. 

JANUARY 2013

The kids actually decided themselves what to do. Spencer wanted to write a note to Grandma and Grandpa with ten things he loves about them.

Isabella wanted to give her friends Cassie and Jordan a toy. This is her little note to them.

FEBRUARY 2013

We decided to take cookies to the nurses who take care of the newborn babies at St. Mark's Hospital. Our FHE was about service and then we headed to the hospital. The kids were very excited to see the little babies :) Isabella wrote the note this time. 

This holiday season has been quite crazy and, sadly, I haven't been able to make anything like this happen. 

I do, however, already have an idea for next year ... :)