Traveling Bee Kind Rocks

          TRAVELING BEE KIND ROCKS

"If you receive a Bee Kind Rock do an act of kindness. It can be as small as smiling at someone who needs it to as big as...well, let your spirit tell you what to do. Then pass your rock to someone else or leave it for someone to find. Let us know on Facebook at BEE KIND ROCKS where you are and the number of your rock. Pictures are appreciated. "

                                                   
My name is Sheryl and I am an artist. My favorite thing to paint on at this time is rocks. I am not alone in this craft. There are many rock painters around the world. It goes back in time to, well, to the beginning. You can still see the paintings in caves and on rocks of our distant ancestors. I continue the tradition of rock painting but not in primitive style. I like bright and happy colors.

I have been a part of Random Acts of Kindness and Art Abandonment (found on FB) for several years. I enjoy doing little things that touch people. With my painting of rocks this theme carries through. The first year I painted small rocks.......

 
and I placed them where people would find them....in a grocery cart seat, on a restaurant table, on a bench outside of a hospital door.  Sometimes I would hand a stranger a painted rock. It surprised me how much it meant to them. Lots of them would hold the rock to their heart and say you don't know how much I needed this today. There have been hugs, tears and kindness returned to me.


This year, 2016, I decided I wanted to send my little painted rocks around the United States. At first I was going to paint different designs on each rock and add a note of 2016 Be Kind, pass it on. Then as I looked through my painting design books for ideas I came across one of my favorite books, BumbleBees and Daisy Chains. I knew Annie Lang's happy bees would be perfect to spread smiles and kindness. It was meant to bee.  And so, it became BEE KIND ROCKS. I then wanted to send Bee Kind rocks not only to the states but around the world.

Bee Kind rock #1

January 1, 2016 I put out my first Bee Kind Rock in my hometown in Central Illinois. I also

contacted Facebook friends in different cities, states and countries to ask them if I could send them a rock to start its kindness journey. Everyone has been happy to do so. At this time, February 6,  I have a Bee Kind rock in 15 states, Japan and Malaysia. How exciting!

I am blessed to have a brother and lovely sister-in-law who are retired and they love to travel around the world. They offered to take Bee Kind Rocks with them. As they drove from Illinois to California they had 10 rocks to pass along. I am sure they have found, just as I have, that you look for just the right person or place for the rock. Then a feeling hits you and you know its time to give it away. Marvin and Mona have posted on my Facebook page, Bee Kind Rocks, the place and pictures of each of the people that received them. They gave rocks to an artist who paints on rocks too, to a girl from Germany traveling Route 66,  to a couple from Canada (I am excited to place that on my map) and others along the way.

Look at all those happy faces already thinking of who they will pass the Bee Kind rock on to next.
Marvin and Mona have more wonderful trips to different countries planned for this year and more small rocks will travel with them to be left to spread kindness.

Sheryl

   Did I tell you I am excited?
  This is so cool!!!




My cousins, Randy and Mary Ann, are going on a cruise and they are leaving a rock at each island. They stopped at a restaurant and their waitress was so nice. Mary Ann gave her a Bee Kind rock and the young lady was so thrilled. The waitress did a kind act right then and gave Mary Ann a piece of pie!

#21

Kenishia knew who she was going to pass the rock on to, even though she wanted to keep it herself.    She knew someone else who needed something to make them smile.

So Mary Ann then gave her a special little bee rock for her to keep.

Another friend, Debra, took hers to Oregon. She let her spirit tell her when it was time to pass her rock along. As Debra and a friend had lunch a birthday party was going on. Debra knew the birthday lady was supposed to have this rock. The lady loved it... turns out she works at a rock shop!

Christine sent hers to a pen pal in Japan. That one, #3, was the first to travel across the ocean.

I think my goal is to paint 100 Bee Kind rocks. I have 1/3 of them painted and sent out now. I will post updates on FB-Bee Kind Rocks as people let me know where they left the rock or when others tell me how they got the rock. It all depends on the kindness of others to pass these rocks along for the story of their journey to continue.

It is so fun, exciting, magical....to send these rocks out to the world. I can't wait to see where they travel to. But, even if they go no farther than to the hands of one person, then that is one who has been touched by kindness and I hope a smile has crossed their face

 One small act of kindness can make a big difference.
                               Be Kind to One Another.
                                                                                 Sheryl

       Facebook page-Bee Kind Rocks 
     Check out the travel blog of Marvin and Mona Retirees on the Go
              

Dear February

              Dear February,

              I just wanted to thank you for being a good month.

