This year we have been having a grand time doing things for others!  Now that we are living in town, it is much easier to participate in service projects!  The kids and I have had so much fun doing things!  First of all, the boys Boy Scout troop sent boxes of goodies over to a Unit in Iraq.  Each family brought stuff, and when all was said and done, there were 18 boxes!  There was everything from tissues, soap, snacks, pens, writing paper, jerky, drink mixes, soups, and even a little Christmas tree that the Scoutmaster’s wife made.  The boys also made Christmas cards for each member of the unit…80 cards!  Each boy made about 5 each.  We missed the meeting where they made the cards, so my boys made theirs at home.  They put a lot of effort and thought into them, thanking them for their service, for putting their lives in danger, and for protecting us.

The next thing we did was make some baskets/boxes of goodies for people that we have in our church or that we have been praying for in our church.  We are mailing 4 boxes, and delivering 6 baskets.  I got on a roll making crafts, and was thereby nominated to be the craft coordinator each month at our Ladies Luncheon.  We figured that if we worked on a project each month, we would have quite a bit of things ready for next Christmas’s baskets and boxes!  I went perusing on the internet and have already come up with a few easy but cute ideas.  It’s kind of fun!  I told dh last night, "Somebody STOP ME!!"  (If you have ever watched those older Jim Carrey movies, you’ll know what I am quoting, although I’m not even sure which one it comes from.)

We also helped out with the Secret Santa program.  The older four children and I went to a big warehouse where they had collected all kinds of toys, winter gear, games, blankets, books, crafty items, bath items, jewelry, etc. and volunteered for 3 hours.  We were given a wish list written by the mother for each of her children, gathered several items off of the list, as well as some stocking stuffers, hats and gloves, and wooden cars made by local prisoners, put them in a big black garbage bag, and took them out to the big garage area that was FULL of black bags!  We were able to select presents for 11 children, ages 1-16.  The kids had such a great time picking things for the kids.  It was really neat to see their eyes light up and say, "He/she would LOVE this!"  the kids didn’t want to stop, but since Daddy was at home trying to work with the two little ones, I had to drag them away.  Even on Christmas morning a couple of the kids mentioned that they wondered how the kids liked their gifts.  We will definitely do it again next year, and maybe be able to go several different times.  It really makes you grateful for the things that we were able to do for our kids.

Here’s hoping that you had a lovely holiday season and a blessed Christmas, and that your focus remained on the good gifts that God has given to you.