Safe Harbor & Harbor Hill

Today, the kids and I knew without a doubt, unless God changed our plans what we wanted to do. We wanted to go to Safe Harbor and take the cards and snack basket we made them. If you remember from last week the kids worked for 2 days on these cards for the residents. Safe Harbor is a place where women and children can go to escape a domestic violence situation.

Afternoon came and it was time to make our delivery to Safe Harbor. We parked in the parking lot and immediately we were met by a locked door and had to buzz an intercom to explain our business there. Once I explained why we were there we were buzzed into a living room type area. We were greeted by a lady named Pauline, who was eager to tell Cody & Ellie more about Safe Harbor & Harbor Hill. She explained where she was going to take the cards and the snack basket. She was precise and to the point, not leaving any detail out. I could see by the look on Cody & Ellie's face that they were soaking in every word that Pauline had to say. She was a wealth of information and a blessing to be with. As I stood there listening to Pauline, I just had this warm sensation that many lives have been touched because of what they are doing. They are doing great things!!They are changing lives for the better everyday for women and children.

Pauline explained to the kids and I how we can get involved in the movement to stop Domestic violence...we can be a green dot. This is a new incentive started in Frankfort...instead of looking at statistics of "red" where women have been abused. Look at areas of "green" where people are taking a stand and saying no more domestic violence. Pauline told Miss Ellie it could be simply seeing your friends Dad yelling at her and going over and asking her if she is okay. We want to be a green dot.

The kids and I thanked Pauline for her time and we headed out to the parking lot. We left the building with Pauline as she was headed out to deliver our cards and snack basket. She thanked the kids on behalf of all the women and children. We no sooner got in the car and Cody said, "this is a neat place. This is where I want to work." Ellie was moved to tears. When I asked her why she was crying she said, "it is awful that anyone gets hurt by anybody and has to be protected. She said why does anybody have to hurt others?"

This stop certainly made an impression on Cody, Ellie & I. It was nice for them to see this for themselves. Being the children of a State Trooper they have heard him tell stories of when he utilized there wonderful services for someone. Praise God that this place is here for those that need it.

I know that within this year we will be back to Safe Harbor. If you haven't helped them in the past call them and find out ways that you can. They are simply amazing!!! Pauline, you are a God send!! Thank you God for this kindness journey, thank you God for Safe Harbor and Harbor Hill, thank you for all of the workers and God please put a hedge of protection around the women that are currently residing there. Thank you God for Cody & Ellie and their fragile hearts.

God, you are an awesome God!

Where will we be tomorrow? Stay tuned. Until then....

On your mark, get set, be kind.

Love you to the moon & back,
Annie, Cody & Miss Ellie

Wednesday, day 35

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to all 5 of you....Happy birthday to you!! Whoo hooo!! Who doesn't love a birthday party? Well, at For Jamie's Sake we recognize and celebrate birthday's. So, if your birthday was in a particular month we will celebrate it with you sometime during that month.

Well, today is extra special. There were 3 For Jamie's Sake volunteers who have July birthdays and my Aunt Judy and Uncle Jack (they are my Dad's brother and sister) So, we included them on the birthday festivities. My Aunt and Uncle are really involved at For Jamie's Sake and we felt like this was the right thing to do...they needed to be at the birthday party as much, if not more, than anyone there.

I was so happy surrounded by all of my volunteers, my Aunt, her husband, my Uncle and his wife, my Mumzey (my mom) and of course, Cody & Miss Ellie. This party wasn't even mine but I couldn't stop smiling. This day and going the extra mile for someone does make a difference. You know, the people in our life need to know how special they are. Life is to short not to tell them...there isn't any guarantees.

We sang Happy birthday time and again, and yes, I sang a couple of songs that were requested. Ha!!! We had cake, candles and cards. the room was filled with happiness and joy. I wish i could have bottled the feeling that this room had. Simply it was just love! As I sat listening to stories and jokes others told the one thing that stayed consistent was the smiles on everyones face. I wish not only could I have bottled the feeling in the room...I wish for a moment, that we could have frozen time. All of us, no matter where we are in our journey of life, had a blast at this party. It didn't matter if it was your birthday or not....you were bound to have fun.

