Spreading Kindness

My Sweet Girl

My whole life I have been a volunteer-kind-of-gal.  As a matter of fact, after I graduated college from Marquette University I packed my bags and moved to Texas to be a small part of a great organization ~ The Jesuit Volunteer Corps.  I lived in the inner city of Houston, with 7 others and worked in an inner city school doing drop out prevention counseling.  I loved my year and I met some of the most amazing people ever… But that story is for another time, today’s story is about my daughter.

So often it seems that if the parent loves something the kids surely won’t… If mom loves makeup, it seems we raise a hippy.  If mom hates running, it seems we raise a marathon runner… ha ha… So imagine my surprise when 3 years ago Madi and I were accepted into the National Charity League Wildflowers Chapter ~ a mother/daughter philanthropy organization, and she was excited!  Yes, my sweet daughter was ready to give back to our community.  As a 7th grader we were required to do 10 service hours in our community, but Miss Madi Lou decided she wanted to do more.  75 more as a matter of fact!!!  Yes, 85 hours of service in her 7th grade year.  In 8th grade she wanted to do more, so instead of the 20 hours that are required she went ahead and did 90 and this year, as a busy freshman in high school she completed 100 hours of volunteer work in our community!

I am so proud of her.  She has baked cookies for Hospice, called BINGO for the  Villages of Gleannloch Farms Senior Center, worked the art camps at the Pearl Finch Museum, played basketball with the local Special Olympics chapter, picked up trash for Adopt A Mile and more.  She loves to give back.  I can’t believe I am blessed to have a daughter who loves to volunteer as much as I do.  She is an inspiration to many and a delight to be around.  She bring sunshine and laughter wherever she goes.  Today when she was awarded the Yellow Rose award at our annual NCL  spring tea for her service hours, my cup overflowed with love and pride for this sweet, caring, kind young lady!