Dare #31 - The Last One?

So December finishes today...that means Darecember wraps up too:( (or does it??)

Your final dare for the year 2012 is to get ready for 2013. I am not talking about writing new year's resolutions, although if you want to do that, be my guest.

The final dare for Darecember 2012 is to find a jar or a pretty box or a notebook. If you go the jar/box option, cut out small pieces of paper to write on. Place a pen and the paper in the jar/box and put it (or the book n pen) somewhere close by your bed.

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How easy is that?

Now, because I haven't told you what you are doing with the jar/box/book, pen n paper.... I will have to return in 2013.

So Darecember lives!!!!!

Thought I would post 3 dares a month to keep us busy and hope you might join me in carrying them out to challenge and change us and bless others. If you are in....let me know. I have even set up a FB page you can access....click here to get to it.

But thanks for playing along. I hope the dares this month have been fun to do and have helped remind you of some of the simple and important things about this time of year.

Blessings - always - KVI

PS. Feel free to invite others to join in. I think 3 dares a month is do-able for most people....don't you?

Dare #30 - Write

Letters-to-self are fun things to do and a great way to 'check-in' on yourself in a few months time.

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So as 2012 finishes, take half an hour today to write yourself a letter. Tell the future you (the one who will open and read this letter in 3 months, 6 months, or a year's time) what have been the best bits (and the worst bits) of the past year. Write about who is important to you and why. Make a list of some of the things you want to experience and achieve in 2013. Talk about what's most important to you. And ask future self some questions.

Then seal the letter in an envelope and put it somewhere safe...or give it to someone safe who will return it to you sometime next year. You might want to write the delivery date on the envelope.

Blessings - KVI

Dare #29 - Thinking Caps On!

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Time to get a little creative and get that great big beautiful brain in action after it's Christmas break.

Create your very own Dare #29 Darecember dare.

Then do it.

Email or comment with your great idea.

Have fun!

Blessings - K

Dare #28 - A Cuppa on Me

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Follow the following steps in order to surprise someone with a free cuppa.
1. Scrape together $5 worth of lose change lying around. Every home will have at least that much.
2. Purchase a $5 voucher from a coffee store of your choice...Gloria Jean's, Jamaica Blue, Coffee Club
3. Write a little note of encouragement and attach to a 'Have a cuppa on me' sign.
4. Attach sign to voucher.
5. Leave voucher in random spot somewhere in your town.

Let us know where your 'random spot' was:)

Blessings - KVI

Dare #21-27 - Heaps and Heaps

As Christmas holidays really kick into gear, we are getting ready to catch up with family to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

So here's a list of dares to work through in the next few days until I get back to the computer...

Dare #21 - give an anonymous gift....to a charity, a friend, a stranger...anyone really:)

Dare #22 - find a free e-card site and send one or more to friends and family (I like dayspring.com)

Dare #23 - spend some time playing with someone under the age of 5 today

Dare #24 - read the Christmas story in Luke's gospel

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Dare #25 - Christmas Day!!! Dare to live fully in the moments of day...be they at church celebrating God's extravagance and generosity, with family celebrating and socialising and eating, or in a quiet moment by yourself thinking about the greatest gift ever given. Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Dare #26 - watch another holiday/Christmas movie...don't let the Christmas spirit go just yet.

Dare #27 - make sure you are a willing, cheerful, smiling helper in the post-Christmas clean-up

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #20 - Facebook for the Good

Sometimes there is just a whole lot of craziness on Facebook.

Today, post only positive things to encourage and inspire people towards goodness, faithfulness, joyfulness and kindness at this time of year.

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Perhaps find some great links to special photos or quotes or inspirational stories...or take or write your own.

If you don't have a FB account, how about sending some emails to friends to share some festive joy and thoughtfulness today?

Blessings.
K

Dare #19 - RAK

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Time for another Random Act of Kindness episode.

Go for it...but this time, do a RAK for someone who does not live in your home:)

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #18 - Tasty

There's so many festive yummies to be made at this time of year. 

