GAME ON: I'm Ready to Give Back in Unique Way, While Putting Other People's Dreams in Spotlight

On January 24, I decided to “adopt” six people and help them mark something off their life lists. I simply wanted to give back in a new and different way, writing about the experience along the way. (Original post)

Well, I’ve chosen six people AND I’ve identified something on their lists that I feel like I can help them accomplish.

Some of these people had a Bucket List (big-ticket items they want to accomplish before they die), while others had a list of life’s simple pleasures they wanted to embrace sooner than later.

It didn’t matter to me – I just wanted to help them accomplish something that was significant to them.

NOTE: It was important to me that “helping” didn’t revolve around monetary support. Example:

LIST MAKER: “Buy a new house”

ME: “Here is a check for $300,000”

I wanted to focus on the skill sets that I could bring to the table, my connections and/or my ability to take their excuses and flush ’em down the metaphorical toilet. (Besides, I’m unemployed and poor.)

It has taken me almost a month to take the next step, because I’m being extremely deliberate in mapping out the process. I want to be able to re-create this over and over and over again.

Why?

Because I firmly believe this could turn into a global movement – encouraging people to temporarily take the emphasis off themselves and help someone else. Like I mentioned before, I feel like this is a completely unique way of giving back.

I'll explain.....

Feeding the homeless at the shelter and mentoring at-risk kids is important, but so is putting an emphasis on someone else’s hopes and dreams.

While people sleeping on the streets is tragic, so is seeing people going through the motions and not truly living life. While it’s heartbreaking to realize there are hungry and sick people in the world, it’s just as sad to see people living in a haze of complacency and excuses.

My goal for this project is four-fold:

• Help pull people out of their ruts (before they end up in a ditch);

• Inspire others to live boldly;

• Reinforce the importance of taking the emphasis off yourself and helping others,

• And motivate people to pay it forward.

I will accomplish all of this by putting God front and center (yeah, I said it).

<<<

When I created my 101 List, I decided to dedicate it to God. I wanted to treat it like a gigantic thank you note to Him for allowing me to truly live an adventurous and amazing life.

This “adoption” project is another chapter in that thank you note. It’s about making my faith come to life.

In a recent sermon at church, the pastor stressed the importance of not just “talking at people about Jesus and the promise of God.” He encouraged members of the congregation to let their actions do the talking.

The sermon notes stated: “The way we live will show others that what we believe has life.”

Through this project, I want to inspire others to adopt this same mentality: A gigantic thank you note to God and a road map to truly live an adventurous and amazing life.

It all revolves around love and gratitude – the two things that have the power to change the world.

So....GAME ON!

It’s my pleasure to introduce three of the wonderfully great people who agreed to help me launch this project. (I’ll introduce the other three in a future post.)

I wanted to share a little about them, the task I’ve chosen to help them accomplish and their insight on this wild and crazy idea.

Jason Smith
Jason is a local business associate of mine that has become a friend over the last couple/few years. He has an entrepreneurial spirit and refuses to stop looking until he finds what he’s looking for in life. (I think that’s why we’ve become fast friends.)

He’s a TCU graduate (Go Frogs!) and he was born without a right hand. The ONLY reason I bring this up is because Jason wants to meet Jim Abbott, the former baseball player (right) who overcame the same disability to pitch in the Major Leagues.

I told Jason, who played baseball at TCU, that I’m going to use my contacts and resources to make this happen. I also told him that I think this has the potential to be a wonderfully great story.

When asked about where he’s at in life, Jason said: “Confused.”

“I’ve had some great accomplishments,” he explained, “but am without a clear direction for my career.” He hopes this endeavor helps him gain some insight on what he’s supposed to do next.

“I’ll also have a cool story to tell,” he added.

GAME ON!

Paige Rodges

Paige and I met each other when we worked together at J.O. Design. Confession: We worked together for almost 6 months before I realized how much of a kick-ass all-star she is. Smart. Funny. Tremendous perspective. Need a writer? This girl is quick, sharp and on-point. Everything she writes makes me laugh – EVERYTHING! (I’ve NEVER expressed that about ANYONE.)

I knew I had to “adopt” Paige based on her answer to this question: Are you an optimistic person?

