Giving of ourselves

With Thanksgiving around the corner, our local homeschooling group had a Packing the Boxes day for Operation Christmas Child.

We arrived early after coming from back to back gymnastics classes for the girls and having lunch. We brought in the bag, well Mommy brought it in, of both school supplies and toys to sort them on the tables. After the teenagers set up the tables, we grabbed our bag and went to work sorting our stuff onto the right table. We had pencils, pens, erasers, stencils, and toys. Each of the bulk items had to be opened up. After our stuff was sorted we helped with the candy table to make sure that the candy didn't hit the floor and if it did, we picked it up.

After all of this we had to sit to listen to a meeting about how to pack the boxes. After we got the go ahead, we ran over to the boxes even though Mommy told us to walk, picked out our boxes and got to work. We packed up everything in our boxes: hairbands, bracelets, plastic horses and pigs, bags of rice, soap and washcloths, pencils, pens, highlighters, notepads, stencils, boxes of crayons, and more into these boxes. We don't know how many boxes we packed up but we know there were quite a few we did up. We also did up letters to put into 3 of the boxes. We might get a pen pal from another country.

We got tired out and had to leave but the boxes were being prayed over before they were being shipped out.

Mommy started planning and purchasing after last Operation Christmas Child Packing Day and we hope that she does it again for next year.

Also a local Boy Scout troop was picking up canned goods to restock the shelves that at some local pantries in our area are completely bare. We participated in that as well by picking out the canned goods from our own pantry to give food to others who have very little or none whatsoever. We are sure this won't be the last of us giving food to others in our community.

We are working on a box of goodies to give to a friend of Mommy for the mission that she works at in Mexico as well so we need to go so that we can pack up that box and do some more good toward others!!

HUGE BREAKTHROUGH!!!

Ryan had a huge breakthrough last night and today. He has been thinking about himself for awhile and not helping others who are in need. Last night while we were out shopping he wanted to pick out toys for the poor children who don't have any. Jeff and I had discussed before about donating a toy to Toys for Tots so he picked out a matchbox car set for a boy. The girls picked out a musical instrument set for the girls who don't have any toys.

We also shopped for Operation Christmas Child as well. It was suggested to us by several people as a means for our children to further help others. We are joining a homeschooling group to help pack up the shoeboxes.

This morning, Ryan was upset that we couldn't do more. He told me while he was eating breakfast that he wanted Nana and Papa to not give him a Christmas present but to give it to the "poor children who don't have any toys". I told him that this means he may not get a present to open from them at Christmas this year, he said "that's okay I have alot of toys Mommy". Per his insistence, I called my mom up at work so that he could tell her. Then we made two more phone calls, one to my dad and one to Daddy at work.

After the chiropractic appointment this morning, we went to the local dentist who is collecting Halloween candy and paying $1 a pound for it in our Halloween Candy buy back program. We dropped off our candy and got $3...one dollar for each of them for their piggybanks bringing them a step closer to going to Korea.

After we got home, Ryan had a snack with his sisters and asked to help out those poor people who don't have any food. We filled up two grocery bags with peanut butter, rice, jelly, canned goods, and more. After that was done we bagged up the stuff for Operation Christmas Child and got that ready to bring with us to next week's meeting.

Tonight he asked me if I was proud of him. I couldn't be more proud of him. And now he understands why I help out the local mothers who need clothing and baby supplies for their newborn to 2 year olds. He also understands why this past Saturday his Daddy mailed out 5 packages to a friend of mine from one of the adoption boards. She and her family are helping the less fortunate in Mexico. Children that have next to nothing along with their families.

He might be a 5 year old boy but he is wise beyond his years right now. He can't understand why others don't help the poor and needy. He can't understand why people are hungry, why people live on the streets instead of homes, why their children don't have toys to play with, and more.

Can you answer him? Can you help others less fortunate than you this year? While I realize this comes during a difficult financial time, can you afford to purchase one more can of vegetables this upcoming holiday season? Can you afford to buy one gift for a child who has none to open this Christmas? Can you donate coats, hats, scarves, or mittens for those children who have none this winter? Can you pass on the word to help others?

Random Acts of Kindness Part 2

Okay no takers on the suggestions for Part 2 so we are donating some food to our local food pantry. The kids had a blast getting together the food to donate. We try to involve them in everything that we do with the community (whether that community be local or thousands of miles away). We have a bag and a box of food for them.

Random Acts of Kindness Part 3 coming soon!!!

Random Acts of Kindness

As some of you know I'm Catholic and I'm doing some Random Acts of Kindness this Lenten season. I've given up chocolate in past years along with popcorn, going out to eat, doing take out and more. This year I wanted to do something for others.

Act 1 will be done this weekend...I can't say what it is but hopefully you'll hear about it afterwards on here. I'll need to chat with the other person to make sure it's okay with him/her.

As for Act 2, I'm open to suggestions...I'm thinking of a few things (clothing donation to my local domestic violence center, donating food to our local food pantry, donating pet food to our local food pantry and more). Anybody have some different ideas??? Please share them...