This event taught me something. The party wasn't expensive...not at all...it was the fact that people were thought about....that they are important. Oh, I can promise you that the people in that room are special and loved. You know, that's what I love about birthday's..you are giving thanks for that person and showing them how much they mean to you and your life. To be honest, I left refreshed, knowing that all had a great time. I left thinking how easy it is to make someones day but you have to be willing to do it. I am the world's worst for being to busy. I think I make people not feel special when I'm "too busy" which I truly am the majority of the time. I want to slow down and enjoy the rain as much as the sunshine. I want to see it all and enjoy it all. I want to do this with the people in my life...the ones I love.

thank you God for my family!! Thank you God for this kindness journey and all of the lessons we are learning from it. Thank you God for the 5 special people who I was able to celebrate their birthday's with them.

God is so good!

Where will we be next? Stay tuned. Until then....

on your mark, get set, be kind.

Love you to the moon & back,
Annie, Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie

Kroger on day 34

Yesterday we knew without a doubt who we wanted to be kind to, my niece. Today we woke up without a clue. So, we decided we would, how do you say it, play it by ear? Simply put, we would be kind when we saw a need in front of us.

The vast majority of today Cody & Ellie's friends were in and out. Oh, I'm not complaining when then are all at my house I know where they are at. Well, after the last friend left for the afternoon, anyway, a trip to Kroger was in order. We jumped in our car and away we went before more company could arrive. I needed the store more at this moment than they needed social interaction with their friends.

Kroger, my dear friend, I'm back. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. As soon as we walked in the door, a mother was trying to get her young child out of the shopping cart..however, she wasn't having any luck...the cart kept moving around on her. Ellie could tell she was struggling and very simply went over and put her hand on the cart and kept it from moving. This kind gesture allowed the mom to get her child out of the cart without any problems. You know, I didn't tell Ellie to go do this she merely saw an opportunity to be kind and she was there. When this lady was leaving she thanked Ellie again and all she could do was smile from ear to ear and say, "you are welcome."

When I haven't been to Kroger in some time I feel like I need to cruise up and down the aisle to make sure they haven't brought something in I didn't know about. As I'm typing this I'm cracking up...it is almost like I'm territorial..I don't want anything moved or new at my Kroger..I want it to always stay the same. So, when I haven't been there in awhile I waste a considerable amount of time making sure everything is "the same". Funny, I know.

Well, while I was on patrol up and down the aisle a lady was reaching for a boxed item on the top shelf. In the process of her reaching she knocked several items over. Cody, to the rescue like he was a Super Hero. He and Ellie had been walking right beside of me but when he saw this happen he went over to her and said, "I've got this for you." He bent down and picked them up and placed them on the shelf in the proper place. This lady was stunned that a young man stopped to help her. She told me I was raising a nice young man and I should be proud. She thanked Cody twice. He was smiling all over himself! Once we moved far enough away so she wouldn't hear I asked him why he was smiling. I knew but wanted to hear it from him. he said, "because it just felt good to help her when she needed it...she wasn't expecting it at all." You can guarantee, my heart was smiling big time as this was the second time in a matter of minutes at one location that my children went out of there way to be kind without me saying one word.

To round out our trip to Kroger I let someone go in front of me in the check out line. You know, as I stood in line to heck out I couldn't help but reflect on what Cody & Ellie had done. I kept thinking of our actions in the past, prior to the kindness journey. I wondered whether we would have been to busy to see the young mother struggling with the shopping cart? How about the lady who knocked over the boxes would we have seen that? Okay, maybe we would have seen it with out eyes but would we have seen it with our heart? To me, that is what kindness is you act from your heart. To be honest, I don't think we would have helped either one of them before this kindness journey.

Thank you God for opening our eyes & our heart which allows us to see opportunities where we can be kind. Thank you God for this kindness journey. Thank you God for the precious people at Kroger who have now forever touched my heart. I'm beginning to notice a pattern, some of my biggest blessings in this kindness journey hasn't been on days we planned in advance (even though they bless my heart as well) but it is the acts of kindness opportunities we happen upon that knock my socks off.

