Happy New Year to all!
p.s. – grab a cup of coffee or perhaps a Mimosa (It’s a holiday) as this is long…but I hope it touches your heart strings! No pictures…just some words from my heart!
Yesterday was a fabulous day for me…I spent the afternoon at the barn watching Hannah ride and it actually was a decent weather day after having so many wet and dreary days. She rode 4 horses so I was there for many hours and during that time I had some amazing “me time” for reflection. When I am at the barn…all worries seem to go away and it is a wonderful and peaceful time for myself.
First, many thanks for all of the great comments yesterday and please know that I do cherish each and every one of your sweet words. Here is to a great year for all of us and I apologize in advance if I am rambling on but there are many points that I want to share with you and hopefully you can see where I am coming from and adapt some into your life and they also knew their own personal limits. It’s OK to say…..no, I just cannot do it!
In November I shared with you that Jennifer McQuire spearheaded a “Kindness Campaign”. You can click here to see the wrap up of the campaign but in short she shared, showed and challenged people to share handmade kindness in different forms.
I reached out to my downline and asked them if they wanted to share the kindness and my reward to them was a pack of dimensionals each week in November if they sent out cards that they made….”just because” – I was thrilled that some did 2 weeks….several did all 4….others did 1 , some were not able to take on the challenge… the point of it is…they tried.
I am not one that like to set New Years Resolutions as I find that they simply do not work for me BUT I am hoping to inspire you to look at the year ahead and see how YOU can share handmade kindness in whatever form works for you!
In November John and I went away to Austin, TX and had a wonderful time. One day we hiked for hours and talked and talked about how simple just walking is but also how rewarding it is…it was peaceful and fun. During that time I talked to him about Jennifer’s Handmade Kindness Challenge and he could hear in my voice the importance it was for me to have him “get it”.
It was then that we decided to do a handmade kindness towards each other in the family for a Christmas Gift. When we brought this up to the kids at Thanksgiving they thought I was nuts and said, “Mom…you are the creative one….we know what you will do – but what could we do” – I tried to share with them many if the talents that they had etc…but I did not want to put “ideas” into their heads.
I basically said, if you want to do it…great….if not, no biggie…I just thought it was a fun idea and one that would be special as we all know handmade gifts are simply the best.
On Christmas Day I had no idea if any of them took the thought from Thanksgiving to heart but they did and I was touched….I actually cried as my heart was filled with joy and happiness that the “GET IT” – they tried…they accomplished…they felt rewarded.
WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS?
Easy…I want each of you to know that YOU have a gift. If you are already popping onto my blog than you already love to paper craft and I know that there are many of you that also love to do many other things as well…THESE ARE ALL SPECIAL GIFTS….please share them with others!
What did my family do?….here is a quick run down, trust me, I was so touched…
John – He went on our property and handpicked tall walking sticks and cleaned/sanded them down roughly and then attached a simple tag (well, he stole some tags from my stash) but the message was perfect. ” As you travel through the trails of life, I am always there to help you along” Love, Dad The kids LOVED it and I melted – what a fabulous idea and what a great memento for them. They are proudly in their rooms and I know that they were so touched.
WIll – He is my oldest and the teacher! He has such a patient and calming personality. He took the time to draw each of us ADORABLE pictures with “coupons” for us…mine was to organize my spice cupboard, help me for an afternoon in the barn and have “us time” together for him to help me with my computer.
James – Ever since James was a little tyke I said, “If there were more James’ in the world, this world would be a happier place” At 25 years old…that statement still stays true – he is one sweet person! James made each of us “trivets” with wine-corks. We always save out wine-corks and he cut them in half and strategically made them into a beautiful piece of art.
Hannah – Remember that she was in Switzerland and returned home very late on the 23rd – I totally thought that she would “bag this concept” but she did and surprised all of us! In a way she stretched it a bit as some of her goodness was purchased at hand crafted markets but she also added her own touch which touched us all….for me, she read me a beautiful message about “us” and her thankfulness for the opportunity we have given her etc….and then she had me close my eyes and said, I am giving you a Swiss Bank Account…..it was a pig with a Swiss Flag on it (a piggie bank)
HANG TIGHT…..I AM GOING TO WRAP THIS UP….JUST A BIT LONGER!
