A "Noteworthy" Project

Introducing...Project "TOO"

One of the things I want to instill in Noah {as well as focusing on it myself} is the importance of thinking about others.  Our culture makes it so easy to be selfish and to take on a me-first attitude.  It's easy to get caught up in our own wants and needs and to ignore what's important to those around us when it's not convenient to us.  But that's not the best way to live.  The better way is to follow this advice:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:3-4

And so, Noah and I are beginning what we call "Project TOO" aka "Thinking Of Others."

For the next 27 days {we started on Sunday}, we are going to think of someone each day and make a special card for him or her. 

On Day 1, we made a thank you card for Matt and Norma, our friends who graciously invited us over to see and ride their horses.  Noah drew a horse and a barn.  Well, at least he said he did. :)  For Day 2, we decided to make a card for Miss June, Noah's favorite librarian.  We visit the library several times a week and hardly ever miss Tuesday storytime with Miss June.  Over the weekend, we were there checking out some things and Noah told Miss June about his new friend, Llama Llama Red Pajama.

We got Llama at Kohl's {$5 special!} and Noah fell in love.  Instantly.  The whole way home, Noah talked to him in the car, telling him all kinds of things.  Everywhere we go, Llama has to go too.  Noah and Llama are the best of friends.  When he told Miss June about it, she went and searched for a special book that was all about llamas, brought it out, and read it just for Noah.  It wasn't storytime, she just took the time to read to him because she knew it was something he would enjoy.  So, we decided to make Miss June a thank you card for going out of her way to do something kind.

Noah drew a llama, colored him red {for the red pajamas, of course}, and made some grass underneath.  I suggested that he add a sun, and he said, "Llama llama needs sunglasses."  I helped him with the letters and the sunglasses, but the rest was all him.  We delivered it this morning, and based on her reaction, I think we made her day. :)

For Day 3, we made a graduation card.  On Tuesday nights, when our Bible Study meets in our home, we have the sweetest babysitter, Ayla, who watches the children for us downstairs in the playroom.  She is wonderful with the kids and we don't know what we're going to do if she goes away to college in the fall!  We keep trying to convince her to stay local!  Anyway, Noah wanted to make her a card with "happy guys" on it.  You can kind of see them...they're circles with arms, legs, eyes, and smiles...or at least they're supposed to be.

So far, it's been a great project.  It's encouraging Noah to think about the people in his life and how it makes them feel to receive a card.  It's teaching him the importance of saying thank you and being grateful for the kind things people do for him.  And he's learning to use his talents to bless others.  He gets so excited to deliver the cards, and he just beams when he sees how pleased people are to receive them.  I also think it's fantastic because in this electronic age when everything else is done via email or texting, we're bringing back the lost art of note writing.

On a personal note, doing this with Noah inspired me to want to do more thinking of others and to find a way that I could use my own talents to bless someone else.  I've been thinking a lot about the people whose homes and lives have been just devastated by storms lately right here in the U.S. and about how startlingly easy it is to ignore the suffering of others when we're safe in our own homes just hours away.  I wanted to do something meaningful that would somehow help with the relief efforts and this is what I came up with.

I'm calling this the "Help for the Heartland" necklace.  Recently, the "Heartland" of America has been devastated by deadly storms, tornadoes, and flooding. This necklace is meant to be a reminder that those who suffer are not alone and to remind those who wear it to pray for everyone affected by these tragedies in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Virginia.

I've listed this necklace on Etsy and I commit to donate $10 from the sale of each "Heartland" necklace toward World Vision's relief efforts as they provide first aid kits, hygeine supplies, food and water, blankets, clothing, and temporary shelter for those in need.  It's my small way of using what I can do to help those who are struggling more than I can imagine.

I find that as Noah and I take on "Project TOO," we're being blessed in return.  It's bringing us joy and giving us a much bigger perspective, reminding us that the world doesn't revolve around our little family.  Helping others and considering their needs above our own doesn't always come naturally, but hopefully in time, we'll find ourselves doing it more and more...it's a better way to live.  Want to join us?  Why not take on your own 30 day project?  Who could use a note of encouragement from you today?

Hope you have a wonderful day!