You're Invited to a Pajama Party

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As many of you know, our family is working on a project that we hope will change our community, if only a TINY bit, for the better. Each day, we're doing a charitable deed. It doesn't have to be big, but neat projects are popping out of the woodwork! So far, we've made quilts for Project Linus, volunteered at the animal shelter, recycled, opened doors, maintained a website, provided roadside assistance, picked up trash. None of them are GREAT works that will CHANGE THE WORLD. But it's been fun being more aware of our community, the people around us, the details of daily life, living mindfully, I suppose.

I just found out about the Pajama Program, a national nonprofit, which is getting its start here on the Central Coast. The program collects new (with tags) PJs for kids from infancy to age 17 and new books for the same group. These items are distributed to kids who may not have their own parents to provide these things for them, who may never have had a parent tuck them in at night. So far, the local chapter has identified three organizations averaging 30 children/month each who will benefit from this program. There's a high turnover, so that's 30 children times three programs times 12 months. Well, that's a lot of bedtime books and PJs.

The Best Family will be collecting PJs and books for the project through April. Would you like to join in our drive? Maybe you can hit up your neighborhood or church, friends, other clubs or organizations in which you're involved. Once we've gathered our PJs, I thought it would be fun to have a PJ party (parents could PJ, too) to bring the collections together. I don't know where, yet. When I think of PJs during WAKING hours, I think of COFFEE, HOT CHOCOLATE and CIDER!

If you're interested in taking part, please keep in mind, PJs and books need to be new and unused. Please keep all tags on the pajamas. In addition, we cannot accept pajamas or books with any religious messages or violent themes.

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Fun in the Sun Ski Trip

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I'd heard of spring skiing, had even seen photos of people skiing in swimsuits, but this week in the Sierra Nevada provided a bit of everything. Our first three days on the slopes involved LOTS of sunscreen and no coats, sometimes not even gloves and short sleeves even for Mr. B. The fourth day we watched a storm roll in and enjoyed some good fresh snow in the afternoon. And of course as we packed to leave we enjoyed stomping through half a foot of freshly fallen snow, light, powdery, begging for skis, but we were headed down the mountain.

The girls picked up RIGHT where they left off last year. You may recall that, at the very last minute on the very last day, we finally took our first family run - all four of us skiing down the big hill together. What a treat! This year we played on the bunny hill for only a few minutes before beginning a long series of extended runs with the entire family on the big hill. The girls did so well. I really enjoyed skiing with them on the green slopes as much as (and often more than) taking the tougher, faster runs by myself, so I only did grown-up runs a few times throughout the course of the week.

As always, V found plenty of other things to do with the snow, including multiple snowfolk and other structures, sliding, climbing and fully enjoying our one week in "winter." E was bound for the mountain, and nothing was going to slow her down.

We returned home just in time to clean up before my sister-in-law and my niece arrived for a weekend of crafting (photos at link). We had a fantastic first day today. Niece L made her first pillow. S-I-L learned to use her sewing machine. E finished her Project Linus quilt. V proudly used the sewing machine on a cat pillow which she began. And I had a few minutes to play with my Project Linus quilt. Good company, some completed projects - a great day.


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Charitable Deeds project is coming along

Ever tried to do something, just one thing, for someone else EVERY DAY? Our Charitable Deeds Project is coming along, though I discovered a bit of a stumbling block today. Still, we carry on with it joyfully.

In other news, our day started out MUCH more smoothly than yesterday. V's "day of being Mom" afforded me some free time to work on one of my more time-intensive Deed projects which was really quite relaxing. The "Day of Being Mom" project also seemed to work its magic. By midday, V decided perhaps she didn't mind lending a hand now and again. "You have a LOT of work to do," she told me.

Her Mom Chores today were a lot more fun than yesterdays, once the morning dishes and kitty litter box duty were finished. I think her favorite was planting a couple dozen bulbs in the garden. The best part, I'm sure, was that I didn't tell her where to plant them. She was given free reign over any exposed dirt, except in the produce garden where we stick with edibles for (I hope) obvious reasons.

She wanted to cook again, and she was interested in making soup, so we pulled out the onions and made a SCRUMPTIOUS French Onion Soup from scratch. V even enjoyed helping peel and slice the onions, once she made one small addition to her attire.

More willing to help out than ever.

Los Angeles Food Bank & American Girl Place - OVERLOAD!

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Yesterday we played at the California Science Center at Exposition Park here in Los Angeles. We were fortunate to hit it during Homeschool Day, but were surprised to learn that event didn't entail much use of the science center. In fact, it involved interesting classroom sessions, all focused on electricity. Still a morning well spent. After lunch we returned to hook motors to batteries and build our own electrical toys.

Then came the IMAX movie - Monster of the Deep. COMPLETELY unrelated to electricity, but entertaining nonetheless. Grandpa Doug and the girls and I spent the rest of our afternoon exploring the museum itself.

If I had to choose (fortunately I didn't have to), I'd go with "The Cube," aka Discovery Center in Santa Ana. It was far more hands-on, fewer television screens, and everything inside the museum was included in the entry fee (not so at Science Center). Still, if it's anatomy you're looking to learn, the Science Center is your place.

