GIVING WITH THANKS: THE CHALLENGE

family photo taken by SAMANTHA KELLY

November is such a special special month. It’s placed at the perfect time in the year to lead up to our December Holidays. I believe that the truest form of happiness is reached when we are serving others. When we are comfortable enough with ourself to reach out to someone who needs love. Although I believe it’s important to find ways to serve + to recognize our blessings throughout the entire year, a month full of celebrating these blessings is right here at hand. I am excited to share this November Challenge with you with hope that a ripple of goodness will find its way to your life. That you will feel the peace that comes inside your soul while serving others + together, teaching our children to do the same. A simple hello can go a long way on a hard day, it really doesn’t take much. I have put my heart together with some of the most talented, kind, heartwarming creative friends that I know + helped come up with this give with thanks challenge. I am normally on the other side of the fence, not really the crafty kind, but the one that lives for a good download to use in my home. So, for me to offer this to you guys means everything to me. Head over to The Small Seed to download your kit. HERE IS THE LINK! It includes instructions, a few yummy recipes, hand-drawn prints like the one I posted above, the giving tree + the leaves to track your service for each week in November. Last night we presented the ideas to they boys + when Jonah put his first leaf up on the tree I cried. Magic. Magic. Magic in doing good to others. I was overwhelmed at his excitement to give, his ideas for service + memories of times where I had helped him tie his shoes, but mostly just in love with his pure little heart. 

Growing up, I watched my mother live her life serving everyone around her. Still to this day, she is the most selfless example of service that I know. I don’t remember her necessarily talking to us about it, but I distinctly remember times being the last to leave from clean up + helping make meals for friends who had just welcomed a new bundle, had a family member pass away, or just to simply be kind. She baked treats, she delivered cards, she taught through her example my entire life. She loved me + served me in my hard teenage years. She knew deep down that there will always be enough time to do what we need if we take time to serve others. Here I am now, a mother to two busy boys + can barely keep my eyes open when I’m reading Jonah his book at night. Let alone make dinner for more than just my own family. To me, service is more than making things for people. It’s in our thoughts + deep inside our soul to spread good. I have experienced the pure joy from having someone step in to help me when I needed it most + least expected it. The heartache is deep + the joy is so real in this life! As I’ve really tried to hone in on living a more simple life, I have found more time to give with thanks. I find myself appreciating the way that my mom accomplishes everything that she does on a daily basis. I know that it is because she dedicates the majority of her time + energy into serving others. I want to be like her + I pray that my children will grow up with in a home where service in in our every day. I am looking forward to watching our giving tree bloom through little acts of service this month + hope that you will be able to experience similar joy in your home.