God you amaze me!! Each and every time I see the kids moved to be kind without prompting from me makes me emotional. God, thank you for such amazing children.

Where will we be next? Stay tuned. Until then....

On your mark, get set, be kind.

Love you to the moon & back,
Annie, Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie

Monday July 19th, day 33

Today we knew going into the day what we wanted to do. Well, let's put it this way, we knew who we wanted to be kind to, not necessarily what we wanted to do. My niece, had to have a procedure on her teeth at the hospital. So, we knew we wanted to make her day bright and happy...but, what would we do?

The four of us tossed around ideas all morning and early into the afternoon. Do we take balloons? How about singing? You can betcha, that was my idea!! How about flowers? Would a 6 year old even like flowers? doubtful! Okay, we thought of it!!! It was scary, because it was almost at the same time. We all decided to go to Wal*Mart and buy her goodies that she could play with on her road to recovery. You know what this meant? Yep, a trip to Wal*Mart was in my future. Oh, my!!! Well, anything for my niece!!!

When we got to Wal*Mart we walked in single file on a mission. We were heading right to the toy section and nobody could stop us. Or could they? Okay, maybe side tracked by the people I knew, but not stopped. I had to refocus and get back on track but we were once again headed to the toy section of the store. Cody was certain she would want a nerf gun to hit her not even 2 year old brother with...sorry Cody...NOPE!!! Okay, we all headed to the Barbie aisle and we found the cutest Dentist barbie..complete with a dentist chair and everything. We thought given the circumstance, nothing was more perfect than the dentist Barbie. We got her a cute carry all Barbie bag, coloring books, bubbles and a card signed with lots of love from the entire family. You want to hear how cute the card was signed? With love, Seaweed, Annie, Cody & Ellie. Seaweed is Elliott when she was little Elliott thought she looked little like Seaweed with her dark hair just waiving around. So, for all of these years he has always called her Seaweed so she calls him Seaweed. It is sooo precious.

Well, after we got all of our goodies for the bag we headed off to see the patient. By the time we took the treat to her she was home and resting. I called in advance to make sure they were home. I instructed the kids (Elliott was working) that we would drop and go. When we got to her house and knocked on her door she answered she was so excited to see us and to tell us about her day. We didn't even come in. We told her we wanted her to get better and to have lots of fun playing as she is on the complete toad to recovery. Okay, okay, maybe I didn't use that wording with her...she is just 6 maybe I said here ya go this is for you get well soon. Who knows, the important thing is she LOVED her goody bag and it was just exactly what we were meant to do for the day.

Thank you God for this kindness journey! Thank you God for my niece and family! Thank you God for the kindness you continue to show me daily, even though I'm not worthy.

Where will we be next? Stay tuned. Until then...

On your mark, get set, be kind.

Love you to the moon & back,
Annie, Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie

be kind where you feel led, on day #32

I arose to the sound of the phone ringing loudly. It seemed like it had never rang louder before. I didn't make it to the phone in time, so I headed downstairs to check the answering machine. Being the wife of a State Trooper, you always assume the early morning calls are for him, never for me, they are usually wanting to call him out to work. Well, this call was for all of us. Our church was cancelled for the morning, no electricity. I was so sad. I love my church and the church family. PHOOEY! No church this morning but they will call about church in the evening. We were scheduled to talk about the kindness journey with our church family. No worries, we will be rescheduled for another day to talk about this journey.

