Every month I research a different topic for a poster board at Centra Cam. Cherilyn and I are going to use some of these topics and my research to share on my blog. I did an activity and asked the staff and individuals to participate. I asked them to draw their hand and write down some ideas to pay it forward. This is my hand.

I recently watch the movie Pay it Forward and decided that would be a good topic to share with everyone. I think it is important to think of others before you think of yourself.

Here is what I learned from the movie, I recommend you watch it. But make sure you have a box of kleenex you will need them really bad!

The main character, Trevor McKinney had some hard issues to deal with in his life. These problems in his life made him feel uncomfortable because he didn’t quite understand them. Trevor was inspired when his social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet gave him an assignment to change the world.

Trevor’s idea was very original. He wanted to help three people. His idea was that if someone does something nice to you, to turn around and do something nice for someone new. He called this idea Pay it Forward.

Trevor’s assignment made a big difference in the lives of many people. I recommend this movie, it was inspiring for me to watch it, I hope it inspires you too!

Doing something good for someone else without expecting anything in return is known as paying it forward, and it’s a great way to stay on the right side of karma. While this is a good idea every day, April 28 is International Pay It Forward Day.

The message is simple: do something nice for someone and ask nothing in return other than they do something nice for someone else. Part of the beauty of this idea is that it doesn’t have to cost a cent.

I want to help people learn about how they can make a difference in their community through paying it forward.

Think of it as the ultimate anti-bullying strategy. By raising awareness and having conversations about kindness, then following through with our actions.

Doing good for others can have a power, positive effect on the immune system.

I want to encourage you to find a way to pay it forward and try to change the world to make it a better place! I challenge you from today until April 29th the day after International Pay it Forward Day to do something kind and share it with me! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Some ideas that you might want to try:

• If you know someone that can’t do something like shovel walk, mow their lawn, take out their garbage…. offer to help them
• If someone you know doesn’t drive or can’t right now offer to go do errands for them or take them to their appointments
• At a drive through, pay for the car behind’s meal and give the cashier a Pay it Forward card to pass on…You could do this at the train station, at a coffee shop – anywhere you like.
• Tell the manager of a restaurant how great your waiter/waitress was. This can happen in any store / business you visit. Aim at brightening someone else’s day.
• Cook a casserole for a new mother or a family that is going through something and just needs a help.
• If you are washing your own car or mowing your own lawn, do the same for your next door neighbor
• Do some work for a client or one that can’t afford your services free of charge – just ask that they Pay it Forward
• Next time you go grocery shopping buy a little extra and take it to the food bank.
• Go through your closet and donate clothes you no longer need.
• Donate your gently used books.
• Smile at someone. Give someone a smile. You’ll see that many people will quickly loosen up and return the smile.
• Donate blood. By donating your blood, you can potentially help another person to live. What could be more beautiful than doing something that helps someone else to stay alive?
• Listen to someone’s story. Many people don’t have someone who listens to them, someone who cares about them. You could be that someone. You don’t even have to find a solution to all their problems, sometimes it simply takes someone who is willing to listen.
• Give some words of encouragement. There are many situations in life where we see the most ludicrous things happen to strangers. Don’t be the one who just stops to stare, be the one who helps them to get back up.
• Spend some time with the elderly. There are many people in retirement homes that have no one who comes visiting. You could drop by your local old-age home and ask if there’s someone whose day you could brighten.
• Offer to take a photo.  If you see someone taking pictures of their family, offer to take the picture so that this person can be alongside their family on the photo.
• Leave your change where kids will easily find it. Remember that awesome day when you found some money when you were a little child? Well, now it’s your turn to pay this wonderful feeling forward to another child. Leave some of your change somewhere you know that kids will instantly spot it.
• Pick up garbage. Many people are so careless about nature that they simply throw things away right where they are. By picking up some garbage, you can relieve the burden these ignorant people place on nature.
• Carry someone’s bags. If you see an old lady struggling with all her bags from the grocery store, offer your help.
• Help someone take off their coat if they are unable too.
• Let others in the line go in front of you. If you’re standing in the line at the supermarket and you see that the person behind you is buying only a couple of things, let them go in front of you.
• Say “yes” when someone asks for help. If someone asks you for help, see if you can help in any way shape or form. You may not always be able to solve the problem, but you can at least help to alleviate its effects.
• Write a positive review of good businesses. Local business owners need all the support they can get. If you’ve come across a business whose owner does an incredible job, it’s time to spread the word.
• Tell someone they made a difference in your life. There are many kindhearted people out there who give without asking for anything in return. If you’ve ever benefited greatly from someone’s kind actions, writing a letter is a fantastic way to thank your benefactor. Doing so will encourage them to continue giving freely.

