Family Challenges

So many things to remember for the years to come! Hence all the May posts :) I realized I haven't shared our Family Challenges for the past few months. In April we cheated a bit. We didn't actually DO anything as a family but I purchased t shirts in honor of our friend Whitten Gray who is battling Leukemia. The money went towards Midland Rehabilitation Center. This isn't something I normally spend money on so that's why it's counting as a Family Challenge. Every time I put this shirt on I remember that there are people going thru life struggles far greater than myself and family. It reminds me to be thankful for good health. For May we were able to make breakfast bags for our church hosting people for Family Promise. Mason loved throwing things into the bags :) We've also made several donations to help out Moore Oklahoma with their tornado tragedy. 

This Family Challenge has taught me a lot. For one, it has taught me that it's sometimes hard to find something to do as a family to give back! When I first started this I thought it would be so easy with me being in Junior League and all of my involvement, but it hasn't been very easy at all. I feel like I'm really having to search and be proactive to find something to do. Something that has been really surprising to me is the lack of Thank you notes. Now my mother and grandmother taught me the value of a handwritten thank you note years ago. I write them for everything, everyone, all the time. No exceptions. We've helped out two non profits here in town that showed no thank you for the things we did for them. I'm not even on their mailing list yet! I don't need a huge thank you for giving back, don't get me wrong. But I do think that if an organization has an individual like myself that sought out their organization to help out, that they should probably be interested in properly thanking me and adding me to any lists possible in order to get me to help them in the future! I just think it's a bit crazy. They need to learn to dominate on the potential of a volunteer when they find one. Third thing I have learned is that this is teaching me to say "yes" and "how can I help" much better. Now every good Junior League woman knows the value of saying "yes" when asked to do things. This is teaching me to have my ears and eyes open to possibilities of helping others. And I think it's helping Ryon as well. I'm also thankful that Ryon and I are financially able to help when we see a need. This hasn't always been the case. It takes money to drop off needed items to tornado victims, and to provide toiletry items to cancer patients and breakfast for those that have none - but I'm thankful that Ryon and I can help a little when we feel passionate about the cause. It's been a fun process and 

I can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings us. Now if I can just figure out a June Challenge....ideas?!