I’ll paraphrase her answer: “Glass half full...BUT glass breaks...blood...hospital...doctor tells you that you have cancer...death.”

Wow!

Optimism, realism and tragedy collide in the same metaphor. (That’s hard to accomplish...unless you have a creative mind that is spinning out of the control like hers.)

The task I want to help Paige accomplish is easy: Take her husband, Barry, on a date to a dueling piano bar.

How am I going to help her accomplish this? That’s still a secret, but it’s super simple. (Reminder: Excuses. Flush. Metaphorical toilet.)

When asked to characterize this off-the-wall endeavor, she explained where she is at in life: “I’m trying to deconstruct and rebuild my outlook,” she said.

Then she quoted the book “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller. She described the premise of the book by saying: "Set backs beat you down, and you have to regroup and decide to write a new story for yourself.”

GAME ON!

Will Berend

Will and I went to college together. We lived across the hall from each other in the dorms and were fraternity brothers. After all these years, we’ve kept in touch, even though he’s lived in Minnesota for almost 10 years.

I think we have the power of social media to thank for that.

Will and I are a lot alike. He recently sent out this update to family and friends – see if it sounds familiar:

“I wanted to send an update about my business Open Door Consulting. Due to several circumstances Anna and I have made the decision that it is time for me to look for a job. Please know that this is not a failure as the past year has gotten me ready for a new career and has provided the opportunity to make many valuable connections. I certainly was striving to make Open Door Consulting a serious contender in the social media consulting market, but the time has come for me to return my focus on finding a job to help provide more stability in our lives.”

Will lives boldly. I applaud that and love that about him.

I also love the fact that he’s embracing this opportunity with both arms.

“Some times I need a push and someone outside of my every day life to help provide a little more drive to do something different,” he explained. “On top of that, the last year has been a very interesting one for my family. We've learned that we must follow what makes us happiest. It's not always easy to do, but I'm going to take advantage of any opportunity that I’m presented.”

I’m actually going to help Will

cross two tasks off his life list:

• Go on a vacation with his wife alone

• Take his wife to New York City for the holidays

My wife and I are going to babysit his sons next December so they can jet off to New York. We’re also going to utilize some airline passes that my wife has to get them there.

Easy and doable, but potentially very impactful. (Again, just helping remove excuses.)

Will’s response to our offer reminded me of the potential power of this project. He said: “First of all, we accept. I can't believe what you're offering and I'm very thankful for how thoughtful you all are. I never expected this. THANK YOU!”

GAME ON!

I Volunteer Because...

I was recently named Volunteer of the Year at Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth.

I'm definitely not bragging – or fishing for an "attaboy" – I just feel like I should clarify a few things.

First of all...I was very humbled and honored by the nomination. Over the last couple years, the shelter has grabbed hold of my heart and gloriously ruined me. My wife and I have dedicated a lot of time and effort to PNS, and I felt like the nomination acknowledged that.

It made me feel appreciated.

It made me smile.

This might sound a little crazy – especially since I practically dared my friends and family to carry me across the finish – but winning the award was not that important to me.

Don't get me wrong....I'm glad I won – because I HATE losing.

But I feel like I snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a couple Facebook updates and several mass e-mails.

As I started writing this blog post, my wife said to me, "Don't feel guilty..."

I don't.

It's just VERY important to me that people know that it's not the awards or the recognition that motivates me to give back. (I put that in several of the e-mails that I sent out.)

I thought this would be appropriate time to explain why I volunteer at the night shelter (I should have done this a long time ago):

I volunteer at the shelter because I believe that everyone deserves a fighting chance to be successful.

I volunteer because of the one-on-one interaction with the clients.

I volunteer because I want to measure success in my life by the relationships I develop along the way.

I volunteer because I want to make giving back sexy and cool.

I volunteer because I've been extremely blessed in my life – I want to pay it forward.

I volunteer because when I'm having a bad day, the shelter provides perspective.

I volunteer because the smiles and hugs of the clients warm my heart.

I volunteer because I love it when random people reach out to me on Facebook and ask, "Can I go with you to the shelter?"

I volunteer because I want to inspire my family and friends to give back.

I volunteer at the shelter because I love hearing stories about clients moving into permanent housing or getting a job.

