Spiritual Practices A to Z: Kindness

The next spiritual practice in the alphabetical series is Kindness. There are many great insights and ideas from Spirituality and Practice that are below. 

Spiritual Practices: Kindness

Enhances: Generosity
Balances/Counters: Selfishness

The Basic Practice

Kindness is the first of the three great treasures advocated by Lao Tzu. The Buddha taught that generosity is a primary quality of an awakened mind. Jewish and Christian ethics are built upon deeds of kindness, as are the daily interactions of people of primal traditions.

The spiritual practice of kindness encompasses a range of small acts and habits that we know as old-fashioned good manners — saying "please" and "thank you," lending a helping hand, cheering someone up with a smile, or waiting your turn. It applies not just to your relationships with other people. Etiquette in the spiritual life extends to animals, plants, things, and the Earth.

Spreading kindness at the library.

(Taken on June 14, 2014.)

This practice also means being generous with your presence, time, and  money. Give freely without expecting anything in return. Kindness is never a quid pro quo endeavor.

Why This Practice May Be For You

Few people would describe themselves as unkind, cruel, or nasty, yet we often miss the mark on this spiritual practice. Simply remember the many times you have been hurt by someone not doing something: the call that didn't come when you were feeling low, the thank you note that never appeared, the missed appointment. Now, consider how often you have neglected to act in similar circumstances. Kindness is very susceptible to the sin of omission.

Still, acknowledging that we have missed another's kindness can make us want to be kind more consistently ourselves. This is one of those situations when a negative experience has a positive outcome.

Sophia and Olivia packing up pillows to 

donate to a homeless shelter.

(January 27, 2011.)

Of course, sometimes we are simply too self-absorbed to notice that we are not being kind. Selfishness quickly undermines manners. Generosity, as well, is difficult for both the miser and the glutton.

Quotes

If the earth does grow inhospitable toward human presence, it is primarily because we have lost our sense of courtesy toward the earth and its inhabitants.
— Thomas Berry quoted in Rummaging for God by Melannie Svoboda

Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on the earth.
— George W. Crane quoted in Full Esteem Ahead by Diane Loomans

Kindness trumps greed: it asks for sharing. Kindness trumps fear: it calls forth gratefulness and love. Kindness trumps even stupidity, for with sharing and love, one learns.
— Marc Estrin quoted in Prayers for a Thousand Years edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon

Taking a tour of a food shelf and learning ways to help.

(Taken on March 19, 2012)

Be kind to people whether they deserve your kindness or not. If your kindness reaches the deserving, good for you; if your kindness reaches the undeserving, take joy in your compassion.
— James Fadiman and Robert Frager in Essential Sufism

The kindnesses of others fertilize our soul, they become a part of who we are, and we carry them and their love. We feel this when people die, how their gifts remain alive in us.
— Wayne Muller in How, Then, Shall We Live?

If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
— William Penn quoted in Lent by Megan McKenna

Books

I read the book How We Behave at the Feast by Dwight Currie which is essentially a book of weekly reflections. Although it is set up like this, I read it in a couple of days instead. These are things I want to remember:
- "...he comes as a guest to the feast of existence, and knows that what matters is not how much he inherits, but how he behaves at the feast, and what people remember and love him for" (from an essay by Boris Pasternak in which he voiced his hope for the youth of the post World War II era).
-  "Where there is too much, something is missing" (an old Jewish saying).
- "The hope of the world lies in what one demands, not of others, but of oneself." (James Baldwin)
- "Mothers are the peacemakers who, by their example, teach us that compromise doesn't mean that we have failed. Mothers are the providers who, by their own sacrifice, show us that sharing doesn't mean we'll have less. And mothers are the judges, far wiser than Solomon, who cannot love one child more than the others but can still bless all children with a love of their own."

Mom sewing a communion dress for one of the girls.

(Taken on November 18, 2009.)

- On going to have picnics at a gravesite: "Often they cried, but just as often they would laugh. Most of their memories were good ones. They felt very comfortable there, and, consequently, so did I. It was a nice place for a picnic."

My dad and mom's grave. This is my dad's side.

(Taken on May 28, 2018.)

