*b* list….give a little….

so, i am staying with my plan with the tuesday *b* list. i have some new ideas for future lists. funny how the little things make me happy!

ideas:

simple lunches for grownups

cheap finds

favorites at local restaurants

mantel & shelving display ideas

those are just a few! i feel like my creativity is starting to flow again! and i like it!

before i go on with today’s list, i want to share a couple things.

*we still have 5 spaces left in the *day of crafting at the loft* i am so surprised that it’s not sold out. not because of me and my class, but because we have vicki chrisman! seriously. she is one of the most sought after altered art teachers anywhere! and we have her here in little ol fremont nebraska! i promise it will be a super inspiring, possibly life changing experience! she is THAT good! email me: bnovacek@aol.com don’t wait!

*there’s a fun new article up at fiskars.com, called “quick and easy”. perfect, right! i have a layout using the new background stamps (which i love)

 by the way, the wedding plans are going well! october 17 will be here SO soon! can’t wait!

*dancing with the stars. this season looks like it will be a good one! i thoroughly enjoyed last night’s show! steve-o had the best line of the night: “i’m very caucasian”. i laughed out loud! because while they were playing the soundbite of him saying that, his moves looked “very caucasian”! so funny! i’m just sad that it doesn’t look like maks will be around long, with denise richards. whoever the “sex and the city” actor is, will be around a while. i just thought that it was much more entertaining already than last season.

on with the list-

*b* list of ideas for giving (i’m challenging myself here too)

1. volunteer at the local homeless shelter. after reading, “same kind of different as me”, i will never look at volunteering in the same way. i’m not talking about showing up once a week, and gracing them with your presence. i mean going and investing in them and treating them with respect.
2. your talents. all of us have abilities which we can use to help others. i am blown away by the generosity of a lovely lady at our church. she has a cleaning business and recently volunteered to clean for a family with 4 children, once a month for 6 months for free. so generous!  a couple of years ago, i tried to volunteer at our local hospital, to take photos of critically ill babies and children….but it just never really happened. i was a little discouraged, but recently, i have found ways to volunteer my services in other ways. last night, i received a message on facebook about possibly doing photos for a  local family, who have a family member who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. volunteering your services for a local charity fundraiser is another great way to give.
3. your time. volunteering to help with watching children, visiting with lonely elderly people, sitting with someone waiting for a loved one having a procedure at the hospital…i know we all do these things from time to time, but i’m suggesting (to myself too) that we make time to do these things on a more regular basis. it’s so easy to get caught up in our own little lives.
4. committing to regular service at your church. i am guilty on this one. i volunteer to help with lots of one time service opportunities…but to be committed to a regular *job*, i am not. i taught sunday school for many years when my kids were little. and i don’t think that is really my gifting, but i know someone has to do it. i think of all the people it takes to make a sunday service happen, and i feel a little convicted. i just show up and benefit from all their work. the musicians, our pastor, the sound booth dudes, the people who put the bulletin together…..it takes a lot of work. i really feel bad about any complaints i’ve had about any of these areas. i’m not doing it, so i should just be thankful that someone is. and i will continue to pray about what i’m *supposed* to do.
5. find a cause. we all have things we believe in. i just question how deeply i believe, if i’m not actually doing anything about it.
6. missions. i have had the desire to go on a missions trip for many years. i really hope that in the next year or two, it will happen! i know how life changing a trip like this can be. personally, i’ve been challenged to give more generously to missions too. i believe with my whole heart, soul and mind in it, so why hold back on giving?
7. other local institutions. our friend shane volunteers on sundays to walk dogs and clean kennels at the humane society. vicki teaches scrapbooking at a local service group, my uncle jim and aunt mary are very involved in habitat for humanity. they inspire me. there are so many services that all of us can get involved in.
8. provide meals this one is so simple. especially for tom and i. it’s hard to cook for two…so why not make a full recipe and take the extra portions to another family? a meal is such a simple way to say “i care”. and i like to do it for not just the really needy, but also to my friends who have had a hard week at work or who are always the *givers* and no one seems to ever give back to them.
9. give your stuff away. it’s just stuff right? i have tried to change my attitude about my stuff in the last few years. i have a friend who is so generous and inspiring. if someone sees something they like in her home and they mention it, she gives it to them. maybe not necessarily furniture or big ticket items, but accent pieces, books, dishes, clothes…it is crazy! but soooo cool! i am very careful not to say too much about things i like at her house! i think it’s a great attitude though.
10. the gift of encouragement. such an easy thing to give. but it makes such a difference! tom has the gift of encouragement. it comes so naturally and is so genuine. if he says it, he means it. one of the many things i love about him! i try not to let a day go by without encouraging someone. i know what a difference it makes. one thing i’ve learned too, is that it’s not just people who are sorta *down and out* who need encouragement. we all need it. even those who seem to be really strong and independent.

i just believe that it’s vital to our well being to get out of ourselves and give something. everyone can do it. getting my focus off myself and on to someone else, always gives me a better perspective. and when you have something you believe in and are passionate about, it’s natural to want to give. my strongest personal belief is in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. my faith motivates me to get out of myself, at least at times! knowing that “there but by the grace of God” go i, also helps to fight the temptation to judge others and how they are living their lives. i pray every day that God will give me the ability to love others and not judge. i have a long way to go. it’s a journey. but i am up for the challenge.

We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (NRSV, 1 John 4:19-21)

God bless you today!