Thoughtful Thursday - 26 Random Acts of Kindness and Snowflake Making

Like most of us throughout the world, Katie and I were at a complete loss for words when we heard about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We have kids of similar age as most of the victims. Some of our dearest friends are elementary school teachers. During the days following the shooting, we kept thinking of what can we do. We will be participating in both the 26 Random Acts of Kindness as well as the Snowflake Project.

Ann Curry, NBC News Correspondent, took to her twitter and came up with #26ActsofKindness. Here's how it started in Ann's words:

Newtown's heartbreak has a lot of us asking, "What can I do?" Thinking about this, I took to Twitter and asked people to imagine what would happen if all of us committed to 20 acts of kindness to honor each child lost in Newtown. I added, "I'm in. If you are, RT #20Acts."

Tens of thousands of people on Twitter and Facebook not only seized the idea, they increased it to #26Acts, to include the heroic teachers, and are launching acts of kindness big and small all over America. The acts are spreading overseas, including one tweeted from Borneo.

People are using the hashtag #26ActsofKindness and if you look it up on twitter, you will be amazed at the global community of kind acts that is building. Today my daughters and I started our acts by letting two couples cut in front of us in line at the post office. They were older and were trying to balance so many packages. Two police officers were in our favorite coffee shop and we bought them their drinks. We're currently making gingerbread cookies to deliver to our closest fire station.

And then when I was on twitter this morning, I saw a tweet being rapidly re-posted. It was from the National PTA organization asking for paper snowflakes to be sent to support Sandy Hook Elementary School:

When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA address:

Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

I know most Mundie Moms are the types that want to do something in the wake of such a tragedy. So here's your chance -- make a few snowflakes and send them off so the kids can see how much the world cares about them. And if you can do those 26 RAKs; I guarantee it'll make you feel better about this crazy world of ours.