My 1st "byline"

I am so excited to share my HUGE NEWS‼ I am totally serious, for a change, lol!
As many of you know, I've been talking FOREVER about writing a book. And since I turned 50, lost my job, and a slew of other unfortunate events (as is always the way, right?) my path has been clearer than ever and I've had a ton of little situations go in my favor to lead me to seriously “chase the dream”!! So TA-DA‼
Behold my very first ever official “published” story that I wrote and reported as... a Times Correspondent for the Tampa Bay Times, the largest newspaper in the Southeastern United States!http://www.tampabay.com/…/seffner-family-looks-to-b…/2256298

Plus the most amazing part of the story is the “back story” on how I landed this gig through a simple act of kindness and saying hello to a man in the customer service line at Wal-Mart?! Amazing, God’s plan, not mine for sure‼
Here is the link to that story; it really is a great story, just saying… wink emoticonhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153731661471740&set=gm.644652399009622&type=3&theater
Endless thanks to all those people that made this happen. I am not “tagging” you publically but you are forever “tagged” in my heart. heart emoticon


The story itself is very unfortunate. My heart goes out to the family. I am so happy I had an opportunity to share their story and promote awareness and increase donations while chasing my dream.

Tomorrow starts the 3rd Annual “25 Days of Kindness” Project‼ WOO-WOO!!

Hello friends! Tomorrow starts the 3rd Annual “25 Days of Kindness” Project‼ WOO-WOO!!


So UPDATE, here’s what’s going on with US this year...pretty much nothing, like always. However, NOW we have the added pleasure of being “insolvent.” Since I am not currently working (as I TRY to launch a writing career) we are SUPER SHORT on money. So, with that said, I have made the following “corporate decision” for the Gibson family. I announced to the boys that ALL of our acts of kindn...ess will be NON–MONETARY this year‼ Which is going to make it a LOT HARDER…or EASIER? I guess it depends on how you look at it.


Regardless, it is going to be a CHALLENGE and we are going to have to get very CREATIVE. I think it will be really interesting to see what happens. In any case, everyone please try to do one extra act of kindness a day whether it costs money or not and PLEASE post on here. The point is to give others ideas and suggestions, and to spread kindness and positivity, not to brag. So thanks in advance and LET’S DO THIS‼! Cue the music...ya'll ready for this?!


https://www.facebook.com/groups/kindness2013/

You can be in business & still #BeNice

Amazing Story Time!!

Amazing Story Time‼
If you follow my posts, you may have read how I recently I went to counseling and confession at church and the priest told me to pray for God to show me his love for me. So yesterday, I woke up sick (sore throat/fever-too much screaming on last weekend’s gig) and my younger son is home sick too. I check my checking account balance online and my child support and unemployment still has not come in. My balance is too low and I have so many bills past due I totally start freaking out trying to figure out what I'm going to do. I am trying to launch a writing career and really feel the calling to “do it now” but can’t live as a “starving artist” long. Anyway, I have a headache, my throat hurts, I'm crying, tears are streaming down my face, etc. I'm totally feeling sorry for myself and then I finally pull myself together and sort of get the message/feeling “don’t worry, it will be okay, God will provide, get up and check the mail”. So I drag myself out of bed and go out to the check the mail, I even say to myself jokingly” maybe there’ll be a check in there for you, lol?”
So amongst the junk mail recycling items, I see a yellow envelope that looks like a greeting card? I come inside open it and it is the sweetest, nicest, most thoughtful belated birthday card & note from some girls I went to high school with?! FROM 1983, totally random and out of the blue! They said they loved reading my stories and were inspired and wanted to do something nice for me?! OMGosh, real live tears‼ It was such a HUGE sign from God and blessing! Not that this fixed my money problems (it certainly helped!) but more importantly it MADE me realize immediately: God loves you, money is not important people are, carry on, I’ve got your back. Thank you and God bless to these sweet old high school friends for giving me this testimony‼ XOXO <3

www.karlagibson.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/kindness2013/

This just happened tonight at the grocery store?!?!

