Day #107 Perfect Start to the Day!

I was so grateful and excited for the service today!!

Let me give you the background:
I got up earlier than I usually do for work and yet I STILL left so much later than I wanted to. I wasn't super stoked about that but I soon figured out one reason why that happened and I'm so grateful for it.
While I was driving to work I passed a girl standing at a bus stop... now not only was this the morning hours so it's a little cool anyway, but it was drizzly this morning AND she didn't have a coat! THEN I realized it was a cute girl from my neighborhood and home ward AND I taught her when I long-term subbed in history at Davis High. I couldn't remember her name and almost continued driving because I didn't know if she'd take the ride and I wouldn't be able to call her by her first name anyway... are those any kinds of excuses for NOT at least TRYING to help someone out?
I feel that so often we make up people's minds for them. WE decide what they will and won't do. WE decide FOR them if they do or don't want something. That's not how it works! We need to at least give other people the chance to accept or neglect the offer. At least we put forth the effort and looked outside ourselves and our schedules to help someone.
So thankfully the Spirit pressed on me until I got too much further and I turned around and asked if she wanted a ride. She at first declined saying she was going to Layton (the next city over which is really only about 5 minutes away) for work. I told her I didn't mind and that would be just fine and she gratefully accepted. I WAS SO SO SO EXCITED! We chatted and caught up while we drove and she didn't have to stand in the rain, pay for a bus ticket, or take a bus ride.
Always at least ask. That's what I learned today. Don't ever assume you know what the person will say. Isn't that what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about anyway?

Days #101-106

I know I said I'd update more frequently... and then life happens and schedule things... come... *clearing throat* anyway, on with the updates:
So last Saturday to serve I took my cute little brother to a play with Bryce and I. It was way fun and he seemed to enjoy himself. It was just nice to make time to be with one of my little brothers.

Sunday (Day #102) I helped my mom assemble some invitations for a 6th grade primary activity night. I could have easily slipped off to take a killer Sunday nap but there's no way I would feel okay leaving her there with 80 or so invitations to punch holes in, glue stuff on, and stick little decorations to by herself. I'm grateful for the nudgings of the Spirit.

Monday through Thursday is all kind of a blur with service activities as follows - picking up trash from the parking lot, getting in touch with a friend, buying a "I'm thinking of you" gift for a friend, taking the trash out, and holding the door for someone.

Yae for service! I keep feeling like, "if any of you are still reading and aren't sick of reading the same types of service over and over again BLESS YOU!" But then I got thinking that service IS so often small things that get you out of your own world into a world slightly less comfortable, involving more sacrifice, no matter the amount. It doesn't always have to cost money, take oodles of time, or be different every time. It all counts.

DAY #100 Monumental!!

Wow!! 100 days of service! This has been a great experience. Though some days have been similar in their service, it's taught me that service doesn't have to be extraordinary, huge, or cost anything. It can be small, daily acts of love, kindness, or thoughtfulness.

Today for service I bought my little brother a ticket to come to a play with me tomorrow night. I want and need to spend more time with my little brothers. They are studs and great blessings to me. I'd like to add that it was definitely inspiration to invite him to come along. I don't even remember what I was thinking about when the idea came and I'm so grateful it did. The Lord loves us and is so aware of each of us.

Let's look for ways to be answers to others' prayers. :) Happy day #100!

Day #99

Yesterday, Thursday, for service I baked some muffins for my fam to accompany dinner. My mom bought a muffin book that just so happened to be from Gibbs Smith, my place of work :), so I thought I'd try it out and see how my fam liked 'em. They were a hit!

Day #98

Service yesterday went both ways - benefitting me as well as the recipient. I contacted a good friend I hadn't been in touch with for too long. There are some friendships that fade as we go through each stage of life. That is natural and good, as it opens us to new and other friends. However, there are some friendships that I feel should never grow distant. For they are those which stand out from other friends in life. Their love is constant and friendship true. Those I wish to stay close to. I am not the best at staying in touch with those I love! So yesterday I did something about that. I'm grateful for my friends!

Mucho Days! #91-97

Due to accidental circumstances, the seven days I had recorded to make up for the last week were erased. Bless his heart. :)

Let me write about the past seven days in a paragraph this time to make up for it. Esta bien? Bueno.

I served by cleaning up trash - in Vegas (at a super good gelatto place! Bryce almost threw up because it was kinda gross to pick up some random used napkins from the floor), in my office, and taking out the trash tonight for my family. I cleaned the office that I share with two other awesomely awesome girls since they were gone yesterday. I did dishes for my family and other fun services that helped my day and helped others out hopefully!

I really AM going to update daily! I apologize to any of you who are still reading. I'm still serving and going to be a better poster!!

Day #90

Yesterday's service was a two-part service: It started by helping the institute committee out and taking an extra ice cream sandwich home with me. The second part of the service was throwing away my and Bryce's ice cream sandwiches when they had melted into soup in the wrappers by the time we got back. :)

Days #85-#89

I'm almost to the hundreds!! That's so exciting! Now if I would only update this daily...

