Gift 28 ~ Little Giving Spree / Lots of Little Gifts

For Gift 28, Cami gives a lot of little gifts on this day, April 15th. The first is some extra consulting time to Darshana, her very first client many years ago. This client is also her friend and helps her with her diet, so she shares the exciting news that she's pregnant. Cami is happy though a bit envious since she and Mark have been trying for a long time to get pregnant themselves. After she is done with her client call, she does a sink full of dishes as a little gift for Mark. Then she gives a gift to her neighbor Tyna who she doesn't know well but they exchange plesantries on the balcony they share. The gift of a canister of Korean citron tea starts a conversation that reveals they share lots in common. They both write; love animals; are kind of introverted; and are both voracious readers and decide to begin a book swap. Cami goes home with a little pile of novels and a budding friendship. Offering Tyna a gift helps break the ice that sometimes stands in the way of intimacy.

Ironically my 28th day of giving is many little gifts much like Cami's. I had a class to prepare for the mission trip today and afterwards, I stay to help the facilitator clean up and put the room back in order, then carry her supplies back to her office in another building. Then it is off to a birthday party for my nephew Nick which definitely warrants a gift. My oldest two boys and I stop to get a birthday card, and while shopping I offer each to get a bag of treats of their choice. It's fun to watch them and their decision-making process when they can have only one thing each, and of course they are encouraged to share which they do ~ without even a hint of fighting! On our way out, we of course donate to the Salvation Army kettle. The last gift is to spend time with the family watching the new movie The Blind Side which is an inspirational movie about football ~ which appeals to the boys ~ and also about the amazing real-life story of a white family who a black teenage boy who went on to be drafted in the first round of the NFL 2009 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. The player, Michael Oher, plays the left guard position which is the blind side of the quarterback. I had heard this movie was good, but how amazing to get a chance to watch this amazing true story about a family's selfless giving to a youth who literally had nothing and to see the phenomenal positive impact it made on his life. This is a movie I would definitely recommend watching with your family!