I volunteer because significance is one of my top life facets – right behind spiritual and family.

I volunteer because every few months, a client asks me my name or "When are you coming back?"

I volunteer because I've started to recognize the power of presence.

I volunteer because that's exactly where God wants me to be.

Thank you to all of the people who voted for me and encouraged me throughout the "competition."

I also want to give a special shout out to B.J. Lacasse – she is the real Volunteer of the Year. She single-handedly put a face on the homeless problem in our community through her wonderfully great images. (Click here to see a news story about her exhibit, "The Street.")

Never stop giving back!

A GIFT THAT TRULY KEEPS ON GIVING

Mission of e-Partners in Giving:  Provide an efficient, convenient, and secure way for anyone to make an online donation – specifically for significant life events.

In laymen's terms:

We want people to give back on their birthday;

we want people to give back when they get married;

we want people to give back when 

they graduate high school or college.

(I could go on for days)

We are essentially trying to change a culture that revolves around unwrapping tons and tons of materialistic junk that is driven by nothing more than "gimme, gimme, gimme."

I have one buddy who said ENOUGH and is already living this cultural shift of giving back.

I LOVE IT!

For his son's first birthday, my friend and his wife decided to collect shoes for a Metroplex non-profit instead of having their guests bring gifts.

It was a huge success.

The birthday boy, one-year-old Ryder (photo below), helped collect 50 pairs of gently-used shoes for the Dallas Shoe Bank, which gives them to homeless men and women in Dallas.

The caption on The Shoe Bank web site read: "This young Fort Worth resident, with a little help from his parents, recently celebrated his first birthday by collecting more than fifty pairs of shoes for The Shoe Bank."

My friend said there were four factors that spearheaded this idea (all of which I LOVE):

1) They simply wanted to give back;

2) They want to instill those values in their son at an early age;

3) They knew that Ryder had NO IDEA if he was getting a pair of shoes for someone less fortunate or a new thingymagiggy for himself, because he's ONLY 12-months old. (His dad said, "A lot of times, they're just happy with the box.");

4) "It was a little selfish, too..." Ryder's dad said. "We didn't need anymore stuff – especially toys. We have plenty."

I applaud Mike and his wife for briefly taking the emphasis off their family and giving back.

SO WONDERFULLY GREAT!

HEARD AN ECKO: T-SHIRT KING INSPIRED TWUNNING

Marc Ecko, founder of the urbanwear behemoth that dons his name, has definitely pushed the envelope in marketing.

Probably his most famous "campaign" was when he bought Barry Bonds record-setting home run ball for almost $750,000. He set-up a web site and asked people what he should do with the ball:

• Give it to Baseball Hall of Fame

• Send it to the Hall with an asterisk cut into it – signifying that Bonds' record was tainted by suspicion of steroids

• Blast it into space

In the March issue of Inc. magazine Ecko's online voting booth was explained: "Dominating the blogosphere and landing on newspaper front pages everywhere, the campaign garnered millions of dollars' worth of publicity and reinforce the edgy, youthful image of the brand."

Mark Ecko didn't just step outside the box, he catapulted himself out of it.

I share this story, because it indirectly inspired me to do something radical on behalf of e-Partners in Giving and our mantra of "never stop giving back."

We are in COMPLETELY different leagues, but when I decided to Twitter after every mile of the Cowtown Half Marathon, Ecko's rational for the Bonds' stunt were echoing in my head. (No pun intended.)

"It was a ridiculous idea, so people would say 'Why would you do that?' I thought, take the hard news and make it go American Idol. It was a social experiment. It was a little P.T. Barnum."   – Marc Ecko

I was going to be running anyway. I thought I might as well use this new social media phenomenon to spread the word about a non-profit that has launched an all-out assault on my heartstrings and the company that I've poured my blood, sweat, and tears into.

The best part of the story...it wasn't going to cost me one penny. (Just a few seconds off my overall pace.)

I didn't land on "newspaper front pages everywhere," but people were paying attention – I received well-wishes from runners across the country and Facebook friends were making comments throughout the day.

The Fort Worth Start Telegram picked up on the story and sent out a Twitter message to its followers, as well as the NBC affiliate in DFW.