- As long as we remember and celebrate the lives of those who are gone, our feast is in no way diminished. We will not dine with an empty chair if we choose instead to have a picnic with our memories."
- "The great secret...is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if you were in Heaven, where there are no third-class carriages, and one soul is as good as another." (George Bernard Shaw, Pygmalion)
- The next time you find yourself dining on someone's reputation, snacking on someone's feelings, or enjoying a steady diet of nothing except stories about yourself, remember you are talking with your mouth full."
- If you need to say you are sorry, say it - then accept the forgiveness that is given. If you need to end a relationship or to recover from a lost love, then do it with honesty, compassion, and grace. If your dreams are dashed, close your eyes and pray for new visions. At the same time, you must wait and watch for the next invitation. One will always come. The trouble is, you won't know you've received it if you're still mired in regrets and remorse.
- When you write a letter, it is an act of faith that there is a friend out there, a confirmation that you are never alone. A letter is always welcome. Not even e-mail or faxes (though decidedly faster and more immediate) are as satisfying and rewarding as finding a letter in your mailbox - the stationery, the hand-addressed envelope. A tangible object was created only for you, it has traveled the miles to overcome time and space, and it is now in your hand. It is a letter from a friend.
- Names are given to children at birth. The gift of a name comes with all the love and all the hope that new life inspires. Names have beginnings.

My mom, dad, and godmother coming out of 

St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Minneapolis 

on my baptismal day. 

(Taken in Summer 1966.)

- To know people's names is to acknowledge their humanity, to listen to their stories, and to share in their future.
- "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Jesus)
- We must take responsibility for our own mistakes and misdeed just as we take delight in our success and achievements.
- Charity derives from the same Latin word as cherish, caress, and care. And care rhymes with share. So, when you think of charity, you should think of what it means to care enough to share what you can spare of your cherished fare.
- We all have our quirks. And our quirks become habits, and our habits become routines, and our routines turn into the rituals that become as sacred as religious traditions. It's how we deal with the passage of time.
- Our habits save time. Our routines preserve time. Our rituals re-create time. Our traditions honor time.

Christmas has always involved having a manger set up, 

Christmas stockings hung by the fireplace, 

a decorated tree, and presents. 

This is me on my first Christmas - almost six months old.

(Taken on December 25, 1966.)

- Rituals get us started and traditions show us the way.
- We need to honor and respect all the ruts, routines, and rituals that people employ as they travel down the road of life. The ruts give them comfort, the routines keep them young, and the rituals remind them that they are not alone.
- The Ark Project is a crusade to save those savory foods that definitely take longer to prepare than they do to consume. You have to create an Ark Project all your own. You have to savor all the old family recipes that will feed and nourish you for a lifetime. The joy, the caring, and the love is in the preparation. Do good by eating - and living - well.

My 52nd birthday dinner made on the grill:

steak with onions and mushrooms; and Brussels sprouts.

(Taken on June 29, 2018.)

- The second book that I read, Heart, was written by Gail Godwin. The book takes us on a journey of  ideas, stories, and anecdotes about the heart beginning with the oldest artistic representation of the heart on a Spanish cave wall in 10,000 B.C. to the most recent books on the subject by the Dalai Lama, Thomas Keating, and Paul Pearsall.

Film 

Babe: Pig in the City is a movie that focuses on kindness through an animal that herds sheep by practicing courtesy and empathy. Now Babe again comes across as a great exemplar of kindness. He is generous and self-sacrificing.

Music

The song Get Together by Chet Powers, was made famous by The Youngbloods. I didn't know the name of this song even though I've heard it many times. The minute I heard it, it brought back good memories of simpler times. Happy times. As Spirituality and Practice said, this song "gives us the key to kindness — smiling on our brothers and trying to love one another right now."

 In Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel, the singer goes even further. As Spirituality and Practice said, "He promises to always be there, like a bridge over troubled water, when you are weary, feeling small, down and out, on the street, and even when your time has come to shine. Here kindness is easing the mind."

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you (ooo)
I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

This is kind of a sad/comforting song to listen to - more like one that you would hear if you were going through a very challenging time in your life or if someone died.

