Let the good days roll

Back in 2012, I started a birthday tradition, and I've continued each year since. Basically, I make a point of doing at least one kind or charitable thing per day, starting on my birthday. Since I'm turning 47 this year, I'll be doing this for 47 days -- October 1st through November 16th. I try not to repeat anything in a given year, so each year it gets a tiny bit harder. But I also like to experiment from year to year to keep it interesting, both for myself, and for anyone following along. This year, the new thing I'm trying is a giveaway for anyone who wants to join in the fun.

Some of my 47 days will be bigger events, like say, a charity 5k, volunteering, shaving my head, or cooking for the local women's shelter. Other days will be on a smaller scale, like bringing treats into the office, writing letters, or leaving coins near a wishing well for kids to find. I'm also looking for new ways to include my kids in the fun.

2016 was one hell of a roller coaster for me and my family. If you had written a movie script about my life, it would have been tossed out for being implausible. For my family, it involved every stressful life event you can think of, and then some. We dealt with things like divorce, marriage, death, moving, job changes, prison sentences (yes literally), and whole array of attorneys, and mental health professionals. I don't even know how to convey all that we've been through. 

One of the things that sort of fell by the wayside last year was this annual project. I still did it, but without big events, blog updates, and so on. This year, life resembles something closer to normal. And by normal I mean organized chaos on the brink of breaking out into utter pandemonium -- we have a blended family of five kids going to five different schools this year, including two teenagers on the autism spectrum. Also three dogs, a cat, a frog, and a bearded dragon. So believe me when I say that normal is relative.

The point is I'm back at full strength this year, and I'm going to be posting regular updates here. 

In the meantime, I'd love it if you'd make a donation for any of my fundraising activities:

Triangle Run/Walk for Autism

Day of the Dead 5k

St. Balderick's Foundation

In fact, I'd love it so much, that if you donate $10 or more using ANY of these links between now and November 16th, I will enter your name in a drawing, and on November 17th, I'll draw one winner. If you can't or don't want to donate, you can also enter the drawing by performing a random act of kindness or charity. (Extra credit: Send pictures!)

The prize will be a stay of up to five nights in this adorable 2 bedroom vacation rental house within walking distance to the beach in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida. (Sorry, we can't provide travel, and we can't substitute. But you can transfer or donate if you win.)

Let's do nice things, and have fun doing it.