Acts of Random Kindness to You

Anne LaBastille will always be remembered as The Woodswoman. I wrote an earlier post about how very much I enjoyed her books and many people have commented with similar feelings and memories about their reading of her books. Sadly, one of my most recent comments was in regards to Anne’s death. I have confirmed that Anne LaBastille died in July in a nursing home in Plattsburgh, NY.

Anne changed the way I looked at the environment and more particular because I am surrounded by it, how I look at the Adirondack Park and what decisions are made about it. Her books made me laugh, cringe, get angry, and cry, but most importantly they made me think. Although she has not written in quite some time, it is funny where I run into Anne LaBastille fans. My sister-in-law recently had one of her books sitting by her which started a great discussion about this amazing author. I was at a friend of my mothers and there on her bookcase were Anne’s Woodswoman books.  The best part of finding other fans is that it always brings about a great discussion that ends with the wistfulness of living ourselves at Black Bear Lake.

There will never be another Anne LaBastille, but her memories, teachings, and ideals will be preserved forever in her writings. She will be missed by many and it is my personal hope that her kindness for creatures of all species will be spread in generations to come because KINDNESS MATTERS!

IT has been a very, very long time since I have been here to post and there are many reasons for that, but I am back now and ready to get back to it. Since my last post, I have moved into a new home, totaled my car, and watched my father’s terrible disease progress into the final stages. For those that aren’t aware, he has Alzheimers.
I have had a great deal of interest in the article that I wrote about Anne Labastille and her books. Recently while meeting with my father’s doctor about some end of life decisions, he recommended a husband and wife that might just interest the Labastille fans. Helen and Scott Nearing are all about living the simple life. They have written many books together as well as books alone. Might I recommend checking these great authors out. For more information about the Nearings, check out the Good Life Center which has been founded in honor of their legacy. Their books are also available on Amazon. I guarantee you that although they are different from Anne Labastille and in my mind don’t take her place, they are still good reads.
So, I will try to be here more often with more great information and inspiration on being kind for absolutely no reason in all. Let’s do it together in 2011. Share with me and share with others.

As a teacher, I spend a great amount of time looking at books, reading books, and picking just the right book to get kids interested in reading and writing. As an aunt, I always want to be sure I know that my nieces and nephews can each express themselves in their own way. So, I was super excited when I had the chance to look at and review “The Daily Doodle” written by  Janet Lee (who just happens to have her PH. D and might know a bit of something about children).

The first thing I noticed about this book was that it was colorful and fun looking. My niece was immediately drawn to the colors and pictures on the cover. So, we decided to explore it together. The first few pages are full of ideas and thoughts for parents and ‘kudos’ to the author as she also remembered to write a letter to the kids. My niece loved me reading the letter directly to her and we hadn’t even gotten to the fun part yet.

Once you get into the book itself, it has pages and pages of activities geared toward self expression for children. Each pages has a topic and then there is lots of room for the child to draw or write whatever it is they feel about that topic. I was curious to see what my niece thought about bedtime because unlike her teenage brother who loves to sleep, putting this 6 year old to bed is nothing short of a miracle. So, we turned to that page and I read the title, “Bedtime”. I told her to write or draw whatever she wanted and at first she was hesitant, so I acted busy doing something else and she began. She colored and drew for a good 15 minutes before showing me the picture of a “playground” of all things. It gave me a great place to ask, “Why?”  She explained to me that every night when she goes to bed she is mad because she has to stop playing. She wants to play and not sleep so much. Can you imagine the discussion from this one simple activity?

It got me excited because some of the pages could really allow a child to express themselves and give their parent/teacher/counselor a jumping point for discussion. My niece and I were both very impressed by the book. We decided we would do one activity a day, but I can also see that it could be used on an as needed basis or any way that someone felt it would fit their situation.

So, if you have an opportunity to buy one fun, but useful book for your child, I would without hesitation recommend that you check out, “The Daily Doodle” written by Janet Lee or check out her webpage for other books at www.drjanetlee.com or on Amazon.com

Tonight I came across a really neat post on another website that I frequent. I requested the author’s permission to use the post here and she had no problem with me doing that, so thanks Gail M. for such a great post about such a great topic and for the permission to share it with others here on ARK2U. It takes one act of kindness at a time to make the world a better place. Here is her post:

Hmm… wondering what’s up?   Don’t you love and appreciate when someone does something nice for you, especially when it is totally unexpected?  And doesn’t it feel good to do good things for others, as well, especially those who are really in need?   Well, that’s kinda what this is about!

Have you seen “PAY IT FORWARD”? (great movie, go rent it if you haven’t seen it!)   Have you read The Kingdom Assignment, by Denny and Leesa Bellesi?

