friday {#26acts}

 Hi.
I have been dreaming of this ham that Kevin is going to smoke for Christmas.
Is that weird?
I realize it already says smoked on the ham, but apparently this is what you buy. Plus, you can hardly find an uncooked ham anywhere. Kevin researched it and found out what to do, and this is going on our smoker for the next 2 days. And a brisket. He makes the best brisket. I can't wait.

I've been dipping a lot of pretzels for the weekend.

When I ran across what journalist Ann Curry said the other day, about the tragedy last week, my mind wouldn't stop. 

She proposed this:

#26acts
Imagine if everyone could commit to doing one act of kindness for each precious life lost. An act of kindness big or small. Are you in?

 The Facebook link is here. I don't do Facebook or Twitter, but now it's all over Instagram as well, #26acts. That is where I started seeing more and more about it, and getting some ideas. If you search on one of these sites, you will see so many beautiful ideas, from both the givers and the recipients. It's enough to make you cry. People are blessing complete strangers. It's amazing how many are participating, tens of thousands and more. So, this is what I decided to do. 

I should be more thankful to our postman, and I forget to do this each Christmas.

 I was in line to get a fountain drink at McDonald's, and I bought a $5 gift card, wrote this note, and asked the cashier to give both to the car behind me. I saw the lady in the car read the note, look up and smile. My heart was going a hundred miles an hour. I know this is so small, but it might be my most favorite thing ever. I tried to figure out all day, why I loved this one so much. I think giving to a complete stranger who you will never see again, and who can not tell you thank you....to me that is what giving is all about. I can't really attach the right words to the feeling. The feeling was just indescribable. 

I decided to mostly do 26 acts as one collective thing. I took 26 toys to a children's hospital. My heart told me to do something for children, since so many were lost last week. The toys are not just for Christmas. I read on their website that they use these as comforting tools when a child is getting a treatment or getting shots, etc. I pray that each of these small gifts will bless 26 precious children.

 I really love the ideas that my friend Holly came up with, here.
She did some really wonderful acts of kindness yesterday.

I am so thankful that I was able to participate in this. Our family is only able to do these things by the grace of God. I know that in an instant, everything that we have could be taken away from us.
What I received in return, by these small acts, can not be measured. 

The world felt so dark this past week, but there is so much light.
There is a lot of healing taking place.
This world is still so beautiful.

My heart is full.
{and the world didn't end. yippee}.
 

love,

nicolle