Today we went for something entirely different. We started by dropping off goodies at the LA Food Bank (you can read about this on our other blog here), then visited American Girl Place. WOW! Both eye opening. Never knew there could be such a large doll store! Or such a large food bank.

Sorry for the brevity. We're headed out the door to see "Annie" for a well-rounded day. ;)

And now for something completely different...

If you received this update via e-mail, please note there may be associated photos available only on the actual blog. Visit site to see the latest. OK, not completely different, but certainly back to our earlier use of this blog...sharing the news of our homeschooling life. We started the new year with holiday cleanup and some relaxation. V is taking off with her reading (just like Big Sister E did). We'll return to projects in late January, but for now we're cruising with books, holiday wrapup, one last holiday camping trip and a trip south to visit Grandma L & Grandpa D. For most of the past week, we've been camping with our friends, former neighbors who ditched our cul-de-sac in favor of a larger house with a larger yard just half a mile or so away. Same good school district. Same quiet neighborhood, but space for the kids and the dogs. Go figure! It was FREEZING cold the first night at Lopez Lake. Fortunately, our trailer is small enough to hold in the body heat of three people snuggling under shared covers. Our friends tried not to rub in the fact that they had a heater - but we could hear it firing up throughout the night. (Actually, they graciously invited us to squeeze in with them if we felt the need. We were fine and cozy.) Fortunately each day brought warmer temps, and warmer nights. Clear skies, a waxing moon, wonderful stars and lots of wild animals including: skunks, raccoons, deer, turkeys, fresh water clams, red-headed woodpeckers, a bobcat (?) and myriad birds. Each evening brought splendid dining with a coordinated menu that included super spaghetti and salad, Grandma Kathy's Peach Cobbler (always a hit) and our first stab at Dutch Oven Blueberry Pudding ala The Little House Cookbook. All the kids got a photo lesson about painting with lights (photo removed)

New Blog - A Year of Living Charitably

The project continues, but I thought I'd break it away from this blog so that I may better include family updates here. I realize most of our subscribers are friends and family members interested in hearing about what we do BEYOND this project. Some subscribed to keep up with homeschooling activities (certainly beyond the project), and others are in it for the photos of their grandchildren (ahem...wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.)

So, if you want to keep up with the 2009 project, check out A Year of Living Charitably. You can still subscribe over there to get those updates. And if you like the idea of the project, please spread the word!

Food Bank

Sudanese diet for a week:
American diet for a week: Images from What the World Eats published by TIME magazine here, in book form here, and covered by NPR.

In America, we're seeing record increases in obesity, diabetes and other diseases related to overeating. So how can it be that we're also seeing families go hungry? Many claim the hungry have put themselves in this position by placing luxuries (e.g. plasma televisions, new cars, cloths) higher on the priority list than food for their children. But there are families without these and other luxuries who do struggle to put food on the table.

Many communities offer services for hungry people from food kitchens where hot meals are served regularly to food banks where food, largely donated by the community, is given away free of charge. Schools also provide free and reduced price breakfasts and lunches to qualifying families.

The project:
Gather food from our pantry to share with the local food bank.

Time:
10 minutes

Why bother:
People tend to give during holiday periods. There's also a great demand at that point. Food pantries are often greatly depleted shortly after these peak periods. There's no better time than the present to lend a hand.

Worth it?
I'd like to think that someone would be there for our family if we really couldn't afford food anymore. If our donation means some kid won't go to bed hungry, it's absolutely worth the few minutes it took us to gather it. We'll deliver tomorrow when FoodBank is open.

Simple Help in the Park

One of the questions this project raises is, "How difficult is it to lend a hand?" What counts as a charitable deed? Today's deeds aren't earth-shattering, but if everyone were to do JUST THIS MUCH, would it change our world?

Today the whole family visited Santa Barbara's Natural History Museum together, then headed up the road to Rocky Nook Park. This nature park is a beautiful spot for tree climbing, rock scrambling, trail walking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicking and exploring the modern play structure. For some reason, even in beautiful locations people tend to drop their trash on the ground rather than take a few steps to hit the garbage can.

The project:
While swinging, climbing, and walking with the family, I picked up trash and deposited it in any of the multitude of trash receptacles scattered throughout the park.

While walking the trails, I spotted a woman trying to get photos of her family. Her husband and children were in the shot, but there was nowhere to prop her little camera so she could include herself. I saw her looking for a camera perch, so I walked the 20 feet to where she stood and offered to snap the photo.Picking up trash at the park. Lending a hand with a family photo.

Time:
5-10 minutes

Why bother:
Trashy parks make for less-relaxing visits. And family photos too often exclude one member.

Worth it?
Picking up trash always seems worth it, except the thought that the party in the nearby picnic area had trash spread under and around their tables. Would they pick it up or leave it to blow into the play area and trails for others to pick up? I decided not to go with that negative line of thought, and do my part anyhow.