Over this year I have dealt with 2 broken ankles (well, the same one twice and ultimately surgery) and I have had issues with my eyes that have probably been more frustrating than my ankle. I have not share with you much about my eyes but I can say that it made me realize that we cannot take things for granted and that we need to know that there is always someone else out there dealing with their “OWN STUFF”
I had laser surgery on the 14th on one eye and the other last Monday. I am doing great and I am thankful that I am in the right direction as it was frustrating and scary but it did teach me not to take things for granted.
I was SOOOOOO touched that when I reached out to you to help a local Mom of 4….SOOOOOOO many of you sent me cards….books….a handmade prayer shawl to give to her – now that is what I call AMAZING ACTS OF KINDNESS….you have no idea how touched she was…she feels like there are “angels” from all over thinking, praying and just showing a side of kindness that unfortunately our world does not see enough of! She is stable and was able to be at home for Christmas and she thanks you for your sweetness.
In closing, my wish for each of you is a wonderful and blessed New Year ahead. Yesterday when I woke up and turned on the TV while I was working on product shares…I simply had to TURN IT OFF as it was all about the terrible things that have happened to our world in the past year!
I am looking forward to another year of inspiration and “sheer goodness from my heart” to help you accomplish your goals. I am so proud to be a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and to have so many cyber friends all over.
I know that my wonderful Mom is looking down on me and proud of me. It was after her passing and after all of the cards that were sent to her during her illness that I knew that what I am doing DOES make a difference!
Please try to share the kindness that I know each of us have inside of us. It is so easy. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to have a price tag on it. It just has to come from YOU.…
HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FRIENDS!
Let’s continue to SHARE HANDMADE KINDNESS as it does make a difference!
Well the tears are flowing, Susan. You know what . . . you are also a great writer!
You, too, have touched many people and I am so happy to call you my friend.
Happy New Year to you and your family too!
xo 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to share your lovely Christmas story with us. It warms my heart just thinking about the love you share in your family. I love reading your blog, both because of the paper crafts you share, but also all the other things you share with us. Happy New Year to you and your family!
I Loved reading every word of your article, Susan! What sweet surprises to open up on Christmas morning from your precious family! That sounds like a wonderful plan for the next Christmas, which is only 51 weeks away. : ) By the way, thank you very much for that sweet Christmas card sent my way. And yes, we do need to and will get together. Thank you for sharing the gift of giving of ourselves to bless others by acts of kindness. Wouldn’t this be a sweeter world if everyone thought of others above themselves. I’ve been sending cards to my widowed aunts and now a widowed friend of my parents for every occasion and just because. I feel for these ladies who either live alone or are in nursing homes, and I just know that getting a home made card in the mail brightens their day! Simple gestures go a long way. Happy New Year to you!
So many wishes and hugs for you, thanks for putting down the thoughts and hopes of all of us. We so much appreciate the time and effort it takes to not only put out the blog post, but to first create the projects and be gracious enough to share them. My prayers for all the readers this year is that indeed we will be more aware of the needs of others and that we will extend our hands, hearts and acts of kindness to the hurting and less fortunate around us.
May you and your family find peace, love and abundant blessings in this coming year.
Happy new year!
Susan,
I too enjoyed every word you wrote! I love your blog and have come to love your sweet family too from all the stories! Let’s all be the difference in 2016 in making the world a little brighter! I’ve learned over the years that it truly is the little things we do that bring the most joy to someone else!! I was the recipient of an act of kindness this Christmas. My sister passed away before I got married and her shower gift would have been one of her beautiful homemade tree skirts. Needless to say, I never got it and have been always a little sad about it. My younger sister had mentioned it to one of her friends that had one of these gorgeous tree skirts. My sister told me that her friend had a gift for me and I was like OH OK…..she handed me this huge bag and inside was HER tree skirt that my sister made and she wanted ME to have it. It was a moment I will never EVER forget. I was so touched beyond words that the tears simply started to flow. The minute I got home, I got rid of the one I had and proudly put my sister’s beautifully made tree skirt under the tree and can treasure it now every Christmas! Blessings and Cheers to a Healthy and Happy 2016!