Both of these songs were written during the hippie era. Maybe that's why I like them. Simple messages. Comforting. Insightful. Songs I could listen to again and again.

Art

Mexican artist Diego Rivera shows the oppression and nobility of the poor through his paintings. In The Flower Carrier, a kneeling man is burdened by a large basket of flowers on his back. A woman lends support, adjusting the balance of the load. Although it is a small act, it is both helpful and kind.

It reminds me of some of the men and women on the street in China carrying heavy or large loads on their backs or bikes. Having someone to lighten one's load, to provide that support - even in the smallest ways - can make such a tremendous difference for the person who is struggling.

Daily Cue, Reminder, Vow, Blessing

I haven't done these cues or reminders. However, I want to keep them here because I may use them in the future:

• Watering my houseplants is a cue for me to expand my practice of kindness to animals and inanimate beings.

Cooper looking out the window at the backyard.

Lots of plants and fresh-canned strawberry jam are on the counter.

(Taken on June 26, 2014.)

• Watching someone give up their seat to an elderly person is a reminder for me to make the little kind gestures.

• Knowing how nice it is to receive compliments, I vow to praise someone as an act of kindness today.

Practice of the Day

The Buddha taught lay people the virtue of making the "seven offerings that cost nothing": . . . a compassionate eye, a smiling face, loving words, physical service, a warm heart, a seat, and lodging.
— Jiko Kohno in Right View, Right Life

To Practice This Thought: Make one of the seven offerings that cost nothing.

Olivia on horseback doing therapeutic horseback riding.

(Taken on August 21, 2007.)

Journal Exercises

This is an interesting idea that I would like to start doing at some point:

Write a portrait of "The Kindest Person I Know," including specific examples of this person's kind deeds.

Tristine Rainer in The New Diary makes an interesting observation about the value of writing portraits, especially of someone you admire: "By writing diary portraits of people who intrigue you, you enter their qualities in your book, in your space, and begin the process of recognizing and taking possession of those qualities."

Discussion Questions, Storytelling, Sharing

• Giving to others is one part of the spiritual practice of kindness. Another is being able to receive graciously the gifts of others. Which are you better at? Why?

Without going into a lot of detail, I would say that I am much better at giving to others and being kind. I enjoy thinking of ways that I can be of service and be helpful.

Receiving gifts - although always welcomed and appreciated - is, for me, harder to do. I feel like I am imposing on others.

The sensory and memory quilt I made for my dad 

after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

(Taken on December 21, 2009.)

• Who has taught you the most about generosity and kindness? Do you think they are given enough attention in our society? Explain your views.

My parents, by far, taught me most about generosity and kindness. Their entire life revolved around hospitality, service, volunteering, and being generous with their time, experience, and skills. The way they lived their lives was inspiring, and definitely had a huge impact on the way that I have led my life and the way that I have carried on their legacy by teaching Sophia and Olivia the importance of giving of oneself to help others.

I don't think people like my parents were or are recognized enough in our society. More attention is focused on physical beauty, wealth, athletic ability, and other traits that truly don't make the positive impact on others that generosity or kindness do.

Household, Group, and Community Projects

• Donate blood through local hospitals and other programs. Help organize a blood drive at your place of work or worship.

I helped call over 70 prospective blood donors for a blood drive that was held by our local Lions club in mid-June. I'm also helping call over 80 prospective blood donors for a blood drive that my daughter is coordinating on July 11th.

I've also helped Sophia with the blood drives she's hosted; and provided volunteer support for her as needed. I'll be doing the same on July 11th.

Sophia working on the blood drive that 

she hosted in March 2018.

(Taken on March 3, 2018.)

I haven't done these projects yet, though I want to list them so I can do them at some point:

• Reframe household responsibilities as acts of kindness. For example, emptying the litter box is being kind to the cat. Dusting is being kind to furniture (in the sense that it is being taken care of and not neglected). Hanging up your clothes is being kind to them (I'm guessing here that Spirituality and Practice means that you are caring for your clothes and making them last longer).

Draw up a list of etiquette practices toward members of your household, pets, the place where you reside, the natural world, neighbors, etc.

