Many of you who read these daily emails, know that I am a proud member of the Marys and Marthas, a relatively new group of more than 100 gals in Clarion, who meet for one hour per month....come when they can, contribute time and $$ as their calendars and pocketbooks allow. We do magnificent things, as we do what our purpose says, "to become the hearts and hands of Jesus".

For a second time, we were the organizing force for Make a Difference Day in Clarion - October 25 last year. The national event attracted 3 million volunteers. We were able to work a total of nearly 1100 hours, using 445 volunteers (due to how we reported our work, volunteers were recorded from 1 - 4 times). Our tasks included painting two houses, delivering soup and cookies to 80 people, a warm clothing free coat drive and distribution, general clean up for individuals who requested it, a wheelchair parade for care center residents, to name but a few.

Yesterday, we were recognized by the USA Weekend magazine as one their Honorable Mention winners.....one of only six recognitions in the state of Iowa!  So congratulations to my M & Ms team and the rest of the Clarion volunteers who made it happen.

But we are not alone the volunteer spirit is found everywhere around the world. Here is a Chicken Soup for the Soul email which I thought exemplified that spirit:

Unexpected Blessings
By Cynthia Hummel

When the adoption agency said we were matched for a baby boy, we were overjoyed. We hugged and kissed in celebration that our dream was about to come true. So when the counselor said we should be ready to fly to the opposite coast for his due date on April 27, just over a week away, we didn't hesitate for a second in saying we would be there.

Most expectant mothers have nine months to prepare – we had just nine days. We had been expecting a full two-year wait for a child. We were shocked when the call came just three months after we completed the paperwork. "Is the nursery ready?" asked a business associate. Well, not exactly. In fact, we had nothing for a baby. The would-be nursery in our 1840s fixer-upper farmhouse was water damaged and very badly in need of rewiring as well as new walls, a new ceiling and floor. Once the room was finished, we could begin purchasing items for our future addition to the family.

Nine days? We could do it! After all, it's not every day that a couple can fulfill their dream of bringing a baby into their lives.

We worked during the day and worked like mad by night. The thought of finally having a child of our own kept us going. As the baby's due date neared, we were almost finished restoring the room. We made a whirlwind trip through two stores to buy the basic necessities – a diaper bag, diapers, baby wipes and blankets. Friends, family and sometimes even complete strangers who had heard our story showed up with used baby furniture, clothes and a host of other necessities to help us be ready in time.

As we boarded the flight with a stocked diaper bag and borrowed car seat in hand, we had accomplished nearly all of our goals – except for painting and putting up the last of the wood trim work in the nursery. The baby's room would not be exactly as we had pictured it, but somehow we thought our son would not notice if a few final touches came later.

Three weeks and a long airplane ride later, my husband and I walked through the door of our home with our new son. The moment was one of indescribable joy for us. As we put our son to sleep in his cousin's crib, we noticed an unexpected surprise: the painting was completed and the trim work placed! The nursery was finished! Next, we noticed that the refrigerator had been stocked with several meals for us.

Friends and family came throughout the next few days to see our new son and continued to bring items we needed, such as a playpen and a highchair. When our son went through a bout of colic, my mother-in-law gave us one of the best gifts of all – the opportunity to get some precious sleep.