OMGosh! I have a real true awesome God moment to share, I feel so happy‼

I picked up Chad from lacrosse at 6pm and we (extremely randomly) stopped into the Winn-Dixie in Seffner, where we NEVER shop, FYI. He was all sweaty and I had my “normal” NOT getting out of the car “house dress” on and dirty hair. Anyway, timing is all God’s. So we went to pay and the people in front of us were short on money. Chad and I looked at each other, and I said “oh I should pay for them” and Ch...ad said “you don’t even have any money either” and I said “I know right”. It looked like they were getting some cash out but it turned out they were having the cashier take things off of the bill. I could not stand it and before I knew it I said “are you putting things back?” and the woman said “yes” and I said to the cashier “how much are they short?” and she said “$15” so I said “I will pay for it, put it on mine” and the cashier said “are you sure?” and I said “YES, definitely” and the lady immediately turned and gave me the biggest hug and I hugged her back twice as much! Then the man said “God bless you” and I looked over to say ‘thank you, you too’ and he had tears in his eyes. I went over and gave him a big hug and kissed him on the cheek and I told the little group “the funny thing is I am on unemployment and am not even working right now, so ya’ll pray for us as well” and they thanked me again. Then, I wasn’t paying attention, but I guess Chad grabbed his cell phone and taped the very end of it. I will post. BUT WAIT there’s more! Then the manager came over and handed me a gift card for $15 and I almost died. She said “I saw what you did and that was so nice of you, thank you”. I said “hey, we’re all in this together, right?!” I thanked her and hugged her too. I did not even notice the message on the back of the gift card until we were in the parking lot?!

PS - I recently went to counseling & confession at church and the priest told me to ask God to help me see his love for me in my life. #AMEN #GodWinks

OMGosh?! I just HAVE to share this!! So sweet and amazing!!!

Chad just came in here and said "I have to tell you a secret"…
He said “I sent a letter to ellen and told her about you for your birthday and waited and it's been 2 weeks so I guess she is not going to call you” :(
I said "OMGosh, when did you do it, how, etc.?"
and he said “I did it at dad's, I needed him to submit it cuz I am under 18 yrs. old, and it was really good and had almost 1500 words! the max on the website”
I said “it doesn't matter if she replies, that is just so great that you did it, do you have a copy, I would love to see it!”

so he sent it to me:

I would like to tell you my story about my mom, Karla Gibson. My mom currently is divorced and a single mom of me (Chad) and my brother Kyle (13). She is also currently unemployed and trying to get a job. She has a Facebook group called "25 Days of Kindness 2013", it is a group she started in 2013 to start a kindness group and have people share their stories of good deeds and inspire others to do so as well. She has over 1000 members of the group and has been featured in the local news twice. She is a role model not only to my brother and I, but to the whole community. She helps the homeless, attends charity services such as Metropolitan Ministries, and does small things like paying for the meals behind her at a drive thru, or anything similar to that. She has inspired me to serve others as well, I do charity and service for my Church, and I also participate in LifeTeen, a Catholic organization that leads teens closer to Christ. I want to go to many trips and retreats with my group so sometimes we try to get financial aid for stuff we can't afford. Her 50th birthday is coming up (Sept. 27th) and I have been told by her forever to contact you but I never have done so. It is a dream of hers to meet you and she watches your show every time it airs, and I thought it would be the best present every if you were to respond to this and she would be able to meet you. Since I am 16 my dad, Scott Gibson, has read and approved of this letter and I provided his information to you.

Not bragging just so really truly surprised and proud - puts everything in perspective. Thanks for reading friends.

ps - the funny part is when he says I always tell him to "contact her", that is so LOL and true...every time she highlights a "pay it forward" type thing I get all LOUD and holler at the boys "HEY, why don't you guys ever write to ellen about me, we need money too?!?!" lol

The "411" aka "the back story"...

For those who are curious...

This all started in December, 2013. I tend to get a little down around the holidays and I was especially angry with “Ellen” cuz I did NOT get on her 12 days of giveaways, yet again, lol. Then I thought “that is so materialistic anyway” so I came up with the idea to do my own 25 days of giveaways for me & my boys to do one extra nice thing a day for anyone, even a stranger for the 25 days leading up to Christmas and beyond. I made the Facebook page just for us, to keep track of our acts of kindness without everything getting lost in my newsfeed. At the last minute I decided to throw it out there on Facebook for anyone to join us. 

This is my original post I put on my personal Facebook wall around Thanksgiving 2013:

Hey fb friends all over!

I’ve been thinking of something we (me & the boys) could do for the holiday season, something special. We don’t have any family here or any “big” plans, etc. and that can be kind of depressing during the holidays. I thought about painting ornaments (again), or maybe going to see the Rockettes at TBPAC, etc. but it didn’t seem to “pack a punch” for me/us. So I came up with this idea and thought I would share and maybe encourage/challenge you all to do the same and we can spread some joy, one day at a time, all over the country, or maybe even world?!