• Keep a bank or box in your home and deposit loose change in it. Every time you go out to dinner, you might put money to pay for another meal in the box. Hold a household council to decide how to distribute your generosity fund.

• Rabbi David Cooper points out that in the Jewish tradition it is considered a high level of charity to help people become more self-sufficient by enabling them to educate and train themselves or to start their own business. As a group, begin a Scholarship or an Entrepreneur's Fund.

My Favorite Photos of the Month - June 2018

During June, there were many photos that stood out for me...not because they are high-quality photos, but rather because they remind me of something fun or meaningful that we did; or were examples of beauty in chaos.

We are still recovering from the fire at our farm that happened on May 5th. In fact, there wasn't too much done with that project except the fill that was brought in to build up the area where the garage will be.

Just when we thought we had enough challenges this year, our walls leading to the cellar began to cave in more and let mud slide in and fill the drain tiling in one spot. Needless to say, that project had to be undertaken in order to protect our drain tiling and provide a safe entrance to the cellar. More on that later.

The month started out well. On June 1st, the girls and I went to Osceola, Wisconsin, for the annual Rhubarb Days picnic at the local bank. Afterwards, we stopped at Dairy Queen and got a treat, and then went for a walk to Cascade Falls. There's over 100 steps down and then back up to reach the waterfall.

On June 7th, I went around the farm to see what was blooming. The chives were doing well. They come up each year.

The bearded irises that were from my mom and dad's home bloomed this year! I'm so happy that I dug them up and transplanted them here after they died and we had to sell the house. The new owners wouldn't have appreciated their meaning as much as we do.

On June 8th, Sophia played the harp at the humane society. There were two puppies that we all had a great time playing with while Sophia was playing music and afterwards.

On June 13th, Sophia and I packaged up five boxes of items we collected through her organization, Give Life...Give Hope; and shipped them to Pine Ridge Reservation. The items will be given to the foster care system there for children who have been removed from their homes and are living with foster families.

On June 15th, the hibiscus tree that Olivia and I got at an Amish greenhouse was blooming again. Almost every day there is at least one, if not multiple, flowers of different colors.

On June 16th, the girls and I went to St. Cloud to see a quilt show. While we were there, we went to the rose gardens. Below is a rose that stood out among the other roses. It's name is Fruity Petals.

It was raining while we walked around the rose garden. Sophia carried an umbrella and we held it over the head of whoever was taking photos so the camera wouldn't get wet.

We spent two days looking at the quilts at the quilt show. Sophia entered her quilt in the youth category and received a big, colorful ribbon. Both the girls want to enter quilts in next year's show.

On June 18th, work on the garage began. Fourteen dump trucks brought in fill that built up the area where the garage will be. It's packed down now and is waiting for concrete to be poured.

On June 20th, while Sophia was at First Step Institute at St. Kate's, Olivia and I did a mini-One Stop Donation Drop at the farmers market. Below, she and Mary are looking at a broad-winged hawk from the Wildlife Science Center. We collected a variety of items to donate to organizations and people around town; throughout Minnesota and the U.S.; and globally.

On June 21st, we attended the graduation ceremony for the First Step Institute. All the girls are in 10th or 11th grade, interested in attending college, and are young women of color. It was clearly an empowering and fun week for the young ladies.

On June 28th, both Sophia and Olivia gave presentations through 4-H. The county is doing the demonstrations, informational presentations, and performing arts presentations a few weeks before the county fair. In that way, youth don't have to bring instruments and computers to the fair and have them sit outdoors in the heat and humidity.

Both the girls did very well with their presentation; enjoyed meeting with the judge; and received a blue ribbon. That means that they both get to take their informational presentation to the State Fair in late-August.

On June 29th, my 52nd birthday, my sister brought over a slide projector and many slides that my parents took. We set up a little area to watch the slides and projected them on the wall.

I saw photos that I don't ever remember seeing. The photo below shows my mom (in the pink dress) and dad (in the white shirt) with my godmother and godfather on my baptism day.

We saw photos of my mom and me by a rose bush that I ate roses from when we visited my grandparents. Actually, it may have been just my grandpa at the time because my grandma had died six weeks after I was born and I don't think he remarried quite yet when this photo was taken.

