Pay It Forward

I love this movie. And I must give credit where credit is due. One of my blogging friends, Jan, all the way out in CA, had a blog about this the other day. It has been on my mind ever since I read it...

“Pay It Forward” is a book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde, released in 2000, but it's also an action plan within a work of fiction. Is it only fiction? I don't think so; it's a way of life.

My "Pay It Forward" will actually be about books, I know, you're shocked. If you want to be on the receiving end, leave a comment, include the word BOOK, and be one of the first three with BOOK in your comment. Be sure I have a way of contacting you. There is one further rule. Upon receipt of my "Pay It Forward", you must be willing to do one of your own on your blog, within one month.


So, basic rules:
Leave a comment
Mention BOOK
Do your own Pay It Forward ( this means you must have a blog.)


After I mail out my Pay It Forward, I'll post a photo of what it was.

Years ago, Mark and I found ourselves in a little bit of financial difficulties due to the family business going into bankruptcy...a little bit of the same kind of situation were are facing now. At that time we had the girls and Bryce was just a baby. We lived in a small two bedroom house. We did what we had to do to survive. There was a retired postal worker at church, Harry Appell, who would make sure that we had enough money 'so our babies would have food to eat.' He would always very privately and very respectfully asked how we were making it and then hug me and hand me $50.00. I was so humbled and so grateful and very touched. I think Harry planted the seed in us for Pay It Forward. (I ended up having Harry's granddaughter in class at Preschool many years later.)

From that experience, I think I have always tried to live with less and always tried to help anyone that needs a little help. It might not be much...it might be raking leaves and cutting grass when someone is trying to sell their house or making people aware of the needs of children that have gone through a terrible disaster...sending cards to people just to brighten their day or sharing flowers/plants from our garden...driving 3 hours to a co-workers mother's funeral or going to the hospital to sit with someone's family member because they were out of town and couldn't be there. Just seeing a need and acting on it the best way we know how.

Part of Jan's Pay It Forward, the last rule is that we must find someone way to Pay It Forward to someone else. I had three $5.00 Starbucks cards just taking up space in my wallet. One of them has already been given away. So the two that I have left will be sent to the first two people that respond with a story about an experience you have had Paying It Forward or recieving a Pay It Forward. You must also Pay It Forward to three other people. You must be willing to leave you story in the comments and them tell me what you plan to do to Pay It Forward.