I.R.A.K.

39 DAYS 3 HOURS, 57 MINUTES AND 03 SECONDS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.

13 DAYS UNTIL THANKSGIVING. 

     A few years ago my family lived in Hawaii, and we were involved with a youth group called Club Beyond.  Every Wednesday night everyone would get together and we would eat, play games, play music, and then one of the leaders would give a talk.  One night the topic was "I.R.A.K.", or, Intentional Random Acts of Kindness.  Hearing about this really had an effect on me, because it was obvious what an effect it could make on the world.  The leader that night talked about how important it was to not only think of others before yourself, but to show them that you do.  He talked about how performing an intentional random act of kindness has the potential not only to show someone that you care about them, but if people really made a daily practice of I.R.A.K., it literally has the power to change the world!

 

    

          Think about it.  When someone does a random act of kindness for you, doesn't have a huge impact on you? On the rest of your day? Does it make you feel more charitable? Does it make you want to do the same for someone else? Yes.  Yep.  Sure does.  Yes! Now, think of how quickly this would spread if we all performed one I.R.A.K. every day.  Kindness is contagious and it's not hard to spread.  One small act of kindness, everyday, could make the world a better place.  During this most wonderful time of the year, it's the perfect time to start making a daily practice of I.R.A.K.'s.  It's almost Thanksgiving, start showing people kindness and letting them know that you are thankful to have them in your life.  Just one small, genuine act of kindness everyday.  You have the power to change the world.  I'm starting now.  Will you?

     I made a fun list of I.R.A.K.'s to give you guys some ideas!

1.  Write a note for someone having a bad day.
2.  Tape a quarter to one of those airplanes or trucks that kids always ask to ride on when you walk by them at the store.
3.  Call or send a text to someone that you haven't talked to in a long time to wish them a great day.
4.  On garbage day, tape thank you signs to the trash cans for the garbage men.
5.  Pay a stranger a compliment.  (I do that all the time, it's not weird, it's nice.  :) )
6.  Just smile! All day! At everyone!  
7.  Pay for the person behind you at a drive-through.
8.  Leave some cookies with this note at someone's door. 

 

 

     Since it's almost the day to be Thankful, my family is going to hang up a board in our dining room.  It will be called "The Thankful Board".  We are going to have a big pile of sticky notes next to it, and every day, we all have to write at least thing that we are thankful for and put it up on the board.  This is a great way to get yourself thinking about everything that you have.  It's a great way to really SEE how much you have.  We all have so much.  And we all take so much of it for granted.  Let's change that.  Let's really know and appreciate what we have, and live with an attitude of thankfulness. 

     We are starting to make our Thanksgiving menu! I'M SO EXCITED! I love Thanksgiving.  We have some family and friends coming over and it will be a great time together.  I'm very thankful for them!  What will you be doing for Thanksgiving? Do you have any fun traditions? What are you most thankful for?

     Remember to start doing one I.R.A.K. everyday, and encourage your family and friends to do so as well! Help each other! Love on another! Do it wholeheartedly! Spread joy! Change the world! 

(Pope Francis is really awesome.  He says to go help others, too!)

 

     Thank you for reading, I hope you are enjoying The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! I know I am!

 

Check back soon for more!

 

Rachel Merry

    

42 Days Until Christmas.

     This morning when we woke up there was a perfect fresh white blanket of snow on everything.  The air was crisp and there was a cold wind blowing.  Winter is really beginning now!  

     Have you made your Light 'Em Up jar yet? We haven't either, don't worry.  :) But I am very excited to get it started! Even if you haven't made your jar yet, you don't have to wait to start spreading joy! This morning Sarah, Emma, and I went out to shovel our driveway and noticed that our neighbor wasn't home and hadn't shoveled theirs yet.  So we went and did it for them so they would have a nice surprise when they got home! However, it got a little warmer and the snow on all of the driveways melted away all by itself, so you couldn't tell. :)  But one of the great things about doing things for others is that you also help yourself grow in the process.  So even though they didn't get their surprise, it was still definitely worthwhile.  While we were shoveling, Emma said, "Oh, this is good.  Mom would be so pwoud of us." 

       When you're making your jar, keep in mind that the things you do don't need to be huge.  They can just be little things, like shoveling someones driveway, sending a surprise note to a friend, or doing something nice for someone in your family.  It's not in the size of the act, it's in the act itself.  The very fact that you're doing it, making an effort for that person, speaks volumes to them.  So every chance you get to do something kind for someone starting right now, do it! And share what you do with others because kindness is contagious and the world could use some more of it! 

     I'll have lots of pictures to share soon followed by recipes and crafts.  I unfortunately left my iPod (which is my camera) at my sisters college and she hasn't sent it back to me yet.  I was told she sold it, but when I asked her she just laughed really hard.  So… (This is a real story, but she didn't really sell it, don't worry.)

     Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed. Please share what you're putting on your Light 'Em Up list with me!  I would love to know! Go do some good! 

Check back soon for more!

Rachel Merry

P.S. I really love blogging.  It's so much fun, I don't know why everyone doesn't have a blog! 

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." -Buddy the Elf

43 Days Until Christmas

     Hello! Welcome to my blog, The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! My name is Rachel Merry, and I have a very great love for Christmas.  I love Christmas because it is all about love, joy, giving, and most importantly, the birth of Jesus! It is my hope that through this blog you will also be inspired to spread the true meaning of Christmas.  It is so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle and forget what Christmas is really about.  (Don't be that person. :))   I'll be sharing things like recipes, crafts, and all of the things that my family will be doing to celebrate this wonderful time of year! 

Here's one idea to get you spreading the Christmas spirit that a friend shared with me:
http://courtneydefeo.com/light-em-up-2013/

Light 'Em Up is all about spreading joy and kindness by doing random acts of kindness throughout your community.  A good way to get this going in your own family (you can also go out and do these things with a group of your friends!) is to sit down and make a list of the things you would like to do.  Then make a jar with all of your ideas inside, and pick a new one every day! There is a list of ideas on the link above from Courtney Defeo's blog, but you can of course make your own great list! A few things that I've written down on ours so far includes:

1. Taking cookies and hot chocolate to the gate guards (we live on a military base)
2. Putting a gift in the mailbox for the mailman  
3. "You've been elfed!" (This is similar to when you get "Boo'd" on Halloween.)  You bake a pie or cookies or any festive treat you like and print a sign like this:

and then you just take it to an unsuspecting neighbors house, ring the door bell, and run like the wind! Then your neighbor will answer their door, (and be totally surprised, because this is a fun thing that not enough people know about!!!) and BAM! They've been hit with some good ol' Christmas cheer! Mission accomplished! 

     As I am writing this it started snowing outside! THE FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR! It's sticking and everything! It's time to break out your boots! Bring out the hats! Put on your coats! Make some hot chocolate! Play Christmas music! (I'm listening to the Elf soundtrack, a favorite of mine) Start spreading joy! I know we haven't even gotten to Thanksgiving yet, but it is never to early to start spreading joy.  (Hopefully you've been spreading joy all year long, because joy is not meant to be a seasonal thing!! :)) Thank you for reading! I hope you've gotten some good ideas and I hope you'll share yours with me!

Check back soon for more! 

Rachel Merry