There's my dad and grandpa with me. My dad is holding a rose and my grandpa is holding a painted wooden duck. They knew what I liked - or helped shape what I liked - flowers, nature, and wildlife!

There were photos from past Christmases. The stocking I'm holding is one that my grandma (who died) had made for me even before I was born.

The fire at our farm destroyed the stocking. I didn't know if a photo had ever been taken of the stocking. Sure enough, there was! It was a bittersweet birthday gift; and I am so grateful that there is at least a photo of it.

On June 30th, the work commenced on the steps and walls leading to the cellar. This is the view from kitchen....Olivia is looking out the window as the excavator was breaking the concrete and destroying the steps. He took the concrete and dirt and piled it up to the side of the excavator. It looks like we have a miniature volcano in the backyard.

Also on the 30th, Sophia's half birthday, she donated platelets through the American Red Cross. She done that now five times.

In the afternoon, we visited Paige's stepfather and had dinner at the restaurant at his assisted living facility. Needless to say, it's a rather upscale facility. The food is phenomenal and changes every couple of weeks.

We had a nice conversation before, during, and after dinner. We learned that he was the one who did the research on the logo for Minnegasco many decades ago. This was before the internet, so he had to search in other ways to make sure that the logo infringe on any other logos throughout the United States.

The month closed out with a trip to a local greenhouse that was having a 50% sale on perennials. I bought quite a few to plant in our backyard in a garden that has been neglected for many years. I have wanted to get it back to the way it used to be in the early 2000s when I had a farm and art camp right here at our farm.

The camp counselors and volunteers would come in and do the weeding, garden maintenance, and mow the lawn. It looked beautiful then. When the camp ended, I wasn't able to maintain everything - it was just too much. Weeds took over.

This year, is the second-to-the-last summer that Sophia will be here before she heads off to college. I want the yard and home to look the way it once did...though even better. Some of the flowers I'm picking have special significance - like the purple lupines pictured above.

When we used to take the girls up north to Grand Marais we would see colorful lupines in the ditches along the road. They were so beautiful! Then, we found a book called Miss Rumphius that told the story of a lady who traveled the world, and wherever she traveled she spread lupine seeds. The seeds would grow into beautiful flowers that changed the landscape thanks to Miss Rumphius.

Anyway...I found a Pasque flower - a unique and rare wildflower that grows in Minnesota. This is a flower we studied about when doing the 4-H Wildlife Project Bowl. There was Yarrow, which was a favorite plant of Paige's mother; and Blue Phlox that was something that my grandma grew in her backyard.

So, in some ways, I'm creating a memory garden with flowers that represent people we have loved - and love - in our life.

There were quite a few photos this month that were my favorites. It's too difficult for me to choose just one since there are memories and experiences I want to remember by doing this monthly posts.

Hobbies that Begin with "V" - Blogging from A to Z Challenge

During the 2018 Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I will be focusing on hobbies that I have introduced to my daughters to through their childhood and teen years. Some were done as part of homeschooling, while others were areas that we explored because we were interested in the subject or activity. These are hobbies that anyone of any age could try as well.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There are three hobbies that Sophia and Olivia have explored that begin with the letter "V": video production, violet growing, and volunteering.

Video Production

In April 2017, Olivia took a video production online course through Minnesota 4-H. It was an excellent class and she learned a lot about how to create videos.

After a self-introduction video, the course focused on learning some different camera shots. The next assignment was to create a short 30-second video using several types of shots. Olivia's video was "Cooper and the Peanut Butter Ball." We took Cooper into the backyard and hid a ball filled with peanut butter. She took video of him searching around the backyard and then finding the ball.

The next part of the course focused on creating a longer, five-minute video for the final project.

On April 23, 2017, Olivia began brainstorming different ideas she could do for a longer video.

She had to come up with a few different ideas and think about what the video would entail.

Once she figured out what she wanted to focus on, she thought about each scene and what would be included.

By April 30, 2017, she was planning her video project in much greater detail.

She noted each scene, the type of shot, who was in it, and what lighting was needed.

The planning process was far more complex and time-consuming than Olivia anticipated. Yet, it gave her great appreciation for what is involved with longer videos and films.