So today, make something. 

I have included links to some of my favourite things to make and eat at this time of year, but you might like to share your own favourites. 

And here's the catch in this dare....once you have made your special something, you must share them:))

Honey Jumbles...you could do these in Christmas shapes or Christmas colours for this time of year

Click here for recipe and photo source

White Chocolate Rocky Road.....yummy!!!

Recipe and Photo Source

A special, but so very easy, dessert

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Dare #17 - A Catch -Up Day

If you have been keeping up with every dare over the past 16 days...you are AMAZING!

But it is likely that you may have missed one or two, or perhaps you thought 'that one's not for me.'

Well I dare you to do a catch-up of those 1 or 2 missed dares or to get REALLY BRAVE and do the dare you thought you just couldn't do.

Email me or comment what your 'catch up dare' was....and have fun doing it!

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #16 - Share

Hebrews 13:16 - Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Today the task is simple - or is it?

You need to take every opportunity you can to share.

Share your stuff....your food...your home...your clothes....your time...your $$$$ - with anyone and everyone.

And at the end of a day of sharing, let us know your most unusual sharing story.

1 Timothy 6:18 - You are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share...

Blessings.
KVI

PS This is not aimed at you SB and your mud crabs:))))))

Dare #15 - Movie Night

Hey...it's Saturday night. School holidays have started . So it's PERFECT timing for a movie night!

There are a handful of great Christmas movies around....ones that really get you into the spirit of Christmas.

One of my all-time-favourites that I like to watch every year around this time is the classic 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Sure it's black and white and long and the acting is a little OTT in places, but the themes and message are so good it's worth the time spent in front of the screen.

So for Dare #15 find a great holiday movie or 2, fire up the popcorn machine, grab the family and hunker down for a good ol' family movie night.

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Any other suggestions of great holiday flicks most welcome.

Happy viewing.
KVI

Dare #14 - Stick It!

Dare #12 asked you to get a bit creative and print or design a postcard with an inspirational quote on it. You were dared to make about 20....quick, there's still time.

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Today's dare involves distributing your words of inspiration. So choose how you will do it....walk up and down your street slipping them into letter boxes. Or....lob into a car park somewhere around town and slide them under people's windscreen wipers (be careful not to break them though!). Or....???

Tell us what your quote was and where you put them in an email or comment below.

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #13 - Make a Call

'Tis the season to spread the joy....and your voice can do it!

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Call an elderly person today to say 'hi' and have a chat. Grandparents? Elderly aunts/uncles? Friends?

Ask them how they are....tell them what you have been doing....brighten their day:)

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #12 - Get Creative

Last week you had a little project to make (or bake)...how is the delivery of those going?? I have forgotten to give our little Christmas tree ornaments a few times, but managed to hand out about 7 so far to people who have served us. Favourite reaction: the dear old chooks at the op shop:)

Here's this week's 'make it' project...or you can do the cheats version if you want:)

Find a quote that's inspirational and print it out...or even better.....create a little postcard size design that includes the quote. Copying from the many many images found if you Google is allowed...but the handmade touch is super nice.

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Dare #14 will tell you what to do with these, but try to make 20ish if you can...that's why I'll give you 2 days to get ready for delivery:)

Dare # 11 - Open Your Mouth

I learned a great lesson from an 11 year old recently...and so MJ you are the inspiration for Dare #11.

M was at a book launch that I also attended and I overheard her talking to another little girl....a girl she didn't know.

She walked towards this girl, stopped, turned and said 'Hello.' And then proceeded to introduce herself, ask the other girls name and strike up a great little conversation.

To me.... that's brave. I am not the best at initiating conversations with strangers, but just like MJ, I can do my best to be friendly.

So, if you accept Dare #11 today, you will be having a chat with a stranger:) Maybe it's someone you have never spoken to at school or work....maybe the person behind you in the check out line....maybe the postie or the servo lady or .......

