Service Sunday

I decided to link our SS with 9/11 so we picked up some Starbucks gift cards and Abby made this little note and we took it to our local fire station.  We had thought there would be a ton of baked goods that had been dropped off but actually, there was only one.

I don't know if 9/11 commemoration is fading or what but I want my kids to know how important that date is and to do something in honor of that day.

Many thanks to our fire, EMS & police who work so hard to protect & serve. 

Service Sunday

 Ok, so I didn't get a photo of Sam or I at this service project but these are friends from our ward.  When the tornadoes hit in the spring, the LDS church sent out tons (literally) of clothing.  After the people in Alabama went through it and took what they needed, there was still a lot leftover so the church sent it to Douglasville to find a way to distribute it.

A girl I work with in Primary was in charge and miraculously, it all came together with help from the wards and local charitable organizations.

Sam and I went on a Friday to help sort.  It was sorted by sex, size & type of clothing.  There was so much that I thought it would never get taken and we would have a lot left over to try and deal with.

We spent a few hours helping to sort and it was a neat way to help our community.  

A Back to School Fair/clothing distribution was held that weekend and to my amazement, most of the clothing was taken.  It came in a Uhaul truck and just a small amount was sent to Goodwill.   It was neat to be a part of helping our community.

Jennifer

 Ryan & Cindy

 Ty & Cameron

 Bishop

 Donna & Danielle

Service Sunday

  For this month's Service Sunday we participated in the Autism Walk.  We joined Sam's school, ClearWater Academy, and walked with our school friends and some family participated as well. 

Pre-Walk activites

Getting her hair done!

 So many people asked about her hair!  It was so fun!

Mrs. Huber and Brenda

Brenda and her parents, Jose & Alice

Us!

Uncle Larry, Aunt Lisa and Ava & Ellie joined us!

 Off we go!

Bernie Marcus

As you can see...thousands of people participated!

We made it!

Mrs. Kassem, the founder/owner of Sam's school and her son, Samir

Kyron and his family

The Taylor family

 It was a great event, lots of people participated and we had a great time. 

Service Sunday

 For this month's Service Sunday we honored the soldier who was killed in action.  April 7, 2012 marks the 2nd year that he's been gone.  It's hard to believe 2 years have passed.  I remember every event I went to very clearly and think of his family at this time of year.

 I bought these little garden markers and wrote:

We Honor You Today - 4/7

I want my kids to know what sacrifices are made on their behalf by people we've never met and will probably never meet.  I want them to know how important it is to remember those who gave their lives in the service of our county.

We still remember and still honor 1st Lt. Robert Collins

Service Sunday

 I had heard on the news that The United Way was doing a shoe box project for homeless women & children for Mother's Day.  I checked out the website and decided that it would be great for our Service Sunday.

I got three boxes from Payless then we headed to the Dollar Store to buy things to fill up the boxes.  We did one for a woman, a boy and a girl.  Each shoe box contained different things such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, toys, crayons, etc.  

Here we are shopping.

 Assembling of the shoe boxes

 Packed with love!

 The end result! 

 

I will be delivering them to Douglas County's United Way representative as soon as I can get a hold of her!

You too can do these...go to United Way's website, choose your state and go from there!

Service Sunday

For February's Service Sunday we took a little bag of goodies to our friend Sarah who recently had back surgery.  Sarah is also a barista at our local Starbuck's and we miss seeing her there.  I contacted her daughter to get some ideas of her "favorites" and we dropped it off at her house.  Unfortunately no one was home.  

Happy Service Sunday

 It's the beginning of a new year of Service Sunday!  Here's the problem, church is now from 12:30-3:30pm which makes it slightly more difficult since we don't have as much time after church.  So...we may have to make some changes for 2012.

A few weeks ago as I was asking Abby what we should do she said, "Why do we always have to do service for people?  Why can't we do it for dogs?"

So, yesterday we went to our local animal shelter to give service to some dogs by taking them for a walk or just by loving on them.

Here is the puppy room - Abby's favorite!   The puppies couldn't be walked outside or be put on the ground so we just had to hold them and snuggle them.

Here is Abby holding one of the MANY pit bull puppies that have been dropped off at the shelter.

    

 

Todd and Abby walked a cute little dachshund for a walk.  His owner dropped him off.

 

Sam & I chose to walk this little Pomeranian dog.  Not sure what his story was.  He was very busy!

We walked through the main part of the shelter and there was a Doberman just dying for some attention.  He would stick his paws under the gate just trying to get me to pet him.  I decided I would take him for a walk and it was crazy!  He pulled me around like I was nothing and it was difficult to put him back.  Poor guy.

This dog, "Jeremy," nearly came home with us and I'm still struggling with him being in that cage.  He was such a sweetheart and would not let us go.  He just loved on Sam and didn't want him to get up.  He just wanted to be loved so badly.

I can hardly stand it!  I kept thinking all day...Ok, could I handle another dog?  The food, the shedding, the poop?  Just look at that face!!  He was literally hugging Sam and didn't want him to leave.  Ugh!

It was a fun little service project other than Abby losing one of her opal earrings in the grass.  

And as a public service message:

Please spay and neuter your pets!!