Thursday, Day #85 - I'm not gonna lie, I'm having a hard time remembering back that far. Oh! I remember! I was blessed with a few service opportunities that day. One in particular I am so grateful for. I went to Target, after a particularly busy/stress-ish day at work and shopped around for a bit, to change up my usual routine of work for 8 1/2 - 9 hours then do a couple hours of homework right after. Soon after I walked in, I passed the card aisles and had the thought to stop and get a card for someone. Any card. And for nobody in particular - just anyone. So as I browsed the cards I thought of picking up a card for a really good friend who was sick. I bought it and didn't think much of it. Continue on down to Day #87 to hear how the rest of this story ends...

Friday, Day #86 - To serve today I did the dishes for my family while rushing between work and homework. I tell ya - it seems at first that those few minutes of dishes could bring more stress than good into my life. But it's the opposite effect because I'm serving. I take those few minutes, I feel just a bit happier knowing that someone else will be helped by it, and I don't feel any more stressed at all! In fact, I feel LESS stressed. Service rocks!

Saturday, Day #87 - I wanted to hang out with my grandparents since it has been way too long since I've been over to see them. So I called on Friday night and my grandpa told me my grandma is really sick with a really bad cold. It was then that the idea hit me! I would give that card I had bought on Thursday to my grandma, who I haven't seen in forever, who is much more sick than my other friend, and I wouldn't see my friend until she was better anyway... I felt it would be best to give the card to my grandma. I'm so so grateful for inspiration and guidance by the Spirit! Even in the smallest of situations! Had I not randomly bought a card on Thursday I would NOT have had it on Saturday to give to my grandma. The Church is true!

Sunday, Day #88 - Yesterday to serve I... I can't remember! Oh! I took the trash out for my familia. :)

And TODAY - Day #89 Today was a fun, different service. And very simple, I'm sure. I went running after work around my neighborhood (training for the Wasatch Back, baby!) and as I was finishing my run I saw one of my cute, elderly neighbors bent over trying to clean up her gutter. Thankfully, again, the thought came and I was prompted to ask if she needed any help. She began scooping up the leaves and dirt and told me she was okay when all of what she had scooped up fell to the ground. She then smiled and accepted the offer of help. It took only 10 seconds to scoop up her gutter debris... but she seemed appreciative and I sure loved the opportunity to help in a way that I don't often have!

Look for someone you can serve today!! They'll love it! And so will you. :)

Day #83-84

Tuesday Day #83 - I was driving home from work when I realized I hadn't served anyone yet that day. I was grateful for the quick reminder to keep my eyes open and I continued on my way home. I was only going to be home long enough to grab some homework to take to the library to write an "awesome" 5-page essay (worth only 20 points mind you... HARDLY worth the effort, right?!). But when I got home and unloaded my lunch bag from work I saw the dishes in the dishwasher were clean... ding! ding! ding! Service time! I was in a hurry but so grateful for the quick reminder that I hadn't served so that I could be aware to take THIS opportunity to unload the dishwasher before heading out again.

Wednesday Day #84 - yesterday I had a similar awakening that I hadn't served someone yet as I was, again, walking into the library. Folks at the Kaysville (aka K-Town) library are really going to know me well! I thought about that as I was walking into the building when I realized a middle-aged man walking a few feet behind me. I thought, "Hm... I could open the door for him... but he's a fewish feet back from me... and I am in a hurry..." Some of you are probably thinking, "Oh for heaven's sake, Kristi! Come on! It's just a two-second wait to help someone out!" Rightly so. So I waited and held the door open for that person who was also coming to the library. Teeny, tiny act. But nonetheless, an act of service. :) And it just makes ya feel so good!

Day #79-82

Friday (Day #79) – to serve today I did a couple little things, one of which should have been bigger. Please learn from my selfish act… *clearing throat* While finishing up the last run on the slopes at Brighton, we ran into some folks who had lost some keys. They were on their hands and knees combing the hillside. What a dreadful feeling!! To have lost something THAT important at night, in deep snow where others have skied/snowboarded over! Did I stay and get on my hands and knees with them?? No. I’m ashamed to admit it. There were 5 to 6 people helping, and I heard one of them say they were fine when someone offered to help. But who couldn’t use more help in that situation?! I helped for a minute, scraping around in the snow where I was with my ski pole. But I didn’t give as much as I could. I was thinking of myself. Lesson learned? Put myself in their situation and know that I would have been SUPER grateful for every extra person looking for my keys, and get down my knees to help them regardless of my own timetable. *sigh* Good learning opportunity, though, eh?

Saturday (Day #80) To serve on Saturday I dusted the house for my fam. Yep, I still live at home, which I’m sure you’ve gathered from reading my posts. I feel like that’s where I should be for now, so until the Lord leads me differently that’s where I’m at and serving my family is my way of showing my gratitude and trying to be a help instead of a hindrance. J

Sunday (Day #81) To serve today I made a Get Better Quick! kit for my *cough* boyfriend *cough* He wasn’t feeling at the top of his game so hopefully a modge podge of cold/flu aids helped!

Day #82 - Today to serve I refilled the toilet paper dispenser at work because the janitorial service won’t be in until tomorrow. Another bathroom service… yuck. But hopefully helpful to others!!