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“I’d had a hard day; stressed and too much to do. When the day finally ended and I got home, I walked out to check the mail. Upon opening a letter addressed to me, two small silver hearts fell into my hand.

As I read words of encouragement and held the hearts in my hand, I felt so loved and so seen. Receiving a heart completely turned my day around; it was a day-changer. The fact that someone took the time to share a heart with me meant the world to me. It was something so small, but it made a big impact.

Now I can’t wait to spread a heart to someone else! I’m excited to make someone else’s day like mine was made. Thank you Spreading Hearts!”

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Stay tuned for more Heart Stories!

Trees of green, skies of blue, friends shaking hands, babies growing…may you spread some hearts and think to yourself, “What a wonderful world!”

Wait a minute… What have I been thinking? Or, NOT thinking.  Everyone and their brother is talking about the NATO Summit here in Chicago this weekend.  Yes the professional protestors (I shall save all of our time and make no further comments about them/that scene), the roads blocked, the dignitaries that will be here and everything in-between.  There will be MUCH put on the table to discuss, to debate, to fight over…with the hope of what?  At this point I’m so confused I’m not even sure what I should be hoping/praying will come out of this history making (expensive) “event”.

Here is something that I DO know will be on the table for the NATO attendees:  Malnati’s Chicago Pizza.  Yeah.  Cool.  No really.  Marc (my husband) and his partner Jim De’Angelo will be serving pizza for lunch on Saturday and Sunday.  How neat is that?  It’s neat.

But there’s something that is 100x, no 1000x neater and cooler…and I just put the pieces of the puzzle together:  this is my V-8 (not G-8) moment.  And I had to tell all of you – and ask you to pass this on to everyone you know and ask them to – yes – PRAY.  Whether you pray or not, would you at least pray this one time, for me?  Thanks.

LONG story short – and I don’t have time because I must get this blog post to my computer guru – Josh Eaton (who is traveling around the world with his adorable wife Caroline,

with backpacks only, which include 200 small pewter hearts that they are spreading!!  Josh and Caroline just arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam! Read their blog- an incredible story unfolding! See: www.traveling9to5.com) and I must get this post to him, thus no time for elaborate stories and details.

Here it is:

When spreading hearts was born/began in South Africa in the summer of 2009, where I was with my two daughters, Kelsey Malnati Howell and Melissa Malnati, there was ONE vision that was on my heart from the very get-go:  (It’s in one of my first spreading hearts blog posts) That President Obama would receive one of our small pewter hearts.  And that he would be carrying the heart in his pocket and at a meeting with a Prime Minister he would be jingling his hand, out of nervousness, in his pocket, with his change.  He would feel the small pewter heart, he would feel a gentle nudge/hear a still small voice, and pull his small pewter heart out and hand it to the Prime Minister, who in turn would put the heart in his pocket, and…the story goes on- with the ending being: World Peace.

YES…  And just this morning….why I have not thought about it until now….well, it doesn’t matter…. I wasn’t “supposed” to until this moment…..

The equation, through pictures, at the top of this post:

The NATO Summit + Malnati’s Pizza + Spreading Hearts =’s: 

Marc Malnati + a small pewter heart in his pocket

 + meeting President Obama

(as was told he’d be given the opportunity to) =’s:

Marc gives a heart to President Obama.  Marc shares our vision of spreading hearts and world peace (or not – just give him the heart!) .  Hearts are the universal language of love and peace and goodwill.  THAT’s what we need.  WORLD PEACE.  It’s a start.  It’s a middle.  It’s an end.  (and yes, a whole LOT of other in-between!)

So here’s my “ask” for all of you….  Would you please pray first that yes, Marc is allowed to even bring pewter hearts (even one) into McCormick Place (security is going to be unbelievable).  And secondly, that Marc does get to meet the President.  And, most important, that Marc will have the guts to give him the heart, and to explain the symbolism of it, the HOPE, and the love and goodwill that comes from a single pewter heart being spread…and then passed on and on and on…  Thousands of small pewter hearts being spread and then passed on and on and on….

Who knows what could happen?  Who knows what will happen….?

What I do know is that my heart is beating so quickly in this moment, and tears are being held back (no time to cry – just gotta write) at the prospect of….

