I had been feeling these last few weeks that my kids……as much as i love them to pieces….
were starting to act a bit greedy….and their behavior was getting to me.
So i sat down with Bryan…and we hatched this little plan of taking a day….when the focus…
the perspective….was not on them….but on others.
I wanted my kids to experience something that would stay with them forever.
I bought a pack of sticky notes when i was out shopping a few weeks ago…brought them home…
and sat down with the kids…asking them to write what they would like….knowing that they would
be handing these little notes out to complete strangers.
Then….i decided…why not tie on a dollar bill to them….and make the focus….the perspective…
on people that were in need.
I realize…that just one dollar won’t make a huge difference….but to me…it meant that we could
make a small impact on what really mattered…and that was making someone …the recipient….
maybe smile…..on a day that was really tough on them.
We got on the train this morning…and made it to downtown Chicago…where we met up with Bryan.
The kids placed the notes on parking meters….
We left a note at our table after we had lunch….
We handed notes out to anyone that looked a little down…
or had a cup in their hand…
..or just needed a smile.
The kids received oodles and oodles of smiles from people…
and that my friends….
did more for us in one day….then i could ever explain.
It filled our hearts…..with the exact thing that was missing…and that was Perspective.
My family and i are so blessed….so by us taking just one single day out of our lives…
to walk around the cold streets of Chicago…
and lifting the spirits of some down on their luck people…
is really….
what perspective is all about.
Very sweet and inspiring. Way to go!
Paying it forward! You are such a blessing! Merry Christmas!
Now this is why I love you so much. You can be so hilarious but then turn around and slap me in my face with a post like this.
Merry Christmas to you!!!
This story could possibly be what makes you famous, your kind heart….
that is a.maz.ing, I am going to steal this idea. I think everyone needs a little piece of this around my house too! Thanks for a reminder of how lucky we are too! I love your blog, I get excited when i have new post to read by you!
Merry Christmas to you & your adorable family
LOVE it. And will be doing similar things with my kids in the future, I am SURE. Props to you, for not being afraid to go against the grain. And for being level headed parents for your awesome kids.
have a very merry christmas!
A v.e.r.y. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
In awe!
So, so awesome. So very awesome.
Wow – powerfull and wonderfull. Brought tears to my eyes. Have a wonderful holiday!
Seriously Kasey this made me cry. What a beautiful thing to do and to have your children do this holiday season.
I wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and look forward to keeping up with all your adventures in 2011!
Teresa-
OK – so after months of making me laugh you have actually made me cry. What a great initiative – your children will remember it long after the tree lights have been put away x
What a Beautiful lesson to share with your Kids. We are Blessed and many times forget those of us who may be less fortunate. Your a Great Mom and a Wonderful Role Model. Happy Holidays to your Gorgeous Family, I hope the next year brings you all good health and much happiness. XO jamie
~*~*Very cool!!;) ~*~*Merry Christmas~*~*~* Hugs, Rachel
this brought tears to my eyes, especially the precious words that were handwritten in innocent children’s writing! i bet you brought a lot of simple joy to people who needed that kind of love and encouragement! you are wonderful, kacey! thanks for sharing!
Amazing and so thoughtful of you all!
Merry Christmas!
Awesome Kasey! Something the kids will remember long after anything they will receive this Christmas! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you my friend!
This is so, so wonderful! I read this post with tears in my eyes – really!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Nadine
you guys are pretty beautiful.
that’s awesome my friend!!!
absolutely awesome!
That is wonderful! You just gave your kids the best gift! Merry Christmas!
Just wonderful! What Christmas is truly about.. I need to show this to my kids.. Merry Christmas to you & your family Kasey!
Oh I am in tears. Kasey you and your family are truly beautiful people !!! A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS
You are amazing, I was just reading a blog where the kids passed out notes, but at a mall. But this, Kasey..is what really is amazing.
Your blog blows me away, thank you so much.
Allison
This speaks to my heart, and I am in tears.
YOu rock kaseybuick.
When I read your post yesterday and saw the photos of those notes, I just had a feeling you were up to something pretty incredible.
The funny thing is, I read your blog daily and you make me laugh out loud. But then you turn around and do things like this..
in which you touch us with your humility and your love. This is why you are loved so much here in blogland, because of things like this.
I remember reading something similar on Nie NIe’s blog a while back, and even though that was great..
this, with the dollar bills and the homeless..is
AWESOME.
well done.
