Category Archives: Serve

30 Day Give : Day 13

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Today I cleaned the bathrooms.

Yes, I consider this a “give.” I DO NOT like to clean the bathrooms. Nobody in this house does. So, when I do it, I consider it a give.

In fact, today I cleaned the bathrooms, did several loads of laundry, cleaned up the kitchen, and multiple other things.

On my birthday.

And you know what… I was SO VERY THANKFUL the entire time I was doing it.

Thankful for bathrooms to clean.

Thankful for a house to live in.

Thankful that I could stop and have a snack when I wanted.

Thankful I had a daughter to care for (she’s got bronchitis).

Thankful for my family.

Just, thankful.

So, my give to my family was cleaning the bathrooms.

The give I received from my Heavenly Father – so very much more.

 

30 Day Give : Day 11

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Today we prepped for my Operation Christmas Child

BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

Tomorrow, many of my friends, family, and co-workers will descend upon our office for a OCC Shoebox packing party.

The girl helped me set up all the buckets of goodies and then packed a sample shoebox so that people could see how full to pack them.

We are ready to get the party started in the morning.

The girl is just as excited as I am!!

 

 

If you would like to pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child (and can’t come to my party), check out their website for details and a drop off location near you!

 

30 Day Give : Day 10

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Looking back over my 30 Day Give posts, I’m realizing A LOT of them involve food. It seems I really like to give to people in the form of a delicious bite.

I guess it shouldn’t surprise me knowing that one of my spiritual gifts is hospitality. And, knowing that my love language is acts of service. There is no greater act of service than providing a meal for someone… at least that seems to be the way I think.

Today, I served my writing team. We held our monthly meeting at my house, and I served them both breakfast and lunch. Did I have to serve them homemade food? NO. Could I have gotten it catered? YES. I will say that some of my initial motivation for cooking for them was to save a bit of money from my budget, but that’s not why I decided to really SERVE them. I served them good, warm, homemade food because I care about each and every one of them, and I wanted them to know it.

For breakfast we had sausage balls and these AMAZING cinnamon rolls that I’m making better and better each time I try. Practice makes perfect right?

 

For lunch I made this awesome crock pot pasta dish with a few variations. I shall blog my version soon. It is SO EASY and SO GOOD.

 

I also made Bubble Bread. Anyone who has been around my family long enough knows about Bubble Bread. Again, SO EASY and SO GOOD!

 

Both were thoroughly enjoyed by the team! I served some veggies and fruit too just to give us a bit of nutrition.

It was a great time of savoring not only the food but one another while we took a break from our massive to do list. We got a lot accomplished during the meeting, but even better we got to do it with friends.

 

30 Day Give : Day 7

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Today’s give was a yummy one! I cooked cinnamon rolls (a first for me) and took them to our staff meeting. They were a HUGE hit and well appreciated.

Then, in the afternoon, I ran back up to the office and started THREE crock pots of taco soup for a group of co-workers that were having meetings late into the evenings. I also brought them chopped veggies with homemade dip.

I finished their meal up with a delicious Lime Cake that I learned to make a few months ago. It was the perfect finish to the somewhat spicy meal.

 

 

I love cooking for other people. It’s such a fun way to give!

If you’ve missed the first few days of the 30 Day Giving Challenge, you can catch up here.

Day 6: Giving By Serving
Day 5: Packing Candy Bags for OCC
Day 4: Giving Your Time
Day 3: Appreciating Teachers
Day 2: A Day at the Library
Day 1: Giving School Spirit Wear

We are really having a blast with 30 Day Giving Challenge here at the House of Hills. Are you participating?!

 Linked to Keeping the Kingdom First.

 

 

30 Day Give : Day 6

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30-Day Giving Challenge

Today’s “give” was easy. I served at my church. It’s not something I did because of the 30 Day Giving Challenge. It’s something I do EVERY Sunday. A couple years ago I pulled back to serving every other Sunday. I hated it. I like to be in there, helping EVERY Sunday.