As many of you know I have a soft spot for the homeless. I am definitely not one of those “holier than thou” types…but whenever I see a homeless person I ALWAYS think “but for the grace of God there goes I” and “what you do for the least of my brothers you do for me”. So since we were the lucky recipients of a “random pay it forward” at McDonald’s a few days ago, and that had such an impact on us and was so easy to “pay it forward”, I decided that we are going to do 1 act of kindness each day from 12/1 to 12/25 for Advent…or longer…perhaps through Epiphany and beyond?

Here are some easy things to do:

• Make up little holiday zippy bags (dollar tree), add granola bar, small water, gum, hard candy, cash or a Walmart or McDonalds gift card and a St. Jude prayer card and this year I added a $1 scratch-off lottery ticket for fun (could win up to $5k!). I did these 2 years ago and the boys and the recipients loved it!

• When you pass a person with a sign that says hungry…ask them what they would like from whatever is close by and do a quick drive thru and deliver them a fast food meal. (We’ve done this at McDonald’s before, Man; do we ever go anywhere else? Should have bought stock in that company years ago, lol!)

• Keep some snacks in the car and if you don’t have money to give, offer a snack…cheese/peanut butter crackers, granola bar, water, etc.

• At Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts (fine, McDonalds for us!) ask how much the persons tab is behind you and pay for their coffee/meal/etc.

• Even just putting change in the Salvation Army bucket or the extra grocery requests at Publix, etc.

• You can also go online to sign up for the holiday tent at Metropolitan Ministries – it is a life changing experience. (We are signed up for 12/21 11am-3pm, join us!)

Maybe we can spread a little wave of kindness, one day at a time, one person as a time, and just maybe we can say…some people’s hearts grew 3 sizes that day!!!

A lot of friends jumped on board and shared with their friends and I posted a couple links here & there on the web. On the 1st few days I had a couple “kindness fails”. Then I felt even worse, kind of like geesh, I can’t even get anyone to accept an act of kindness. I even thought for bit maybe this is dumb and I should just quit but thought no, that sets a super bad example for the boys.

The very next morning I received an email on Facebook from Fox News wanting to do an interview. I talked to the reporter and mentioned the couple fails I had and she was really encouraging and said, I think it is wonderful and it’s the thought that counts, it will all come together. Good advice. I also thought it would be fun for us to be on “TV” and exciting for the kids to see how taping/editing works, etc.  After the segment aired, the group really blew up. We had over 250 members within the first week!  It was really fun and growing and so many people were enjoying it so we decided to keep it going.

I kept posting positive stories, news, inspirational quotes, etc. but unfortunately traffic did die down after the holidays. At Easter I decided to hold a contest for anyone who posted to win a gift card to any place of their choosing. I picked the winner randomly using an online numerator and the girl that won chose a Walmart gift card that can be used for gas too. In the true spirit of the “movement” she used half of her money for gas and the other half for the person behind her at the gas station!

She has been a great supporter (and friend) to me and the group and she is now one of our volunteer Admins on the Facebook page! Thanks Melissa! ;-) Everything works out for a reason, right?

Well, as time went on I sort of felt like I was the only one posting and I really didn’t “want it to be all about me” or sound braggy so I did not post any acts of kindness for a while (even though we and several others were still doing acts of kindness), I just shared inspirational stories, quotes, thoughts, etc. I sort of planned to make a big deal of holidays. So when my birthday came around I had planned to do something in lieu of celebrating “me” and then came up with the idea of treating people at Starbucks and passing out a flier sharing my "message" which, in a nutshell, was this:

Hello there!

Today is my birthday and I thought instead of focusing on me I would try to spread a little kindness around! I feel like there are so many terrible things going on in the world – the ISIS thing, the missing UVA girl, NFL violence, Ferguson, politics, etc. that just maybe if everyone TRIED to do ONE little extra thing, once a day, for anyone, even a stranger…maybe we could change the world?

I know right a tall order but it can’t hurt right, lol?!

HAVE A GREAT DAY& SPREAD THE KINDNESS!

Please visit my Facebook group too!

I included some of my favorite quotes too.

Again, I got another email from a different reporter who wanted to do a story for the Hometown Hero segment. (link to the right)

By this point we had over 800 or so "members" of our "little" group. Then a fellow classmate of Chad's was producing a show for the Tampa Mayor's Youth Group and she wanted to do a story on the "kindness page" and what teens can do to help in their community. It turned out really nice and now we have over 1000 members. (link to the right)

So now today, I FINALLY decided to make this a real blog. So wish me luck & please share!! :)