Well, I headed back to bed, turned off the alarm and let everyone sleep in. Once everyone got up we seemed to fall into our normal routines. Aunt Paula called and wanted to know if the kids wanted to go swimming at the Flatwoods Pool with her and her family (Elliott & I were invited but I had homework and he was planning on going to the YMCA) Cody was hanging out with his friends so he didn't want to go but Miss Ellie was all over this invitation. She decided she was going to do something nice for someone at the pool...she told me she just felt like she was meant to be kind there. I got her ready and her tote bag packed and gave her a little bit of extra money for her kindness act. The wild and crazy swimmers stayed until the pool closed. Do you know what Ellie did? When she was ordering at the concession stand she paid for the person behind her. She handed them money and said apply this to whatever they order. She told me that the concession stand worker looked at her funny but she didn't care. She went back later to check with the concession stand worker and she gave Miss Ellie change from that persons order. They told Ellie that person was shocked and very thankful. When Ellie was telling me she just kept saying this makes my heart smile, I knew I was going to be kind there...I just knew it.

Well, Cody and I headed out to Family Dollar to pick up some school supplies, for me, I'm not that organized to be being the kids just yet. Well, while in the parking lot Cody & I saw an elderly lady who had just finished placing all of her items in her car and she was getting ready to head to the store to return her cart. Cody without me saying anything walked over to her and said, "I will return it for you." To be honest, I was shocked. I was probably as shocked as the lady who was on the receiving end of Cody's kindness. I was shocked because without being told and without thinking he saw a way to help, to be kind and he just did it...without thought. When we were walking into the store there was a couple behind us and he held the door for them, seemingly without giving it any thought at all. All I seemed to get accomplished was smiling at everyone and making sure I made eye contact with every single person I saw. I love doing this no matter what mood I'm in (yes, some days to do this is much harder than others) you just never know what kind of day someone else is having and you simply may be the only bright smiling face that they see that day. I just felt like the people I saw needed smiles more than anything else I could do for anyone else. I kept running into one young mother and her 2 children no matter what part of the store I was in. She looked tired and worn out. She had that look of young mother. I told her how pretty she was and that her children were breathtaking. She immediately lit up like a Christmas tree at Christmas time. Wow! Simple gesture that hopefully helped brighten her day. I know on days that are difficult for me when I get a smile or an uplifting comment it carries me further than just about anything anyone could ever do for me. Be extra kind to people you never know what kind of battle that they are facing. When Cody & I were leaving Family Dollar someone (a non Family Dollar employee) held the door open for us.

Which brings me to the question I have posed many times...are people becoming nicer or am I more in touch with kindness and that is what I want to see? It is a happy world, the world of kindness. The world where we all live thinking of others before ourselves. I like to see the good in people, I like to see kindness, I like to see the glass is half full and not half empty.

Elliott's act of kindness involved him taking care of us. He mowed the grass so Cody didn't have to, He took the trash out and cleaned the gutters. He had a harder kindness job than any of us. However, that isn't what is important. What is important, is you do something kind where you feel led. Everyone can be kind...when was the last time you were kind? When was the last time someone was kind to you? If you receive kindness hold it in your heart and then go tag someone else with kindness.

Go make the world a kinder place....go, be kind!! Thank you God for this kindness journey! Thank you for opening my eyes to opportunities where to be kind and thanks for allowing me to see the kindness that is happening all around me that I was missing before. Thank you God for this kindness journey! Thank you God for Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie. God, you are soooo good to me, thank you!!!!!!

Where will we be next? Stay tuned. Until then....

On your mark, get set, be kind.

Love you to the moon & back,
Annie, Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie

Day 31, family kindness day

Well, I'm posting this 5 days late. I'm so sorry. Where does time go? When I got ready to blog on Saturday it was storming and then again on Sunday and then the fast paced week began. Don't be worried, I may be behind on the posting but we aren't behind on our kindness journey. Tonight I will get caught up and will try (oh, yes I will try) to stay up to date with my blogs.

On Saturday, it was declared family day. As you may recall, Elliott & the kids had been gone all week at Trooper Island and we all longed to spend good quality family time together. I couldn't hardly believe it but we had NO plans for this particular day either. The day was honestly and truthfully ours. What did we decide to do you ask? Well, we decided that it isn't going to do us any good to be nice to others if we can't be nice to each other (in the family) So, we all had to go out of our way to be nice to each other. You wouldn't believe it, it is harder than it sounds. I know it sounds easy. It is so easy to go in separate directions in the house, my doing homework, Cody on X-box, Ellie doing crafts and Elliott watching a movie. This was NOT allowed on family kindness day. We were all meshed together as one unit, the way it should be, the whole entire day.

