So I've had a couple emails

asking me what kind of service keeps me so busy. I don't have extraordinarily unusual ideas - most of it is ho-hum. But I feel honor bound to elucidate further.

• We make a lot of meals. We make a LOT of meals. Also cookies and bread. I never make one loaf - I always make one (or three) extra, and we make a night of it, delivering freshly baked bread. My kids love it. And cookies. When I make a batch, I only keep a dozen or so - the rest is for giveaways.
  

• I like asking pregnant women what they're craving lately - then pick it up for them at the grocery store. (One friend of mine is really into Pop-tarts. Another is diggin' Oreos and Granny Smith apples.) Such a simple way to make someone's day.

• I watch kids a lot, too. I usually volunteer - before anyone asks, I mean. (i.e. "Hey, ladyfriend, can I take your kids on Thursday morning?") The answer is usually yes.

Service is so easy once you get into the habit. This past Saturday was Little Prince's "Spring Fling" at school. We came, we played, we left. And on the way out we noticed that the lady running the balloon stall was completely swamped and looking harried. So I offered to tie the strings while she blew them up. Took me a mere twenty minutes to ease someone's load.

Some things that other people have done for me - service that I loved!

• Take someone your baby's hand-me downs.

• Lend out your maternity clothes during a friend's last two months. By then she'll be sick of her own clothes and grateful for something new in her closet!

• If you know that a friend's baby is colicky at a certain time, show up at the door and give her arms a break for an hour.

I think the key is that - most of the time - you really have to perceive somebody's need. Most of us (myself included) don't like asking for help. Rather than ask weakly, "is there anything I can do?" - DO IT!

Of all the (little) service projects I do, though, my favorite by far is sending thank-yous. At first it was hard. It was hard to look for people doing service that I was grateful for - and now I find it everywhere.

I have sent thank-yous to the chorister at church for crying during a song and making me better appreciate the words to a hymn. To an activity chairperson for being so dependable and creative. To our baby-sitter for taking care of our kids so well. To the mom of my son's friend for raising such a great kid. To my visiting teacher for visiting me three months in a row. To an elderly woman at church who paid me a wonderful compliment that made my day. To a woman who is so well thought of that whenever I have a conversation about compassion, her name comes up - I had to let her know.

You get the idea.

And I'll tell ya - I've learned something. I've learned that regardless of age, race, financial circumstances or number of children - we all need something.

A friend.