I challenge you to do some of these pay it forward ideas and share them with me! Send me what you did or take a picture so I can share it on my blog. Cherilyn will collect your emails csharkey@cafcl.org or post on my Facebook page. I can’t wait to see how this turns out!

Here are some Random Act Of Kindness Cards we made. Please print them and use them with your Random Acts of Kindness!

Kelsey's Kindess Cards

For the month of March we did a St. Patrick’s Day Theme Birthday Bash for Rose Club. For those of you who don’t know what Rose Club is… Read this!

The Rose Club is an adult drop-in centre where members plan and participate in social, recreational, and educational activities. The Club officially meets approximately six times a month for Club night. This Club is run by the members. Camrose Association For Community Living) CAFCL  provides the Club with a part-time staff person who assists the executive in planning activities. The executive is elected each year by the members. A person does not need to be part of CAFCL services to join. – It is so much fun…. if you know anyone you should really come and try it!

Their was a band that played guitars and piano’s and they sang Irish songs. We had lots of fun dancing.

For my brother Joel’s birthday and his girlfriend Ashley’s birthday we celebrated them together because their birthday’s are a week a part. First we went to Costco and I got some new clothes. We then went to an Italian Meat Shop and they had so had many choices for meats and new cheeses. We bought some to make pizzas for supper. I tried some of the meat and cheeses at the shop and they were REALLY good! Mom made a Cherry Cheesecake for both of them for their birthday cake. It was really good food and a good time.

Family Friends that are really close to us Mel and Murray came for a visit. Mel used help me at Kandu Summer Camp for lots of years and when Mom & Dad would go on holidays Mel would stay with us. They have twins Jack & Zoe that  are almost 2 years old. I got to hold Zoe….she is sooooo cute! The kids were so funny. Zoe likes to push her brother. I enjoyed watching them. Joel and Mel’s brother Josh were in school together. Josh is very nice to me. He was always one of Joel’s friends that made me feel special. This family means a lot to us.

The End of March Special O Bowling is done for the year. We always have a bowling tournament and a banquet in the evening. This year I got 3 ribbons, first game I got second place, second game I got first place and the third game I got third place! The Banquet was held in the City Lights Church. We had a supper, a dance, Karaoke and awards. Everyone got a take home gift, this year it was a Face Cloth that said Special O on it we can get our names on it if we want to. I’m going to miss bowling until next season. But I look forward to Bocce Ball starting in May.

On Saturday March 2nd we had only one staff on so we were housebound! We made chocolate chip peanut butter cookies. I have a mixer that I LOVE using. Theresa and I put the ingredients in the mixer bowl and then I mix it up! We both make the little cookie balls to put on the cookie sheet. We watch them bake in the oven. We put the cookies in baggies and freeze them. We share with everyone in the house. I also took some cookies to my parents on Sunday.

That afternoon we Facetimed with Nancy (my staff that moved back to New Brunswick). She showed us her house and she told us what she has been doing. She got new things for her house. She is still unpacking. My iPad died so we didn’t get to say good bye.

All my roommates were able to talk to her. This a picture of all of us talking to Nancy!

On Sunday my AWESOME brother Joel was home so we decided to change my feeding tube. When we change my tube it is kind of uncomfortable. I have to lay down, you have to put 5mm of water in a balloon that goes in my stomach to keep my tube in place. But you have to do it super fast if you don’t it might close up and I would have to go for surgery.

While Joel was doing this I was holding his girlfriend Ashley’s hand and talking on the phone to my Grandpa in Ontario. That helped me not focus on it. Thank you Joel and Ashley for helping me!

Since my last blog I have done 6 school presentations! All at OLMP for the Grade 5 and 6 classes. They have went really well! I hope some of them read my blog and I hope my presentation gave them a good message. One of the students had a question about how I eat. We do talk about it in the presentation but we are now going to put a picture in to show me eating. We thought we share that with you! We are headed back to OLMP on Monday, Daylsand School on Tuesday and then we have 2 presentations at Jack Stuart on Friday. We are SOOOOOO busy!

Here is a picture from OLMP!

We had a Valentine’s party at Centra Cam on the 14th. I decorated a photo booth prop, we had a dance party. There was an activity table with coloring pages and word searches. It was a lot of fun.

We had Theresa’s 50th Birthday party on February 15th. We had black forest cake with cherries. Mary Anne our staff made 40 cupcakes for the party. Tracy a CAFCL staff member painted Theresa’s, Mary Anne & my face for the birthday party. She is so talented.

On a good week I only see my parents on Sunday. Last week I saw my Mom 4 times! (Which isn’t a bad thing!) I was not feeling good and ended up making lots of trips to the hospital. I had a ct scan and ultrasound and everything came back fine. It was really frustrating. It turns out it was just a silly bladder infection but I was in so much pain. I missed a whole week at Centra Cam and all of my activities. I’m happy to say I am finally feeling better.

For Girl Power a class I take on Thursdays we are learning about how to calm down after a stressful day. On Tuesday after Centra Cam we went to buy different things that I can use to calm myself down. I bought  myself some face masks, an eye mask, a picture frame, stress relief roll on. In my picture frame I am going to put a picture of my BFF Miss C and her Mom because when I think of them they make me feel better.

We start school presentations this week! I have 2 presentations at OLMP school tomorrow. I am super excited!

On Sundays I spend time at my parents. My Mom and I made hummus, guacamole & chocolate pudding. They are all healthy recipes the use olive oil from Vinesations. They are all really good, I love guacamole!

I got a new ramp that I take to the bowling so I can use my power chair. Mary Anne is a staff member that works with me. She asked her daughter Brianna to help her find a ramp for me. Brianna did and I am so thankful! Brianna and her son came over to my house and I gave them a thank you card. If feels so good to be able to use my power chair. They have changed my life. Thank you Mary Anne and Brianna for making this possible for me.

My staff Nancy decided to move back to New Brunswick. I made an angel food cake that I added fruit and whip cream to. It was like a trifle. We had a party for Nancy on Monday. I also bought her a cheesecake. It was a really hard week for everyone. Nancy was an amazing person in my life. We will all miss her so much. We have a plan to Face time to stay in touch.

Before she left Nancy and I had went and I had my nails done. I got gel nails and I LOVE them! I think I will get them again.

Staff come in and out of our lives. Some stay longer than others. I am always nervous and excited to meet new people but it is hard when some staff say good bye. I have learned that patience makes everything go smoothly. I have to be open to new staff coming but it is hard on me.

Mary was a staff member that left to another team and she is coming back! I am excited about having her back.

 

 

Saturday, January 19th

Rose Club went to Roger’s Place to a Oil King’s Game. I went in my van with Mary Anne, Monique & Nicole. Roger’s Place was very accessible for me. We got to park underground but we had to go outside and across the street to access the building. This was the first time I had ever been to a hockey game there usually I go to concerts! We had really good seats. I got to eat a Chocolate Brownie & ice cream with Mary Anne. The Oil Kings won the game 2-0 against the Calgary Hitmen. It was a great hockey game.

I have signed up for lots of Rose Club activities in February. We are going Mama Mia on the 10th I am very excited! I seen the movie and it was really good. Brian Dumont works at CAFCL and he is one of the Stars of the show.

Sunday, January 27th

This past Sunday I got to go Costco with my parents, my brother Joel and his girlfriend Ashley. We went to their place for supper, they live in an apartment and it has an elevator so I can go and visit my brother! After going to Costco we stopped by Save On Foods to by a Chocolate Cheesecake! Joel was mad at me because he bought me a new Brett Young CD but I had already bought it the day before!

On Monday evening we go to the walking track with Special O.

I started going to a Women’s Course called Girl Power at CAFCL. We talk about how to handle our feelings and emotions. I really like it so far.

My parents bought a ramp for me to use at the Bowling Alley so I can use my electric chair to bowl. It is so nice. Every Wednesday I used to have to be in a manual wheelchair and had to wait for people to push me around because I had bowling that day. This has made my life so much better!

This weekend coming up I’m going to Wetaskiwin Swimming Pool. There pool is really nice and I get to go in the hot tub because it is a walk in hot tub.

Can’t my next week!

 

It is really exciting this is the 2nd anniversary of my blog. I look forward to keep doing it. It helps people understand that I can do things just like everyone else. I’m going to start this year doing more education stuff so hopefully you will sign up to receive my blog so you don’t miss anything.

On New Years Eve Day I colored my hair red. What do you think?! It was really neat to see the color before and after.

 

My roommate Theresa and I did face masks in our housecoats and watched Netflix.

For Christmas my Mom got me a really cool make your own bath bombs set. So we did it when I went there on the weekend. It was really easy for me to do. They turned out great. I can’t wait to try them.

We are planning my School Presentation’s for the upcoming months. We sent out emails and already have 15 classes that want to see me! I can’t believe how many schools I will get to this year! I am so happy.

In November I started working at the Camrose library. I can get inside the library with the ramp In front. There is also an elevator inside so I have access to go up and down. When I sign in, it is behind the desk for volunteer. Then I go downstairs and clean dvds. I have to look at the dvds and cds and see if they are dusty or not. If they are dusty I have to clean them till they sparkle! I use a cleaner, the cd goes in the top and I have to roll the cleaner on it. After 15 cd’s it beeps, that means you have to clean the machine. It’s a round circle and you have to turn it back on until you don’t hear the beep any longer.

On Christmas eve I went to Lloydminister with mom and dad. We went to my Grandma Sharons place. She lives in a village with a hall. Its all wheel chair accessible which is very nice! We had turkey dinner with the fixings! My mom and I made a mint cheese cake. It was amazing!

After eating all the food we took family pictures and played some games. We played charades and UNO. Uncle Wayne, Aunt Gail and cousins Ian, Eric and Eric’s girlfriend Amber.

After the games we went to my great grandma Jose. I never met her before. It was so sweet.  She’s 88 years young!

We went to great uncle Pauls and his wife. But dad to had to carry me up the stairs in there house. We went back home Christmas eve and had appetizers. We so were so busy!

On Christmas morning we had breakfast and opened gifts. I got homemade bath bombs , new clothes, markers, highlighters, find word book and I’m going to CARRIE UNDERWOOD!!!!! My brother bought me the Bret Young cd, he’s my favorite singer. After we opened gifts, we decorated gingerbread houses. Christmas day evening we watched Mr.Scrooge.

On boxing day I decorated sugar cookies at moms with my brother Luke.

On New Years day, my brother Joel and his girlfriend Ashley were at mom and dads house. We opened gifts again, decorated more ginger bread houses, took family pictures and played games. My mom made turkey and all the fixings. My mom made another cheese cake! It was cherry cheese cake this time!. It was the best Christmas I ever had!!!

 

On December 15, I attended the Rose Club Christmas party at the Norseman Inn. All my friends were there. Our Committee sang the 12 Days of Christmas accompanied by a slideshow of the members throughout the year. We also played Family Feud on a big screen TV which was fun.  After supper, I had strawberry whipped cream pudding for dessert. We also had a gift exchange and I got turtle chocolates. Every year we have a dance and this year we danced the night away!!!

On December 17, Rose Club went to Bethany care home to sing Christmas carols to brighten up their holiday season. I sang the loudest, as I have the best voice lol!!

On December 19th, I attended the Centra Cam Christmas party. In the morning we had a WII bowling tournament and played “Pin the beard on the Santa”.

In the afternoon, we had another gift exchange and I received a fuzzy blanket with pom poms. We sang Christmas carols again together and ate a turkey dinner with pudding.

 

 

I started reading chapter books every night before bed this month. This time I started a  new series called the “Dork Diaries”. I like reading outload and listening to myself.

On Wednesday night, I went shopping for the Christmas party at my home. Each year we do a Christmas gift exchange with my roommates and I’m all ready! We went shopping for the groceries to bake a New York cheesecake from Anna Olsen.

I can’t wait for the new year to start as my old staff will be back helping me write my blog weekly (so stay tuned) and completing my school presentations! I hope you all have a super, fun Christmas and very Happy New Year.

This Christmas will be different. My brother Joel is going to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan with his girlfriend Ashley. So, we are celebrating Christmas late this year as a family on December 30, 2018. Both my brothers will be there with their girlfriends, my mom, dad and me. My mom will still make a turkey with all the fixings that day. But I wait and fill up on dessert!

On Christmas Eve we will be at my grandma’s in Lloydminster. I will see my aunty, uncle and cousins that I haven’t see in awhile. My favorite part of Christmas is being with family of course. But my second favorite part of Christmas is seeing people’s faces when they open gifts. I also really love decorating the tree for Christmas.

The months leading up to Christmas are always so buys as we make homemade decorations at Centra Cam and at home.  Every year Centra Cam decorates a tree for the Festival of trees where everyone helps out with the homemade decorations. The festival of trees has tons of decorated tress to see when you walk in from many groups/organizations. They are all so different and its fun to try and figure out what group decorated it. The Festival of Trees also has lots of tables of things for sale and you can do some Christmas shopping while there.

The weekend of the festival of Tress was busy for me as I also went to a bowling tournament in Vegreville. We met a bus at McDonald’s before heading out. There was a banquet at the Vegreville senior citizens’ Sunshine club after the tournament with Christmas themed food, and I had a piece of pumpkin pie. While I was there, my Singables community choir performed on the stage at the Festival of Trees which I missed. However my roommate was there and got to sing on stage.

I am looking foreword to the holidays season and going to some Christmas parties at work, home, with my family  and with Rose Club.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year