25 Days of Christmas Giving

I love Christmas. I loved it as a child, of course. I was greedy though, and sometimes very unthankful. I didn't quite understand the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Over the last couple of years I've started to learn and believe in what it means to be Christmas time and spread good cheer. It's been a slow, but productive process that we have started to make a family tradition out of. In a way we're taking advantge of the Christmas season. But, I think when you are trying to give to people and show them the love God has for them, it's OK. This was a big test year. Let me tell ya, it was a little difficult. There was a lot going on around us with school, homeschooling, pregnancy, Sean, church, friends and family, and well Christmas. But, they say nothing worth doing is easy. I think planning for, preparing for, and implementing were totally worth doing 25 Days of Christmas Giving. Some were Random Acts of Christmas Kindness, some were intentional, some were spur of the moment, some were just bcause it seemed right. All acts were made with the intent to tell pople about Jesus and how he just LOVES you so very much, put a smile on someone's face and make their day a little better than it would have been. This world could use a lot more Jesus and a lot less me, me, me, (which I still struggle with, by the way!). These are the 25 Days of Christmas Giving that we palnned to do, have done are are coming up. This is by no means a way to boast.

Ephesians 2: 8-10
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

I'm telling you what we're doing as a family so that you may be encouraged, learn and have faith.

25 Days of Christmas Giving

Fruit Basket, cookies and give a Thank You Card to Fire/Police Station

(the above is a challenging one.  They're hardly there and when they are we're not prepared)

Fruit Basket, cookies and Thank You Card to the Library

(we love our local library!)

Donate to Salvation Army

(Melanie loves to put money in the red kettle)

Pass Out 10 RACK'ed cards with Christmas tracts, candy canes and $5 gift cards to Subway

Donate to Toys For Tots

(I have 3 children, so 3 toys were given)

101 Bible Stories with a Christmas Tract to a special family.

Canned Food Drive

(Aubrey)

Food Drive through our Church

(McKinney)

Operation Christmas Shoe Box

I have 3 children, 3 boxes were made)

Donations to Reece's Rainbow (3 ornaments bought)

(Non-Profit Info/adoption organization benefiting Children with Down Syndrome)

http://reecesrainbow.org/angeltreeinfo

It was at times very stressful and intimidating to accomplish some of these, but so well worth it.  Melanie, Sean and I hade a lot of fun and felt very excited to do this.    With God's guidance and grace we will continue to do this, and not just at Christmas time.  We have never gone without, God has always provided for us.  We can help others.