To be honest ... it was just a lot of fun to do something different and off-the-wall. Like Ecko said in the magazine interview, "...it's something I need to do more of." 

I wanted to share the entire thread with all of you who weren't glued to your computers this weekend. I've also included some pre- and post-race photos captured by my wife. (I guess I was running too fast, because she couldn't find me on the course.)

(first post of the day)

• Pre-race I….reminder, running Cowtown Half today & sending out tweet at every mile to raise awareness for Back on My Feet.

• Pre-race II….15 minutes to start; shout out to some fellow tweep runners @sdhedman @smullican @saramartisek @Mmarts.

(starting to shed clothes)

• Pre-race III….10 minutes to start – very windy; a lot of trips to porta-potty.

(representing with the homemade T-shirt)

• Pre-race IV….5 minutes to start; more shout outs @jenamn @thedailyrunner @SiobhanBulfin @virtual4now @MichelleDewbs.

(let the race begin)

• Mile 1... DONE! Tons of runners...weather is awesome (a little cool, but perfect for a 13.1-mile jaunt).

• Mile 2...Current pace 8:40 (a little slow, but too many people to turn on the jets.)

• Mile 3...thanks to everyone who supported Back on My Feet with a donation http://www.epartnersingiving.com/drewmyers.

• Mile 4....for more info on Back on My Feet www.backonmyfeet.org; Tweet @20in24.

• Mile 5....feeling strong w/ 8.1 miles to go...pack has thinned out; easier to breath and run now.

• Mile 6....this is my third time to run Cowtown (ran full marathon first 2 times); HOPEFULLY cramps not a problem this time.

• Mile 7...using this as a training run for April 25th Country Music Marathon in Nashville (trying to break 4 hours)

• Mile 8....if I can break 4 hours in Nashville, I can mark No. 41 off my list http://drew101list.blogspot.com/

• Mile 9.... still feeling strong....pacing 8:20 overall (I love running with other people).

• Mile 10…a lot of comments about my T-shirt: “Bring Back on My Feet to Fort Worth.”

• Mile 11…all down hill from here, right? Shout out to Tweep @DianneSanLuis for making donation.

• Mile 12....thanks to all Facebookers who supported my run with a donation to BOMF.

(homestretch – no tweets until the finish line)

• Mile 13....DONE! What a GREAT experiment!

(acting out)

•Post race I...what an interesting experiment. It was actually pretty fun. Definitely made 13.1 miles FLY by. I feel GREAT!

• Post race 2 (final) Thanks to everyone who supported my run. Raised $641 for BOMF in just 5 days – never stop giving back.

'A HAND UP' HELPS MAKE DREAM COME TRUE

If you ever get the chance to visit with someone directly involved with Habitat for Humanity, they are very adamant about the mission of the organization.

"We don't give hand outs," they'll say with poignant tone – almost unexpectedly defensive. Then they'll flash a huge smile and say with pure unsolicited confidence, "We offer a hand up."

I LOVE IT!

I got the opportunity to see this first-hand during a recent Habitat Build in Dallas.

Two weeks ago, e-Partners in Giving rallied six volunteers to help with a mid-week Build. (These individuals were true all-stars for sacrificing and giving back on a Wednesday morning and afternoon.) We helped frame the house, plywood the roof, install hurricane brackets, and anything else the foreman asked us to do.

Here are some photos (click here to see all the photos):

Exactly 10 days after we were on the job site, I got to return for the dedication of the house and see one family's life completely changed forever when they handed them the keys to their new house. 

It was awesome!

The new homeowner said, "This is a dream come true."

I wanted to share a couple pictures from the dedication, and a general bio on the family.

(click to enlarge)

Final thoughts: If you are looking for a non-profit that has the potential to tug at your heart strings every single time you volunteer – whether you are raising money or hammering a nail – this is a tremendous organization.

I feel blessed and humbled that I played a part in Semert's dream coming true.

NEVER STOP GIVING BACK!

NO WORDS NECESSARY: 'Don't Ever Give Up'

We're constantly urging people to "Never Stop Giving Back."

This 11-year-old angel took that mantra to a new level, and that's why I had to share this video.