If all this work goes into creating a five-minute video, imagine what a two-hour move must be like!

The focus of her movie was imagining a world in which all animals were adopted and lived in loving homes. So, Olivia went to Northwoods Humane Society (where we have adopted four of our dogs). She took photos and videos of different parts of the shelter.

She spent time with some of the animals.

Olivia shared how some of the animals arrive at Northwoods including the ones who are rescued from high-kill shelters in Texas and brought to Minnesota to find loving families who will adopt them. 

Below is a photo of two dogs who we were able to spend time with. The white dog (who is hugging the black dog) were a bonded pair and, thankfully, adopted together from Northwoods. 

Olivia took video of staff doing their jobs as well as conducted interviews with them.

We "borrowed" some of the animals for shooting scenes.

It was a way to showcase all the animals who were there who were waiting to be adopted.

At the end of the video, Olivia showed photos of some of the animals who had been adopted from Northwoods Humane Society - including our pets. Below, Olivia is holding Cooper when he was a puppy.

She entered her video as a 4-H project in the county fair and won a grand champion ribbon for it.

July 19, 2017

She was very happy to receive the top award in the Video category.

July 20, 2017

She took it to the Minnesota State Fair where she did very well.

It was her first time competing in the Video project category, so earning a blue ribbon was a great accomplishment!

The video played throughout the fair in the 4-H building so people could watch it and see her work.
 
Violet Growing

In January 2013, I purchased some African Violet plants in memory of my dad who died on January 5, 2012. He loved African Violets and had a talent in keeping them beautiful and in bloom.

January 12, 2013

On March 21, 2016, Sophia, Olivia, and I went to an African Violet show that was about 45 minutes from us. There were so many beautiful colors and type of violets.

We bought some tiny plants and leaves. To propagate violets, you just need a leaf that's put into a special potting mixture.

Then, the girls sprayed some water onto the soil and inserted the leaves into it.

They kept each type of African Violet separated so they knew what type it was when they began to grow.

They closed the lid on their greenhouses and labeled the container with the type of plant each was so that they would remember the type.

The violets did well and we had quite a few growing at one time. Some bloomed and others didn't. It was an interesting experience in propagating and growing African Violets.

Volunteering

This is a major component of our homeschooling and lives. Although we did volunteering and donating items to non-profits prior to 2011, in January 2011, we did a special project that we called "52 Weeks of Giving."

Each week, we did a different volunteer activity or donated items to a non-profit. It was a great way to learn about a variety of organizations locally and globally. One of the projects the girls enjoyed was cutting newspaper to line cages of wild animals who were being treated for injuries at a wildlife rehabilitation center.

January 12, 2011

We also responded to national disasters by creating care kits with basic hygiene items. These were sent to people who went through a tsunami.

February 27, 2011

One of our family friends is married to a man who grew up in Africa. He since immigrated to the U.S. and became an American citizen. However, they were going to go back to his village for a visit and bring items the community could use. One of the items was clothing. So, the girls went through their clothes and chose items to give to the children in Africa.

June 18, 2011

Later in 2011, my dad went to a nursing home because his medical needs exceeded what we could provide at home for him. He loved seeing our cats whenever he came to visit us at the farm. So, we brought Eenie to visit him one day. My dad enjoyed petting Eenie.

November 12, 2011

Afterwards, as my dad rested, the girls brought Eenie to visit other seniors in another area of the nursing home.

November 12, 2011

Each year, Christ Lutheran Church does a Service Sunday. In 2012, we made sandwiches for an organization that distributed them to people who were homeless.

September 23, 2012

Several times a year, the Sharing Shop in Lindstrom does a clothing giveaway. All the clothes donated to the church/Sharing Shop are displayed in a big gathering room. The clothes are divided by gender and size. In addition, there are household items.

We go the night before the clothing giveaway to help set up the event. It's something we have enjoyed doing throughout the years.

October 18, 2012

In December 2012, Sophia played the harp for the first time at Christian Community Home. The seniors and their families were so appreciative of her playing the harp. She's been there each December since then.

