The 12 Days of Giving

This year, especially with the economy the way it is right now, we decided to try even further to turn our kids focus from the "get" to the "give" of Christmas. Yes, they were still insanely excited to open gifts on Christmas day, but the 12 days leading up to it, we gave to to others- we varied the activities from visiting people in the nursing home with no family to helping with a Christmas party at the homeless shelter. The kids enjoyed most everything we did- the boys learned to step out of their comfort zones a little more. Their favorite activity was buying dinner for a stranger in the drive through behind us- the secretiveness of it really excited them!!!

It helped us as a family to look beyond ourselves and our family, to give to someone who truly cannot give back. Charlotte really enjoyed the 12 days- she was excited, no matter what the project.

I hope we can continue this next year and each year make the activities a little more challenging for all of us to do the real work of Christmas- just as Jesus did- give to those who truly cannot give back.