Saturday, February 14, 2015

100 happy people update and a valentine's surprise



WEEK 1 recap…. Actually a little early but who knows when I’ll have another chance to update this and I had a couple more things to say on this GORGEOUS Valentine’s day!

Person #1- Left a thank you note to our new house cleaner

Person 2-4- Tay and I made cookies and took them to our neighbors. We don’t know our neighbors well but we always wave hello to each other. Ever since Taytum was born they have tended to stop and talk a little more. Ever since I took the cookies over and stayed to chat they have been overly nice and nearly jumping up and down to say hi when we see them outside.  

Person 5- left a note over my trash can at school for the custodial staff telling them thank you for keeping my office clean

Person 6- I tested a kid today that is new to our school. I normally praise the kids a ton while they are working because this testing thing isn’t easy. This kid in particular I took special care to let him know that I was very proud of how hard he worked and that I was glad that he moved to our school.

Person 7- I don’t know if family counts but I left a care package on my Dad’s desk at work. A book and cookies from Tay. I think a little surprise would make him happy so I’m counting it!!

Person 8- I had lunch with the LSSP that has been my campus supervisor this year. I told her how much I appreciated all her help and especially her friendship.

Person 9 and 10- I gave Taytum’s little day care friends a Valentine’s treat.

Person 11- I gave Taytum’s sitter a Valentine’s treat and thanked her for loving my baby. I’m sure Tay gave Loretta her best open mouth slobbery kiss, too. I truly feel like finding Loretta was instigated by God. She and her husband have been so great to our family!

Person 12- this is actually like 20 people but I’m only counting it as one act of kindness. I gave pens and chocolate to the staff members that I work with the most.

Person 13 and 14- My two LSSP friends that I went to school with, Stephanie and Lindsey, made the program tolerable and make my job do-able. We talk constantly and there’s not many decision I make without consulting them first because I respect their opinions so much. So I told them that during our normal daily text banter.

Person 15- The person that is in charge of checking out our test kits at the district office is without a doubt one of the nicest and most upbeat people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. And I’ve told him that before. He accepted a new job within the district and I emailed to tell him congratulations and that I was sad to see him go and would miss him.

Persons 16-20- I’m sure it’s actually more than that but I’ll count it as 5. This morning Tay and I went on a 6 mile run (which is fantastic considering how hard it’s getting to push the stroller with a nearly 19 pound baby!). I decided to greet as many people as I could. I waved at as many cars as I could and I said “hello” and “happy vanlentine’s day” to each person I passed. There was a man outside with his daughter working in the yard… he looked at me like I was nuts. There were 2 couples laying pallets of grass in their yard and I told them it looked great. 2 girls were jumping on the trampoline in their back yard and I could see them each time they would go up. They got a kick out of yelling “happy valentine’s day” back at me. It was funny to see peoples different reactions. Some smiled and replied back. Others gave an awkward wave. And then some attempted to avoid me all together. Interesting little experiment I’d say.

On a little Valentine’s side note I have a sweet story. There’s obviously a little hole in our family today and always with my mom no longer with us. She always got us and the kids little surprises on days like this and her kindness and thoughtfulness is missed. My dad was looking through a random closet this morning for who knows what and he found an old valentines card from my mom to my dad. Are you kidding me! All I could think was… Well played God, well played. 

Sunday, February 8, 2015

The 100 Happy People Challenge


We go to Oak Hills Church and this Spring’s Sermon Series is called “100 Happy People.” Our pastor, Max Lucado, has challenged us to each make 100 people happy over the course of 40 days. I accept the challenge!


The premise is to intentionally, purposefully, and practically make people happy. Buy someone coffee, say a kind word, tell someone how they have made a difference in your day or life. This, of course, immediately made me think about all the people who have been supportive while my mom was sick and after she passed. Which naturally made me start crying….during the service…not an uncommon reaction to anything for me now-a-days.

Let me back up a little and describe the kind of mindset I’m in beginning this challenge. I’m overwhelmed most of the time. Getting out of the house on time with a baby in a cute outfit and  a clean diaper along with all the food, toys, bottles, diapers, extra clothes, etc that she needs is a tad stressful for me. Then there’s all the time I spend away from her at work and the rushing home through standstill traffic to get to her each day. There’s also the whole missing my mom aspect. Most mornings on my long commute to work are tear filled. Too much time to think really is the enemy right now. Then there’s the added stress of being a school psychologist at this time of year. A description of my job and it’s added stress to the normal level of stress, towards the end of a school year would be an entire post on its own and I’ll spare you for now. Just know “busy” is an understatement.

So I’ve decided to do the “100 happy people challenge” because really, it should be a piece of cake right? Shouldn’t we all be able to make at least 2.5 people happy on a daily basis? I’ve already caught myself, just over brunch since church, with the opportunity to have said a kind word to several strangers and something kept me from doing it. So for me, I think the challenge is stepping out of my comfort zone to bring cheer to another. I preach about reinforcing students for good behavior on a constant basis so I think it’s time to take some of my own advice. Follow me as I take this challenge and I hope you spread some of your own joy along the way!

Person #1- the next thing on my to-do list today is to leave a thank you note to our new house cleaner who comes tomorrow. It is truly an amazing feeling to come home to a clean house after the rat race and working all day.


Person # 2…..