19-1-2011 - Ari's 3rd Birthday in Heaven

My mood while writing this blog: sad

As some of you know tomorrow, January 20^th is Arihanna’s 3^rd birthday in heaven, for those of you who don't know Ari is my daughter she died of SIDS on March 29th 2008. I wanted to do something in memory of what happy and joyous day it was the day she was born, January 20^th 2008 @ 4:50pm. I ask all of you to do an ARK (act of random kindness) in her memory. I know all of you do so many random acts of kindness a day, but if you could take a moment to do one out of the ordinary in memory of my sweet angel Ari.

Kindness is contagious, it’s a win/win situation…the person you are being kind to benefits and you feel good for doing a kind act, and it helps make the world a better place. When you help someone else, that person may go on to help others and if someone sees you doing a kind act they may be influenced to do a kind act for someone else and the cycle continues.

If you would like to share your ARK please feel free to comment on my blog, I will be printing them out and putting them in a book I have in Ari’s memory box.

Listed below are a few examples; you can do whatever random act you want, but thought a list might help you all with ideas

Tell your family how much you appreciate them

Tell your children why you love them

Hold the door for a stranger

Compliment a stranger sincerely

Shovel snow for your neighbor

Buy a lottery ticket for a stranger

Buy a cup of coffee for the next person in line

Let someone go in front of you in the line at the post office, grocery store or bank

Cut coupons out and leave them at the grocers store for others to use

Start up a conversation with a co-worker you don’t know

Drop off a toy or game to a Children’s hospital or homeless shelter

Invite someone who is alone eating lunch or dinner to join you at your table

Leave a chocolate for a co-worker or friend

Put a quarter in an expired parking meter

Put change in a charity change bottle

Donate blood

Smile a lot

Happy Birthday Ari
This day will be a celebration of the short time you were here.
You will always be remembered with great love and many tears.
But to only feel pain and sorrow would not be fair to you.
Your life meant so much more to us, more than words could say.
You were here so briefly, I wonder if you knew
all the ways you’ve touched our world and our hearts and everyone who knew you since the day God called you home.
Now my child, you’re an angel with your heavenly Father above,
we see not only what we’ve lost but our capacity of love.
There will always be a big void in our life and a hole in our
hearts that will never heal. Our souls will grieve forever.
Will we forget or stop loving you? No! Not now…not ever.
As this day is upon us, oh, how our hearts still hurt.
But even as I mourn your death, we will always celebrate your birth.
It was the happiest day of our lives.

Thanks for taking the time to read,

Luv & Hugs,

Julia