RAOK's

One of my goals for the new year was to do a random act of kindness per month. I said some would be small, some may be big, some I would share and some I would not. I feel that you dilute the full benefits of your RAOK by 'telling' about it if you are doing it in a way to show off which I am not and is why I am not going to tell everythign all the time. I do think it is so fun to help others and hope that by blogging about it others may want to join me in doing some RAOK and starting a ripple effect.


I will always try to post one that doesnt cost money because usually those are the best ones. Maybe I will do one of each per month.


February

Tonight I did a really fun RAOK. It was our first night of a growth group for church called Looking Up that another lady and I started it is for people dealing with chronic illnesses or supporting others who are. It was a small group and one guy came in looking to be in so much pain and he was talking softly and said he apologized but at the next group he would be a 180degree different and more up to talking. He said he had been without his neurontin for his epilepsy and his lyrica for his fibromyalgia for almost two days and would be out until saturday because of some insurance snafu's. They have no money at all, living with friends, disabled, older, etc. After the group I offered to drive to the pharmacy with him and buy him two days worth of medication. So I am going to rest easy tonight knowing that he wont have a seizure and can hopefully get a bit of sleep.


January

I paid for the couple behind me's sandwich and soup at subway......they were so cute how could I not?

I saw my neighbors garage door was up and went to put it down for her and check on her since all her lights were on and found her (100 years old) wrestling with her back door. She could not get it open because of the weather it was sort of 'stuck' and her son was coming in to town at midnight, her plan if she couldnt get the door open was to stay up waiting for him. She was so worried she would be a mess the next day or fall asleep and have him locked out. I was so happy I decided to go over there.

Bendaroooooooooooo

Lillian has been asking for bendaroo's for about forever. Must be from commercials at daycare or maybe one of the kids talking about them. A long time ago I bought assorted pack pipe cleaners and she decided those were bendaroos which I was more than happy to let her assume. Every time we go to walgreens she sees the 'real deal' and asks for them though. Well Grandma Becky with her 'crazy gift insight' that she always seems to have got Lillian bendaroos--the real deal not Mom's cheap pipe cleaners for crafts LOL. We are oh, so, not a talented artistic family......don't take my word for it here's the proof.....but it was fun.

What you can't tell what they are...shame on you...there is the dragonfly, the birdcage with a yellow and pink bird in it (since smashed by Lillian), the candy cane which Lillian has put on the tree so it can 'be a real one', assorted rings, and the lollipop----oddly none of the artists are claiming their creations and prefer to be anonymous *grins*.

Nicole's 2009 Year In Review

For me not just having 'a' resolution but a plan for the direction I want and goals are better. Checking in regularly helped too via my 'groundhog resolution' plan of checking in each month on 1/1, 2/2 etc. Overall I am very pleased with myself, this is probably the best I have ever done.

2009 Overall Goals:

Maintain my lungs - Improved actually *clapping*

get in better shape - so so, some parts yes, some parts no

Read more - I completed 16 non-fiction books

Be a better wife - Have definately come a long way

Find a church - Joined, baptized & involved

Read at least some of my new bible - Read New testament & portions of Old

2009 Health Specific Goals:

Up my workout routine to 5 days - not there yet

Start jogging again (with my Knees permission) - tons of problems they declined permission

Be evaluated for Tiger-2 clinical trial drug study- done (decided it was a no-go)

Improve my nebulzer routine using hyper tonic saline & add more airway clearance - done

More efficient & compliant way to wash/sanitize my nebulizers (since I use 6-8 a day)- done

buy masks for cleaning, dusting, etc - done (need to use them ALL the time though)

buy allergen bedding and pillows - done (need new covers dont like the old ones)

Start eliminating alot scented products - done (well with what is reasonable)