Just in case your sound cuts out or there is an issue with your volume as the video starts to play ... Brenden Foster (pictured below) starts out by saying, "I should be gone in a week or so."

WANT TO GIVE BACK? HERE'S YOUR CHANCE

I just wanted to share two opportunities to give back.

PRESBYTERIAN NIGHT SHELTER

I am trying to to take two groups a month to help serve dinner at PNS. This is part of an initiative spearheaded by the shelter's new Awareness Committee.

It is a WONDERFUL opportunity for you to be introduced to Presbyterian Night Shelter and all of its fantastic services.

I volunteer at the shelter every Tuesday night and it has changed my life. (read about it here) I simply want to share this experience with other individuals who want to give back.

It's only a 2 1/2-hour commitment on Monday night. THAT'S IT!

If you are interested in getting a group together (four to five people), please let me know. If you want to fly solo – that will be just as great. I will forward you all of the information and we can decide on which Monday works best for you.

FRESH AIR FUND

(this is perfect for TCU students or recent graduates)

The Fresh Air Fund is a non-profit that provides free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities.
 

Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually, and the organization is looking for counselors for the Summer of 2009.

For more information about the Fresh Air Fund click here

To fill out an application click here

WHEN GIVING BACK, PREPARE FOR IMPACT

Anytime you volunteer, there is the opportunity for a unique and magical experience.

Whether you’re rocking a child at the local children’s hospital or picking up trash in your community – there is a chance that your heartstrings will become vulnerable or a whole new world is revealed.

These special moments of clarity, appreciation, and/or inspiration don’t happen every time you volunteer your time and energy, BUT if you keep giving back, I PROMISE you will have one of these 

experiences.

The 2009 Homeless Count provided one of those moments for a good friend of mine, her team, and the Fort Worth Police Officer who assisted their effort.

I wanted to share an e-mail thread between this team. (It is nothing short of tremendous.)

To help you completely understand their dialogue, here is a little background: With the guidance of Officer Rex Layton, they surveyed four homeless gentlemen that live under a bridge near downtown Fort Worth. That was only a small part of their eye-opening night in Fort Worth, but it may have been the most impactful.

(If you don't feel like reading each e-mail – 

MAKE SURE you read the last one from Officer Layton.)

From: Kelly I.
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009
To: Layton, Walter R.

cc: Kristina B., Leslie H.
Subject: THANK YOU!

Officer REX!!!!!!

Hello there! I just wanted to THANK YOU again for making our experience so great last night. Leslie, Kristina and I are so glad we participated in the Homeless Count, and we are glad we got matched with you!

Thanks for knowing the spots, too! Meeting Kenny, Kevin, Don and Gary was such a valuable experience. As with most volunteering opportunities, I’m appreciative of gaining a new perspective. I also appreciate the way you treated them (as humans), and I appreciate the way you let us get in the middle of the action (in more ways than one!). I can’t get them off my mind today.

Thank you for helping to maximize our experience last night and more importantly, for the work you do. Please keep in touch, Adam516.

Have a great weekend.

Kelly

______________________________

From: Kristina B.
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Subject: Re: THANK YOU!

I had a great time, too! 

I've lived here all my life and was surprised to find that I still had a lot to learn about my city. 

I crawled into my bed last night and felt extra appreciative of my privileged life. At the same time, I was reminded that I could still have joy even if I didn't have luxury material possessions, like Kevin when he said that the river is his bedroom window and he can look at the ducks and at night he can see and hear the owl. Thanks for the experience guys!

Kristina

______________________________

From: Leslie H.
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Subject: RE: THANK YOU!

I did have a great time. 

I thought I was prepared to be impacted by this experience, but I was wrong. 

Our first stop was intense, even though we didn't get a chance to meet anyone. Just seeing the small hut-like home made out of tree branches was intense. Just to notice and see that whoever lived there – their lifestyle was almost animalistic. 

I know we all were pumped & really wanted a complete experience by meeting the homeless. I thought I knew what I was going to say, I thought I was ready. When we reached the bridge I was at a loss for words. Here we met some of the coolest, open homeless guys around. 

I was impressed by the fact that these gentlemen had come together and formed their own family unit – and they all addressed their spot under the bridge as "Home." We all have an idea, or image of what home looks like, but nothing compared to these people & their perspectives on the world around them. 