Taking the photo was a cinch, and completely worth it when the family saw their image on the screen and the thankful mother/photographer gave me a heartfelt thank you with a big, warm smile.
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In other news, community service is beginning to provide a direct payoff for service-minded youths. See this story for inspiration.

Sharing Technology

Our family does pretty well, but we don't have a lot of extra cash. So donations of cold, hard cash are difficult to come by if you knock at our door.

Our family is also busy, just like everyone else. But most often it's easier for us to find time to share than money to share. And really, which do YOU remember most: time spent with friends, loved ones and strangers who rise to the occasion in your time of need; or the gifts, perhaps cash, perhaps goodies, that you receive? Over the long haul, I'm willing to bet most people remember the priceless gift of time spent together.

Today I spent the heart of the day with a family friend who needed some help learning how to make her camera, computer, CD burner and e-mail all work together. During a phone call earlier this week she expressed some confusion about how to get all these newfangled gadgets going. I volunteered to help out - at her home about 40 miles north of ours.

The project:
Teaching a senior how to make new technology work for her, to keep her in closer contact with her family and friends.

Time:
90-minutes driving
60 minutes at the computer (but there was a lot of visiting going on, too)

Why bother:
Helping older people keep up with technology can provide them access to family photos, family news and a plethora of social opportunities available in today's techno-centric world.

Worth it?
I've known Betty since I was 5 years old. Our relationship began when she took on the job of babysitting me, but we became family friends. For more than three decades now, she's provided countless lessons, hours of her time, gallons of hot chocolate and buckets of wonderful, dimpled smiles. This volunteer effort provided me the opportunity to help HER out for a change and provided us both an opportunity to catch up. Oh, and after we were finished with the computer stuff, we carried on our conversation over lunch, then a shared ride to the grocery store.

Being Neighborly

Not every charitable deed has to be a big one. In fact, it's the little things we do throughout the year that can really make a difference. We started today with something small, but with potentially big rewards for our neighborhood.

Mr. B has lived on this street for more than 20 years. I've lived here ever since we got married more than a decade ago. We've always gotten along with our neighbors. We know each other's kids and pets and even frequent visitors. Still, none has ever asked us to watch after their homes and pets while they're away - until this week.

The project:
Tending the neighbor's pets, bringing in the mail, taking out the trash and recycling, watching the house.

Time:
15 minutes each day (if we take time out to PET the cats)
25 minutes on trash/recycle day

Why bother:
Helping out those who live within shouting distance sure makes city life feel more friendly, safer, more enjoyable. It gives me the feelings my neighbors trust me, and thereby instills a bit more trust in them.

Worth it?
Absolutely worth the fraction of the day we're dedicating. The girls have enjoyed collecting mail, petting someone else's cats, and the excitement of a chore in someone ELSE'S yard. In the short term, they have peace of mind that their home is being tended to. In the long term, we've built a stronger relationship with our neighbors, and perhaps they'll reciprocate should the need arise in future.

A year of living charitably

How difficult is it to do a little something helpful now and again? Is it really that tough to pick up an errant piece of trash and dispose of it properly? Does it really cramp our style to hold the door open for someone? To improve someone's day by offering a simple smile?

In this age of jam-packed schedules, never-ending technological distractions, and rush-rush-rush attitudes, are we really so busy that we can't lend a hand now and again?

I confess I get distracted, busy, and just plain grumpy, but it really isn't difficult to help out, and it doesn't have to take a lot of time to be neighborly, to help make our communities better places to live, to help the people around us feel better about themselves and the world in which we're living.

Plus, it feels really good. According to various studies, performing good deeds, volunteering or otherwise helping others reduces stress, increases longevity and provides a higher-quality life. In other words, if you can't bring yourself to help others for their sake, perhaps you'd do it for your own good health.

People sometimes talk about doing "good deeds" or donating to "charity." What does this mean?

While in the 21st century, "charity" has come to be interpreted as "financial assistance" or "donation," Mariam-Webster defines charity as, among other things, "benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity," "generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering," and "aid given to those in need." Charity is, then, the act of helping others.

"Deed"is defined as "something that is done," "a usually illustrious act or action," and "the act of performing."

So how often do we really perform charitable deeds? Have you ever thought about it?

Our family volunteers in various ways. Sure, we hold doors open for people, but the girls and I also volunteered for nearly two years as docents at our local natural history museum. We've picked up trash throughout our neighborhood and on outings. Last year we enjoyed handing out roses to complete strangers throughout one random day - the reward for us was nothing more than smiles, sometimes hugs, and always thanks.

But as we picked up trash at a local pier recently, I wondered: do we do something charitable every day? Once a week? Less often? How difficult would it be to do at least one charitable deed every single day? How might it change us and our community if we kept a better eye out for opportunities to lend a hand?

In 2009, the girls and I intend to find out. We'll keep track of our deeds, however simple or involved, and keep you posted on the response, the feeling it gave us and any long-term changes we see as a result of our actions.

If you like the idea, have projects in mind for us or would like to spread the love, please feel free to share this blog with your friend, family, and, sure, even foes. Post your thoughts here or drop me a line.

Happy New Year!