All is Calm...

I might not send Christmas cards this year. Truly.

No, I am not a scrooge. Trust me when I tell you, I made my list. I checked it…ummm…more than twice. And, Christmas cards were right up there on Page 3. But, the days are rapidly flying by, and I am starting to feel a little bit snowed under.

Today’s kindness reminder at Because of Heller is, Be Kind to Yourself. And, I think I am going to try to practice what I preach. This year, I am going to have a Reality-based Holiday. I’m ready to lose the expectations. That means, I won’t make Good Housekeeping’s Most Beautifully Decorated Homes list, but perhaps I also won’t be the highest strung decoration in the house either.

My husband will thank me. My kids will thank me. And, their smiles will shine so brightly that nobody will notice the house anyway.

Anyway, this year, I might not send Christmas cards.

Note to my family: This doesn’t let you off the hook for holiday photos.

Photostory Friday - Sharing Kindness Through Books and Reading

Today is Photo Story Friday. Today, instead of telling a story through photos, I am sharing a photo of a story teller. Mr. Bear has been telling the story of "The Night Before Christmas" in our house for the last few years. Before we got Mr. Bear, however, we had an even more amazing story teller in our home--Heller.

At the age of three, Heller was able to recite "The Night Before Christmas" to anyone who would listen. His ability to recite the story came from his love of having the books read to him from his "The Night Before Christmas" book collection.

In addition to sharing this photo, I am sharing a kindness idea. And, I am reminding you to share kindness Because of Heller on December 22nd. One way to share kindness is through book reading and donating books. Once again, you can read more about Heller and kindness day here.


Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Kindness Because of Heller - December 1

So, December is here. And December 22 is quickly approaching. I am so appreciative of those who have come to capture sunshine with me this year. This month, I hope to bring more kindness and sunshine Because of Heller. This month, I will dedicate to kindness in memory of my little boy, Heller, who left us in 2007 to join his Father in Heaven, but who left behind so much sunshine and kindness because he was here.

I hope you will join me at Spreading Random Acts of Kindness Because of Heller, as well as here at Capturing Sunshine. You may find duplicate posts and messages, as we work to spread the word. Please feel free to share along with us.

So, today is December 1, 2010, and today's kindness reminder is: Play with your children. Make them laugh. Show them your heart, and let them show you theirs. There is no greater force that can ever pull that away!

To read more about the kissing bears and Heller you can go here.

Wishful Wednesday

My next wish is one for you, my friend. You are here, so I already have everything I need.
What if every wish we made (on pennies, on candles, on stars) had to be for someone else? It would be such a comfort knowing that while we were wishing for others, someone, somewhere was wishing for us.

Get Ready to Deliver Sunshine

Today is October 22nd. In two months, we will celebrate Acts of Kindness Because of Heller 2010. I hope you will join us. To learn more about Heller and about Kindness Day, go here. You can also join us on Facebook at Random Acts of Kindness Because of Heller 2010.

xoxo,
Heller's Mom

Because of Heller - A Reminder

Because Heller was my Sunshine, and because I want the world to know him...

Did you know that the name Heller means "brilliant like the sun?" Did you know that my little boy, Heller, along with his brother and sister, was the sunshine that inspires Capturing Sunshine?

On December 22, 2007, we lost Heller to an undiagnosed brain tumor. He was nine years old. In his nine, short years, Heller spread more sunshine and kindness then many of us do in a lifetime.

To celebrate his life, each year on December 22nd, Heller’s friends and family honor his memory by spreading random (and deliberate) acts of kindness. We also encourage you and others to go out and spread some kindness of your own.

For those of you who already join us, thank you! For those who would like to learn more, visit Random Acts of Kindness Because of Heller, or join us on Facebook.

December 22, 2010 is less than four months away. Of course, it is my sincere hope that you celebrate kindness today, and every day! But, on that day, we hope you will make a change, do a good deed, and let the world know that a little boy once lived for that special reason.

If you are a blogger, please feel free to copy Heller's button located at the bottom of this site.

We hope you will join us!