A small pewter heart….being spread….to someone, a human someone, who IS in a position of power and influence….and IS with many others who do as well…… to help change the world- ONE HEART AT A TIME.  I truly believe it can happen – the world can change.  Hearts can be touched, and moved and changed this weekend.  NATO Summit.  Chicago. May 19-20, 2012.  Malnati’s pizza.  A small pewter heart.

God’s

Will be done.

What does pizza, chocolate chip cookies, spreading hearts and giving back to the community have in common?   A lot!

Lou Malnati’s pizzeria (our personal favorite :-)) recently made the decision to sell/send frozen heart shape pizzas and heart shape chocolate chip cookies, via overnight mail, YEAR ROUND (not just at Valentine’s Day!)    How cool is that?  (Great anniversary gift, birthday, your college kid having a bad day, a thank-you gift to the in-laws? Etc.)

What’s even cooler is that along with the pizza and cookie two small pewter hearts are also being included – one for the receiver to keep and one for the receiver to spread, so to help change the world….one heart at a time!

And if that’s not cool enough….(which it is, but wait….there is more!) for every heart shape frozen pizza that is sold, Malnati’s is going to donate a frozen pizza to the local food pantry run by Willow Creek Community Church (in South Barrington, IL). Yes, very cool.

So, hearts are going to be eaten, hearts are going to be spread and hearts will be touched…A whole lot of lovin going on!  We at spreading hearts are proud to be a part of it.

My husband and I went to opening day at Wrigley Field today……

Yah, yah, so they didn’t win.  Whatever.

I’m not here to talk about the Cubs anyway, rather, 2 special hearts that were spread at the Cubs game.  The seats next to us were empty for several innings.  What?  Empty seats on opening day?  I don’t think so…..  A young man finally showed up.  He was by himself.  I asked him if he came to the games very often.  I was trying to be friendly, making small talk, you know.  He responded “Sometimes”.

“Are you meeting someone today?”, I asked.

The 20-something, good-looking, young man, looked at me and responded, hesitantly, quietly…

“My dad and I were coming together to the game today…..but he died this morning.”

Ummmmm….Oh my…..gulp. oh, wow…. Eeeeeee, um,  how sad…gulp.  Sigh..

“Oh my, wow, that’s awful….”

“Yea…..I decided I had to come anyway though – to honor him…..”  His lips were quivering, eyes welling up…. OF COURSE.

I love how God works.  I love that He worked it out for us to sit next to each other.  What a privilege to love on someone who has just lost a loved one.  I mean, no, I don’t mean that…that I love to….it’s hard and sad.

Of course.

It stinks actually.

What I mean is, I love that sometimes I’m the one selected to “be” with a person when a heart is aching.  They are holy moments.  You know what I mean?

I’m happy I listened to that still small voice this morning when I was getting dressed.  I put a heart in my pocket, like I do every day.  This morning though, I kind of felt the nudge of “You might need a couple extras today”, so I brought 2 additional ones.

Yep.  We never know, do we?  We never know when we’re going to have the chance to “be there” for someone when they may most need it.  In the middle of balls and strikes, hotdogs and peanuts, with Bill Murray singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, I had the chance to gently ask my new friend questions, to empathize, to listen, to hear how his dad’s death was sudden and out of the blue.  To hear he was at his dad’s bedside when he died just a few hours earlier.  To yes, you guessed it.  To spread 2 small pewter hearts to him….”My daughters and I spread small pewter hearts…..” I said as I pulled them out of my pocket.  I put one in his hand – “This one is for you”.  “And this one”, as I gave him the other,  “is to remind you of your dad and the date you were to have here today.”

Spreading hearts.  Are you doing it?  Have you tried it?  Do you carry one or two hearts in your pocket, or wallet, so to be ready when someone crosses your  path?  No really.

Try it, you’ll like – love-  it.

Yes, today at Cubs park, amongst the sadness, there was pure joy in spreading hearts.  As always, you are welcome to join us.  Share your story on our new, beautiful website.  Mark on the map where you gave or received a heart.

As the young man was leaving today he looked and thanked us for listening, for cheering him up  and for helping make his dark day, a little brighter.  A small heart.  A small gesture.

I do believe that when we give, we receive.  His pain gave me the unexpected opportunity and gift to touch my pain….the death of my dad…. I also had the brief joy of remembering – how much… I LOVED going to the Cubs game…. with him.

