making our R.A.C.K. truly RANDOM!!!!

bless me readers for I have slacked.  it's been 8 months since my last blog....


wow!  so, many people have asked  us about "RACK'ing" this year.  what we're doing... give us an update.... 


weeeellllll...... hmm.... my little A.D.D. brain is running all over the place.... how to explain....


1.  this has been a different kind of year.... I became "unemployed"... so we're learning to live on less.
2.  my step-dad is terminally ill, which consumes emotions, mental strength, and time.
3.  adjusting to being "at home" has been more challenging than I expected.  I LOVE it, but I really have to focus to get stuff done!!


with everything going on... I didn't plan our 24 days of RACK's.  and that brings me to point 7.2b on my list of crazy things going thru my head!    PLANNING our RANDOM Acts of Kindness seems.... THE OPPOSITE OF RANDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  so what are we teaching our kids???  only do kind deeds when the envelope mom made tells you to????????  as my children get older, I want them to really learn to observe the world around them!  LOOK for ways to be kind and helpful!  I personally feel this is a major weakness of our culture.  we all "mind our own business" to the point of being OBLIVIOUS of those in need around us!  and "NEED" can be so much more than food, money, shelter.... the person in the cubical next to you may need a smile.... the lady at the check out may need a kind word... even the smallest gestures can mean so much!!!


so this December, the gonsers have been purposing to seek out people and organizations to help.


*  gave hats & gloves to a friend who posted she was collecting them for 5 women
*  donated a huge box of men's dress clothes/suits to a local church
*  gave a pair of shoes to a friends son who's having a growth spurt (we know how that goes!)
*  gave my kitchenaid stand mixer to my sister-in-law
*  gave our RACK jar of change/money to the Jimtown HS Band
*  made a toys for tots donation
*  we are giving away another RACK jar


and I'm sure we've been kind in other ways as well!


but, enough suspense... you really want to know about our EPIC experience!!!  here goes!!


sometimes, when a plan falls together so perfectly, you know that you know that you know, it HAD to be God!  that's what happened to mike and I this week.  ....  Tuesday, we received an email at our furniture design business.  mike was out of town... I read the email....

Good Morning,

I have an antique solid wood teachers desk I am looking to sell. I bought it with the intent to re-purpose it into a kitchen cart. I began stripping some of the white paint off of the drawers and it has set since. I am a single mother and home owner and with the Holidays here my septic backing up into my house has created reason to sell. As much as I dont want to part with it I have seen your work and wanted to see if you would be interested in purchasing?

I made an initial response.  the end. 


not really!  


a couple emails later.... I had a plan.  somewhere along the line I let mike in on my plan :)


and... I got my dad & mom in on it....


and here's what happened...


I made an appointment to go look at the desk this evening at 6:00
this morning I texted the customer to "randomly" ask her if her septic had been taken care of...
she let me know she'd called Middlebury Septic and they were coming out this afternoon...  she was especially thankful they were allowing her 30 days to pay.
I called middlebury septic (we use them for our rentals) and explained that my dad and I wanted to pay for the job they were doing that afternoon in Bristol. 
6:00 this evening... mike and I (with kids loaded in the truck) go to "buy" the desk.
a very sweet young mom greeted us and showed us the desk.
mike asked about the plans she'd had for repurposing the desk.
as stated in her initial email, we could tell she was sad to sell it, but needed to do what was necessary.
mike asked if her septic had been pumped.
she replied "I don't know... I just got home from work... but I hope it did!!"
and then mike says:
      "every December, our family likes to look for people who could use a Random Act of Christmas Kindness.  so today, we took care of your septic bill.  it's paid and you don't have to worry about that"
now... I WISH we had this on video... because it was awesome.  the look of SHOCK and APPRECIATION was priceless!!!  she was almost speechless.  she thanked us and was just so utterly grateful! 
then mike goes on:
       "and here's what we'd like to do with your desk... we would like to buy it.  but we aren't going to take it.  we want you to keep it.  finish your plans for it and enjoy it"


AND AT THIS POINT I AM FULL ON BAWLING!!!  this lady.... all 5'2" of her.... is looking up at mike... then over to me.... and she says "you can't do that!  you've already done so much!" 


and mike tells her:
       "yes we can!  it's what we do.  we just ask that you pay the kindness forward!  show someone else love and kindness and have a blessed Christmas"  .... that's paraphrased because of the snot... and tears... and blubbering!!! 


that was honestly, the most amazing experience ever!  it was awesome to meet a young single mom... who works... owned her own home.... who had a need, but instead of whining and begging, SET OUT TO CREATE A SOLUTION!  even if it meant selling something she really wanted to keep!!  and her pure grateful spirit.... was beautiful!!


about 15 minutes after leaving, still on a rush from the experience, we received a text:


I don't know how I could ever thank you in words to describe the way I am feeling.  you are all such wonderful people and I appreciate this blessing more then you will ever know.  thank you so much!
I'm still in shock!  I came into the house crying and my 1 year old looking at me like I was crazy.  miracles for Baby Jesus's birthday :) merry Christmas!




and THAT my friends... is how Jesus wants us to celebrate His birthday!!!  and every day!