This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Dreyer’s blogging program.
A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home. ~Author Unknown
It was one of those weeks…the kind of week that began and ended with flight cancellations, detours, and the game of “Where’s my luggage?” It definitely got worse before it got better, and when I finally plopped myself down on our living room couch, exhausted and emptied of nearly all emotions that didn’t involve tears, my son wrapped his arms around me in a giant hug and flashed the smile that captured my heart as a teeny tiny baby. Suddenly, the stresses of the week melted…all with a smile and the reminder that in the midst of difficult times, there is usually something to be joyful and thankful for.
What makes you smile? For me, it is the friend that shows up exactly when I need her…the sound of my children singing songs from church together…the unspoken understanding my mom and I have with each other that stems from 35+ years of friendship…the impromptu hugs and kisses and “I love you’s” from my children. Those moments big and small, are what keep me smiling and remind me to choose joy and happiness.
As an RN, I often saw babies born with cleft lips/palates, a genetic condition that results in facial abnormalities. If you’ve ever seen a child who’s had the surgery necessary to correct this condition, you understand how life-changing it is to give them back their smile. While the surgery itself can be performed in as little as 45 minutes, the need for children to have these surgeries continues to grow. A combination of lack of insurance, a shortage of trained surgeons, and a growing number of children born with this condition means that many children have to wait for a potentially life-changing and life-saving procedure. Fortunately, organizations like Operation Smile are working to transform the lives of these children by providing free surgical procedures to children and young adults born with cleft lip/cleft palate.
This summer, Dreyer’s is giving you A Reason to Smile! In partnership with Operation Smile, you can help provide 500 life-changing surgeries to children born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities. Simply upload or share your #ReasonToSmile photo (don’t forget to include the hashtag) on their Facebook page. It’s that easy!
And while you’re at it, why not try one of Dreyer’s new summertime limited edition ice cream flavors. Both Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Fun ‘n the Sun Banana Split and Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Summer in the City Cheesecake are available in Dreyer’s Slow Churned Light Ice Cream (half the fat and one-third fewer calories), which gives me one more reason to smile! Each flavor is only available through August, so be sure to check your local store for availability.
I hope you’ll join me in helping Dreyer’s provide 500 smiles to children in need! For more information, visit Facebook.com/DreyersIceCream.
Images: Rockin’ Mama/Dreyer’s
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