Below is a guest post from a new friend.  She saw my 11-11-11-post on FaceBook and requested 11 hearts to share with students.  Please read her story – about the first heart she spread. What a beautiful example of an individual taking advantage of a moment, being so present, engaging her heart (even if it meant breaking some rules!) – so to touch the life of someone else.  This time, a 6th grade girl, who longed to be loved.  (don’t we all!?!) 

Bless you Annie.

Dear Jeanne-
I want to thank you so much for the hearts you sent. Putting in an extra one for me was just what the doctor ordered!!  I had just walked back to my classroom when I received a phone call from our guidance counselor. One of my 6th graders was having a melt down and would only speak to me.  This girl is one of the sweetest and kindest children I’ve had the pleasure of teaching! From a previous activity I did with the kids; I found out that in her 11 years of life, her father molested her (he’s in prison); her mother has been in and out of jail for numerous things; not one member of her family had ever graduated high school; she went to live with grandparents (her grandfather died over Veteran Day weekend and her grandmother had a breakdown when this happened) and now is unable to care for her; and now is living with a cousin (who’s not sure if she can become her foster mother or not)  Can you believe this precious thing has gone through so much. On top of that, prior to her grandfather passing, he always told her she be a “hoe” and “druggie” like your momma.
Sorry to tell you all of this BUT I felt you needed a bit of background on the first child I gave a heart to…

Forgive me for going on…I just felt you needed to hear some of this.  God Bless you and I will keep on spreading the hearts in your good name!!!   Peace and Love,  Annie 

Hi there,

You may have seen that we offered 11 hearts, free, on 11-11-11, between the hours of 11:11 AM – 11:11 PM.    I know, I know.  Kind of silly.
And NOT!

I wanted to write and say thank you to those who participated.  Thank you to those who desire to “see” people, to acknowledge individuals, to reach out and “touch” someone, by way of spreading small pewter hearts. 

There were over 20 individuals who replied to the offer.  From New York, to Florida, to Georgia, to Chicago, to Lake-in-the-Hills, to many in-between, to Indiana, to Idaho, to California, there is a whole lot of spreading happening!! Sure touches my daughters and mine hearts!!

I asked a few questions of these individuals.  Here’s some of the responses to the first one:


1. Why do you want to spread hearts?  Listen to some of theses responses:

• From Annie:  “I am a middle school teacher who would LOVE to spread the hearts around to some of my students.  I can’t afford to buy them and give them out (truly wish I could).  I have some wonderful students who come to school in spite of all the adversities they have at home.  I just want them to “feel the love.”  To ANNIE – How lucky those students are to have YOU!  

• Elizabeth:  “Because I want people to know how loved they are – by me and God!”  To LIZ – I know you and you ARE a lover!

• Patty:  “I want to spread hearts because I love making people feel loved and appreciated and I believe that makes them want to do the same.”  To PATTY – you are an acts-of -service girl.  You love so well.  And, you know how to make people feel special!

• Myra:  “I LOVE to hand out the beautiful hearts to people who have so touched mine!  It allows me to turn around and touch them in a very special way as they had just touched my heart in a special way.  There is nothing like the experience of noticing someone do something kind and showing them you noticed and really appreciate it.”  To MYRA:  You have purchased hearts already and know the joy of spreading them.  A jewel in your crown! 

• Linda:  “I love random acts of kindness.  Its even more fun to give them than to be on the receiving end, though that’s pretty wonderful also!  I try every day to encourage at least one person; grocery store has opportunities galore!  Sharing little hearts just sounds so exciting!”  To LINDA:  It IS exciting! and you will see!  Have you ever seen the short video “Johnny the Bagger”?  You-tube it.  You’ll be touched!

• Sharon:  “I would like to spread hearts because you spread one with me — there are a lot of lonely people like me in this world that might be touched by a heart.”  To SHARON:  I LOVED reading this from you friend.

•  Joanna:  “There are so many hurting people in the world.  Perhaps a little heart, and a smile, and a few loving, caring words to go with it, will brighten someones day and give them hope.”  To JOANNA: YES!!  Go brighten people’s days with that smile of yours.

Kim:  “I want to spread hearts because I think it’s a wonderful thing to do.  I have been the recipient of hearts in my life – not physical hearts, but the hearts of my friends, family and of strangers in a time of dire personal need.  It is very important for me to pay that forward, and this is just one more way for me to do that.”  To KIM:  Paying it forward, in ANY way is a beautiful thing!  And I especially love that you will include small pewter hearts to do so! 