What a wonderful post… I don’t do resolutions either, however this is a great time for reflection. Thank you so much for sharing your reflections with us!
Love the tree skirt story. Thanks for sharing it. My sympathy for the loss of your sister.
Thank you for the wonderful inspiration. I teach a Silver Sneakers class and have made handmade things for my Seniors for special holidays. They love them! It does not have to be expensive to touch someone…just a thoughtful act. Thank you for the great ideas that inspire us all. Happy New Year.
You are right on with how important it is that we reach out in kindness. This world has become one big ball of bad news and if we can make someone smile with a thoughtful card, hooray! I had such a great response to my November kindness cards that it’s now part of my daily thinking – who could I send a card to today? Thanks for your stories, Susan, and for your inspiration! Happy New Year!
Such a sweet post Susan. Bless your family for their participation, their gifts are thoughtful, and bless you for raising wonderful children. Wishing you a Happy Healthy and Crafty New Year!
Wonderful thankfulness gifts. The walking sticks were a wonderful idea. As we’re all the rest. The Swedish bank account gave me a chuckle. Thanks for sharing your family’s kindness. Hugs, Jessica
Thanks, Susan, for writing about your Christmas. I am choked up reading about the wonderful gifts your family made, each in their own way something unique. It is good to be reminded that we all have gifts to share, which can bring happiness to others as well as satisfaction to ourselves. I hope the new year will be kind to you and your family in health, happiness, love and peace. Thanks for sharing your creative talent with us every day.
Wow..that was just beautiful and touching! Thank you, my friend, for starting the new year off just right! Happy New Year and God bless!
Thank you for sharing your family Christmas with us, Susan! I always look forward to your daily blog posts for your ideas but maybe even more so for your stories about your family and friends (human and furry).
Happy New Year to you and your family!!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful post. Happy New Year, Susan.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful Christmas with us. You have definitely encouraged me to do more for those in need. Wishing you and your family a Happy and healthy New Year.
One of my sons passed away 4 years ago this coming April and I was amazed at the many people who took the time to send me cards. I have them all, and while all were store bought, the thought that so many people took time from their busy lives to be kind and compassionate just touched me. I have all the cards & one day I’ll read them again (not yet) & remember that people cared. Your post has made me think of doing/sending a random card each month would be a nice thing to do. Thanks for the idea.
Happy New Year Susan!
What a wonderful message this is–so full of kindness, love and the giving spirit. Thank you for sharing. May 2016 bring you more blessings than 2015 already did.
Thank you for sharing your life with us . It is really special to give something you have made and I think it is of benefit to the giver and receiver . Looking forward to reading your stories and tips and humor this new year !
Big hug for 2016 !
Happy New Year. And thank you for sharing with us. wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year.
What a thoughtful and sincere message on your blog this morning. You are such a caring person. The world is a better place with you I it, Susan!
Happy New Year!
This is a beautifully written post from your heart and I loved it. My In-Laws have their grandkids over each Christmas season to make homemade gifts for all the family members and they are always our favorite gifts. This year, Caleb made us trivets that had “flashback” photos of when he was a toddler on it. I cried. Another gift was a Rudolph ornament made out of wine corks (note to James for next year’s gift!)…Adorable!!
Anyway, thank you, Susan, for being such a blessing to so many around the world. I KNOW your mom is smiling down on you with her buttons popping like crazy. You make a difference in my life (and Caleb’s) every day. We are all proud of you!!
Happy New Year, everyone! As the SU stamp set says, “…May Blessings Fall Like Snowflakes”
Happy New Year to you and your family, Susan. Your “handmade” Christmas sounded wonderfully special. It is really not surprising that your family came up with such thoughtful and inspiring handmade gifts….YOU raised them! Well not John…he has just lived with YOU for a while! Your kindness is so evident to all your downline, customers and readers and I am thankful to be one of them. Wishing you a wonderful 2016.