Cody made Ellie's bed and helped her hang her clothing up, Elliott had his coffee fixed and handed to him by Miss Ellie and Miss Ellie also worked on laundry. None of these activities are normal activities for us (the person doing them on this family kindness day) and they were out of the way. I made each one of them a card telling them just how special they truly are to me. Elliott left a note on the mirror for me and he helped the kids play games and clean their rooms. We stayed home and made sandwiches for lunch and well all helped make each others from the sandwich, chips and soft drink.

This helped create a sense of unity, togetherness, teamwork....family!!! This was sooo neat to spend the day thinking outside the box to make someone you love more than anything, happy. We live in a world that it is so easy to get caught up in the fast paced world (trust me, I know) and we lose focus on what is truly important in this life, family. A family, is God's gift to us. I thank him so much for my family.

Ellie made cards and gave them to each one of us as well. Cody actually enjoyed helping his sister and I never thought I would live to see the day that they worked on their bedrooms without being told let alone to work on each others. WOW!!

Ellie wanted to work a puzzle...we all worked a puzzle with her, Cody wanted to sit on the deck and just talk so that we did, Elliott wanted to watch a movie so we all watched a movie with him and me, well, I just enjoyed having my complete family of 4 together. However, I did requested a trip to Dairy Queen and it was granted.

Thank you God for this kindness journey, for my family and for all of the blessings you continue to bestow upon us. To God be the glory, great things He has done!!! So, when was the last time you left a note taped to a mirror telling someone just how special they are to you? When was the last time you truly let them be the center of your world and the sole focus of your attention? When was the last time you helped out someone in your family with household chores? Trust me, to be kind starts from within...within a person and within their family.

The trip with Elliott & the kids was a blessing. They had a week to themselves..sharing, bonding and creating memories that will last a lifetime. The trip also gave us the desire to be home and have this family kindness day.

I couldn't be happier with my life. Thank you God!!!! I want more family kindness days....I really, really loved this special day with my family.

Where will we be next? Stay tuned. Until then....

On your mark, get set, be kind.

Love you to the moon & back,

Annie, Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie

Kindness journey days 27-30

Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow!!!!! I'm so overwhelmed where do I even begin to put this all into words? As you know, if you have been following the journey, Elliott & the kids were gone this week to Trooper Island. No fear, the kindness journey continued. Elliott and the kids worked together and I was the lone ranger. Well, the plan was Elliott would ensure that they performed random acts of kindness and report back to me. However, being on an Island (literally, at Dale Hollow Lake) didn't allow for that to happen. He did however, make sure that the kids were being kind.

When the campers got home last night they were talking over top of each other to say what they had done this week for the kindness journey.

Here is what Cody reported that he had done Tuesday-Friday as he acts of kindness. He saw that there was going to be a counselor on a canoe by herself and nobody would ride with her. So, he got on and rode with her. He said he really felt badly because she was just sitting there and nobody wanted to go with her. He further stated that 2days he let someone go in front of him in the "chow" (food) line. This was an apparent big deal (bigger than I realized) because if you were in the back you may not get the good food if they ran out. He helped his "roomies" make their bed and straighten up their cabin. When they all ended up back to the State police post Cody helped all the boys get their luggage and take it to their cars. I asked Cody which act of kindness he felt was the biggest and he said, "it was a tie. The counselor riding alone in the canoe and the children going in front of him in the "chow" line.

Ellie was quick to tell me about the little girl she became fast friends with (the one Elliott told me about when he called on Monday) this was the child who was uncertain if she wanted to go to camp and Ellie took her under her wing. Ellie helped clean the bathroom, listen to a girl tell her story and she said it was hard to listen because it was boring but I let her tell her story. I couldn't help but chuckle, the honesty of children. She helped the girls pack their bags and let someone shower before her. The showering act of kindness she thought was the biggest act she had done during the week. I said, "why?" She said you wanted to shower early and not last or you got cold water to shower in. I want it understood, that this particular act of kindness Miss Ellie showered in cold water.

