Today, we read parts of the Declaration of Independence to the girls and talked about our country's freedoms. Happy Independence Day! … [Read more...]
Day #149: Give Your Family Rest
July 3, 2011 by
***We have committed to give our family rest each Sunday. Read more here. … [Read more...]
Day #148: Give a Birthday Present To a Stranger
July 2, 2011 by
We ate at a restaurant today for lunch. At the table next to ours sat a young man and his mother. They were both outgoing and struck up a conversation with us. It turns out, the mom had brought her son there for his 22nd birthday. He had a cognitive disability and was excited to tell us all about whoopie pies and the upcoming fireworks show on 4th of July. As we were leaving, I wished we had … [Read more...]
Day #147: Give Your Host a Gift
July 2, 2011 by
One of our favorite things we get to do as we travel is spend time with friends. This evening we had dinner at some friends' house in New Jersey. Our girls had a blast playing with their two similar aged boys. Before we arrived at their house, we stopped by Panera Bread and picked up some muffins. The girl behind the counter put them in a gift box and we gave them to our friends when we … [Read more...]
Day #146: Give a Gift for a Newborn
June 30, 2011 by
Stephanie's brother and sister in-law just had their first baby. It's a boy! They live in Oregon so we are looking forward to meeting the little guy later this year. To say "congratulations," we wrote them a letter and included a gift card. We wish we were nearby and could bring them a few meals. That was the best thing anyone did for us right after each of our girls were … [Read more...]
Day #145: Give a Birthday Card
June 29, 2011 by
October 2 is our World Vision sponsored child's birthday. He lives in Zimbabwe so it takes the mail a bit longer to get to him. World Vision always sends us a pre-made birthday card that we are invited to sign and mail back. The card is then delivered to our sponsored child for his birthday. In addition to signing the pre-made card, Kayla and Olivia worked on two special homemade cards … [Read more...]
Day #144: Give with The Clinic in Phoenixville, PA
June 28, 2011 by
Today, the four of us visited a medical facility that provides "quality health care to the uninsured." It looked just like any other doctor's office, but one thing was different - it is free! The Clinic was founded in 2002 with a goal to provide necessary medical treatment to people that do not have health insurance. Patients are asked to pay "what they can afford." Sometime that means they pay … [Read more...]
Day #143: Give to Annie
June 27, 2011 by
Congratulations to Annie from OR - this week’s featured giver and prize winner (gift certificate for Four at The Old Spaghetti Factory). Annie’s story: I don’t necessarily like to say what “I” give. I feel very privileged that I was given the vision and the passion to bless families who have babies born too early to survive. Whether a miscarriage or a baby born at 25 weeks gestation, those … [Read more...]
Day #142: Give Your Family Rest
June 26, 2011 by
***We have committed to give our family rest each Sunday. Read more here. … [Read more...]
Day #141: Give a Push When Someone Runs Out of Gas
June 25, 2011 by
We were coming back from a day in NYC with friends who live in New Jersey and pulled into a gas station for fuel and a restroom break. A man driving a Toyota Camry stalled his car less than a 100 yards from the pumps. He had completely run out of gas. I saw one of the fuel station employees walking over to the vehicle so I followed. The car was on a slope so I new they needed more man … [Read more...]
Day #140: Give Technical Support
June 24, 2011 by
A friend called me this morning with questions about his computer. He recently started using Apple's OSX and wasn't sure how to sync his MP3 player to iTunes or burn his music from his existing music collection. I walked him through each step. Sometimes we forget that skills that seem second nature to us can be a big help to someone else. … [Read more...]
Day #139: Give Used Books
June 23, 2011 by
The campground where we are staying has a family center. It is a favorite place for our girls. Inside, there is a section just for kids. It has toys, puzzles, and books specifically for younger children. Today, we picked out some of the girls' books that are no longer on their most-liked list and donated them to the family center. … [Read more...]
Phase II: Expanding into the For-Profit World
June 22, 2011 by
Up until now, we have only volunteered with, toured, and interviewed non-profit organizations. We have learned from people who are serving children, the elderly, the hungry, and even prisoners. We have asked questions about funding and management. We have evaluated the impact of each organization and what it takes to serve their cliental. Beginning on day #151, we will be expanding our … [Read more...]
Day #138: Give Cans For Recycling
June 22, 2011 by
As we drive across America, we get to see many different places. Out of our windows we've passed swamps, mountains, and beaches. Some have been uninviting; others breathtaking. Every so often Kayla will look out her window and shout, "Daddy! Mommy! look! Isn't that beautiful?" She is right - America is beautiful and we are blessed to be able to enjoy it. As a family, we try to be conscious to … [Read more...]
Day #137: Give with Philhaven in Lebanon, PA
June 21, 2011 by
This afternoon, I went on a tour at a non-profit behavioral healthcare organization that offers a wide range of services for children 3-years-old through senior adults. It was founded in 1952 by a group of Mennonite men who chose public service instead of joining the battlefields of WWII. They discovered how horrible living conditions were for people in psychiatric institutions and they birthed … [Read more...]
