Silly Celebration, take four

Today is 11-11-11. It's become a tradition for me to celebrate this triple date with you. I've had so much fun coming up with a variety of lists each year. Today is also Veteran's Day. So, before I go any further, I'd like to thank every Veteran for their service to our nation.

Eleven Lists of Eleven
all lists in no particular order

Eleven ways to thank a vet

• write a thank you note to a veteran you know
  
• teach your children to respect soldiers
  
• call your favorite veteran today, say thanks
• support the troops currently serving
  
• fly your flag today
  
• support our military
  
• attend a parade and cheer till you're hoarse
• any time you see a person in uniform, go up and thank them for their service
• support military families and be sure to thank their spouses
  
• find a parent whose son or daughter is currently serving, tell him or her you are praying for their child
• VOTE! Make the sacrifices worthwhile
  

Eleven ways to love your country

• when the national anthem plays: stand up straight, put your hand over your heart, and sing along
• learn the rules of flag etiquette and follow them
• learn some patriotic songs
• teach them to a child you love
• when you go on walks, take along a trash bag - keep America beautiful
• let your children hear you speak positively about our nation
  
• pray for our nation's leaders
• when you think something is wrong with our country work to change it
• stop complaining, start campaigning
  
• when you have the chance to say the Pledge of Allegiance, really think about the words
• VOTE! It is a sacred privilege.
  

Eleven ways to give

• mail Christmas cards and packages to soldiers overseas
• take a child you love to buy a toy to give to Toys for Tots
  
• fill a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child
• buy $10 of extra food each time you do a grocery shop; take it to the nearest food pantry
  
• sponsor a child through a program like World Vision
  
• deliver a meal to a sick colleague
  
• support St. Jude by making a donation
  
• instead of buying lattes for a month, donate the money to your local shelter for battered women
  
• participate in a breast cancer awareness run
• call up the animal shelter and ask what they might need; dog food, cat litter...
  
• call your local elementary school and ask if there is a needy family you can sponsor this Christmas
  

Eleven big ways to make a difference

• volunteer at an elementary school
• next time, go buy a burger for the homeless guy at the intersection
  
• consider being a Big Sister
• become a CASA volunteer
• give blood
  
• regularly spend time with an elderly person
• pay tithes
  
• consider volunteering at your local community center as a tutor
• contribute to a politician you believe in
• help with a voter registration drive
  
• VOTE! It is your biggest responsibility as a citizen
  

Eleven little ways to make a difference

• return your grocery cart to the corral
• return someone elses's cart while you are at it
• bring something for the bake sale
• spend lots at school carnivals
  
• take a moment to chat with your cashier
• leave a bigger tip
• stop at the high school band car wash
  
• when you receive good service, tell the manager
• share your recipes
  
• when you love a product, spread the word
• offer to keep your friend's child for an evening
  

Eleven way to love your husband

• never, ever talk badly about him to anyone
  
• notice when he does a chore
  
• DON'T redo something he just did
• participate in his interests
  
• thank him for all the things he quietly takes care of
  
• offer a back rub
  
• hold hands in the car
• snuggle during the movie
• don't grumble about his little quirks
• never say, "You always..."
• have sex more often
  

Eleven ways to love a child

• listen
• answer questions
• let them decorate their own room
  
• apologize when you are short tempered
• apologize when you are wrong
• carry the heaviest burdens, but give them enough to carry to make them strong
• say yes every chance you get
• set clear, reasonable boundaries and communicate them
  
• always discipline quickly, but never in anger
  
• every once in a while, skip the healthy dinner in favor of pizza
• LISTEN!
  

Eleven ways to love your parents and grandparents

• call
• call again
• call every single day
• disagree if necessary, but do it gently
• mail the thank you note
• protect their dignity as they age
• send pictures often
• ask questions about their lives and interests
• listen to their stories without sighing because you've heard it before
• hug them close every chance you get
• be patient
  

Eleven quick organization projects

• sort the recyclables and haul them off
• get rid of the shoes you never wear and polish the rest
• tear out the articles you liked and recycle the rest of the magazine
• toss all your old spices and only replace the ones you really use
  
• toss old Christmas ornaments this year and buy new lights on sale
• clean out your medicine cabinet
  
• clean out the junk drawer
• tidy your computer desktop
  
• update to a digital address book
• clean out your desk drawer at work
  
• clean out your email folders and in-boxes

Eleven images to make you smile

• Flying Squirrel Hiding in a Tree, Norihisa Inomata
• a symphony in yellow, Paul Frederickson
• Celebrity, complejo
  
• ladybug, photographer unknown
• Amy & Lewis, Freya Blackwood
  
• barn buddies, photographer unknown
• the owl owns this town, Penelope and Pip
  
• cutest baby photos ever, Stephanie Robin
• anything by Abigail Halpin
  
• bubble fancies, photographer unknown
• a little king, photographer unknown
  

Eleven habits that will make you happy

• seat dance in the car
• put things away as soon as you get home
  
• smile at strangers every chance you get
• practice guerrilla acts of kindness
  
• pay at least two compliments a day
• hug your friends; they need it and so do you
• say "I love you." often
• sing in the shower
• do more than is expected of you
• keep a list of the things you are thankful for
• read every day
  

Happy 11-11-11!

All numbers thanks to Leo Reynolds.