I just finished it, and would love to share it with you. The book is about a pastor who asks for 100 volunteers in his church , and this is what he says. “I have an assignment for you that will change your life.  A Kingdom Assignment.

Before you say no, before you tell me that you are too busy, too untrained, or too ill-equipped to handle one more assignment – especially one for the Kingdom of God, think about this: If you accept the assignment, you will take a small amount of money and increase it up to a hundredfold or more.  You will have the means to help countless people- some with food and clothing, others with medicine or the gospel message-and  in the process, no matter how much money your investment turns into, no matter how many people you will help, you will walk away with more than what your investment will ever make and more than those you’ve invested in.

Interested?”   -and then he gave each of the 100 volunteers a hundred dollars each.    He also have them three rules: -the money belongs to God -invest it in God’s work -report back in 90 days   The people in the church were nervous and uneasy, but then they got excited!  Even those who were not in the original 100 did the assignment, or helped those who were.

This little assignment got the church buzzing, then the town, and even reporters for newspapers and tv were there when the 90 days were up and they all reported back to give their reports.   What had they done?  Whatever God led them to do!

Here are just some examples (if you want some full stories, read the book, they will really move you!) -books for the lonely -blankets for the homeless -Bibles for the spiritually hungry -food for the physically hungry -gifts for those with no means -care packages -oversees help -assistance for the JESUS film project -hours of ministry service -clothing and greeting cards to the sick -homes for homeless families in Mexico -grief packages for those who  have miscarried or lost an infant -assistance to unwed mothers -medical equipment to those without -camp scholarships for needy children -a table for a family that had no where to sit at mealtime -a bone marrow drive -and many, many more!

there are some INCREDIBLE stories! -the story about Steve.  He lost his precious little girl  to a tragedy, and in the midst of his loneliness and depression, found this church and accepted Christ.   What did he do?  He got together with other’s in his neighborhood, and planned a wishing tree in the honor of his daughter, Alex.

The goal: to fulfill the Christmas wishes of needy families in the community who otherwise would have no gifts that year.  After taking a paper ornament with a child’s name and gift wish on it, the $100 that Steve started out with turned into over $8,000 in gifts and touched hundreds of people.  Steve didn’t have his daughter, but he had a new found happiness for the children that he helped, and he wrote “Perhaps the most profound impact from this project was that a man, after spending most of his adult life in darkness, stepped a bit further into the light”.

-Terry ended up using the money to help a woman who had left (with her two children) an abusive relationship.  Lisa  was then living in a safe house when she was assaulted and stabbed.  All of this woman’s dignity was gone, but she was still trying to make a better life for her children, and Terry helped.  Terry also became friends with Lisa, because Terry, too, had long ago been in an abusive relationship.

-Kim was talking to her friend who was taking a literature class and was reading to sick kids in the hospital.  She remarked that for many, it was all they had to look forward to.  Kim had her idea!  She used the money (and received donations) to buy books to make a library for the kids, and then kept it going by donating books to a teen shelter, as well!

-Brooke used the money for boys that could not join the boy scouts because they could not afford the cost of the uniforms or the book.

-Julie used the money (and the donations of others) to throw a baby shower for a young, unwed mother whose family had rejected her because of the pregnancy, and who had no real friends.  She got everything she needed, and most importantly, knew that she and her unborn baby were loved.

And what were the things that the volunteers said after it was all said and done?    “We received more than we ever gave” “God answered prayer” “A little can go a long way” “Opportunities are all around us every day. “I discovered what’s really important”

After three months, the facts were unbelievable.  $10,000 had become more than $100,000 and thousands of people had been clothed or fed or brought into a relationship with God.  Whole communities were changed in the process, and now, everyone wanted to know about the Kingdom Assignment.

Pretty interesting and exciting, huh?  I thought so! At the end of the book, it challenges the reader to do their own Kingdom Assignment.   I have really been thinking and praying about what I will do.  At first, I didn’t know what I could do, but now I realize, there are SO MANY ways that $100 can be used to help others, it’s so hard to choose.

So, here it is for you to read and ponder.  Would any of you like to take on the Kingdom Assignment with me? Can’t do the $100?  How about $50? $25?  Even five dollars can buy a homeless person lunch, even one dollar can buy someone a card to cheer their day. (the amount is NOT what matters!) Or how about your time (much more valuable to many than money!)  Instead of a hundred dollars, how about a hundred minutes?   Are you reading this, thinking, “Kingdom Assignment, I DON’T EVEN  BELIEVE IN GOD!” You can still do this assignment in your own way, you can still “PAY IT FORWARD”!  I’m sure there are many worthy causes you can think of that you would like to help!

