I really cannot believe that Christmas is just around the corner!  My how time flies!  I have been very busy this fall with weddings and family photo sessions which has left me little time to keep up my blog.  I would much rather be shooting or editing than blogging about shooting or editing.  Still, I hope to share some of what I have been up to over the next couple of months (typically pretty slow months for weddings and family photography). 

But in the meantime, my mind has been on Christmas.  I got to spend some nice time with my family at my house over Thanksgiving, but for Christmas this year my husband and I are headed out west to visit his family.  I do love Christmas, but for the last few years I haven't done much in terms of decorating for it or getting too into the Christmas spirit.  I think I have gotten a little burnt out on the commercialism of Christmas (as a lot of us have, I am sure).  This year, though, I have been busy decorating (even though we won't be here for Christmas day specifically). 

A quote to think about:
"Carry out random acts of kindness with no expectation if reward safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you." -- Princess Diana

I usually have the most fun around Christmas doing a couple of simple random acts of kindness...like paying for the car behind me at the drive-thru, surprising someone behind me at Target by buying and giving them a small gift card and just saying "Merry Christmas" (especially love this if they appear to be someone in need of a little extra), buying toys for Toys for Tots, participating in an Angel Tree, baking a lot and sharing with friends and family, etc.  To me these things are fun (partially because they are unexpected).  I love the idea of Random Acts of Kindness all year round but they especially seem to mean a lot around Christmas.  I was discussing these RAoK with some friends a week of so ago and they also thought RAoK were a great idea...that got me thinking that maybe I should try to perform at least 1 Random Act of Christmas Kindness each day between December 1st and 25th.  The bad news is that I am just now getting started so I will have to make up a couple of days.  :) 

Now those of you who know me well, know about my fetish for pretty stationary, cards, etc. so of course I had to sit down and whip up a RACK (Random Act of Christmas Kindness) card to give to people so they know what it is all about.  :)  Here it is:

By the way if anyone wants a copy of my RACK card (can be printed pretty inexpensively as a 4x6 or 5x7 card)...just shoot me an e-mail at info@byheartandhand.com and I will reply with the jpg file which you are welcome to use if you like.   :) I would love it if my family, friends, and clients decided to participate in the RACK, too...consider that a challenge to do so!  I am definitely someone who believes you reap what you sow and there are some very inexpensive and easy things you can do this month that may make someone's day!  Just think if each of us did one kind thing for someone else each day of December and then if just half of those people affected decided to do one kind deed and pass it on.  I believe that would lead to a change we really need in our world...if we tried to focus less on what we want or need and more on what we could do to positively affect each other! 

I have also tried to come up with (some on my own, some by scouring pinterest and other blogs) some simple ideas for your and my Random Acts of Christmas Kindess.  Be sure to leave a RACK card or note for everyone you do something for so that they understand that they didn't just get lucky, but this was a deliberate act of kindness from someone else (maybe that way they will be touched enough to pass it on).  This is just a starter list but here are some ideas I saw or came up with:

1. If it is raining, purchase a few cheap umbrellas to leave in shop entrances with a notes saying to take it if you need it to stay dry.
2. Leave RACK cards with a dollar or two in an unexpected spot like a bathroom stall or other places.
3. Leave a big tip to an especially hardworking waiter or waitress with a nice note about how you appreciate the job they did. 
4. As mentioned, buy the order for the person behind you at the drive thru.
5. Make and distribute care packs to the homeless (I got some of these ready on Saturday so I will try to do a more specific blog on this later).
6. Load extra change in a vending maching for the next person or put extra change taped to a RACK card or in a ziploc bag for the next person to use.
7. Send dessert to another table at a restaurant.
8. Delivery baked treats or donuts to a nearby police station, fire station, or children's home.  If the people there don't know you, I would make these store bought so you can assure they won't get tossed.
9. Arrange to pay for a soldier's meal if you see one while out dining during the month.  Write a quick thank you for your service message on the back of your RACK card and have the wait staff deliver it to them.
10. Deliver a bouquet to nurses at a hospital so they can give it to a patient who needs it and may not have many visitors.
11. Take flowers or poinsettas to work for your coworkers.
12. Bake something for your coworkers to enjoy.
13. Slip a RACK card under the windshield wiper of a car while out shopping and include a couple bucks or even a $5 gift card to a fast food restaurant.
14. Feed someone else's parking meter (although I got in trouble for this one time in downtown Nashville).
15. Pay for someone behind you at the movie theatre.
16. If you know of someone who is having trouble financially, pop some cash in an envelope with a RACK card and a note.  It doesn't have to be much ($5, $10, $20, or whatever you can afford).  It is  more about showing someone notices and cares than solving their financial woes completely.
17. Tape some change to a payphone (assuming you can find a working one nowadays) with a note saying it is for whoever needs it.
18. Send a card to someone in the military overseas or check out "Adopt a Soldier" Programs.
19. Put something you no longer need on Craigslist for FREE.
20. Leave a couple of $1 bills with a RACK card in the toy section at the Dollar Tree. 
21. Pass out candy to people waiting in line at the Post Office. 
22. Tape candy to an ATM machine.
23. On Christmas Eve:  Take a Christmas treat to an all night drug store worker (or anyone else you know who has to work on Christmas).
24. Buy hot cocoa for a Salvation Army bell ringer.
25. And my favorite if you are able:  Find out about a family in need (ask your priest, preacher, or friends if they know of a family in need) and secretly and anonymously "adopt them".  You could buy them Christmas dinner and fixings or get them a grocery store gift card and maybe buy a little something for each family member as well.  Deliver on their doorstep anonymously.  Ring the bell and RUN! 

I am sure there are more and would love to hear of anyone else's ideas...this is just a list to get you (and I) started.  It really is true that it is a better to give than to receive.  I am not without worries or cares in my life and am certainly not rich, but my life is blessed in so many ways that I get a true sense of joy in giving something back to others. 

Now a few quotes to inspire you:

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."  -- John Wooden

"Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see."  -- Mark Twain

"A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money." --John Ruskin