Wish them a happy Christmas season, if nothing else, but try and make the conversation a little bit deeper than that if you can. And if you do speak to a stranger today, comment on the blog and let us know who it was (names not necessary), where it was, and how you felt after completing today's dare.

Blessings
KVI

You don't have to get touchy feely with a stranger, but you do have to smile, 

ask questions, share and listen.

PS. I was the recipient of Miss A's generosity in minding little j yesterday for Dare #8. What a blessing! Proof that if you can offer to give a Mum a break by minding her kids for an hour or so, you will be doing something to make someone's day better and easier. So if you haven't accepted Dare #6 and Dare #8 as yet...get onto it!

Dare #10 - 10 for Charity on the 10th

Nothing says 'Christmas' more than giving.

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And there's nothing better than giving to those who need it most.

Today's dare involves you making a decision and choosing between giving money or giving things.

Option 1 - Choose a charity and donate $10 to them.

Option 2 - Sort through some of your stuff and donate 10 items to a local charity store.

Option 3 - There are a number of food bank collections going on around town, make a donation of non-perishable food to one of them. 10 items would be amazing...but you might like to try 3 or 5 as a start.

Not that we are about blowing our own trumpets, but it's good to know what great things are happening. So...if you tackle Dare #10 on the 10th, email me or comment below telling us what you did.

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #9 - The Reason for the Season

One of the special events of this season is the carols services put on by the different churches in the community.

A great time of celebrating the real reason for the season - the birth of Saviour King Jesus.

Dare #9 - attend a carols service with your family. It might be today  - 7pm at Port City Christian Church in Mc Cann St or Shed 19 on Dalrymple Dr Gladstone (for instance) - or it might be another night.

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But...be there! Sing with gusto! And give God thanks for His most wonderful gift - His Son.

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #8 - Just do it!

Today you might be doing the dare of baby sitting while someone who has little kiddos gets an hour or 2 to go Christmas shopping. If you organised Dare #6 for a different day, that's fine.

So if today is NOT the day for minding munchkins, then your dare is to do a Random Act of Kindness for someone in your own family.

I am not going to give you ideas...I want you to walk through the day with your eyes open, see an opportunity and grab it with both hands.

Email or comment though and tell us what you did for your RAK today.

Blessings...and happy RAKing:)

j gets into the spirit of helping!

K

Dare #7 - Dance!

I LOVE Christmas songs....how about you? I have a few favourite albums that get a work-out throughout December each year. Maybe you do too?

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Even if you don't, there is of course play list after play list of great Christmas tunes on youtube and the like.

So a bit of a silly dare today.....put on a favourite Christmas album and dance!

Guaranteed to lighten your mood and give you a good work-out.

If you can't dance through the whole thing, then may I suggest blessing Mum by doing a chore or 2 for her while you sing a long??

2 dares in one...can you handle it??

Comment below or email me with your 'all time favourite' Christmas song and your 'all time least favourite' household chore:)))

PS. If you are in the Gladstone area don't forget that the community carols are on at the Marina stage tonight from 6.30PM. You can do Dare #7 there if you are really really brave:)))

PPS. I love 'Mary's Boy Child' and hate cleaning the oven:)

2 Clever Ideas

Remember Dare #3 and Dare #5??? Flick back through the posts to remind yourself if you have forgotten.

Here's a couple of great samples of what people have been making and sharing...thanks D, T n J.

YUMMY Recipe and Photo Source

What I also love is hearing some of the stories of people's reactions as they have been given these little blessings. Very sweet...mostly:)

Keep sending through comments and stories to share...remember to email me if you can't post a comment coz you don't have a Google account.

Thanks heaps.
K

Dare #6 - Make an Offer

Today you have do some planning for sometime this weekend...or next weekend.

You probably know someone with little children. Christmas preparations with a little one or 2 or 5 in tow can be a bit challenging. So here's the dare....

Offer your baby sitting service for an hour or 2 (free of charge) to someone with 1 little munchkin or more. If it's more and you feel a bit overwhelmed at the idea of baby sitting 2 or 3 or.....then grab a friend to help you.

