I’ve been doing this blogging thing for a while. I like to tell my story and recap TV shows in the comfort of my pajamas. It’s really easy to be vulnerable when you’re technically blabbing to a computer screen instead of a live human being.

My random acts of kindness challenge blew that security blanket out of the water. I was overwhelmed by the response. Within a few days, an entire community of people banded together to bless others. I wanted to gather everyone tight into my arms so they could personally share their experiences, sing a happy song and end with a big group hug. Maybe it was the sugar high from various birthday treats I received yesterday, but I certainly felt lots of love and lots of joy. I’m confident those who were blessed by your kind gestures felt that as well.

Emily (@Cafe_Emily on Twitter) completed 40 acts of kindness ON HER OWN. And my sweet friend Stephanie hauled 40 care packages to church last night so our Bible study group could bless individuals who are homeless. Words can not express my gratitude.

Several of you (WAY MORE THAN 40!!!) accepted the challenge. From the moment you made that choice, lives were changed. I’m going to write that sentence again so you can feel the weight of it.

From the moment you made that choice, lives were changed.

We live in a world full of suffering. I am overjoyed that in the last 40 days, we were able to shine a light in the lives of others. Maybe you did it with a meal, donation or holding an umbrella. The important thing is that you purposely thrust the spotlight on someone else. And that is a beautiful thing.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. And give His life as a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28

Here are your acts of kindness. Thank you for spreading the joy!

Lincee and Emily — Paid for meals at Chick-Fil-A, lottery tickets through the autobank tubes at Wells Fargo and lottery tickets on windshields

Emily had a great idea to give a lottery ticket to a bank teller! I’m the dork you hear with the thick East Texas accent. #randomactsofkindness #4×10 @supafrake

A video posted by Lincee (@linceeray) on Nov 4, 2015 at 11:10am PST

Catha — Organized neighborhood party, cleaned up church playground area after everyone left and purchased Starbucks gift card at Target and gave to an employee who seemed to be having a bad day (PS: Catha was an ambassador of RAK, asking several friends and family members to contribute to the end goal. Thank you!)

Todd — Gave a waitress a hefty tip

Marion — Spoke to lady at MD Anderson about loving their kids well, ran errands with Granny and drove her daughter to the store (who just had a baby and needed to see the light of day)

Cindy — Purchased M&M’s from a man in need and then left the candy on a car with a note that said, “Have a sweet day.”

Heather — Put the neighbors’ trash cans out on the street (one just had foot surgery and the other walks with a cane)

Morgan — Gathered car seat, stroller, swing, bounce set and some clothes for a woman who just learned she is about to be a foster mom to a newborn.

Rachel — Gave up prime seats to two older ladies at a flamenco dance show (Best sentence ever Rachel!)

Monica — Bought a massage gift card for neighbor who is battling cancer

Julie — Baked pumpkin muffins for the elderly man down the street

Nancy — Ordered a picture Bible for a child in the Arise Africa organization (Loved this!)

Crista — Organized community-wide prayer campaign for Sam (who had been in an ATV accident.) Sam passed away and his organs were donated, saving three lives. Chick-Fil-A sponsored a spirit night with all the proceeds going to the family. The community worked like crazy to volunteer that night. The event raised more than opening day numbers.

Lauren — Counseled a friend through a tough time and purchased dinner for the babysitter

The Johnson Family — Prepared an Operation Christmas Shoebox

Benjamin — Paid for the family behind him in Chick-Fil-A (Age 9)

Andrew — Went out of his way to purchase his GG’s favorite lasagna at Olive Garden (Age 6)

Allison — Left the security guard, Vanessa, a bag of treats, thanking her for being so awesome at her job

Holly — Purchasing a bag of food at the YOLO County Food Bank

Lorraine — Sponsored a Christmas Stocking at friendsandhelpers.org. They are a non-profit organization based in California which assists women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

Jen — Stopped by Aldi today and put quarters in a bunch of carts. (I’ve never heard of paying for a grocery cart!)

Lori — Took her dog Sophie to visit the residents at the nursing home

Erin — While a friend was going through chemo, posted uplifting song lyrics on her Facebook page and put together fun gift bags for fellow marathon runners

Annie — Provided a listening ear to a complete stranger who was going through a hard time

Megan — Helped neighbor clean apartment and gave money to someone who needed to ride the bus

Paige — Gave several “free lunch plate” coupons to city workers

Evangeline — Helped a blind lady make her way to the bus

Amy — She purchased something from the Amazon list for my friend Betty in Rwanda!!! (LOVE!)

Jill — Saw an older woman trip and fall on the street. Offered her a ride to her destination.

Sydney — Made bags of Halloween candy for her teachers because she wanted to make sure they received something too. Sydney also decided to accept donations for her birthday instead of presents. She’s nine-years-old.

Emerson — Following in her sister’s footsteps (Sydney), Emerson asked for donations for her birthday and was super excited to donate the toys to the United Way.

Nancy — Her daughter volunteers at “The Believe In Tomorrow” Children’s House at Johns Hopkins and her son encouraged her not to worry about the time change because “we’ll get through this together” (adorable)

Maggie — Donated to her church’s no-fee adoption campaign: http://antiochadoptions.org/

Tara — Note: Tara RECEIVED a RAK — Weepy and frightened after a diagnostic mammogram, a TSA attendant didn’t seem to think twice about reaching out to Tara both physically and emotionally to offer a warm hug and encouraging word.

Karen — Donated linens, towels, shirts to the Humane Society of Freeborn County, as well ad bags of clothes to the local consignment shop

Julie — Returned an elderly man’s shopping cart to the store so he wouldn’t have to get out into the pouring rain

Kelli — When the patrons next to them dined and dashed, Kelli and her friends combined their money to pay for the tab so the waitress didn’t have to take that out of her paycheck

Michelle — Raked leaves for a homeowner that needs help, served taco dinner at Union Gospel Mission, packed food for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), spent six days in the Dominican Republic on a mission trip where we passed out on FMSC food and loved the kids

Maigan — Purchased groceries for the man behind her in the store

Melissa — Brought banana chocolate chip muffins (yum) to the teachers at school and anonymously dropped off pumpkins to neighborhood houses

Justin — Traveled to PA with uncle to help gather my cousin’s belongings and bring them back home to Texas after his tragic passing in a car accident. Picked up neighbors in the rain the on their anniversary after their vehicle got stuck in the mud.

Paula — Dropped a check to pay for several months of membership at a gym that specializes in Parkinson’s patience (where her friend receives therapy) and sent a box a Halloween candy and some other goodies to college kids whose mother just passed away from ALS

Julie — Purchased Kroger gift cards and asked cashiers to gift people in line who needed it

Weissflisch Family — A little girl (age 8) from daughter’s school is undergoing chemo for a rare blood disorder and she is losing her long blonde hair. We got some Disney Princess dolls and are shaving their heads and sending her encouraging letters to say she is beautiful without her hair.

Melanna — After her friend’s mom recently passed away, showed up on her doorstep with a cupcake because birthdays should be celebrated

Mary — Met a student and his dad at school on a Saturday morning at 7:30, in the rain and gave him the I-don’t-know-how-many-th copy of some homework assignments to keep him from failing

Hayley — Fostered a dog for the first time