December 17, 2012

In 2013, we talked as a family about how we wanted to spend our time volunteering. During 2012, we did a "12 in 12" project that we thought of that was a lot of fun and very meaningful. Each month, we did 12 service projects or donated items to 12 non-profits.

The catch with doing something of this nature is that we were able to impact quite a few people and organizations. However, there wasn't consistent and long periods of time we were at any one organization.

So, we decided to focus our efforts on two organizations: Northwoods Humane Society and Christian Community Home.

Our first official volunteer session at the nursing home was in February 2013 when we helped the residents make pies.

February 9, 2013

The following month, we began what would become a yearly tradition: making Shamrock Shakes.

March 15, 2013

We helped with events - like Farm Day - which is pictured below.

July 23, 2013

Sometimes we created our own programs and offered them. For example, the girls and I did a presentation about China. They created display boards with items of theirs from China. Olivia could still fit into one of her Chinese dresses, so she wore that.

August 20, 2013

Something else that we did annually for a while was that Olivia dressed up as Santa Lucia and passed out Swedish heart-shaped baskets that we made that were filled with Swedish fish.

December 13, 2013

Sophia would play the harp for the residents in the assisted living facility while Olivia, John, and I would pass out gifts and cards to the residents.

December 13, 2013

Tia would sing along to some of the songs and get the residents singing.

December 13, 2013

As close to Christmas as we can, the girls do a concert for the residents and their families. Sophia plays the harp and piano; and Olivia plays the piano. Tia sings some of the songs and the residents (who are able) join her in song.

December 23, 2013

For about 1 1/2 months in early 2014, we created and led an intergenerational project in which we interviewed many seniors and did hands-on creative projects.

January 30, 2014

The seniors were asked questions by youth and then they were able to share memories. I typed their answers and added photos. We added their artwork, and then created a book for each of the residents who participated in the program.

February 6, 2014

On Valentine's Day 2014, we presented the books. The seniors didn't know they were going to get a book, so it was a special surprise and gift for them. The books ended up being legacy gifts to their families after the residents passed away. They had interviews that were done with their loved ones as well as artwork that was created by them.

During the warmer months, we sometimes took the seniors out on the exercise trail so they could enjoy the nice weather. Afterwards, we would drink some juice together and talk.

June 27, 2014

In June 2015, after two months of work on creating, painting, and installing barn quilts in Scandia and Marine on St. Croix, we led a tour of the barn quilts. We stopped in Marine on St. Croix and had lunch and listened to the story The Quiltmaker's Gift which the Washington County Barn Quilt Trail is based on.

June 25, 2015

Sophia gave a presentation one year about beekeeping. It was interesting to hear the stories from some of the seniors who had been beekeepers in their younger years.

June 26, 2015

The girls led a multi-session program about quilts in November and December 2015. They led different creative activities which was fun and challenging for the seniors.

December 29, 2015

Another type of volunteering the girls did was with children. In April 2016, the girls did a Healthy Living/Tooth Care program at Scandia Elementary School. Olivia did a presentation about the amount of sugar in different beverages. It was an eye-opener not only for her to see how much sugar is in different beverages, but all of the students.

April 11, 2016

During the same program, Sophia taught the Kindergartners how to prepare healthy snacks that supported healthy teeth.

April 11, 2016

In May 2016, we began volunteering at Feed My Starving Children. Sophia had packed food through a summer 4-H program in June 2015. However, this was the first time that both the girls had packed food together.

May 26, 2016

An ambitious project that Olivia did took two years to complete. The first year, she designed, created, and installed seven barn quilts. She oversaw 100+ volunteers who helped with building, painting, and installing the barn quilts.

In 2016, she did the second phase of the project which included making 11 more barn quilts. 

June 15, 2016

The girls also were involved with a major environmental project: creating a 1.7 acre pollinator park in Scandia. They had worked on the project from August 2015 when they made a video presentation to the Parks and Recreation Committee, attended City Council meetings, and helped plan a community event. 

At the event, Sophia did four presentations for groups of youth about bees and beekeeping.

June 17, 2016

Olivia help plant over 400 wildflower and native grass plants for a demonstration garden.