Thank you again Kelly for the invite to join in.

Thank you to Kelly's friend Drew for keying her in.

Thanks Kristina for keepin’ it real, it was really great meeting & hangin’ with you.

And a BIG THANK YOU to Officer Layton … (a.k.a. the coolest Rex we've ever met) for takin’ us on a spin through your beat & making it a complete experience.

Consumed by Compassion,

Leslie

______________________________

From: Layton, Rex
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009
To: Kelly, Leslie, Kristina
Subject: RE: THANK YOU!

Well thank you very much! 

I too appreciate what ya'll did last night as well … it’s always very nice to meet such caring and considerate folks, who are kind people with kind hearts. 

As you can imagine, I see all types of people out in this world – whether it be criminals, homeless people, lower-class, middle-class, upper-class, good or bad people. I see them and encounter them all – most of the time its not a pleasant experience, but that just comes with the job! Nevertheless, I try and give all the benefit of the doubt, until shown otherwise....

But anyway the point I’m trying to make is that ya'll reassured my hope in all of mankind by demonstrating your genuine care and concern for those in need … it is very refreshing to experience genuine goodness in people once in a while. It also motivates me to want to strive to be a better cop and reminds me why I became a cop – that is to serve and protect! 

If there's anything I can do to help you please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me. Be safe!

Rex Layton-FWPD

JOIN THE CLUB, GET 'GLORIOUSLY RUINED'

I am working diligently on being “gloriously ruined.”

I want to wake up one morning and have my life

turned upside down – ruined from top to bottom,

inside and out.

Why?

I firmly believe that’s when I’ll start truly making a difference through giving back.

I was introduced to the phrase, “gloriously ruined,” when reading “Dangerous Surrender” by Kay Warren. She is an advocate for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, and she was ruined when she visited Africa, the frontline of the AIDS epidemic.

Here is an excerpt from her book:

“If very little in my life had prepared me for what I experienced in Africa, nothing had prepared me to try to pick up my life again in affluent Orange County, California. Everything looked different; everyone seemed strange. I looked at my possessions differently. Suddenly a full refrigerator was an insult. The crowded grocery store shelves were excessive. The displays of fashion at the mall were trivial. Television was disgusting and moronic. Politics made me sick. Church was superficial. I was a mess.”

She went on to write, “I’m simply not the same person…I’ve been shaped by these new experiences, and I will never be the same. Moreover, I don’t want to be the same. I can’t have seen what I’ve seen, met the people I’ve met, experienced what I’ve experienced, only to turn away and return to life as usual. I now look at life through a different set of lenses.”

WOW! I LOVE IT!

In those two paragraphs, Mrs. Warren provided me a metaphorical slap to the face.

A few pages later, she talked about “joining the ranks of the ruined.” As she leads small groups interested in giving back, she says that she asks each person to become members of the “Seriously Disturbed, Gloriously Ruined Club.”

When these groups of people finally get it, she wrote, “they are no longer content to live with the focus of their lives being on their world – themselves, their problems, their family, their career. Their eyes have been opened to new realities. They have seen how the suffering world lives, and it is not real. They cannot ignore the suffering or pretend it doesn’t exist. They are compelled to do something about it.”

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

Personally, I’m still searching

for that “ruined” moment.

As I drive down the streets near the homeless shelter, I get a small taste. As I talk to my little brother about his family’s struggles, I can see glimpses of getting ruined.

But I’ve never prayed with a homeless woman in Africa dying from AIDS, and I’ve never held the hand of a woman who was infected with HIV because her husband contracted the virus from his mistress and brought the disease home.

Kay Warren has. These two women helped ruin her.

The point of this blog post is not to push Mrs. Warren’s book (even though it is an excellent and motivational read), I’m delivering a call to action:

I am asking you to join the

“Seriously Disturbed, Gloriously Ruined Club.”

Here is your chance

(you knew I had one, didn't you?):

The Tarrant County Homeless Coalition is looking for 500 volunteers to help conduct a count and brief survey of unsheltered homeless people living in the Tarrant and Parker County area.

It is a two- to three-hour time commitment, starting at 8 p.m. on January 29th.

