Feisty. Fearless. Fabulous. Fifty.
I have been waiting for this day my whole life. What a day to celebrate! This exciting event has been in the works for several years now. Many of you have been in on the plan from the beginning, while some of you have just recently heard about it. Either way, I hope that I have blessed you in some way today.
My plan: celebrate by giving $50 to as many of my favorite organizations as I possibly can. I've been saving my pennies, dimes, and dollars. I've researched and contacted a few local organizations and a couple larger ones. I've chosen the ones that have a special meaning to me and my family. My resources are far from unlimited, but with some creative techniques, I have managed to get the money necessary to be a blessing to a few great organizations. Please understand, I am a simple woman, of very modest means. I'm an office manager for a Virginia State Agency, not rich by any means. So far, 2019 has not been kind to me. When hard times come, I've never been one to hide or cry or get depressed. So I have faced these challenges in the best way I can and I'm determined to find joy in the everyday and the exceptional days too.
This is the view from my driveway and it is how I begin each day. Who wouldn't be ready to start a new day (or new adventure) looking at this each morning?
So.......my 50th birthday has arrived! I've been waiting for this for so long and I've worked hard to make it happen. Nothing will stop me! I'm so excited to help these organizations today!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Before I go any further, I want to encourage YOU to find a way to do something good too. Find someone and just encourage them, donate to a good cause, take someone a meal or just share a kind smile. We need more good in the world.
We started the day with coffee, of course. I picked up my sister Sandi and we drove to Joe Beans in Appomattox. We ordered our drinks and paid for them, then gave the gals a $50 bill to pay for the cars behind us, as far as it would go. I'm not sure they knew what to think about that, but we convinced them to let us take a quick picture with them.
Now for the organizations. I have included links, so feel free to go check them out yourself!
- Virginia State Parks Employee Benevolence Fund. This organization helps out state park employees in many different ways. It's a true "helping our own" type of organization and I'm happy to help them continue that. Here's me with Eric Hougland, Professional Development Coordinator for Virginia State Parks. (I did this a few days early)
- Special Olympics Wow! The things this organization does are amazing and so encouraging. This one has a very prominent place in my heart because of Jackson. I made this donation online. I paid $52 to include processing fees for them.
- Chestnut Grove Baptist Church Scholarship Fund This is my church and they have been helping church members attend college for years. My own children were awarded scholarship money and it was truly appreciated. I'd love to see this fund continue to bless local students. Here I am with Helen Talbert.
- Buckingham County 4-H The Virginia Cooperative Extension has been a part of me for almost my whole life. They truly help kids (and adults) in the local community in so many ways. I chose to help a child attend 4-H summer camp.
- Buckingham VFW So much good this group does to help veterans. Our veterans deserve so much more than they get. I'm happy to help this group. I wasn't expecting so many members to meet me there today, but I was so glad they did. They kept telling me "Oh we're expecting a couple more folks" "So and so is coming." It ended up being nine veterans there! Thank you all for your service to our country, it's because of you folks like you and your sacrifice that I can enjoy such a blessed life. I'm handing the check to "Uncle Vic" Moss there.
- Buckingham County Rescue Squad I appreciate these folks so much! A couple weeks ago, my grandson was involved in a very serious accident and the men and women who responded treated him (and his parents) with such kindness, compassion, and professionalism that our family will be forever grateful. Jackson's doing great, by the way! It was a special treat to meet Jeanie O'Brien from JOTV News also. She was super nice, even though she's a celebrity and everything. She let Sandi and I use her private restroom. After all the coffee, we needed it.
- Pregnancy Support Center of Southside Virginia I have been a supporter of this organization through their annual Walk for Life. They do so much in this area to advocate for the unborn and I just love that. I believe with all my heart that every life is precious and every child deserves to be born and loved. Karen Caldwell gave us a tour and talked to us about how they help their clients and how they are sharing the gospel of Christ with them. I took along a couple of baby quilts that I had made too. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 129:14
- Appomattox County Pet Center I love how these folks take care of the animals that come into the center and I pray that they all find homes, although not my home. I cannot be responsible for another living thing at this point! Luckily I got out of there empty-handed. We did walk through and say hello to the dogs. Pony was my favorite, he looked like he was part chocolate lab. God bless ya'll for what you do!
- Gleaning for the World I chose the WINGS program. It helps to empower women around the world in ways that I never thought was necessary. Here I am with Danielle Sarchet (and Sandi got in this picture too!) holding four WINGS kits. Four kits is about what $50 will do. Gleaning is a great organization and more than 98% of their financial gifts are used for their programs rather than administration and fund-raising. They are ranked the most efficient charity! AND they are right here in Central Virginia. We might do more to help them out, with our church family. They have many opportunities for volunteers.
As God has greatly blessed me, I'm happy to pass it along and bless others. Hopefully I will never stop doing that and not just on my birthday. It is my wish and my prayer that folks will see this, hear about this, or cross paths with me today and then be encouraged to do this same. Even a small simple act of kindness does not go unnoticed. If an ordinary 50-year-old from Buckingham County, Virginia, of average means, with limited resources can do this, anyone can!
We did some spontaneous gifting today too. First, we were riding by the workplace of a good friend and decided she might need a quick visit (and blessing). So we stopped by and gave Sally a $50 bill. I'm pretty sure we made her day! We took a few minutes to talk about how we used to ride the school bus together, that was a long time ago. Sally is such a kind person. I'm glad we were able to make her smile. (And Sandi got in the picture there too!)
At lunch, we ate at Uptown Café in Farmville and may or may not have stuffed an extra large bill in the tip jar. Then we went to Merk's Place for dessert, where I got yummy turtle cheesecake and Sandi enjoyed delightful chocolate cake. While sitting at the lunch counter, an older lady came in and ordered lunch. When we left, we paid her bill without her knowing it. I'm sure that was a nice surprise. We also may or may not have left an extra large bill for our sweet waitress.
Since my grandson Jason's school was on Spring Break, I sent his teacher $50 on Monday. This was to be used in any way she thought would be needed. Teachers spend their own money on items for the classroom all the time. I was so happy to give back to her!
The only disappointing thing that happened today was I heard there was a bike on clearance for $30 at Walmart that I wanted. I checked the website, found out the Madison Heights Walmart had three in stock. We high-tailed it over there only to find that the bike we thought was $30 was actually $116. Still a good price, but not worth the drive and not worth the struggle of stuffing it into my little car. So we went out of our way for nothing. We did meet a very nice department manager who did a wonderful job explaining how the website doesn't always have things right.
Many thanks to my family members who have contributed to my birthday fund. I appreciate you choosing to give me money instead of gifts for the last couple of birthdays/Christmases. I hope you all approve of the way I have used it. I LOVE YOU ALL!
When I got home after a long and exhausting day, there was a package at my door. It was the sweetest gift, a Chicken Farmer Barbie! Thank you Robin, that gives you the title of favorite cousin! Isn't it the greatest?
One last very special thank you to my sister, Sandi. Since we have celebrated the last 49 birthdays together, it was fitting that you would share this wonderful adventure with me today. Thanks for taking the day off to spend it with me. Thank you for the coffee, lunch, dessert, and getting into the spirit of giving yourself! I wasn't expecting you to come prepared with $50 bills too! Happy Birthday to you tomorrow! I LOVE YOU!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God,
and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me! God is good, y'all!