Darlene
that is beautiful. my kids have been struggling with perspective at my house as well. i grew up going to hospitals with my mom to pass out candy canes. or wrapping gifts at a homeless shelter. we now live in the middle of nowhere and i’ve really struggled how to show them it’s not just about them. i love this idea
What a wonderful way to teach your children! A couple of years ago my son and I sent boxes to the troups that are serving our Country. It did more for me than it did them!
Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Love this, Kasey!
OMG, I am crying. What an awesome gesture/lesson you taught your children today. I know that will stay with them for a long time. Maybe it will be something they want to do again or yearly. I know you always joke about your “mothering” but dear Kasey I think you are a Fabulous mother. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Love, Zizette
I am crying tears of joy. Your photos tell it all. Thank you.
Taking the time to do this Kasey is wonderful. The photos are wonderful and what a great day!! You will have to tell CPS about this one as I think you are now in the running for mother of the year! Merry Christmas to you, Bryan and the kids. xo
Oh Kasey…
I am crying…those notes and what your kids wrote are just precious…what an amazing thing to teach and do with them…those pictures are just beautiful, beautiful seeing those smiles
Merry Christmas
xo
I LOVE THIS IDEA! WHAT A GIFT TO GI TO YOUR CHILDREN.
I LOVE THIS IDEA! WHAT A GIFT TO GIVE TO YOUR CHILDREN.
Wow – great idea. I’m sure those interactions will stay with all of those involved, givers and recipients.
That is amazing. Merry Christmas to your whole family, Kasey!!
beautiful. so so beautiful
Such power in something so simple. Be blessed!
Way Cool!!!!!!!!
That gives me “goosebumps”! What a wonderful way to spread some joy!
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family.
What a beautiful memory you created with your family. It really is the giving to others that is the true gift you can give to yourself. God bless you and your family for spreading a little joy to others.
Made me cry! Thank you for an incredible idea and beautiful day for your family and all those whose lives you made a little bit easier and happier.
What a tremendous christmas gift you gave your kiddoes! So so cool Kasey. To do such a thing in person is incredible. You kids have an imprint in their hearts forever. I loved looking at this experience, thanks for sharing this with us.
Have a wonderful Christmas eve and day!
So incredibly AWESOME!!! What a wonderful way to share the spirit of Christmas.
Love it!!
Beautiful!!!
The best post i’ve read in a LONG LONG time.
You are the best. Merry Christmas dear Kasey.
I think you might be getting that award after all this year;-)
Love love love this! What an amazing idea. I say next year we will do this too. What a precious thing for you to give your kids and those blessed by this.
Awsome!!!
Serotonin levels are increased in the body just by viewing an act of kindness… you and your family are raising Serotonin levels like crazy! EnJOYed this~ Jacque
Wow! You have given your children such a priceless gift this year, and one that I am sure they will take with them forever! What a wonderful idea! Merry Christmas!
i HAD TO STOP READING THIS, BECAUSE MY CUSTOMERS WERE LOOKING AT ME WEIRD,FOR CRYING until they left. sO sO wonderful.
xo
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Jenny
City Cottage
Amazing, inspiring, and a wonderful ting to teach young children – to give to others, be humble, and to be appreciative. you did a wonderful deed. Thank you for sharing your story.
Oh Kasey! Seriously, that was the best Christmas gift you could ever give your children. You and your husband are raising them beautifully. I hope Santa is very good to all of you this year. This world would be a much better place if every parent took a page out of your book. Merry Christmas and may you all have a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year!
Merry Christmas Kasey, inspiring!!!
XO,
LuLu
This is an AWESOME project!
Im going to be passing this one on!
Now this..is what giving is all about.
BRavo!!
I was speechless reading your words and tears are in my eyes. You one one amazing lady Ms Kasey, and what
a beautiful family you have.
Merry Christmas!!
What a wonderful thing to do! I’m sure it made an impact on your children and we may borrow your idea next year if that’s okay! I also wanted to say those pictures are just stunning….the one under this line “filled our hearts…..with the exact thing that was missing…and that was Perspective.” brought tears to my eyes. Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope it’s wonderful!
so awesome! what a great idea, your children are very blessed to have a Mom like you! xx
what a wonderful thing! you have put the true meaning of christmas in their hearts!!!!!!
You so rock, on so many levels. Way to bring *real* holiday spirit to the season~
love. you.
xx
I absolutely love this idea! Great work!
You are so amazing Kasey! What a wonderful thing to do!