June 17, 2016

A project that we started at the nursing home was creating welcome baskets for those who are staying temporarily and/or living permanently at Christian Community Home. We shop for items for the baskets and combine them with things that the nursing home provides. The incoming residents receive a basket and welcome card on their first day at the nursing home.

The hope is that it lessens the stress of moving to a new place, provides a variety of items they may have forgotten, and gives them a sense of friendship as the other residents welcome them to CCHO.

July 6, 2016

In October 2016, the girls received several flats of additional wildflowers from Prairie Restorations. Rather than have the plants  go to waste, Prairie Restorations donated them to the park, and the girls planted them. 

October 12, 2016

In November 2016, we coordinated a One Stop Donation Drop that involved two 4-H clubs and the community. The event benefited over 20 non-profits locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. There was a lot of sorting and packaging of items to make sure that items were going to the right organization.

November 19, 2016

In 2017, Sophia led for the third year in a row, a Wildlife Project Bowl team through our 4-H club. She prepared 4th-8th grade youth for a regional and state competition by holding weekly practice sessions. The team also did fun hands-on activities to help them learn about wildlife.

January 26, 2017

In February 2017, we went back to Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids to pack more food for children experiencing severe hunger.

February 16, 2017

Sophia and I began volunteering in a different way at Northwoods Humane Society by becoming cat socializers. Spending time with the cats helped them get comfortable with people and prepare them to be adopted.

March 27, 2017

Sophia's Wildlife Project Bowl teams always did very well and earned trips to compete at the state level. She quizzed them on questions they may have during the competition in between each of the meets.

April 8, 2017

The welcome baskets were so popular and well-received that the girls helped the seniors created some more for incoming residents.

April 17, 2017

It was a good way for the seniors to do service work and help others.

April 17, 2017

One of the residents enjoys listening to Sophia play the piano after some of the events. She will stay and Sophia will play several songs...a kind of personal concert for her. 

May 10, 2017

The girls continue to enjoy spending time with the dogs each month at Northwoods. The dogs seem to respond very well to listening to harp music.

June 9, 2017

During the summer, we volunteer in the malt wagon at the county fair. In exchange for two hours of volunteering, the girls receive half of their State Fair trip paid for which is a nice incentive.

July 21, 2017

They like that the malt wagon is nice and cool compared to the outdoors. They have fun making malts for customers.

July 21, 2017

From September-December 2017, Sophia took a Social Entrepreneurship PSEO course through Crown College. She created an organization and event in which she hosted a blood drive and created 30 bags for children with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. 

December 3, 2017

We spent more time at Northwoods Humane Society in December.

December 8, 2017

In January 2018, Sophia helped the Scandia-Marine Lions with a service project at a membership event they held. She showed them how to tie fleece blankets that were donated to the Fire Station for people who experienced a house fire.

January 9, 2018

Later in the month, they volunteered to wash dishes at the Lions pancake breakfast. 

January 27, 2018

In March 2018, Sophia held another One Stop Donation Drop + Blood Drive. Over 26 non-profit organizations were represented at the event - either by having people there and/or collections done for them.

Olivia taught people how to knit hats for newborns using circular looms. These will be donated to a local hospital.

March 3, 2018

Sophia donated blood at the event. She has done this as often as is possible (about every 60 days) since she turned 16 years old.

March 3, 2018

The girls also collected books at the event to create the first-ever library for 465 orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi, Africa.

March 3, 2018

They helped the seniors at the nursing home make more baskets for incoming residents. This time they did 20 baskets!

March 15, 2018

They are still making Shamrock Shakes at the nursing home.

March 16, 2018

It's become a tradition that we look forward to doing each year.

March 16, 2018

The girls packed food with Feed My Starving Children through the Lions District 5M-6 Day of Service.

March 27, 2018

Sophia donated platelets for the first time April 2018. We have to drive about 40 miles one way to go to the Red Cross where platelets can be collected and processed.

April 9, 2018

The girls participated in the Festival of Cultures at Forest Lake High School. They hosted a table about Malawi and shared information about the book drive they are doing to create a library in Malawi.

April 13, 2018

Sophia participated in another packing event for Feed My Starving Children. 

April 21, 2018

The team packed over 20 boxes which represents over 4,300 meals!