It will be a wonderful new year, in part to you, for sharing what you love with us!
What a wonderful way to start the new year. Thank you Susan for all that you wrote about, I love reading all about
you and your family.God has given each one of us gifts, oh that we would use them. Happy New Year to you and
your family and to all your blog readers too. God Bless you.
Thank you, Susan, for the inspiring words and sharing so much of yourself. When thinking of sharing our love with others, even in small ways, it reminds me of our pastor who has since “graduated” to heaven. He always ended his homily with the words, “Don’t forget to share your smile”. With all the anxiety and fear surrounding us, a smile may be the only bright spot in someone’s day. So everyone, don’t forget to share your smile this new year!
A beautiful idea, I have shared homemade cards with 117 people last year, each card made my me. I just kept a record of who and what occassion, I was amazed at the joy it gave me. My goal this year is to make and send more cards. Congratulations on your creativeness and for sharing it with us. Love Robin Anne
We lost our son last year on the 5th January, we have all struggled with overwhelming grief. We received 370 cards from family, friends and mates of Paul. I replied to each and everyone with a printed thank you card. I don’t usually make resolutions but I have this year – Do something everyday that makes you happy. I know that that resolution is achievable and will involve me making and sending more cards. Australia Post loves me!
Dear Susan, What a wonderful story today. I cried all the way through it.You and your family are so blessed to have each other. I am so glad that your eyes are doing better. It is so right we can never take things or people for granted. Life is so short. Your beautiful messages are wonderful. Your Christmas sounded so beautiful and peaceful. The gifts from each of you were all from the heart. It is so beautiful to share a gift hand made for someone so special. Your inspiration to all of us are such a blessing. I want to wish you and your family a very happy and healthy New Year. I also want to wish all of your readers all over the world that they each receive God’s Blessing on all of us. May you all know you all have special gifts and please share those special gifts with people God places Into your lives. I also loved Lucy’s beautiful tree skirt story. I cried all the way through her story. May God Bless All of you and Susan and her family, Ellen Hinds
sooooo. What I want to know is what you created as gifts for your family. What you received was so from the heart, I have no doubt that your gifts were as well. Thanks for sharing your heartwarming story of the holidays. Happy New Year to you.
Such beautiful words and sentiments, Susan.
Gotta get something to wipe my eyes and nose….I am hugging Ted and he won’t stay still long enough to wipe my eyes on him. Hugs!
We had a pastor who would encourage us to give gifts of self during Epiphany. We did this one year within the family– drawing names, so the kids did not have to do everyone (some were in elementary school at the time) and it was quite meaningful. Your post reminded me of it. I found Jennifer’s posts/kindness campaign inspiring, too, and while the campaign came at a busy time for me work-wise, it was a good reminder that I can be doing more with my cards than I am currently doing. Thanks for your reminder that we are all going through tough things but that it can always be worse! We all touch people and have no idea how encouraging we can be just by reaching out in kindness with an encouraging word, smile, card or little gift. I think you are really good at that, Susan! Thanks for your inspiration on your blog — I look forward to putting your ideas to use in 2016!
A wonderful post Susan. You and your family are so caring for each other and the world around you. I wish a better year for you also. I missed alot of your posts due to some things going on in my life but i appreciated the ones I did get to read and enjoy. The little things in life a the best things. Happy New Year! Here is to a great year ahead!
What a lovely post. Happy New Year!
A lovely post from the heart Susan.
Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us.
There is so much violence and grief in the world today, I too won’t watch or listen to constant rehashes of bad news.
We need to spread kindness, compassion and let love.
Susan, what a beautiful post and message. You most certainly are a gentle soul and it is very clear to me that you touch MANY lives, not only with your creativity, but with your heart. Thank you for sharing your family story. It makes me happy to see you are all doing so well and loving life. Life IS too short; we really do need to spread kindness to those that need it. We never know what someone is going through, so we should not judge what they do, or how they act. I am a big one on RAK (random acts of kindness) and it has made people smile each and every time. Thank you for reminding us all how to love one another. Happy New Year and my best wishes to you and your family for a lifetime of love, health and happiness!