We all have gifts we can share - things we're interested in, things we're good at, things we know about, talents that people may not be aware of. Using our gifts helps us to connect to people and places in our community.

We want to hear about how you're using your gifts to connect with people and places in your community... Do you help out neighbors with yardwork or shoveling? Do you belong to a group that talks about books, movies or vacations? Maybe you like to volunteer with kids or help out at an animal shelter? How do you get connected?

We want to hear your stories (and the stories of people that you support) - please share a few words about what you like to do and where you share your gifts.

If you have photos of yourself in the community, you can share those on the SDS Network as well.

updated by @deb-wisniewski: 02/23/16 03:06:01AM

Hi Korey -

You sound like you really like animals. How did you get started doing pet and horse-sitting? Do you have any pictures of your art? It would be cool if you could post them to this network.

I have a quick little comment, but still one I think is worth sharing. I have a friend name Terri who I have known for almost 30 years. I first met Terri when I moved to Madison WI. I was someone that was paid to help Terri out where she needed. After I was done "working with" Terri, both our lives moved on in different directions.
We didn't talk for several years, however Terri called me one day out of the blue and from that point forward stayed in contact with me regularly. Terri would ask me about my family, about my pets, about how work was going and all kinds of other things that she wanted to know. She wanted to know because she cared. I couldn't believe all the things she remembered from so many years ago. I always welcomed Terri's calls and once we were talking and decided that friends really should see each other too

Terri and I for the pastt 5 years have made surethat we we have a "girls breakfast out" every month. We talk, we laugh, we eat, we share stories and then we go to work. Yes we go in the wee early morning hours when the sun is coming up. When I think about Terri, I think about the gift she gave me. Terri helps me to recognize what real friendship is all about and how important it is to keep them fresh and alive. She reminds me that it's not o.k. to let the business of everyday life get in the way of friendships that really matter. That is Terri's gift to me and I bet she has provided that same gift to others. I told Terrionce that she had agift and what I thought that was; she just smiled. I don't think she recognized it as a gift but I sure did! Thanks for letting me share.

Carrie

what a great story, Carrie! It reminds me of the friends that I've been "too busy" to see... I think I'll do something about thattoday- thanks!

If you have a picture of the handmade embroidery you made from putting the grid of your picture on fabric and then cross stiching I would love to see it! I did something similiar once with a "pointalism" project. I transferred a picture to paper using a graph and then filled in the colors with points of magic marker color. It was really cool! I would love to see how your project turned out! You sound like a person who is very gifted in the arts and with animals. Very nice story, thanks for sharing!

Carrie

Something's about me are is I like to work with beads and things like that I make and sell at fairs and festivals near where I live jewelry. I like to be outside in the summer with my family we camp a lot. I enjoy going to tractor shows and toy tractor shows where you look and show off your tractors. You learn about farming years ago (history nut). I enjoy time with friends bowling I'm not very good. I enjoy movies mostly comedy or love sap but I will watch just about anything. I love reading about things that really happened.Ways I connect to my community well I have a lot of ways: I help out my church when there's a funeral with a meal for family and friends and I use to sing as well but that got to be to much for me. I am apart of my local FFA chapter I help with there Toy tractor show an Wine & Cheese. I joined a Rely for Life team last year.I am apart of Northeast Wi Antique Power Association and have been since I was 2 months old officially paid member at 18 years and in 2012 I became a lifetime member I have done things for this club like: organizing and getting venders for flea market, cleaned before, during, and, after the show. I have done advertising. I for a while was responsible of making sure people knew when the meetings were. And in recent years I'm in charge of when my phone rings being gopher. I help one of our displayers out to have since I was 12 or 13 blacksmith. Among many more things.I have been connected to my community by being an advocate strongly for 10 years now. But I have always been able to on some levels speak up for myself just not to the level I do today.These are the things I am connected to am passionate about.

Hi Marie - This was so interesting to read... I know you personally, but I didn't know all these things about you. What's the Northeast WI Antique Power Association? It sounds interesting.... What does this club do?

Hi Deb Thank you ... Yes we personally know each other, I am supered you don't know this part of me as it's a huge part of my life especially in the summer. This club teaches people about farming back from 50s-80s even 100yrs of years ago. You can even learn history of how people live years ago. There's music through the weekend the club has a plow day with just is members. During is 3 day event in August we have a tractor pull and also lawn mower pull a chain saw completion. There are kids games a flea market. Tractor display and parade! Fun filled weekend for the whole family! You can see horses run equipment. hit n miss engines run. Tractors run etc. Then you can also see a blacksmith at work as well.

Is this the Thresheree that you talked about? (I'm not sure I'm spelling that correctly!) It sounds so coll... I should try to get to that some summer.

Yes it is. Yes you should it's always third weekend in August. Well it's one of the ones I talked about I also talked about one in July however this one means a great did to me. I participate in Belgian days in July to that's lots of fun as well.