Wow, what an opportunity, what a feeling!

Today I was heading to my dad's garage for an oil change on my husband's car and I heard on the radio that St. Jude's was doing their annual radio-a-thon fund raiser. I have always had such a hard time listening to these and now that I am a mother, just the thought of this makes me break down in tears.

Well, it turns out they were having this about a mile or two from my dad's, so what else could I do? We drove over and became a "Partner In Hope". While I was there, I handed out Smile cards to every volunteer I talked to (I only had a few on me in my wallet, I wish I had known we would end up there because I would have brought the whole box!) and to the DJ's who were working the radio booth.

I was practically in tears as I gave the information and everyone cooed over Gracie. I am so blessed for every second I am lucky enough to have her in my life and I simply can not imagine the pain these parents are going through. It is hard enough on me to watch her get a bump, I can not imagine worse.

So along with the people I was able to give Smile cards to, I send a virtual Smile card to everyone else who was there today, I wish had enough cards for you all.

If anyone is following this blog, I am officially issuing a challenge to you to call 1-800-963-HOPE and become a "Partner In Hope" today!

Thank you.

New Recipients

I have been neglectful in posting (again, I'm sorry!). Last week I gave a card to wonderful cashier at Old Navy for allowing me to use a coupon I realized I had after the sale was completed. It looked like a huge pain in the butt, but she was very nice about it!

Today I was at Starbucks treating myself to a well deserved peppermint mocha latte (yum!!!). I went in the store because I was not 100% sure of what I'd be getting, so I had Gracie in one arm, my wallet, keys and phone in the other hand and pocket. I left the store and was buckling Gracie back in her car seat when the barrista came out and asked if this was my wallet. Yes it was! I do not know if it fell out of my pocket or if I left it on the counter. I'm so used to having my baby bag with everything stuffed in there.

She returned to the store so quickly (it was rather cold and windy) I did not have a chance to get out of the car and get a card to her, so I drove around to the drive through window and asked the young man there to give it to her!

The True Desired Result!

Today was awesome! I truly got the result I wanted when I started this project. I took the baby to Barnes and Noble for an outing and to look through their business marketing books (always happy to increase business!). As we were approaching the store an older gentleman opened the door for us. I thanked him and entered, then I heard "Wait a minute, I'll get the next one for you, too!". As he opened the door I got a Smile card out and handed it to him. I thought I saw him make a funny face as he looked at it, which is sort of what I expect. Afterall, how often does someone hand you something that looks like a business card for opening a door for them? :)

Anyway, we went in and began browsing, weaving in and out of the aisles of books. I glanced up a few minutes later because I saw someone enter the aisle and I wanted to make sure they could fit past the stroller. It was the man! He said "You are the person who gave me this, right?" as he held up his Smile card. I confirmed I was and he went on and on about how great it was and how he was just talking to his daughter about how awful people could be and then this happened! Since he liked this so much I gave him a few extra cards so he could send one to her and he could keep "playing", too!

You know, as much as I am trying to do my part by brightening up someone's day, it holds true that it really brightened mine, too. Positive reinforcement is 100% wonderfully reinforcing to the reinforced and the reinforcer!

Smile on! :)

The Grocery Store!

I got to hand out two cards on Tuesday to both the cashier and the bagger at the grocery store. The bagger was a funny young man, carrying on conversation with everyone coming through the line. He was asking about their favorite item of the day, asking for feedback on products they purchased, wishing everyone a great day, and thanking them for coming in. The cashier was also very pleasant and most importantly was finding good humor in the bagger's conversations. I must say, I've been in many grocery stores where the cashiers treated the baggers like dirt. It was very refreshing to not see that!

I am not getting out enough!

Wow, I am realizing I need to get out more. I've managed to hand out a few more cards, but no where near as many as I anticipated.

I did give one to the helpful girl at the grain store when I was buying my horse's grain the other day. She let me know about a name change to the brand in case I ever went anywhere else to get it.

I gave one to the Starbucks guy today, too. He made a good peppermint mocha latte! Just what the doctor ordered on such a cold day!

I gave one to a helpful cashier who processed a return for me at Target and she also cooed at my baby. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for people who are nice to my baby! :)

I also gave one to a nice lady behind me in a long line at Target when she pointed out to me that a new register was opening instead of bolting to it herself! Always a help when you are out and about with a baby to get in and out of stores quickly!

I missed the chance to give someone a card while I was getting the baby out of the car at Target today. She thought I had just left the store and left a bag behind. Nope, not me! And had I not been juggling the baby out of the car and into the stroller on such a cold day, I'd have stopped to card her. But, mommyhood does take precedence and baby must get out of the cold fast!

I have a few more errands to run tomorrow, so I hope to get to give more cards away then!

A Few More

The craziness of the holidays and some yucky weather has greatly hampered my card giving this week! However I did leave one for a nice cashier who I see a lot at a local store. She always remembers my daughter (high marks in my book!), talks to her and calls her "the pretty baby". I also left one in the bank drive through gizmo for a teller who came over and said hello and asked how I was. I was already being helped but I found it so refreshing because usually I find that there is an assigned window teller and the others don't even look at the drive through. I really appreciate speedy drive throughs these days carting a baby around! It wasn't too bad when she was in her carrier car seat, but now that she is in a "big girl seat" not having to keep unbuckling and rebuckling is way up high on my list!

Cards I've Handed Out So Far

The first card I got to hand out was to a man collecting for the Salvation Army. It was really cold out and he was out there. I put some change in the bucket and handed him a card. As I walked away he was reading it and I heard hime mumble "That is really nice". That felt good!

I have given some to nice cashiers, a nice man taking tolls on the highway, a man helping wave a car out of a tight parking space and a woman who saw my daughter drop a toy at the grocery store. I don't stick around, I sort of drop and run! I let them bask in their wonder in private!