In the middle of all your days
you give to us 
~Valentine's Day~
You hold the promise of love.

It warms our hearts in the coldness of winter

to see so many express their love to each other with  

cards, candy, and (my favorite) flowers.

And this year..

2011

February, you were made even more special.

As one man and one woman

took vows to love and honor each other,

As Duane and Cindy

became

Husband and Wife.

February 11, 2011

February, may you continue to spread the 

 love for many more years.

Thank You, February...

The month of love,

 For those we love

and

For those who love us.

A Night at The Lincoln Theater

The Lincoln Theater in Decatur, Illinois was having an overnight ghost hunting adventure from 9pm until 5am. When Vicky and Julie H. heard about it they called me to see if I would want to do this with them. Of course I was ready to join them in this experience.
We made our plans, bought equipment (I took 4 flashlights and extra batteries!) and had our coolers packed with snacks for the night. We were serious ghost hunters.

As we waited outside for the doors to open at 9 p.m. we watched as other ghost hunters showed up.

Giggily young girls...

 men with big expensive cameras... 

people with strange boxes...

and a couple dressed in camoflauge

(was that supposed to keep the ghost from seeing them???)

Around 50 people showed up.

First we went into the theater to hear what we were going to do.

As we waited Julie and I took some pictures.

My camera did something I had never ever seen before.

Red numbers kept flashing across the screen over and over.

Where did the numbers come from???

I use my camera a lot and have never seen numbers.

At the same time I could hear Julie saying, "That's strange,

my camera has never acted like that before!"

Hmm...is this going to be an interesting night?

We were split up into 4 groups.

There were four different areas that the groups rotated around in half an hour shifts. We were allowed to form our own opinions before they told us about the ghostly encounters of others.

First we went up to the highest level, the film room and balcony.

(A woman in 1920's clothing is seen sitting there)

We waited, we watched and listened...

for the ghost who likes to stomp on the catwalk,

for the woman who quietly sits.

Nothing..not even a Boo!

Next we went to the basement.

(Lots of voices heard down here)

It was this dark.

and I made Vicky sit in the darkest corner.

It did feel odd.

But still nothing happened...

Not even a Boo!

Next we moved in the basement to the dressing room. 

(Hair pulling in this room and clothing tugged)

Remember...it is this dark. (Taking pictures with a flash)

As we sit there a flashlight that we have laying on the counter

rolls quickly away from us...we swear..none of us touched it.

 We wait and watch for it to happen again...
Then once again..the flashlight went rolling
quickly from one spot to another! 

Hmm.., a boo??

Next we go backstage....where the spiral staircase is. 

(Footsteps cross the stage and go up the staircase.)

We wait, we listen, we go to the top of the staircase.

We didn't get to hear the footsteps...

nope...not a boo!

But one strange thing there was...

As the EMF lights up to say engery is near I take a picture and

above Julie is a cool orb.

Yes, sometimes I think orbs are dust particles..like left side.

But, other times they can be so clear, colorful and full of engery.

Our last group time was to go into the theater.

(ghost kicks the back of seats, seats go up and down, voices are heard)

We waited, we watched, we listened.

And you guessed it.... not even a boo!

Everyone came back to the theater to hear

 tales of others who had been there before.

Whispers, touching and being pushed to the floor.

Footsteps and visions and shadows and more.

But for us on this night it pretty quiet and calm.

Then they let all of us roam wherever we wanted.

At one point the 3 of us were on the stage behind the curtain

and someone else was in front and he had a radio voice detector. They said it would let a spirit pick up words it wanted to use. This guy was asking questions and it would spit out words.

We heard him ask "How many people are on this stage"

And it answered "3"

Hmm....he did not know we were there.

But did something else know?

Later in the basement with the box the question was asked.

 "Will you knock and let us know you are here?"

And it answered "No"

Another question for the voice box.

"How many are in this room?"

"2 men and 3 women" it answered correctly.

It had also said "kill video" and then the video batteries died.

Now that was interesting because that happened with us.

There was one girl who said she felt a cold breath on her face and a door slammed shut...but we don't believe her.

(In same room that our flashlight moved twice.)

