She came up to me as I was walking off stage after speaking at a conference recently.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, but my aunt, Mary, is a long-time reader of your blog. When she found out I was going to be at a conference your were at, she was SO excited.”
She paused and then said, “I hate to ask this of you, but is there any way we could get our picture taken together and you could hold up a piece of paper in the picture that says, ‘Hi, Mary!'”
“Of course”, I replied. But then I thought for a second and said, “However, what if I were to write her a note instead? Maybe that would be more meaningful?”
The conference attendee looked taken aback. “You would do that??”
“Absolutely!” I replied. “But since I don’t know your aunt, could you tell me something I could write to her that would be meaningful?”
It was then that I was taken aback because this sweet woman in front of me all of a sudden got very misty-eyed and choked up.
Finally, she managed to get the words out, “Could you tell her that there are no small ideas? That her ideas and dreams matter?”
I wanted to know the story behind that request, but the next session was starting and I didn’t have time to ask. I grabbed a pen and paper and went to sit down at the back to compose a note.
I wasn’t sure what to say, but I prayed that God would give me the words that this woman needed to hear. And then I just started writing.
My note was something like this, “Dear Mary, I don’t know you, but I want you to know that your ideas matter. The world needs you. We need your gifts and your talents. We need your ideas. God has uniquely gifted you and equipped you. So keep dreaming, don’t give up, and know that there is no idea that is too small. They all matter. You matter. You have a purpose and a story. I am looking forward to seeing how God is going to use you and your ideas. I am cheering for you! -Crystal”
When I was finished, I took the note over to the woman. I bent down and handed it to her and whispered to her to ask her if she could read it to make sure it was appropriate — since I didn’t know her aunt or her aunt’s situation.
She read through it and, as she did so, tears started flowing. She looked at me, gave me a huge hug, and said, “This is perfect. You have no idea how much this will mean to my aunt.”
I walked away with a spring in my step, knowing that the short amount of time I just invested to write that note could possibly change someone’s life — or at least give someone the exact boost they needed to keep moving forward and not give up.
It also made me wonder how many opportunities like that I have overlooked or walked right past — all because I was so focused on my tasks and to-do’s. There are opportunities to reach out and bless someone like this all around us, if we just take the time to see those opportunities and act on them.
Today: Take time to ask how someone really is. Take time to smile. Take time to speak a kind word. Take time to look into someone’s eyes and listen — really listen — to what they are saying.
Write that note, send that text, make that phone call, invite that person over, or do that little extra something to let someone know that you care and that they matter.
We can’t do everything, but we can do something.
We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone.
We can’t change the entire world, but we can make a difference in one life.
So today, I challenge you as I’ve been challenging myself, “Do for one what you wish you could do for all.”
Together, let’s make a difference in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our communities… and around the world.
Photo quote above from the post on How to Be a Light This Christmas — go read it; it’s excellent.
Guest post from SK Bell of Nursing, Naps, Nostalgia
Although I've only recently called myself a crafter, I've been working on a project of some kind for most of my adult life. I'm a long-time MoneySavingMom.com reader and we proudly use a cash envelope system. We recently added a craft fund to our list.
I've noticed crafting can be really expensive. The first week, I spent the whole fund on fabric and didn't get any other supplies I needed. I wasn't able to work on any projects for the rest of the pay period. That was disappointing since I've discovered this outlet is important to me.
I've since learned a few tricks to stretching that budget — and I’m sharing them with you today!
1. Price Shop.
I've seen Mod Podge at the dollar store. When a local quilting store went out of business, I snatched up three of the most expensive items on my list since their prices had been reduced to less than 50%.
I am signed up for text coupons through Michael's and JoAnn's. Those, mail coupons, and coupons at the door/cash wrap will help get you through when you combine with sale prices.
2. Go Used!
My favorite and first stop is the thrift store. I recently paid $.50 for enough fabric for two projects already on my list.
Thrift stores have inexpensive shelves and picture frames for painting and re-purposing, fabric remnants, linens, already-cut sewing patterns, embroidery hoops, yarn, half-full jars of glitter, etc. etc.
3. Research First.
I recently found inspiration from an Instagram account, @DollarTreeCrafts. I often see cute, affordable crafts on other blogs that I'd like to try for myself and save a picture to a folder on my computer.
I am constantly finding free or very inexpensive Pinterest projects (like the wood pallet bookshelves we're working on for our children's room and many kid crafts using recycled items!) The library also has a lot of great books (some sewing books even come with patterns on a disc).
If I have an idea of my own in mind, I'll draw it and brainstorm it, talk to my husband or a friend about it, and see if their fresh perspective might remind me of a less expensive item I can use, a cheaper way to do it, the best place to buy the materials.
4. Take Your Time
This one is easy for me at the moment, since I'm chasing a toddler around all day and rubbing my tired, pregnant belly in the evenings… but there have been times I found myself burning the midnight oil to finish a project I was excited about.
Now, I allow myself a little optional crafting time every day, and then I move on so a project lasts longer. Sometimes taking a break gives me new perspective any ways!
I'm curious… what are your tips for crafting inexpensively?
What have you made recently that fulfilled your crafting need but didn't break the bank?
SK Bell is a happily married mother who enjoys traveling, crafting, and doing both frugally. She blogs positively about marriage and parenthood at Nursing, Naps, Nostalgia.
photo source
Jesse and I spent time really discussing what my focuses should be for 2014 and we nailed down four areas that are my priorities for this year:
- Marriage: to continue to invest time and energy to strengthen and nurture our marriage and make it one of the greatest priorities
- Mothering: to continue to invest in our children with the goal of teaching them character, life skills, and raising them to be responsible adults
- Myself: to make my health a priority and to invest in my personal growth as a Christian, business owner, writer, speaker, and leader
- MoneySavingMom.com: to invest time into blogging — not just overseeing the business and my team, but making writing content pieces one of my top blogging priorities
Having these specific areas determined at the beginning of the year is really helping me to prioritize and giving me much clearer direction on when, where, and what to say no to this year.
Here’s an update on how I’m doing (or not doing, as is the case with many of these!) on my goals this year:
Marriage Goals
1. Read 6 marriage books. (I've finished 5 marriage books so far.)
2. Write 50 love notes to Jesse. (I've written 45 love notes so far.)
Mothering Goals
3. Read 40 books aloud to the kids. (We've finished 9 chapter books so far — yes I’m probably going to fall woefully short on this goal this year.)
4. Finish memorizing Romans 1 together.
5. Go through a cooking course with the kids. (I have been teaching the kids quite a few different cooking skills the past month. We haven’t done any official course, but they’ve learned a lot more cooking skills this year.)
Personal Goals
6. Read through the Bible. (I paused this goal to instead dive into the She Reads Truth Hospitality & Thanksgiving studies. I am LOVING these — and it’s been a great change after years of just reading straight through the Bible.)
7. Memorize Romans 2. (I’m working on this.)
8. Run a 5K race and go through P90X again.
9. Read 150 books/ebooks. (I've read 76 books so far this year.)
Blogging Goals
10. Write 150 substantive content pieces for the blog.
11. Write 50 DIY/Recipe posts for the blog. (I've written 38 DIY/Recipe posts so far.)
12. Blog about/participate in the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge.
Did you set goals for 2014 yet?
If you've posted an update on how you're doing on your goals for 2014, I'd love for you to share your link in the comments. Or, if you don't have a blog, feel free to just leave a comment with an update on how you're doing on your goals. Let's encourage one another to live lives of intention and purpose!
If you're brand-new to goal-setting, be sure to read my post on How to Change Your Life By Setting Goals.
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