April 30, 2013
A couple weeks ago I asked if there might be 65 people who would be willing to do a random act of kindness on May 1st, what would have been my brother Randy’s 65th birthday were it not for rotten, no good, horrible ALS. Within 12 hours 65 of you said “Count me in!” As of today there are 121 of you. Tomorrow 121 people will be doing a random act of kindness and whether you measure in grams or in ounces, that’s a whole lot of kindness which is bound to make tomorrow a nicer day for a whole lot of people because of you. And that you’re doing your random act with a nod to Randy just kicks it up over the top for me and for my sister and for Randy’s wife and for everyone who loved Randy and so today, looking ahead to tomorrow I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart 121 times.
And as it so happens, with a nod and a wink to synchronicity tomorrow is also the first day of National ALS Awareness Month. I could just squeal over the sweet perfection of that little gem and while I know I want to do something special here in the coming weeks to highlight ALS Awareness Month I’m not sure what those things are going to be. Be quiet….I’m thinking.
In the meantime, I’m nearly all ready for tomorrow and making good on my everyone’s a winner coffee bean cookie giveaway. I was originally planning to do all the baking and decorating and packing and shipping tomorrow but that was before I came to my senses. When I did I realized it was going to take a little longer than one day to plow through 1000 cookies and so . . .
The re-useable lose-able Starbucks coffee cups have been ordered and received.
The 41 shipping boxes are assembled and addressed.
All of the cookies have been baked and half are already decorated and drying. And yes, the other side of the baker’s rack has 10 more trays filled with as yet naked coffee bean cookies that I plan to decorate as soon as I finish talking to you.
So what does that leave for me to do tomorrow? I’ll tell you.
Tomorrow.
And I really hope you come back here tomorrow and I’ll tell you why.
Tomorrow.
Posted in ALS, Randy 16 Comments »
April 24, 2013
Today I’m excited to be guest blogging over at The Cookie Puzzle as part of Kim’s month long series of guest posts in support of Autism Awareness Month.
Here are some of the puzzle cookies I made to go along with my post.
And here are some others.
Now that the cookies have made their appearance over there, it’s time to give them away here.
I have 4 dozen cookies to give away but since no one or their thighs needs 4 dozen of anything, I’m going to send 2 dozen to 2 separate cookie-chompers.
Think about it. You this weekend with 2 dozen cookies, 1 quart of milk and the TV remote.
Let’s not talk about the 3 hours of cardio on Monday morning.
To enter your name to win a box filled with ever so yummy chocolate puzzle cookies, here’s all you need to do:
1. Live in the United States.
2. Go over to Facebook and like The Cookie Puzzle.
3. Side step over to The Cookie Puzzle blog and read at least one of the posts from this month. Just a heads up . . . reading two or more posts will increase your winning mojo.
4. Come back here and in the comment section add your name.
If you want a chance to win you better get busy since I’m going to be randomly choosing the winners TONIGHT at 10:00 p.m. (PST)
Why are you still here? The clock is ticking so get moving!
Posted in Random Drawings and Cookie Giveaways 19 Comments »
April 19, 2013
I’m writing this post a few minutes after midnight on the morning of April 19. Two years ago at 12:23 a.m. my brother Randy died, 18 months after his initial diagnosis of ALS. When a moment comes along that you know is going to forever change your life you tend to notice the time. 12:23 a.m.
Last year in the thirteen day span between today’s date and my brother’s birthday on May 1st I wrote a series of stories remembering my brother. If you didn’t read them then, you can read them now.
Remembering Randy: Day One Remembering Randy: Day Two
Remembering Randy: Day Three Remembering Randy: Day Four
Remembering Randy: Day Five Remembering Randy: Day Six
Remembering Randy: Day Seven Remembering Randy: Day Eight
Remembering Randy: Day Nine Remembering Randy: Day Ten
Remembering Randy: Day Eleven Remembering Randy: Day Twelve
Remembering Randy: Day Thirteen
As this second anniversary of his death from ALS was approaching I knew I had more than enough memories of my brother so that I could tell another 13 stories again this year but instead I’ve been wanting to do something else but I knew I needed your help to make it happen and I didn’t want to ask. That was until a few weeks ago when two of you responded to my everyone’s a winner cookie giveaway by saying that on May 1st you’d be giving away cookies in memory of my brother and I changed my mind. I’m asking.
On May 1 to commemorate what would have been my brother’s 65th birthday I’d like to invite 64 people to join me in each doing a single random act of kindness sometime during the day. It doesn’t have to be a huge or expensive or time-consuming act of kindness. No bells or whistles required. Send a letter to someone who needs to know they’re amazing, let someone else go first in line, take cookies to the crew at the fire station, buy coffee for the person behind you at the coffee shop, donate 5 dollars to The ALS Association (shameless plug), hold open a door for a stranger, listen to someone who needs to be heard, put a dollar in a donation can, say something nice, look someone in the eyes and smile. . . some little gesture, a few simple words, any little action that will make May 1 a little better and brighter for another human being.