Volunteers will be broken up into groups of three or four, trained by the Coalition, and escorted by a police officer.

In the e-mail I received about the volunteer opportunity, it said: “This is truly an eye-opening experience…”

This could be my chance – and YOUR chance – to be "gloriously ruined."

Through my company,

it's my goal to put together

25 teams of four people.

If you are interested in joining one of the teams, please let me know and I will forward your name and contact information on to the proper people. Share this blog with others. Invite your friends, your family members, your neighbors, and your co-workers.

If you need more information, please visit Tarrant County Homeless Coalition’s web site by clicking here.

CHRISTMAS MORNING STILL MAGICAL

Back in September, I wrote a blog post about my family's amazing tradition of making our Christmas gifts. (click here for original post)

I've always known that my family was pretty awesome, but it wasn't until we started unwrapping this year's homemade blessings that I realized how remarkable my family truly is.

For the last 10 years we have battled stress, creative roadblocks, and busy schedules in order to keep our Christmas mornings magical. Each of us has racked our brains for 11 months, been on the verge of tears with frustration in mid-December, and utilized a glue gun on Christmas Eve in order to add some final touches to our "masterpieces."

And even though we've passively talked about changing the tradition, we refuse to throw in the towel and each one us continues to shine every December – coming up with insightful and thoughtful ideas.

I wanted to share some of this year's gifts with everyone:

MARY GRACE (my three-year-old niece): Framed finger painting

JAKE (my eight-month-old nephew): Personalized cards with

his handprint and picture

of him and the recipient on the inside (right).

SUSAN (my younger sister):

Memory journals that we are supposed to write in every week for the next year.

She provided 52 prompts to give us guidance.

(Example: "Describe someone in your life

who had a great influence over you in a short time.")

ALLISON (my littlest sister): Hand-sewn oven mitts

for the boys and belts for the girls.

MOM: Custom floor mats (ours was for our kitchen);

she made Allie an awesome rug/mat from needlepoint.

DAD: Hand-cut mesquite wood chips for the grill – with specific instructions: "Soak for 30 minutes, then put on hot goals." (Each family received a bundle that was neatly packaged in homemade burlap bags that were sewn with yarn.)

TANYA (my wife): Pickles and pickled vegetables; she cleverly named them "Puckerin' Pickles" and "Wickled Wegtables" and printed personalized labels for each person.

MICHAEL (my brother-in-law): Personalized stationary;

I received four pads, each with its own marks: TCU logo, e-Partners in Giving logo, my initials, and "World's Best Uncle." (Mike, who plays professional baseball, also got me a personalized Fungo bat with my name engraved on it.)

Every couple of years, I opt to put my Photoshop and design skills to use. Which, according to my wife, means I'm making something to hang on the wall.

For once...she was correct.

I took pictures around my mom and dad's farm and created the following...."Alpha Art." It started with the main image that I gave my mom and dad (below).

The rest of the gifts evolved from that (below).

My homemade gift to Tanya was similar in style, but I took photos around Fort Worth to create her image.

OTHER NUGGETS

COMING SOON: CHRISTMAS CHAOS BLOG

As the wonderfully great holiday season comes to a close, I'm starting to formulate my first annual Christmas Chaos Blog. (I use "chaos" in the most cherished way possible.)

Here is a sneak peak of my wild

and crazy December through pictures:

SPECIAL THANKS FOR GIVING BACK

I've already said thank you through e-mails, text messages, and letters, but that only begins to express my appreciation for every single person who sponsored a client for our Safe Haven Christmas Extravaganza.

On December 22nd, we were able to capture the true meaning of Christmas. There is NO WAY we could have done it without the help from these individuals.

e-Partners in Giving stuffed 20 personalized stockings (with so much stuff there was a wrapped "overflow" package) for each Safe Haven resident. We also purchased a computer, monitor, and printer for the entire complex.

Our sponsors, including Rosa's Cafe, helped make all of this possible.

I wish I could capture a portion of the magic that was created when those 20 clients opened their stockings. There were a lot of smiles, a few tears of appreciation, and a lot of hugs.

One last time: Thanks to each

of you for making all of this possible.

(click here to see all the photos from the Christmas party)