• Katrina:  “I would love to spread hearts out here in California!  I go into Los Angeles sometimes, and there is such a desperate need for people there to know they’re loved!  Also, there’s so many students here that look so empty and spreading hearts to them is such a tangible way to bring light into their lives.  To KATRINA:  Hi there!  Melissa loved when she saw your name!  And yes, we hear you.  Yes, go love on the students out there.  You will beautifully change lives by gently “seeing” them.  God bless!

• Emily:  “I love the idea of showing people that you are thinking about them in such a small, but significant way.”  To EMILY:  You are a heart spreader for life – far and wide!  Thank you for spreading them in Peru, including leaving one on Machu Pichu!  You rock!

•  Wendy:  “Why not?!  I love the concept!  Everyone needs a bit more love in their life.  The idea of sharing and then sharing more love, is amazing!  I can already think of many loved ones and friends who could use a little “love”.  Especially for my sister who has breast cancer and of course little McKenna (www.fortheloveofmckenna.org) who is always in need of some extra prayers and love.”  To WENDY:  Thank you for having just purchased hearts before the 11-11-11 offer was made!    Yes, prayers to McKenna.  She’s so very lucky to have you. 

• Kit:  “A moment of connection between two hearts can slip from memory in the cacophony of our workaday worlds…and glimpsing the lovely symbol of your pewter hearts can help carry that moment forward as it triggers a memory of “where it came from and how I got this.”  To KIT:  So beautifully said.  Thank you!

• Nan-D:  “I’d like to give them to special friends and family to show them how much they mean to me.  I hope that with that gift they will follow your blog and pay it forward.”  To NAN: To my friend of 36 years.  I love you.
• Susan:  “Because one of my purposes in life that God wants me to do is to love others.”   To SUSAN:  Warmed my heart so much when I received this email.  Tender.

• Debbie:  “Love the idea of spreading hearts.  I would like to give some to my in-laws who are headed to Haiti for their 3rd missions trip in January.  I am a kindergarten teacher and would love to spread them to children in our school who I see do amazing things with our special needs population.”  To DEBBIE:  From Haiti to kindergarten children.  Spread them generously! 

• Nancy:  “I want to spread hearts to encourage people.”  To NANCY:  Said so simply.  Go do it!!

 

to anyone who feels moved to join us in spreading good-will in the world.  To spread hearts, all it takes is: 

• a small pewter heart.  
• your heart desiring to touch someone else’s, 
• reaching out and noticing someone, 
• telling them you “see” them, 
• that they are special.
• You hand them a small pewter heart.  
• Tell them thanks for touching your heart.
• Or, that they have a beautiful heart.

It’s simple.  It’s meaningful.  You will be blessed as the giver, just as much as the receiver, really.  

To have your 11 FREE hearts mailed to you, simply
Email us at:
jm@jeannemalnati.com

1. Your mailing address
2. Why you desire to spread hearts
3. How YOU most feel loved
4. And, what does speaking the truth in love look like to you?




Thank you.  And may God Bless you on this day 11-11-11.
New beginnings, fresh starts and clean slates!


Melissa, Kelsey and Jeanne Malnati

Hello,
I’m taking this magic wand and using it on myself today.  I’m taking it and gently waving it all around me sprinkling it’s magic dust of joy, completeness, acceptance, vision, gentleness and organization-of-the-mind all around me.  Quite a random lot of word wishes at one time.  It is.

I’m spreading myself a heart.  Just because.
Just because?

Just because.  I’m hoping it will offset this rhythm and pounding of thoughts I have going on in my head.  The wave of things to do, complete, finish, begin.  I feel boxed in by others and then by myself.  Judging myself.  Now that’s real helpful and motivating. 

uh, no it’s not.

what’s a woman to do?

Here’s what I’m to do.

Spread a heart to myself, quickly. 
now. 
grace.  peace.  acceptance.  “whateva”. 
God is with me.  Look to him.  Proverbs 3:5,6.  Don’t forget that’s my life verse.

Oh, that’s right. 
thanks, I did forget.

Deep breathe.

Maybe you need to spread a heart of forgiveness and renewal to yourself today?

STOP eating the Halloween candy and instead, hug yourself and ask someone else to hug you too?

Much love, jeanne