I first became acquainted with Peter Joseph Swanson on the Gather website. Peter is not only a very personable man, but he is a talented writer. How do I know? I recently read his book titled, Hollywood Sinners and I loved it.

This books is Book One of a trilogy and of course I am hoping my husband is smart enough to know I want to continue the series and I will find the next book in my stocking. I think what I liked best about this book is that it was a little different. It wasn’t a typical modern day romance novel, there was a touch of history, some offbeat humor, and a great story line.

So, are you looking for a fun and different kind of read this holiday season? If so, then visit Peter Joseph Swanson’s book page and get to ordering as time is running out and you won’t be disappointed !

This summer, Tom and I went on a very simple, but wonderful vacation to the Old Forge, NY area. We stayed in a cabin and browsed some quaint little shops. We swam and sat by campfires. During our week here, one of the highlights was browsing the book stores that had a lot of Adirondackbooks. I became transfixed by a series of books known as “Woodswoman” which were written by Anne LaBastille. There are four books in the series that span 35 years of her life living in the secluded Adirondack woods by herself. It should be noted that books three and four are much more difficult to find, but are well worth the search.

These books bring with them a sense of peace and independence. Her trials and tribulations in the Adirondack wooods as well as her joys and sorrows are so vividly written that sometimes you feel as if you are right there with her. As she and her various German Shepards venture through the years, you become a part of her life. As a matter of fact, you almost find yourself cheering her on.

While on vacation I spoke with several bookstore owners about Anne LaBastille and how I would have loved to have met her. All told similar tales of her being ill at this point in her life. Whether or not that is true, I do not know, but what I do know is that I am a better person for having found and read her books. If you have ever dreamed of living completely off the grid and on your own, these books will inspire you to new heights.

I have just finished one of the most amazing books that I have ever read. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen was one of those books that I hated to see end. The setting is the circus during the Depression Era, but some of the things that happen are astounding.

You find yourself rooting hard for the protagonist, Jacob, and hating Uncle Al and August so much that your heart actually races with the turn of each page. If this is her first attempt at a fiction novel, Gruen has nailed it perfectly.

The characters, imagery, and plot of the book keep you hooked from beginning to end. Whether it is old man Camel, “Rosie”, Marlena, or let us never forget Barbara and Walter; you want to know them inside out. What makes these people travel with the circus and what makes a place that sells happiness such a dark world?

If you’d like to find out, then get the book, but be ready for an all night read-a-thon and be sure not to get “redlighted”

You The Owner’s Manual

By: Michael F. Roizen, MD

Mehemet C. Oz, MD

If you literally want to learn how to make your body both healthier and younger, then this is the book for you to read. Both my mind and my body will benefit from my recent reading of the book, You The Owner’s Manual. This book is so full of good information that it is hard to know where to begin when telling people about it. At times, the information made me cringe as I just knew the authors were talking about my bad habits and at times the book made me smile because I knew that was an area I was strong in when it came to my health and body. I guess we all have strengths and weaknesses, right?

Regardless of the feelings I had while reading this book, one thing that really impressed me was that it held my interest and was completely easy to understand. The authors went out of their way to make this a book for every person. In this, they were successful. I am not usually one for a straight nonfiction, medical type book, but this one was different.

Chapters in the book ranged from the way your home impacts your health to that dreaded “C” word, cancer, to a great diet and workout plan. It stopped at every part of your body in between as well. You The Owner’s Manual did not just tell you what you were doing wrong, but it also gave you advice on how to fix those habits immediately and what impact that would have on your “Real Age”.

I learned quickly while reading this book that age actually has little to do with the number of birthdays that you have had and rather, it has to do with how old your body is feeling and responding to the ways you are treating it.

When you look at the book, you may think it is way too much to read and absorb on such a topic, but this book is really all about the most important person in your life, YOU. For that reason alone, you can’t afford to miss it. If you have not read it, I would highly reccomend it to you and every family member that you care about. From the brutal honest truth about what is going on in your veins to the sometimes corny jokes made by the authors, this is a must read for anyone that wants to get healthier, but needs that little extra push. Get your copy of You The Owner’s Manual and start getting younger today.

I have decided to add a new category to the blog. I am a book fanatic and forever wanting to share a good book with friends, so I have decided to start doing that here as well. Feel free to discuss the book in question or to make suggestions of your own.

There is nothing in the world like a good book and it seems that sharing them with people is a way to not only help the authors of the books, but to also give back to those of you that have taken the time to come here. So, watch for the reviews in the coming weeks as I highlight some of the books I have read.