Growing up, I often said "I wished I had a corner," meaning I wanted a little hideaway where I could get alone and just BE. It got to be kind of a joke in the family, but they understood what I meant - a spot just for me; to read, journal, garden, enjoy music, meditate on life, or pray. The "corner" I longed for wasn't even an actual place, but more, the opportunity to do those things I love. So, welcome and see what is going on in our family's corner!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Advent Conspiracy
I'm pondering how to be better at this giving thing. How do you plan to give this Christmas? I'd love your ideas.
The church we attend is doing a blanket, coat, hat ministry. So we will participate in that. Also they are going to prepare and serve meals to the homeless and we will join in that as well. I am looking for ways to give through the whole of next year. If you come across any ides send them my way.
I think you have to consciously look for people's needs. Who doesn't like a batch of homemade goodies? That's a gift of time too. Maybe there is a couple who doesn't get many dates nights because they can't afford a babysitter or don't have family in town. How hard would it be to babysit their kids for one evening. Sometimes a gc to the grocery store or restaurant is very meaningful. I know we value all of the giftcards we get. I saw somewhere the percentage of people who don't use their gift cards...Xavier and I couldn't believe it. We have given something (might have been small) to every opportunity that involved Elliya - once at church and once at school. I thought it was important to involve her even if we couldn't do something as a family.
I think aobut this every year and that message is powerful. My hope is that I can convince my kids that it's so much better to give than to receive. We are going to adopt a family through our church and help them out this Christmas.
We have already bought for the kids, and it's not a lot. We buy 2 gifts for Allen's family and 4 tiny gifts for my cousins, and that's it. We just don't exchange gifts with family. We'd rather be together. We don't go to parties, we don't do a lot of running around. It's a pretty calm, peaceful time here, only because we make it that way. As far as giving, we never run out of ways to give at Christmas. I'm always asking God to show me ways to give everywhere. Jimmie Hale mission, the food drive at Publix, Toys for Tots, Samatha's Purse... So much need. I just pray God multiplies what we give...
Thanks for bringing this up, Jenn. I love this topic and I love hearing everyone's ideas.
Every year we pray for God to show us a specific opportunity to give to at Christmas (and throughout the year, too). He always has/does. That makes it so special to me- knowing He has put it on our heart.
One year we bought hats, gloves, socks and underwear for the guys at a local shelter.
There have been years that we've given to families that we know are in need- we usually do that anonomously- just works better for us.
We've done things through Samaritan's Purse and World Vision- buying an animal for a village, giving money toward a well for clean water, etc.
One year our community group made homemade cookies for the guys at the Firehouse. The guys were so incredibly happy about that. :)
We always try to make sure Grant (and someday Gabe) is included in every part of it. Some of my favorite moments are the prayers that Grant will pray over the things we give. I think kids learn about giving by what they see, more than by what they hear.
This year I'm buying Grant's teachers' gifts through www.saintscoffee.com. For every pound of coffee you buy you feed an orphan for a month. Two of his teachers love coffee, so it's perfect for them and for those precious children.
Sponsoring an orphan through children's hopechest, compassion or world vision is another way to make a difference throughout the year. Your kids can write to your sponsored child. The letters mean a great deal to the kids who receive them.
Christmas Shoeboxes are another thing that can be done throughout the year. Purchase school supplies when they are on sale, stock up and you can give even more boxes. It's a great way to include the kids.
A variation on that- there is a local church that has adopted a needy community in Alabama and they are making shoeboxes for all of the kids at that town's school.
Long comment (sorry), but it's a passion of mine that I don't always get to talk about.
I love hearing ideas about this too. This year we are sponsoring a family through Children's Hospital and the kids helped to pick out some of the gifts. We also do some anonymous gifts and are helping out some of our family members who are struggling right now. There are so many needs out there and we do want to make this season and all time about giving, more than what's in it for us.
hey-was going to invite you guys to our thing, then I see nancy beat me to the punch! Call or write me if you want to help in any way, it is the usual thing we've done over the years that I think I've told you about before..and the kids are welcome.
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8 comments:
The church we attend is doing a blanket, coat, hat ministry. So we will participate in that. Also they are going to prepare and serve meals to the homeless and we will join in that as well. I am looking for ways to give through the whole of next year. If you come across any ides send them my way.
I think you have to consciously look for people's needs. Who doesn't like a batch of homemade goodies? That's a gift of time too. Maybe there is a couple who doesn't get many dates nights because they can't afford a babysitter or don't have family in town. How hard would it be to babysit their kids for one evening. Sometimes a gc to the grocery store or restaurant is very meaningful. I know we value all of the giftcards we get. I saw somewhere the percentage of people who don't use their gift cards...Xavier and I couldn't believe it.
We have given something (might have been small) to every opportunity that involved Elliya - once at church and once at school. I thought it was important to involve her even if we couldn't do something as a family.
I think aobut this every year and that message is powerful. My hope is that I can convince my kids that it's so much better to give than to receive. We are going to adopt a family through our church and help them out this Christmas.
We have already bought for the kids, and it's not a lot. We buy 2 gifts for Allen's family and 4 tiny gifts for my cousins, and that's it. We just don't exchange gifts with family. We'd rather be together. We don't go to parties, we don't do a lot of running around. It's a pretty calm, peaceful time here, only because we make it that way. As far as giving, we never run out of ways to give at Christmas. I'm always asking God to show me ways to give everywhere. Jimmie Hale mission, the food drive at Publix, Toys for Tots, Samatha's Purse... So much need. I just pray God multiplies what we give...
Thanks for bringing this up, Jenn. I love this topic and I love hearing everyone's ideas.
Every year we pray for God to show us a specific opportunity to give to at Christmas (and throughout the year, too). He always has/does. That makes it so special to me- knowing He has put it on our heart.
One year we bought hats, gloves, socks and underwear for the guys at a local shelter.
There have been years that we've given to families that we know are in need- we usually do that anonomously- just works better for us.
We've done things through Samaritan's Purse and World Vision- buying an animal for a village, giving money toward a well for clean water, etc.
One year our community group made homemade cookies for the guys at the Firehouse. The guys were so incredibly happy about that. :)
We always try to make sure Grant (and someday Gabe) is included in every part of it. Some of my favorite moments are the prayers that Grant will pray over the things we give. I think kids learn about giving by what they see, more than by what they hear.
This year I'm buying Grant's teachers' gifts through www.saintscoffee.com. For every pound of coffee you buy you feed an orphan for a month. Two of his teachers love coffee, so it's perfect for them and for those precious children.
Sponsoring an orphan through children's hopechest, compassion or world vision is another way to make a difference throughout the year. Your kids can write to your sponsored child. The letters mean a great deal to the kids who receive them.
Christmas Shoeboxes are another thing that can be done throughout the year. Purchase school supplies when they are on sale, stock up and you can give even more boxes. It's a great way to include the kids.
A variation on that- there is a local church that has adopted a needy community in Alabama and they are making shoeboxes for all of the kids at that town's school.
Long comment (sorry), but it's a passion of mine that I don't always get to talk about.
Wow, that was even longer than I thought. Sorry.
I love hearing ideas about this too. This year we are sponsoring a family through Children's Hospital and the kids helped to pick out some of the gifts. We also do some anonymous gifts and are helping out some of our family members who are struggling right now. There are so many needs out there and we do want to make this season and all time about giving, more than what's in it for us.
hey-was going to invite you guys to our thing, then I see nancy beat me to the punch! Call or write me if you want to help in any way, it is the usual thing we've done over the years that I think I've told you about before..and the kids are welcome.
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