What a lovely idea and wonderful memory for your kids. Happy holidays to you and yours.
I love this idea and will be using it next year. As a matter of fact, why should we wait till next year right?!
This can be done all year long. Thank you so much.
Love your blog.
This is such an amazing thing. Thank you for sharing.
Merry christmas!
This is such a good idea. Giving to and helping others is what will make a person truly happy… Merry Christmas!
This is my favorite post you’ve ever done. Wonderful. Merry Christmas to all of you!
Amy
Awesome, thank you for sharing. My 10 year old is fearful of “hobos” (Kit Kitteredge movie language here) and I think this would be a good way of showing her that we are all the same at the same time getting her out of her box. She also could use a lesson in sharing! Again, awesome. Merry Christmas, thank you for all the inspiration in 2o1o.
Oh thank you SO much for sharing! I was just telling my five year old how blessed we are and it led to so many discussions right before bed and I will certainly add this to our list of things to do this next year to help them understand what being blessed REALLY means. I can’t wait to do this with my girls. Have a blessed Christmas!
That’s what this season is all about- the gift of yourself in service to others…well done, Kasey!!! Love the photos! Have a Happy Christmas! xxoo
This is probably the best post I have read all year. You win.
Love it.
Merry Christmas Kasey.
Jeanne
Darcy (my3boybaians) tweeted about this and I just had to hop over here…so very glad I did. Really and truly.
I’m hundreds of miles away but you and your precious ones have touched this mother’s heart! Merry Christmas and blessings to you and yours!
today is a tough day for me and this post has blessed my heart so i thank you for that. what a wonderful idea. merry christmas!
What a beautiful thing to do and what a wonderful way to teach your kids to give to others and be grateful.
You are wonderful parents!!
It warmed my heart to read of you & your family loving kindness. God bless all of you.
Oh my that TOTALLY brought tears to my eyes and a big smile on my face. That is so incredibly awesome that you all did this. How amazing!! I loved all your pictures of the kids hanging those special notes out…..how beautiful!
Truly….Wow!!
Bless you guys and Merry Christmas!!
Chris xoxo
We all 5 love you and you 5 so much!!! merry Christmas, buon Natale, MOnica
We all (our family as we are 5 as you are) love you so much! Merry Christmas, buon Natale, Monica
This is without a doubt the BEST Christmas post I read all season. I am totally bawling and hoping that your grand example of goodness get paid forward a million times.
um I don’t know what to write more than Laura, this should win blog post of the year
Merry Christmas your crazy wrapped up in long johns and cold eggnogs girl
I was totally touched by your gesture. I located your website through another one and couldn’t wait to read what you were going to do with your little notes.
Our family had a very simple Christmas this year, not due to being low on money, but realizing that none of us “needed” anything. We chose to just buy one gift per person and focus on family.
It has been a WONDERFUL day!
May 2011 bless you just as your gesture blessed others.
Kindness and generosity and congratulations on having the courage to do this. This is not an easy chore. Beautiful work on a cold day. Thanks
Dear sweet Kasey- you taught your children a very valuable lesson…too be loved is a great gift ( they already know love- they just reminded others). How special…is it my imagination or did they look a lil angelic? Your hearts are big and your lives full…Merry Christmas! XO Monica
I am sitting here with tears in my eyes! You should be so very proud of you and your family.
Wow–that is an awesome thing to do. I love it. The pictures of those men smiling were priceless. What a great lesson for your kids.
Love this project. I have seen something similar once before and just such a great idea. It was perfect for the kids I bet. And you guys all look so stinking cute. Merry Christmas
gorgeous…just gorgeoius
Love this Kasey- Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family!
Tricia
What an awesome idea…. A great message to your AD.OR.A.BLE children.
Warm blessings,
Spencer
Such a lovely thing to do,
Wishing you and your family all the best, Happy Holidays x
Seriously, that was amazing..just amazing what you just taught your children.
I love your blog.
beautiful, inspiring and motivating idea.
wishing you a continued season of joy!
xo
elyse
Such a fab idea!!
oh wow, so sweet, the notes were just so special, the handwriting, the messages, the way they stapled the string! Thanks for making me smile. I feel like I got one today too!
That is the sweetest idea ever!
Oh how I love this.
Kasey…I’m so proud of you but not surprised. You my friend always think of others and have a very kind heart! I may have to steal this idea for my greedy kids.
Darling idea!
nie nie did something like this before her accident and want to do this……so cute!
wishing you a blessed new year ahead.
kara & darcy