Call someone with kiddos today or email or text them or speak to them in person and get a time and day organised for you to lend a hand. Easy hey?

Blessings.
K

Dare #5 - Give!

So....2 days ago you were dared to bake or make or buy Christmas goodies to eat or hang.  Check out Dare #3 for more details.

Now, the fun starts with these little creations.

Over the next couple of days and weeks, depending on how long they last, your dare is to give one of your decorations or treats to anyone who serves you.

Could be the library lady, the check-out attendant, the pizza delivery man, a friend who offers a helping hand....etc......

With a smile and a thank-you and handing over your gift, wish them a Merry Christmas...I dare you!

Dare #4 - What the Bible Says...

Check out what God (the ultimate authority on and best-ever example of...) says about giving and loving and Christmas.

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Grab a Bible (or visit Biblegateway.com) and read these passages...

• 2 Corinthians 8:7
• Matthew 19:21
• Matthew 20:26-28
• Jeremiah 31:3
• Romans 12:10
• 1 Timothy 4:12
• Luke 6:27-28
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Luke 2:1-20

Now, consider these simple questions (Thanks HF for the idea)....
1. What do the verses teach us about God?
2. What do they teach us about people...including ourselves?
3. What do you want to apply from these ideas?

Send through a comment or email sharing something you got out of the Bible readings for today's Dare.

Are you inspired in any way to make sure this season of celebration is one that is focussed more on loving and giving than on getting stuff??

If you have a great idea for how to do that, comment on the blog or email me and I will include it in the Dare-cember challenges for all of us to do it! Thanks.

Dare #3 - A Job Well Done!

Here's Dare #3...by us!

We made ornaments/decorations out of paddle pop sticks and sticky bits.

Here's the finished creations....

My little elves taking a well earned ice block break after all their hard work.

Thanks guys!

KVI

Dare #3 - Get Ready for Dare #5

Were you ever a scout? Scouts have the motto 'Be prepared' so we are going to play at being scouts today. 

To prepare for Dare #5 you need to take action today. Today, bake a batch of Christmas biscuits or buy or make some Christmas ornaments. These are things you will be giving away, so once they are bought or made, put them somewhere you will remember where they are. Or am I the only one who loses stuff in my own house????

For baking ideas or ornaments to make, just do an Internet search & find something you love and something 'do-able' for you. 

Here's a couple of hand/home made decorations I have on my tree this year...

 Laura, a then Yr 8 student,  made this for me about 12 years ago.
She wrote a sweet little message on the back of the angel's wings<3

Jacob and I made a few of these toilet roll angels to give away and 1 for our tree.

My sister Megan gave me a hand-made Shrinky Dink angel

Dare #2

If you have accepted the Dares of Dare-cember, you were supposed to write a l-o-n-g list yesterday...not your Christmas wish list, but a list of the many, many gifts you already have and ways that you feel blessed.

Today, your Dare is to look at that list again, and choose someone you mentioned on it. (If there are no names or people on the list, come up with someone who makes your life better by being in it.)

Now, take the time to write them a card, a note, an email to express your gratitude. Let them know how much they mean to you and what you most appreciate about them. It doesn't have to be long, but make sure it is heartfelt:)

Once that's done, make sure you send it to them (or hand deliver it) in the next 3 days...don't leave it any longer than that or you will forget and they will miss out on a really great blessing - your kind words.

Blessings.
KVI

Dare #1

So, December is a time of making lists.....lists of things to do on the holidays (hooray...they are almost here!)....lists of Christmas gifts to buy....lists of Christmas gifts we want with our name on them under the tree.

The first dare is to take 10 minutes out of the busyness of today and write a list of the many 'gifts' you already have and are grateful for. They might be people (my family), things (my pool), concepts (peace and freedom in Oz)....or whatever else you can think of.

But let's start this season of celebration and giving with a few thoughts about how incredibly blessed we are and all that we already have.

Once you have written your list, pick your Top 5 and add them in a comment on the blog, or email them to me so I can do that.

Blessings.

KVI