1.       Make food, that can easily be warmed and served without a lot of preparation needed such as left-overs preferably in single serving sizes.  Nothing fancy required.

2.       Run errands: post office, grocery, pick up medicine or supplies, go to the bank, take books back to the library and bring a new selection.

3.       Baby-sit the other children.  Invite them to play with your kids.  Keep them involved. 

4.       Take the dog for a walk, give him a bath, or play with him.

5.       Videotape or record church services and drop them off.

6.       Send a card. Send their loved one a card. Don’t forget them when you don’t see them for awhile. They haven't forgotten you, their attention in spent making life and death decisions and that's exhausting.  

7.       Understand that a clean house, nails that aren't manicured, clothes that don't match, etc. are going to happen. Personal care comes second. 

8.       If you have the skill, go to their home to cut and fix their hair.  Help wash and fix their loved one’s hair. 

9.       Drop over for a cup of tea, make it and sit down for a little bit. Realize that they may not want to talk, but having a supportive friend sharing a few minutes with them can make a difference.

10.   If you are asked to leave, or they don’t feel like talking, don’t take offense, simply say, ok and remember you are the one who has been telling them all along, “you should take care of yourself.”

11.   There sleep cycle is not 11p-7a. it is centered around love and care of their family member.  When they are sleeping in the day, remember that everyone needs to sleep once in awhile. 

12.   Clean the house, wash the car, wash clothes, or water plants. These are task that fall behind or get forgotten all together when a medical crisis happens.

13.   If it’s Christmas, help decorate tree and house, or hang lights outside. Help the family celebrate holidays since it is a part of living.

14.   Help them put the seasonal stuff away.  

15.   Help address cards, Christmas, birthday, valentine’s …

16.   Shovel snow, rake leaves, mow the lawn, plant some flowers.

17.   Bring some firewood for a warm, cozy, fire.  Stay for roasted marshmallows.

18.   Bring Calgon, or chocolate and strawberries, … some favorite things to feel a bit pampered.

19.   Pick some fresh flowers and leave them on a vase on the table.

20.   Bring goofy things like paper towels with fun designs, soft toilet paper, silly note pads, balloons, cool toothpaste, colorful pillowcases…

21.   Leave an Easter basket at the door, leave an “I care” note on the door, leave it anonymous.  Hide Easter eggs around the house, the yard. 

22.   Hang gold angel bows on the trees outside, signaling your love. 

23.   Continue to invite them out, even if they can’t go with most of the time.

24.   Add your name to my “e-bail list” so they know who to call when one of us needs it. 

Use what you like and leave the rest!  Love life!  Enjoy every minute! Stick up for yourself. Trust your “gut.”  Remember change what you can, do your best… that is enough.  Care is the most prized gift to give and/or receive.  You are awesome!  Be God with skin.