sometimes...

Sometimes...

...you just have to give to those less fortunate.

An update on giving out Christmas boxes this past year.

http://www.lockwoodfamilytomexico.com/2013/12/special-post-to-melt-your-heart.html


Until next time... JenT

Merry Christmas, ya'll

Merry Christmas, ya'll!!

Until next time...

JenT

giving

It's that time of year again.  Time to be thinking of what charity project to contribute to.  It's easy to just give some money, but do you ever get really involved?  There are some ideas that I would love to carry out if we had the finances available.  I hope to do those in the future.  And yes, it involves travel.

 

But for now I like to get the children involved.  I like to have them think about the fact that other kids in this world do not have it as good as they do.  So this year we chose to send Christmas boxes to some children in Mexico.  We are sending them through a missionary family we know about.  Their website is http://www.lockwoodfamilytomexico.com/.  We decided to send 12 boxes (actually we'll send the goodies in some reusable tote bags so they'll be easier to send).  We are getting excited thinking of all the things we could put in there.  It's amazing how just the smallest gesture can mean so much to a little heart.

So what will you do this year?

There are many ways to give, here are just a few:

http://www.persecution.com/actionpacks

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

http://www.toysfortots.org/

http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/ibeCZzpHome.jsp?a=b

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

http://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/holiday/index.html

And of course I'm sure there are local things in your area; local food pantries, Salvation Army, organizations that give gifts to poor children, homeless shelters.  Look around and you'll find something.  One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is your time.  Taking time to help another human being is priceless.

What will you give?

Until next time...

JenT 

early Christmas

 Just a hint of what our early Christmas was like.

Until next time...

JenT

decorating the tree 2011

The kids decorating the tree at ma-maw's house.

The finished product. They had lots of fun and it looks great!

Until next time...

JenT

gifts they love

You can see what Mamaw got the kids for Christmas this year...

...they were all excited...

...and couldn't wait to pose on them...

...or push them...

...or try to avoid a picture...

...or just freely ride them...

...or inspect them...

...or help a sibling enjoy theirs...

...in other words they all had a fabulous, grand time with their gifts.

Until next time...

JenT

White Christmas

Well "they" said we would have a white Christmas...

...I guess for once "they" were right.

Until next time...

JenT

conglomeration or masterpiece?

bunched up ornaments




empty spaces

homemade

whimsical




traditionally round balls

elegantly shaped ornaments

everything in between

a tree decorated by 9 children ages 12 to 2

conglomeration or masterpiece?

I vote...

...masterpiece

Until next time...

JenT

placemats

Chaotic craftiness

Concentration

Covering up :)


Completed project

My mom had the idea of the kids, well actually all of us, making placemats for Christmas dinner. We used card stock, old Christmas cards, markers, ribbon, glue, and her handy-dandy laminating machine to create "masterpieces".

Everyone got to design their own placemat and when they were finished Ma-maw laminated them. They are now awaiting Christmas dinner.

Does anyone else have craft they will do with their children for Christmas or even Thanksgiving?

What's that? Is the baby here? Don't ask.

Until next time...

JenT

Christmas in TN

I heard that Texas actually had a white Christmas this year. Hmm...not us...and we're in TN, close to the Smokies. Oh well.

Our day started early. The kids woke up at 6 a.m. and proceeded to get ready to go to my mom's house. (Funny how they have to be woke up any other day).

At my mom's.

All the kids got toys...

...clothes...

...and books.

Actually the two oldest girls got jewelry instead of toys. But they all loved what they got.

Proof that our day was quite warm. My brother - barefoot - outside.

We decided to not have the traditional Christmas dinner of turkey/ham/duck/whatever. We grilled burgers instead.

So sue me! I was just tired of all the fuss that goes into one of those dinners. I wanted something simple and easy to fix and clean up. I wanted to relax and enjoy the day. So I asked the others and they said it was fine with them.

It's not the first time we've not had a traditional dinner for a major holiday. One year we went out for Thanksgiving and had a fish dinner. Oh, that was just me, my mom, and brother; back when my brother and I were kids. Ah...memories.

Anyway...

One of my gifts. Hey, Kat, you'll appreciate this. It's a chili pepper hanging planter; to add to my chili pepper collection in my kitchen. I also got a chili pepper nightlight. No picture though.

Oh yeah, remember the dessert I mentioned that we had for Thanksgiving and that we might have again for Christmas? Well, we had it. Yummy! Go read one of my previous posts for the recipe. You'll be hooked.

And that's enough for now. Hope you all are enjoying your holidays!


Until next time...

history of Christmas

For the history of Christmas and other great stories visit this link.


Until next time...