The entire week and the role Elliott was in was an act of kindness. He was in the role of uplifting and encouraging children who needed it. I know without a shadow of a doubt, he did this and he did it well. He told me stories but he asked me not to list them for the privacy of the children campers. What a Godly man.

What did I do you wonder? Well, on Tuesday, I wrote a long lost friend that I had lost touch with, Wednesday, I wrote a thank you note on a napkin to a waitress that I could tell really needed to be uplifted and encouraged, Thursday, I surprised my mom & niece with ice cream from Dairy Queen and lastly I went to enterprise rental car on Friday at 4 to get prices for vacation. WOW! they were packed. I had been waiting for 45 minutes when a lady and her husband walked in. He was covered in blood. He had been in a horrible accident and totaled their car. When it was my turn I let them take my turn. There were several people behind me. I literally traded spaces with them. The wife kept saying, "are you sure? Are you sure?" I said, "yes, I'm just getting prices you need a vehicle and your husband is hurt. Please go, take my spot." I noticed at least once each day this week where someone went out of their way to be kind to me. God, you are so wonderful. Thank you for opening my eyes and letting me see the good & kind that is right there all around me.

You know, I stand amazed. Yes, I know it doesn't take much to amaze me. I am amazed that in just 30 days how we are just doing acts of kindness without giving much thought to it. On each situation that the kids stated that they had done they kept saying I just did it, I just did it because I knew I should. They both said that they knew that it was the right thing to do each time with each situation. The same held true for me. I didn't plan the acts this week I just was led and the same fell true for Elliott.

What started with the kids and I has evolved to encompass the entire Gollihue family. This is amazing. I wish I could have taped them last night as they bounced and hopped around recalling the different acts they had performed. They both stated that they just did those kind "things" without thinking. To me, that makes me think that kindness is a part of them....deep in their soul. Well, for now anyway. I pray it stays.

This week was another perfect example of don't plan it Lea Ann, let go completely and let God. I had the kids and Elliott planned with kindness acts, ideas and how they could call or e-mail and report back to me. That didn't work out and I was growing disappointed. I know why it didn't work out. Had it worked out and they would have done my acts of kindness they would have been focused on only those acts and missed the acts they saw. Praise God that this time they didn't listen to me. yes, I was that mom that sent them with a list of kindness opportunities...needless, to say, they found their own and didn't use mine. Praise God! Furthermore, had it worked out and Elliott could have reported daily via either the means of the computer or phone I would have missed the big blessing my heart received when they were each telling me the kindness stories. Wow, thank you God for your awesomeness!!!!!

The kindness journey continues with now all 4 of the Gollihues' under one roof. Thank you God for the kindness journey, for traveling mercies for the Trooper Island campers, thanks for opening our eyes and seeing areas where someone needs to have some kindness shown to them. God, thank you for Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie.

When will I ever learn to surrender, let go completely and let God? When He had his way this week it was a true blessing for my 3 campers and my heart was blessed beyond words when they were telling me all about it last night. I'm so thankful that I didn't get updates all week...I wouldn't have had the experience of hearing it from each one of them last night. I am so thankful as I saw each one of them tell of their kindness act you could see the sparkle of gentle soul in their eyes. Praise you Jesus. thank you, thank you, thank you!!

I'm sorry to have disappointed you and not have a posting each day.....but, I'm soooooooooo thankful that it happened this way. I got to hear it, straight from each one of my campers, telling there story time and again for me, the captive audience, mesmerized by the 3 Musketeers. They clearly didn't need me to tell them opportunities to be kind....they had it all under control. I learned to listen, let Go and trust a whole bunch this week.

Elliott, thanks for overseeing this journey this week! Thank you Heavenly Father for the many blessings you bestow upon us each and everyday. Please allow our lives to be a blessing to somebody else. Please God help me learn to let go and let you handle it all.

Where will we be next? Stay tuned. Until then....

On your mark, get set, be kind.

Love you to the moon & back,
Annie, Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie