We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.

I have always been interested in volunteering; I just haven't had the time to be able to commit to anything. I have found this great website that lists all kinds of ways you can volunteer. They even have a special section on "Virtual Volunteering". It's a program that allows you to volunteer at your own time, from your home with very little needed.

I just signed up to be a Volunteer Counselor for TeenCentral.Net and KidsPeace. They said the only thing you need to have to qualify is interest. TeenCentral is a place for teenagers to go and find information and support on any topic they need. My job as a volunteer will be to give these teens the support they may not be able to get from their friends and/or family.

I absolutely love working with kids and I realize that Alyssa will soon be a teen. I think this will help prevent her from having to go through these difficulties that a lot of children and teens have to. I will be able to show her and explain to her what other people really have to face and hopefully she will learn how to deal with her own issues and she can feel comfortable talking to me about it.

I have also signed up to make greeting cards for patients at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. These cards are simple words of encouragement for the patients (children & adults) going through physical therapy and recovering from conditions such as head injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, orthopedic surgery, or loss of limb. I can't imagine having to go through anything like that. And I would hope that none of my loved ones would have to either. These simple cards offer great encouragement to the patients, which means a lot to me! It's also something the whole family can get involved in. I am going to set aside a few nights for us to sit down and make cards.

It feels good to help in any way that I can, especially when it's something I care so much about. I will keep you posted on how things go. I'm sure the more active I become in this, the more volunteer opportunities I will take advantage of!!

~Living is the art of loving. Loving is the art of caring. Caring is the art of sharing. Sharing is the art of living.If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.~