Little world changers. v.|2

  Would you look at that cutie with the collections from our winter Play date with a Purpose?! He's the best. (see a similar photo from our summer play date here!)

  We've decided to make these play dates a semi-annual thing and they are the best. I invite all the moms/kids I know to come over and play (and snack! while collecting donations for a local non-profit (a domestic violence shelter in the summer, SafeFamilies in the winter). It hopefully gives the parents a chance to start teaching their kids about loving others and supporting our local community and reminds us all that we can be all be world changers.

  It was a smaller turnout this time, and I was tempted to feel insecure about that. Then I remembered that no matter the size, any donation would be helpful to the families served by SafeFamilies! The kids played their hearts out, ate a million snacks, and it always good for me to spend time with moms in the same stage of parenthood as myself. By the end of the morning, our dining room table had a big pile of things to be packed up and brought to the SafeFamilies office!

If you ever need an instant pick-me-up, visit a local non-profit and have some gifts in hand when you do. I say that because on Monday the boys and I dropped off donations from our second Play Date With a Purpose to our local Safe Families. It was the absolute highlight of our Christmas season this year! They were surprised at the amount we brought and SO excited to have special gifts for their moms (I put an ask out to any/everyone who might want to 'adopt a mom' and donate a Noonday bracelet to the moms served by the organization). Through some generous donations, they've been able to set up a Christmas room for parents to 'shop' gifts for their kids, but there isn't anything special for the parents themselves. Most of the moms receive cleaning supplies, gas cards, etc- but the coordinator was saying it would just be fun to bless them with the bracelets as a real gift in addition!

So here's my semi-annual plug to do something. Don't wait until you have more time or bigger network or a great idea or for someone to invite you. I guarantee that you can make a real difference in your community today. With exactly what you already have! Whether its inviting some friends and their kids over for a playdate with a purpose, baking a lasagna on Christmas for your local fire station, sending a starbucks e-gift card to your favorite local non-profit (a mid-week coffee treat on you!), call a local adoption agency and ask if there is a family in need of funds (then host a Noonday trunk show with your friends and Noonday will donate from your show!), WHATEVER. It takes so little to make a difference for our neighbors. And if we're being honest, we benefit too. If feels great to be a part of something bigger than ourselves!

Little world changers.

   We had our Play Day For a Purpose today! 10 moms and 15 kids came over to hang out in our backyard this morning- and they came with armloads of donations for our local domestic violence shelter. It was so cool to see the pile of donations growing as people arrived!

  Honestly? I didn't expect more than my sister and one or two friends to show up. Isn't it funny how we doubt even the things we are certain God has put on our hearts? What if no one came or Caleb didn't care or I didn't end up with anything to drop off at the shelter (they were expecting me to have at least a boxful!)? All silly, but honest things. One of my favorites, Jessica, always talks about doing things scared. Not waiting until we have all of our ducks in a row or 100% confidence things will go the very way we hope. Instead, walking forward even when you're a bit scared and nervous and just doing it.

  So we did it- a bit unsure of how it would turn out. People came! They overwhelmed us with donations! The kids had fun and I had just enough food for everyone (Chick fil a party tray for the win!).

  Its funny how ridiculously simple the whole thing was. Pray for an opportunity to serve the local community, invite people over, set out some toys/food/chair, and collect donations. And you know? If only two people had come, we still would have made a difference! I am understanding more and more about starting where I am and using what I already have. My house and backyard aren't anything crazy, but they are enough to host a few people. I don't have a big budget, but I can swing some brownies, fruit, and a chicken nugget party tray. I don't have a million friends and wouldn't say I'm super well connected or influential in my community. None of that matters. In hindsight, its neat to look back and see how God perfectly connected my desire to include my kids in serving others with the tools he's already given me.

  And look at this donation pile!!! Caleb is beyond himself with excitement about dropping it all off at the shelter tomorrow (and hoping he gets to meet their resident service dog!). I'm not even sure if he'll remember today or tomorrow when we drop it off. I hope he does! Either way, I want it to just be the beginning. I have plans to do this somewhat regularly- maybe a few times each year? What if gathering together with friends and family to celebrate and help people in our community just became an ordinary part of our kids' lives?

  So here's my friendly encouragement for you today- have something on your heart you want to do? Do it! Pray, use what you have, and don't wait until you're not nervous about it anymore. Start where you are and even the smallest things can have an impact!