And the Winner is....

Grandma Goddess of the Garden!! This was her winning post for our COLLECTING KINDNESS CONTEST: "I paid a woman's library fines, so she could use her card for herself and her family. She's a nice woman and a good mother. She's having a hard time making ends meet and her teens "forgot" to return their borrowed items for quite some time. When she came into the library she was devastated at check out that her accumulated fines had blocked the use of her card. Her little boy wasn't very happy that he had to put his chosen books back. I reminded her that February was Food for Fines month and she could use canned goods in leiu of cash. I thought she was going to cry when she said even that would be hard on her right now. On payday I went in before my painting class and paid her fines. I told my coworker to call her and tell her she had been "gifted" and that her card was paid off and she was free to use it. I also made him promise not to say who did it. I enjoy doing things like that on a regular basis...it makes me happy!" Heather will be sending "GGG" her beautiful bauble...

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...I still have a wacko story to share...I had a house full of sickies this weekend, a major church project with my 4th & 5th graders and I was watching a friend's children for a couple days....today everyone is off school and my project with my girls culminates with me taking them to a Children's Home to deliver their wares...now, I am coming down with what everyone else has and I am supposed to be at a foster care meeting early this evening...

WHERE'S MY MAMA CAP???!!!!

One last chance to vote...

OK...I don't know about you all, but I have had a blast reading all the RANDOM ACTS listed in the comments section of my Collecting Kindness post. Head over there and peek at all the KINDNESS that transpired this week and vote for your favorite in the comments of THIS post. Heather from Rice-A-Roni-ville offered a gorgeous hand-soldered bauble for the WINNER of our contest- see her February 11th post. Here's how to vote: 1. Post the URL of the blogger you are voting for IN THIS POST'S COMMENTS. 2. Also, give a synopsis of their kind act. 3. Finally, write something about WHY you were moved to nominate them. Check the comments on the last few posts b/c some of them were listed under other posts. Can't wait to count 'em up! HURRY UP - you have until midnight Sunday night to vote. I had a weekend worth writing about...when it rains it pours-murphy's law kind of weekend...and I can't wait to share it with you - it could have been a sitcom episode of my very own show! THE SOONER YOU VOTE - THE SOONER I TELL! haha

Collecting Kindness...

I know many of you check out my blog everyday to see what ridiculous dance I am doing in my kitchen, what craziness I endured at home with a way-too-busy 2-year old or how in the world I entertained 3 bored children on their last snow day, but this post is about OTHERS! February 11th - 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Week - yes, it IS a national holiday. Ranks right up there next to Christmas and Easter for me...and this one is a WEEK long! You all saw what happened when we rallied our troops for the Avery Family in December. We watched a miracle happen as they were given the gift of spending a beautiful Christmas together, one they will never forget. The money that you all donated ($2200) was used to purchase a burial plot so that the Avery's could have Julian close to home. Their only other option before you all (complete strangers, mind you) was a plot donated by a family member that would have been over an hour away. Simple random acts of kindness, with nothing expected in return and you helped to make a miracle; a miracle the Avery family will never forget! A new Miss America stands before the country each year and makes a promise to "change the world" but we have seen, right here on My Semblance, that you don't have to be famous to change someone's life. One act. That's all it takes. Now, Manic Mommy has been running a contest for donating blood - I would consider that a R.A. of K, wouldn't you? Here's my challenge - and it is WORLDWIDE! I know I have the best readers there are - you proved it - so can I get a group high five and a committment to CHANGE THE WORLD - ONE RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS AT A TIME? How many do you think we can collect? Send a note to brighten someone's day, let someone in line ahead of you at the store, pay the toll for the person behind you, buy a cup of coffee for a co-worker, etc. It's not hard and it's not expensive. Leave your ACTS in the comments on this post and I will link to it in my posts during this week. Let's make history by inspiring others to do the same - spread the word - email everyone you know - move over Miss America! it's our turn to CHANGE THE WORLD! A mere 3 seconds after I hit "publish"...Heather at Rice-A-Roni-ville offered a piece of her GORGEOUS hand-soldered silver jewelry for the winner if we run a contest of BEST R.A. of K! Soooooo, a CONTEST IT IS!! February 17th we will close and hold a VOTE - he or she who is voted BEST RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS will win a custom piece by Heather of Faith Creations! Leave your comments and ACTS below...nothin' cooler than COLLECTING KINDNESS! Heather left the first ACT - read below!