And another girl in the dark dark basement room with us

felt it getting colder and colder and said

the shadows moved around her.

But.. how can you believe that??

(In same room that our flashight moved twice.)

We wanted to experience it for ourselves and be able to tell stories of ghost and things that say Boo!

We wanted to be able to say a ghost pushed Vicky out of her chair,

Or that a ghost wispered in Vicky's ear,

Or that a ghost scratched......Vicky.

and then you could say...

How can you believe....

Vicky



Julie




Or Sheryl

Those crazy ghost hunting girls.



BOO !!

If you want to do this they have another one in May.

May 13...Friday the 13th!

http://www.bumpinthenight.net/lincoln.html

It cost $50 and that goes toward redoing the Lincoln Theater.

Today I Enjoyed.....

Today I relaxed, let go and was carried away...

I heard the patter of rain showers

I saw the pastel colors of a rainbow

I heard the roar of the ocean.

A warm blowing breeze flowed past me.

At the end I was told to "GO"

Go.... enjoy my day

Go.... enjoy my night

Go.... enjoy my life.

What

a

nice

moment

at

the
car
wash.

It's all in how you look at things.

I Love You All The Time

As I sat in church the first Sunday morning of 2011.

Love is on my heart.

Kayla is on my mind.

At 12 years old she is in pre-teen mode. 

A little girl changing........

                        into a young woman.

Mind and body are changing.......

                        with new understanding and more responsiblity.

Emotions and attitudes are changing....

                       quickly from one minute to the next.

It is at this time she needs reassured that she is loved.

On New Years Eve she was full of attitude. As I got ready to leave I ask her to come to say good-bye.

After the third time she finally came to me,

I hugged her and the words came out of my mouth...

"I love you.....all the time."

My mind takes me back to my sweet little Kayla.

I would say to her.....

"Grandma loves you all the time."

Those were special words between her and I.

Today I wonder...when did I stop saying

"I love you....all the time."

I still tell Kayla that I love her.... 

 but when did the "all the time" part stop.

How did that slip away and I hadn't even notice?

So as this new year starts

I am changing...

I am bringing back the old

"Grandma loves you...All The Time"

Kayla, you are beautiful.

You are amazing.

As your life changes.

I want you to know in your heart

that I still

Love You All The Time

and

I always will.

                   

Love, Grandma Sheryl

Christmas Questions

Check out my Christmas Questions and photos that I have been putting on Facebook.

The Magic of Christmas (Wrote in 1985)

When I was a little girl my bed was the sofa bed in our frontroom. This was a perfect place to be, especially on Christmas Eve.

After my parents went to bed the room would be dark and chilly. I would snuggle in between the cold sheets trying to get warm. I was too excited to go to sleep. I knew if I waited long enough I would catch Santa on his visit. But Santa won't come if he knows you are awake so I would pretend to be asleep. In that magical moment when my eyes were closed Santa would come.

As I open my eyes I see the magic that Santa has left behind. The room is now warm and cozy. The tree is beautiful with its rainbow of lights. And around the tree are the odd shapes of presents.

I would lie as quiet as I could and listen to be sure that magical man, Santa, had left. Then I would run and wake my brother. We would peak at our presents, deciding which ones to open first. Finally, our parents would get up and join us. We would open all those wonderful presents in the dark early morning. It was a magical time spent with my family.

After the excitement we would go back to bed taking one present with us. I would always take my new doll. It felt so good to snuggle back into bed with her. I loved the new smell of my doll. I would fall asleep with joy in my heart.

As I grew up I lost the magic of Christmas. The excitement and curiosity were gone. Many Christmas's would come and go and I began to wish I could feel the magic again.

****Wishes Do Come True****

Now I feel the magic of Christmas as my daughter and I lie awake in her bed on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to come. We close our eyes and pretend to sleep. She convinces me the noises we hear are reindeer on the roof or Santa setting out our presents. We are excited and scared. When all is quiet again we hear only the beating of our hearts.

In the dark early morning she wakes her dad and we go to the frontroom. The Christmas tree is bright, the presents are under the tree and the room is warm and cozy. This is a magical time to be shared with my family.

After the presents are opened we are happy and tired from the excitement. We go back to bed. My daughter snuggles into her bed with new doll. I snuggle into bed with husband.  

  
And we fall                      

    asleep with joy         

       in our hearts.