My friend Ana was so kind enough to hang with me while my husband was out on TGR road trip. We stopped by Target and she saw all these Hello Kitty ornaments. She almost bought one, but I convinced her not too. When we parted ways that night, I went back to Target, bought the ornament, wrapped it, and left it on her desk two days later with a gift revolution card. Just a way to say thank you for your friendship!!
2008-12-19 12:03:38
drink at dallas airport
fachon, 36, dallas, US
I just arrived from Seattle to Dallas and missed my connecting flight to Austin. Got in line at the Dunkin Donuts to get something to drink and eat. When I got to the cash register, the lady in front of me paid for my things. She said happy holidays and handed me the Gift Revolution Card. This small gesture really made my day!!!
2008-12-19 10:16:08
Thank you - Car Parts
Steve Mackey, 43, Miramar, FL, US
A group of us are working a TGR project and needed a car part.
The 1st place we went to, wanted $170 for the part, so we looked to get a used part. After 1 1/2 days of trying to get a used part, we finally got one for $90. It was from the wrong year car, and would not fit!
We did not have the $170, but the car would not run without the part...
We decided to take a chance on another parts store.
We went to CarQuest in Davie and after explaining TGR and asking if they could cut us a break, they sold us a brand new part for $100.
We went back, put the part on the car, and it runs great.
I cannot be more specific on our project as we have not finished yet.
I would like to give a special "thank you" to the rep at the store for being so kind and giving us a seriously deep discount. I would also recommend these guys to anyone needing parts.
Their number 954-424-6196
They are located behind the restaurant depot on St Rt 84 in Davie.
Today's going to be HUGE in someone's life! I cannot wait to deliver on TGR
Steve
2008-12-19 09:54:12
Taxi Driver
Dorcas Guschov, 26, Lima, PE
We were taking a taxi back from the FRC-Lima TGR Rally @ the YMCA in Lima on Wed. night, & the taxi driver was very courteous & drove very safely (a rarity in Lima!) & also informed the police about a drunk driver who was weaving in & out of lanes & causing a danger for everyone else on the road. We rewarded our safe & courteous taxi driver w/ a very big tip & a TGR card. He was very excited!
2008-12-19 08:56:20
Gifts you CAN buy
Barbara, 62, Davie, US
Each year as I send Christmas cards and prepare for our Christmas celebration I try to think on each person individually. What a gift they have been to me and if I could buy them a gift, what would it be. The first one was my best friend of 40years who's daughter died this year 3 days after giving birth to her first baby. I would have given them the gift of time but there is no way to buy time for them, so I sent my heart which was so hard to do. The second is someone I work with who's husband is dying. If I could give her a gift, it would also be the gift of time but there is no way to buy that gift either. The third person is a guy that is a gift to me every night at work. He and his wife are adopting a baby from Jamacia. It has been a very long and tireing process. He went down there with his wife in October to finally get the baby and bring him here. Something was wrong with some of the paperwork and the baby could not come out of the country. He had to come back to keep his job. His wife has been down there since October. He is lonely for her and for the baby and just the life they had planned to have as a family. I thought the gift I would give him would also be the gift of time and then I realized that I could actually buy that time. I told him so see what hours he could trade or swap or find someone to work for him and then find a plane ticket go to Jamicia and spend Christmas and a few days with his family. There really are more options for shopping than what is at the mall! Who would think you could buy time at the airport. I feel like I saw the BIG PICTURE!
2008-12-19 08:43:33
THANKS
chris&jeanie, 35, florence, US
I would like to say thanks to David & Mike.Around the 1st of december my wife & i were talking about asking to skip a payment for the mounth of december , but i couldn't do it cause they have helped my family so much in the pass.Then one day i checked the mail & there was a letter in there saying that we didn't have to make a payment this mounth & and no one had said anything. THANKS ALOT...
2008-12-18 22:36:20
WHAT LOVE IS!!!!!!!!
PTOWNGRANY, 64, PORTLAND tennessee, US
THIS IS TRULY A BLESSING MY GRANDSON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND CAME IN WHILE I WAS AT WORK AND CLEANED MY ENTIRE HOUSE..LEFT THE GIFT REVOLUTION CARD ON MY DOOR...DIDNT EXPECT A THING IN RETURN...THIS MEANT MORE TO ME THAN ANYTHING MONEY COULD BUY..THESE ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE TRYIG REALLY HARD TO BE WHAT THE LORD WOULD HAVE THEM BE!!!!!!!!! THEY AR BOTH GOING TO SCHOOL TO TEACH SPEACIAL EEDS STUDENTS... AND STRUGGLE EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT...AM ASKING FOR BLESSINGS FOR THEM AS A WAY TO PAY IT FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!
