Whether this is your first time tuning into House of Shine on a Saturday or you have been with us for the past year, today marks the first yellow envelope of 2011.  And what a perfect way to start our next Year of the Yellow Envelope than with today's nominee.

Today's recipient is one of us.  She has a heart for helping others, but as importantly she understands the importance of being focused.  She like many of us has lots of personal goals and lots of ideas for the kind of parent she wants to be.  But she also understands that unless she focuses, that is all they will ever be - goals and ideas.

So today's recipient took action and you won't believe the genius of her idea.  What better way to teach your children about service to others than to commit to doing a service project a week?  And, what better way to hold yourself accountable than to host a blog with pictures of each week's activity?

Before zipping over to Amber's site, check out what her nominator has to say:

"Amber's heart is as huge as her beautiful, ever present smile. She lives her life focused on others...first her family - and second, those less fortunate. A strong desire was to share this passion with her children in hopes that one day, being more mindful of other peoples needs than even their own would be like second nature to them. So she started a blog - www.one-sweet-treat-a-week-diet.blogspot.com - she lives out what she teaches her children...and now these two sweet kids have a heart for others as big as their moms. She truly is making her community better by bringing blessings into other lives on a weekly basis - and now...her kids are too. She's an inspiration to me and many others."

Here, here.  I couldn't agree more.  The simplicity of her idea is comforting, the commitment to following through is impressive, and the impact it is having on those around her is inspiring.

Let's respond to Amber's efforts with our own idea - one I think is comparably simple and that I hope is comparably impactful.  We will flood her mailbox with anonymous letters of gratitude sealed in yellow envelopes.  If you are a newcomer the rules of play are easy:

Take ten minutes and write Amber a short note letting her know you think she shines.  Praise the service work she is doing in her community, but also acknowledge her contribution toward raising a generation of thoughtful, giving, grateful children who also shine.  Seal you note in a yellow envelope (or white decorated with yellow markers and stickers) and mail it to the address listed below.  But don't reveal your return address.  Instead, simply place the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in its place.

Finally, place a stamp on your envelope and commit to mailing it before next Saturday when we meet again to recognize another deserving person.  Let mailing Amber's yellow envelope be your service project of the week.

Shining off until Monday...