On December 3rd, a group of about 15 students spent their Saturday night singing to the residents at Heritage Hills Nursing Centre in Smithfield.  The teens went around the halls of each wing and into each common room spreading the joy of Christmas.  It was clear that the residents enjoyed it.  Many smiled, some danced, and several acted as conductors.  It was a time enjoyed by all.  And it was made possible because the students were willing to give their time to serve others in the community.

A family recently went out of town for vacation, but before leaving they went through a streak of crazy chaos. You know how it goes: we all put “clean the house” on our to-do list before leaving town so that we return to order and cleanliness. But sometimes amidst chaos like this family, we leave without checking the “clean house” box off the list as wished.

Here’s where the fun comes in.  While they were gone a group of friends went to their house and cleaned-up, washed-out, and even fixed-up a few things calling for attention!  What fun it was to live out the phrase “many hands make light work”.  Now the family can return to washed & waxed vehicles, a spotless house, and a loaf of freshly baked bread.

We hope you’re inspired.  Give more, spend less.  

A friend of mine posted the following on FB today:  “Bought the woman behind me in DD drive-thru this morning, who I didn’t know, her latee. Glancing in my rear-view mirror she had such a wide smile, it felt GREAT! Do yourself a favor, at this Holiday Season especially, perform some radom acts of kindness for someone you don’t even know, believe me, it will feel GREAT! Have a nice day all.”

Between reading his post and thinking about NorthPointe’s Give More, Spend Less message, I decided I would go to the nearby Honey Dew, treat the next person in line and tell them about Give More, Spend Less. So…I went to Honey Dew to get a coffee and to treat the next person in line (this Honey Dew doesn’t have a drive thru). Would you believe there was not one other person in there? I told the person behind the counter what I wanted to do and why and both of us couldn’t believe no one else came in. I’ve never been there when there weren’t several people in line. I even waited for a few minutes after getting my coffee. Oh well, I guess I just have to keep looking for opportunities to Give More, Spend less and wait for ”divine appointments”!