2008-12-18 18:55:28
Helping a Friend :)
Marilda & Michel, 20, Pembroke Pines, US
I work with a wonderful person who is not having the best Christmas that most of us are having. She works part time while going to college to support her mother who does not have a job. Having to take the city bus to work, she also has to deal with making sure that there will be enough food in the house since she and her mother live off of food stamps.
What a better way to help her out than to go grocery shopping for the holidays which is exactly what I did with a really good friend. (Michel).
She was extremely thankful for what we have done :) and the smile on her face was worth all the effort to bare the crowds during the Christmas shopping..
That's just only one of our Gift Revs for the 25 days!
2008-12-18 18:16:11
BREAKFAST
Luz de la Paz, 37, PEMBROKE PINES, US
This holidays have been a drag for this year. The economy has me so down, always afraid to spend any money because I want to make sure that I can pay for my house and provide for my small children. I started decorating my house but never finished, I figured that why bring everything down from the attick, for what? I did put my Christmas tree for the children to enjoy. This past week I wrote on my facebook page that I did not have Christmas spirit and I got so many responses about it that I had to change my status (not because I did not feel that way but because of the overwhelming response). I decided this morning to stop my McDonalds to buy breakfast for my daughter and as I approched the window I was given the surprise of my life, the person in front of me paid for my meal and left a card behind. I was so in shock that I tried calling all my friends to talk about it but nobody was there. When I got to work I told everybody the story, what happened to me opened my eyes to what the holiday season should be. Its not about spending money to buy things but its about happiness, joy, giving to other with no expectations, love, forgiveness is all of it wrapped into one little package. The gesture made me so happy. So I decided to pay it forward and as I ordered my lunch on the same day (God works in mysterious ways) a lady stood behind me to order her lunch and when the clerk told her the total I noticed she was looking for $$$ and only had a few dollar. This was my time so I purchased her meal and the first thing she said to me was: WHY? I told her because I wanted to no reason.....Merry Christmas!!! I put a smile in her face that was my Christmas Gift.
2008-12-18 17:33:13
Traveling Gifts
Ansley Summerville, 20, Plantation Florida, US
This past week I had the opportunity to spend some time with my older sister and her finance in Austin, Texas. My sister and I decided to go get hot chocolate at starbucks in downtown Austin, because it was unusually cold. I gave the cashier my "Black Starbucks" card that I won at our staff event this year. This was the first time to use it and I was told (after I purchased two drinks) that I get a free drink. So we decided to give it to a cold person on the street. We bought a peppermint hot chocolate and handed it to a lady along with a Gift Revolution card so she could stay warm while waiting for her bus.
2008-12-18 17:22:49
Icy Revolution
Steve and Kirsten Patterson, 34, Beaver Creek, US
The other morning here in Ohio it was 15 degrees (We definitely are not in Ft. Lauderdale anymore) so we decided to gift our neighbors with ice scrapers on their cars. Keep the revolution going!
2008-12-18 16:56:20
Blessed after stress
Anita B, 44, Nashville, US
I was at a Toby Mac concert in Nashville on Dec 5, 2008. I have been stressing all season long about our family finances and the only reason we were at the concert was that a good friend could not make it and asked me to take her two children and she would gift me with 3 tickets. So here I was with 4 kids and of course they want to have this and that from the concession stand. I had already warned my two children NOT to ask for anything and made them eat at home before we left. Well of course kids are just kids and they really wanted something from the concession stand and me being mom just did not want to say no. After all it was a great evening! I gave my son $5.00 to buy something and my daughter wanted a funell cake. I stood in line with her and kept thinking how badly I wished I didn't have to sweat the small stuff. When it was our turn in the line, the vendor handed us a funnel cake with the gift revolution card and told us a gentleman had paid for us! With so many people around us, we had no idea who it was. But if this is you and you are reading this, we felt blessed by that gesture and you taught me to just be faithful, He will always provide. My daughter will never forget your kindness, nor will I.
2008-12-18 15:09:34
Elephant Ears
Troy Walton , 27, Nashville , US
I work with someone who experienced the "Gift Revolution," she took her kids to a concert, the person in fromt of her in the concessions line over heard my co-worker tell her daughter that she could not have an elephant ear, my co worker was also distracted and was in conversation with the person directly behind her in line and upon reaching the counter to make their purchase, the concession attendant gave my coworker's daughter the elephant ear and on the ear was your card. With only 7 days left i wish i could have had the oppurtunity to order some of your cards. What you have craeted is exceptional and inspirational and has touched teh good will and spirit of my soul that sometimes gets lost in these grim times. Thank you for making me feel again.
2008-12-18 13:55:54
Caddy For A Cure
Russ, 50, Coral Springs, US
We are so grateful for our existence helping so many with so many gifts.....but we are humbled to receive gifts ourself.
