The Night Before Christmas

So I was seeing what inspiration Randy Gage had for me today. He had a contest going to finish the classic Christmas poem The Night Before Christmas. I love to write poetry to challenge on. In about 15 minutes I finished my poem and here it is. The beginning is Randy's intro and mine is in green. 

The Night Before Christmas, 2011…by Randy Gage

The economy was tanking and things were a mess.
The newscasts were dark, and the mood was depressing.
Unemployment was rising, and things were distressing.

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the U.S.;

I put on my Chewbacca pajamas, climbed into my bed;
Slipped into the covers, and pulled them over my head.
Sleep escaped me, for my head it was aching;
I was riddled with doubts, for the future we were making.


When out on the lawn, arose such a hullabaloo;

Conclusion...by Amber Housey

When out on the lawn, arose such a hullabaloo;

I sprang from my bed when out of the blue,
I heard chatting and clicking, oh what a buzz
I ran to the window to see what it was.

The moon on the snow made clear what I saw.
I blinked and I squinted and looked out in awe.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear
All kinds of people from far and from near.

There on the lawn all gathered together
Were people not minding the cold winter weather.
Making their plans and creating their missions.
To make the world better, it was their visions.

I knew in a moment, they made it quite clear
They were the ones to spread the good cheer.
The writers, the authors, the bloggers came too.
The speakers, the marchers, the leaders, that’s who.

They stood on the doorsteps, they stood in the street.
They typed and they spoke of their feat of all feats.
To make the world better and fix it ourselves
Be kind to each other, we’ll be the elves.

So up through the wires, through speakers and phones,
They spread inspirations in all the times zones.
And then in a chime, on my Apple I heard.
A message popped up with chirp like a bird.

As I sat in my chair and opened my mail.
The message popped up and the wind filled my sail.
It was filled with such hope and jolly good cheer.
I wanted to know, I wanted to hear.

I read it out loud, I read it again and again.
Now I had a mission that I had to send.
I laughed while I wrote it, in spite of my doubt.
I wrote out my mission and then gave out a shout.

With a wink of my eye and twist of my head,
I knew in a moment, i’d nothing to dread.
Inspire the world to see what is good,
We can’t fix it all, I wish that we could.

Let’s work together to love one and all.
Help out our neighbor and beckon the call.
Nurture the world in this new year,
And love one another without any fear.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays to one and all from Flip Side Stories-where seeing another point of view makes a better you!http://www.facebook.com/flipsidestories

On the 7th day before Christmas...

Today, I was trying to think of a way to spread some Christmas cheer so on my way to the post office, I stopped at a florist and bought some flowers to give to the postal worker that helps me today. The lady at the florist was going to re-wrap the flowers and I stopped her because they were in a nice Christmas plastic and I told her what I was doing with them. She and another customer loved the idea. I wasn't telling them for recognition but so maybe they might decide to RACK someone too. It also made them feel warm and fuzzy too to know that I was doing it Just Because (like my book).

I was actually a little nervous standing in line at the post office. It was clear that the people in the long line were wondering what the flowers were for but no one asked. Inside, I am still a very shy person so it made me nervous to do it which is silly. She smiled and said thank you. I think she was a little taken aback. As we finished, she thanked me again and seemed very grateful. 

You've been RACK'd! Random Acts of Christmas Kindness!

Feel free to share this post starting today to spread holiday kindness 

for the 12 days before Christmas.

PLEASE share with me what kindness you've spread each day 

here on the Flip Side. Give people ideas big or small. 

I want to hear about the nice things you are doing. Post ideas for others. Let's spread the cheer! 

On the 7th day before Christmas, I spread some holiday cheer by...

buying flowers for a postal worker at the post office and gave it to them when I sent a Christmas package to my brother-in-law. 

On the 8th day before Christmas, we were given some holiday cheer by....being unexpectedly invited to see Santa even though there were no more appointments available for the day, being given Christmas pins by an little old man in church this morning and being given a Santa coin so my daughter could get a little toy she wanted.

On the 9th day before Christmas, I spread some holiday cheer by....

having 4 glasses of wine while spending a great evening at a holiday party with great friends. 

On the 10th day before Christmas, I spread some holiday cheer by....

 sending 3 gifts in for my children's teachers to thank them for their hard work.

On the 11th day before Christmas, I spread some holiday cheer by...

taking the time to call a couple of friends I haven't talked to in a while and wish them a Merry Christmas

On the 12th day before Christmas, I spread some holiday cheer by...

writing a love note to my kids on the mirror saying Merry Christmas and how much we love them. 

Underwear or an Ipod?

These gifts are for one family.

The holiday season is upon us. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, wonderful husband and awesome kids. We have a warm and cozy home filled with love and food.  We have two adorable dogs and a carnival fish that has beaten the odds (I can't say the same for the second fish since it launched itself out of the bowl to its death on the first day). My husband has a job and my book is coming out soon.

I am not bragging about my blessings, I am acknowledging them outloud because I believe for every blessing we have, it is not only important to be thankful for them but to try to share them when and where you can. My husband founded a charity called Building Bridges to give his friends, family and strangers a place to give back. We have made this a mission in our family.

As I lead the holiday gifting program this year, I read the stories of the families we are adopting out and count my own blessings. The struggles some people have....a lot of people have are heart-wrenching. It humbles me.  Leading the holiday gifting program is a lot of work but the thought of giving someone hope at this time of the year drives me.

Sometimes the family's wish lists are long and they ask for things we might think are too extravagant. Just think, if someone asked you what you wanted for Christmas, would you ask for underwear or a hat even if you needed it?

This is Santa we are talking about. The kids are being asked what they want from Santa, the man in the red suit who makes Christmas magical. If its not Santa or Christmas,  it's the magic of the holiday they are celebrating where wishes come true.

We all have wants and if there's a slight chance to get something we want, then why not ask? Who better to ask than Santa. We don't sit on Santa's lap and say, "Well, within my economic bracket, I think it is appropriate for me to ask for..."

Heck no! "Santa Baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me."

It seems the more money and things we have, the more we want, too. Do we need it? Do we deserve it? Do we expect it? The families who don't have a lot want nice things too.  Imagine watching tv and seeing things you would love to have and knowing you will likely never have those things...and knowing a lot of people will be getting them.

These families have no idea how generous our volunteers will be when they are making their lists. Actually, it is difficult to actually get them to write down things they want. They are embarrassed.  They think they will be getting one thing off of their list. Every year, the coordinator who I work with at the school says the families are brought to tears by the generosity of our volunteers . They are so overwhelmed and grateful. They have called us angels on many occasions.

We can't judge people by their economic background, their color, their race, their religion, their wants or their needs. What everyone does deserve is hope and kindness.

Everyone and every situation has more than one side. This is my side and my view of their side as I have experienced it through the gifting program. I am not assuming I know what anyone is feeling but sharing my thoughts. My intention is not to insult but to shed light. This is how I value the good things in my life. This is how I give back.

This year,  walk in someone else's shoes. Give hope, love and cheer. It will come back ten-fold.