Kindness Countdown

I cannot believe how far we have all come since I first started the Ugga Mugga blog nearly seven years ago!  Your children, whom you began reading this parenting blog for have grown, matured and mastered so many skills over the years!  And you're gotten them there!  Congratulations!  Well done, Mama and Daddy! 

Mr. Mugga and I had a third baby and she and our other two children have grown to the ages of 10, 8 and almost 6!  How did that happen?  We set off on the adventure of home education, and have never looked back.  Martha now Irish dances and August and Hazel play soccer all in between Pokemon club, hikes, kickball games with friends, Confirmation classes, book club, visits to flea markets, and bike rides.  It's a busy, full and beautiful life.  But...

The homeschooling and activities coupled with my freelance writing gig and our actual family time has, unfortunately, made it nearly impossible for me to keep up this dear Ugga Mugga blog in the tradition I was once able to do (and that I greatly enjoyed).  It has become more of an occasional letter to an important penpal that I want to keep in touch with...checking in when big things happen in life, and enjoying each letter (comment or emails from readers) I receive in return. 

And so, as promised, I am checking in with exciting family news.  We have started a new 40-week adventure:  the Kindness Countdown.  What is it?  What does it do?  What does this all mean?  Let me explain...

My 40th birthday has been on my mind for a couple of years now.  I wouldn't say I feel old, and I certainly am not dreading turning 40, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel different as this milestone approaches in the horizon.  I clearly remember when my parents turned 40, thinking that it was a huge number...perhaps I'm viewing this birthday just a bit through those 16-year-old eyes.

As a result, I have been spending the past few months reflecting upon the many trials and countless blessings of my past 39 years of life, and have decided to do something big as I approach turning 40 (on June 30, 2015)...something that I hope will make many people smile.  That something is the Kindness Countdown. 

And so, I will be completing 40 random acts of kindness over the next 40 weeks...for complete strangers (and a few people I know) and documenting them to entertain and hopefully inspire others to spread the kindness in their own lives. 

Spoiler alert:  The first week's act of kindness was a family outing to the grocery store to shop for a local food pantry.  

To follow along on our kindness journey, "like" the Kindness Countdown on Facebook where I will post preparations, other inspirational findings and each week's random act of kindness as it's completed. 

And there's also a Kindness Countdown blog, which Ugga Mugga readers will find nice and comfortable and homey (it shares the same layout and design). 

And so, faithful UM readers, this completes the latest penpal letter from my family.  I hope this finds your family well and full of love!  Until next time...

xoxo,
Shannon