Just 65 people doing 65 random acts of kindness in celebration of the life of an ordinary man who was so very kind and caring and because just about on any given day of the year this world needs a few more random acts of kindness.
It’s right now 12:23 a.m.
I can’t believe it’s only been two years. I can’t believe it’s already been two years.
You know what I mean.
Anyway, all I’m looking for are 65 people to join me so if you’re willing to commit to doing a single random act of kindness on Saturday, May 1, please raise your hand in the comment section below. Just say, “Count me in!” and I will. I’ll count you in and as I do I’ll be so very grateful. And since I’ve never had 65 people reply to any other post here on my blog I’m counting on you to spread the word to a few of your friends. Tell them what we’re doing and that you want them to do it with us and they better get over here quick and raise their hand too.
Operators are standing by.
Thanks to Arty McGoo, aka my friend Elizabeth, for the wonderful cookie painting she made of Randy
for last year’s Remembering Randy series.
Posted in ALS, Randy 124 Comments »
April 8, 2013
Before I hit you with a little cookie show-n-tell I want to give a big shout out and a gushy-hearted thank you to everyone who left comments here and on Facebook or sent me emails responding to my recent everyone’s a winner coffee bean cookie giveaway. You made me tear up with your kindness. And when you said you were going to find a way to pay it forward, or told me you’d join in baking and giving away cookies on Randy’s birthday, or you made a donation to The ALS Association doing so in Randy’s name, well . . . you sent me right over the edge into a full on ugly face cry. I just hope you’re proud of yourself.
And since then, I’ve had an idea. Maybe not an idea so much as a dream. I’m going to tell you about it soon but for now just take me at my word when I tell you that your responses were a far greater gift to me than all 1200 of the coffee bean cookies I’ll be making on May 1. Thank you. Deeply and truly.
Now, before I go all ugly face cry again and scare the puppy, let me throw a little cookie love your way.
- – - – -
Sometimes I’ll be minding my own business, standing in the grocery line at Safeway or whatever, and I’ll see something like this greeting card that will scream
“Cookie meeeeeee!!!”
And so I do.
And other times a mom will send a photo of the party goods for her daughter’s four year old birthday celebration and ask,
”Any chance of making mermaid cookies favors to match?”
Sure there is.
“And how about some cookies for the table too?”
Okay.
Done.
And when it’s baby shower cookie favors based on the baby room?
I’m on it!
Have I mentioned recently how much I love making cookies?
Posted in Baby Shower, Cookie Giveaway, Cookies 7 Comments »
March 27, 2013
After a play date at the puppy park this afternoon it was time for Cookie to get to work and choose the two winners for the Coffee Bean Gift sets.
Here now is the play by play.
I made one card for each entry.
I then coaxed the puppy picker into the center of the circle with a doggie treat.
This is when Cookie took over.
She began by making a full lap among the cards.
She then made her first selection and as you can see, she was completely committed to her choice. Even when questioned she expressed her absolute resolve by prancing away with the card.
And sooooo . . .
Congrats Nicola!
Your friend Anna will be receiving one of the coffee gift sets!
Upon returning to the circle Cookie walked to the opposite side and enthusiastically made her second selection.
Congratulations Vane!
Cookie and I hope your brother-in-law Bruce enjoys the coffee gift set.
So there we have it. The winners are clear.
Now I just need to convince the puppy to give back the cards. I believe she plans to hold them hostage for more treats.
This is where most giveaways end. Announcing the winners and then wishing the rest of those who entered better luck next time.
Except I have a problem with that.
You see, I read every word of every comment and I truly loved being introduced to one of the people in your life. All of them sounded like extraordinary ordinary people which happen to be my favorite kind of people. Last night I went to bed thinking about your husbands, grandmothers, children, sons, daughters, friends, and co-workers and when I woke up this morning I knew . . .
I wanted to make cookies for all of them.
Every one of them.
All 57 of these people that matter to you.
May 1 is my brother Randy’s birthday and so to celebrate the life of one of my special someones I’m going to set aside that day to do nothing but bake and decorate coffee bean cookies. 1320 of them so that on the following Monday morning I can ship out 2 dozen coffee bean cookies in a re-useable loseable Starbucks cup to each of your special someones.
All I ask is that in the next couple days you take five minutes to send me an email (anita1956 at mac.com) with your special person’s full name and mailing address. If you’d like me to include a special note from you to them along with their cookies just include that message in the email too and I’ll toss a little gift card into the box.
I wanted to do something special to remember my brother on his birthday and after reading about your special people I knew this was it.
Happy Wednesday from Sweet Hope Cookies!
Posted in Random Drawings and Cookie Giveaways, Randy 29 Comments »
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