Well here we go ladies and gents, December has begun.  We started our Christmas kindness advent yesterday and rocked it out this morning as well.  Recently someone told me they wanted to do a kindness advent, but that last year it became more of a chore versus something which helps keep your heart focussed on Christ’s love.  I really thought about that and honestly, I totally get it.  With four kids and the busiest time of the year, I can totally look back and see the days when I had viewed it as a chore.  This year I’m already handing out the grace card to myself to ensure this doesn’t happen with our family this year.  I want our kids to keep their excitement about spreading love and kindness.  I don’t want them to lose sight of what this time of year is really about.  Who needs me throwing extra stress and pride into the mix.  So I’m doing some things a little different this year…we’re taking things a little more easy and relaxed.

Like yesterday we took polaroid pictures of families and friends in Target while we shopped.  We spent Thanksgiving in Florida and had just gotten back.  Josh had to get some things done and Huddy and Sol wanted to spend time with him, so just Harper, Amon and myself went to Target.  The boys knew and understood what we were doing and I wanted them to be apart of the kindness, but time with their dad was just fine too.  So just three of us rocked it out yesterday and it was just as meaningful.

I was so proud of Harper.  I watched as she walked up to total strangers, told them we were spreading kindness for Christmas this year and asked if she could take their pictures.  Then she would stand back, “say cheeeeeese”, snap their pics and then hand over the picture and wish them a Merry Christmas.  I was the creepy lady standing behind her crying.  Like a dork.  Two ladies even gave her $5 and asked her to pay it forward.  She wants to give the $5 to Ms Betty at the post office since she works so hard for us and is always kind.  Gosh!

Today we showed a little appreciation to the custodians who work so hard at Harper’s school.  Normally I would want to make something homemade, but like I said, we just got back from Florida, so we went with break and bake cookies.  Harper, Huddy and Sol can line a cookie sheet with break and bake dough like nobody’s business and they still understood what those cookies were about…homemade or not.

Kindness doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated or all dolled up…it can be simple and easy and small.  Kindness in whatever form or shape can change someone’s day and show them God’s love.  I want to encourage you this December to soak up the days…to remember others and Jesus and to show love and kindness…and to show yourself some grace…loving God and others in the best way you know how…in the ways that work for your family this season.

Tomorrow we are thanking our trash guy.  He works hard and we appreciate what he does.  He deserves some break and bake cookies too.

Let December commence.  It’s going to be grand, I just know it.

Happy Monday.

So wow, Thanksgiving is this week and then December starts Sunday…this is craziness.  The year is already closing out.  We have a busy week so we got everything ready for our kindness advent this weekend which will start Sunday…December 1…25 acts of kindness leading up to Christmas.  You can read about it HERE along with lots of ideas.

I’ve had several emails and messages about what things we will be doing for this year.  So here’s what the Kelley family has planned for December:  Taking polaroids of shoppers, flowers to Ms. Sherry Harper’s school custodian, treat for our garbage man, buying Christmas for a family, overpay for the Contributor, buy & pump someone’s gas, Redbox rental bucket, paint rocks & leave them on the playground, donuts for school staff, decorate someone’s mailbox, gift card for a single mom, sticky notes on mirrors in a public restroom, treat for our mailman, handout kids books in a store, share a dinner, cookies to our pediatricians office, buy someone’s lunch in the drive thru, load bubble gum machines with quarters, buy school supplies for Harper’s classroom, share Sonic happy hour, babysit for a couple, leave gift cards in shopping carts, give away a recipe with all the needed groceries, bring in neighbors trashcans and give a surprise for a gas station worker.

We’re excited to get busy.  We’re excited to be really intentional with kindness this Christmas season.  We added some new things we’ve never done, but also left several of our favorites.  The kids are ready and already asking when we get to start.

Tell me what you guys are up to for December?  Advent…no or yes?  If yes, what kind do you do…treats, verses, activities, etc.  I’d love to hear your ideas.

Happy Monday.

Oh and almost forgot, the Timbali Crafts Giveaway ends tonight at midnight.  CLICK HERE to see how to enter to win all these goodies.