I’ve been serving in the preschool environment at my church for over 10 years. I was there before I had the Princess, and I’m still there now that she’s moved on to the elementary environment. Why do I serve in preschool EVERY Sunday?

Because preschoolers are the most important people in that building!

It’s true.  Preschoolers are often overlooked and just baby-sat, but they are little sponges just waiting to absorb anything and everything they encounter. What an amazing opportunity we have to teach them that God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever. (For more information on the curriculum we use, visit Orange.) It is truly an honor to serve with leaders who influence the next generation every Sunday.

Today, I had a rough one. We had one little girl who was in full tantrum when Mom dropped her off. I mean FULL tantrum. Like kicking, screaming, flailing. Whew! I held her through it so she wouldn’t hurt herself and was rewarded with those exhausted sighs and limp hugs that come at the end. Then, we took a walk and she was ready to go learn and play with her class. When mom picked her up, she came and gave me a hug and snuggle and told me that next week she wasn’t going to cry.

And that’s why I go back each week. Because, no matter how small a difference, I am making a difference in at least one child’s life each week. I love it.

Do you serve somewhere on a regular basis?

30 Day Give : Day 5

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The princess and her cousins, E and W, did today’s give.

Together (with Grandma and Gramps’ help) they bagged 120 baggies of candy for our Operation Christmas child party we’re having on Saturday.

They’re not new to the candy bagging business. Last year, the Princess and E bagged 100 baggies. This year, younger cousin W got in on it and was very serious about helping Aunt Kathy help the poor ones. I have an awesome video of him talking about it. It’s currently on my personal Facebook page. (I’m not smart enough to figure out how to get it here yet.)

I’m so proud of them and they’re giving hearts. And, I think they had fun too!

Many thanks to Grandma for the pictures!

30 Day Give : Day 4

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Today I gave my time.

Sometimes the hardest thing to give.

I spent an hour and a half at the elementary school helping the girl’s teacher with some assessments.

Did I have a to-do list a mile long that had to be put on hold? Yes!

Was investing in the lives of these children and my child’s teacher’s sanity more important? Yes!

 

Don’t ever underestimate the power of offering someone your time. You’ll be amazed what God will do with it.

Where do you give your time?

30-Day Giving Challenge

30 Day Give : Day 3

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Do you shop at Bath and Body Works? Does it just draw you in with all the scents and pretty baskets?

Ya, us too.

The girl and I can spend some serious time in Bath and Body. Serious time.

However, we only purchase when things are on sale. (Of course, something always seems to be on sale…)

A few weeks ago they had these adorable “fall” scented hand sanitizers. We grabbed several to give as gifts and have around for our lunch boxes.

Today, we decided to add a little crinkle paper, clear bag, and ribbon and give them to the girl’s teachers. As a former teacher, I can tell you that hand sanitizer (especially as we approach flu season) is a teacher’s best friend.

I try to send in a little “thinking of you” and “thank you” gift to the girl’s teachers every month or so. I’ve been there, and they DO NOT get thanked enough for all that they do.

When’s the last time you “thanked” your child’s teacher?

30-Day Giving Challenge

30 Day Give : Day 2

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My Princess LOVES the library.

LOVES IT!

She loves to walk the stacks of books. She loves to look things up on the computer and then find them on the shelves. She loves to just be in the middle of all those words. And, she loves to do it BY HERSELF. As in, “Mom, I’ve got this. You go look for a book, and I’ll look for mine.”

Therefore, the library is not my favorite place. I read for a living. I don’t have much time to read other than my Bible and whatever we’re doing in small group. So, the library is a source of torture for me. All those books that I could check out but would never have time to read.

Today, I gave my Princess the gift of my time (and gas) and took her to the library. She had reserved a book, and it had come in. (I’m not even sure I knew she had reserved one. Getting so independent for goodness sakes.) She picked up several other books while we were there, came home and curled up on the bed to read. I love watching her do that.

So today’s give wasn’t about making the world a better place. It was about giving my time to the person who needs it most. Proving that you don’t need to spend money every day during the 30 Day Giving Challenge.

 
30-Day Giving Challenge