A former caddie, Mark Canno, gracefully gives every year to us and this year was no exception.
God Bless the Canno family.
I was standing in line at the check out with my three children and sort of remember the lady in front of me, not really paying much attention as she cashed out. I was standing there reading a magazine and my kids were tyring to pick up anything possible at the candy stands as we stood there. The lady in front of me left and I made contact with the cashier and the cashier stated that the lady in front of me wanted to give me this Wal-Mart gift card and with the gift card was The Gift Revolution card. My children and I were shocked and so was the cashier. None of us knew what to think of it. I accepted it from the cashier and was very thankful. However, at that point there is noone to thank becuase the lady who passed on the "gift" already left. I looked ahead and she was gone. The next day I went to the website and here I am telling my story. This is a great idea and I'm truly inspired to keep The Gift Revolution going. Thank you!!!!!
2008-12-18 11:06:48
Unexpected gift of joy.
Lee, 52, Fort Lauderdale, US
Every year my oldest daughter and I try to make sure we help someone during the Holidays. We never know what that help maybe or who it will be for. It seems like God just directs us into the path that we know who, what, when, and where with no preplanning - it just happens. Every year is different circumstances and different places.
This year within the company that I work for I had heard about one of the employee's having two great kids and very smart, etc. and I as I was walking through the plant I stopped the gentlemen and asked him about his children, such as their ages, what do they like to do etc. I decided this is who I think I need to help in providing a little extra something for these kids this year. A week passed and I was having lunch with one of the management team and I was told the story about the employee's wife having to undergo a double mastectomy and then going through the reconstructive surgery. I found out there was no family to help them in this country and he had to take two weeks off to take care of her and his children. He works very hard to provide for his family with extra hours etc. and I knew right then and there he was the person that I needed to help this year. I called my daughter and the other management person, and I decided to buy gifts for the kids and help make their holiday a little better.
We called him to the office and proceeded to share our story of wanting to help with his family and he asked how did you know and I do not ask for anything from anyone, and then the tears came from all and it was a very touching moment that this husband/father saw the meaning of his prayers being answered through the wonders of God's ability to put people together that can help each other in time of need. When you think no one is listening - God is listening and is there to help guide us through our days.
We actually bought gifts that the children were asking for and all he kept saying was how did you know, how did you know.
The true meaning of this story and several others in my past have been listen to the message when it comes to you and act upon it. There is a reason you are getting the message - do not second guess it.
Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season.
2008-12-18 10:24:34
Y-M-C-A!
Steve Guschov, 43, Lima, PE
On Wednesday night, FRC-Lima held a TGR rally at the Lima YMCA. Close to 50 youth were there, & now they're out & about, spreading the revolution throughout Peru!
2008-12-18 09:01:50
Giving To The Children
Joyce, 49, Naples, FL, US
My gift revolution started about a month before the official date. I drive a delivery route each morning and back in Oct., my route was changed. Instead of seeing my usual friends, I was sent 60 miles out of town, to a small migrant village. I wasn't happy about this change.
Then one day, I asked God to help me find a purpose in this daily trip. As I walked through the medical center, picking up my specimens, I saw the faces of the children. The next day, I tucked a handful of lollipops in my pocket and gave them out. The smiles were priceless.
I found some small candy canes and started handing them out each morning. Then it got cold, and I found some outgrown jackets from my boys' and I tucked them in the car. Two little boys crossed my path and they were proud owners of new jackets.
I found a deal on Teddy Bears at the local dollar store and the kids loved them. I found a box of discarded beanie babies in the closet and out they came.
When I shared my story with a friend who owns a gift basket store, the next time I was in, she loaded me up with choocolates and more beanies.
Yesterday everyone got a gift that I came in contact with.
Giving gifts to these children has changed my life, my daily focus. Instead of the drudgery of the drive, I can't wait to see who God will put in my path!
My gift revolution will not end on December 25th ... I cannot wait to see what happens all throught 2009!!
2008-12-18 08:45:07
Cleaning Up
Kahlilah, 32, Miramar, US
During the IT book study the ladies were challenged to do something in a group. Three friends and I got together and paid for a cleaning service for a single mother of three. We also brought her and the children dinner that evening. It was a great experience, she was blessed but we were blessed even more!
2008-12-18 06:43:20
pay it forward gift
JOSE GALINDO, 39, MIAMI, US
Many times we walk through different without looking around us.different people try to reach us,sometimes for a word of comfort or just to let them know everything will be ok.
My story is real , one of my employees need help with a car and our family was blessed with another one,God bless me with another job when I finish the other one.
I was asking for more time and It was granted to me.
With God all things are possible.
