Spence and I really want to have a Christ centered Christmas this year. We are not going to buy as many gifts for the kids. We have so many stinkin toys cluttering up the closets. I hate it. They get played with for a few weeks and then just sit around. All the kids do with them is throw them all over the room for me to clean up. Anyhow...this weekend I will be cleaning out closets while getting ready for new carpet and getting rid of TOYS!
So here is the question I need help with. Do any of you have any ideas of a service that my family could participate in this holiday season? I really want my kids to learn the joy of service and to see how blessed they are. It doesn't have to be a monetary service- better if it weren't. I just don't know about any programs, shelters, soup kitchens etc in the area that might have volunteer programs or whatever. I wish I had the money to take my family to Africa or some other poor country to help with kids in need but I just can't. I'd rather do something for local kids anyway. Ideas?
9 comments:
I have tons of ideas, but not a ton of time right now. I'll get back to you later tonight. But, I just wanted to suggest that you might consider donating the used toys to the Ward Nursery. They are in desperate need of an overhaul.
Have you read the book "Christmas Jars"? It's a great story about people saving their pocket change in a jar and then leaving the jar with someone who needs it. It's done secretly.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the same toy issue. All I really want to get my kids this year is the things they need. Boring, I know :)
Yes, we did the Money Jar last year. It was great. Tried to fill up the jar again this year, but it didn't work out too well....the jar got broken and never replaced. :-(
There is a woman's shelter behind the west jordan library and they always need help this time of year. I don't know what you would possibly do there, but I have just gone and fed a baby there before. There are little things that you can do, as well as making donations. I did it when I was Nathan's age and I will always remember the impact it had in my life! What better way to teach about being christ like than to serve?! You and Spence are awesome, and I bet if you do find something to do for it, all of your kids will remember it forever!
This is sad but true. We've never really done that. We always incorporate service activities somehow and enjoy reading spiritual stories of people who gave only of themselves and/or learned something great through a Christmas experience. I'm just too excited about purchased gifts to not do them. I LOVE shopping...which you may have already guessed. Things we have done are sub for Santa, visit people who are sick or in a care facility of some sort...saying too much sounds like I'm tooting my horn. I'm sure you get the point. Thanks, for your sweet, thoughtful comments on my blog yesterday! Wow! Thank you! I can't tell you how good that all made me feel! You're great!
There are some amazing orphanages- but not in UT that your family could learn about and then donate to. Maybe ask bishop...he may have some ideas for you!
p.s. send me your pic and I'll edit it so it'll look FAB! :)
You could look in to the IRC in Salt Lake. (International Rescue Committee) They help refugees from all over the world. There are a lot here who have very little. You're so great!
Something fun we were able to manage last Christmas was - our Home teachers own miniature horses & I knew that the animals still needed to be cared for at Christmas time... so I asked them & made arrangements to come out to their place Christmas Eve night & have our family help them feed their little horses, clean their stalls, etc... this I tied into the manger & Birth of our Savior & the conditions of that Humble night!! It was Amazing!! They let us lead some of their horses around & we got to see how that isn't easy, the kids got to try to ride on one (think how doing that being Preg. would be? Ugh!) Then cleaning the manger wasn't fun, nor did it smell good... then even after it didn't smell all that great.. besides it was cold!! So a big eye opener at how the evening could have been a bit ... So we didn't do "Commercial Type" of things Christmas eve... we had some simple treats with them, came home bathed, read the Christmas story in the scriptures & talked about our favorite things around the Christmas tree!! It was pretty neat!! (I probably had a better understanding of how that night would have been a rough one - having been the mom - I couldn't imagine delivering a baby in a cave/barn/stable.... wow!!)
Good luck!! I too am trying to think of more Ideas.. I think I am going to do the 12 days of Christmas with my kids/hubby this year (new book came out at Deseret) & try some of the more "church" centered ideas in her book for each day this year to prepare us & help us keep Christ in Christmas, besides picking an angel off a tree at the store.
Have a great week! Love your blog!
Try checking out the Church's humanitarian website. There are tons of things they are asking for help with. They have guidelines and patterns for everything. They need quilts, hygeine (how do you SPELL that?) kits and school kits, of course, but that's not all. There are hats and booties to make, file folder games to color, school pictures to make, and so much more. There really is something that anyone in the family could help with. Then, you can take a tour of the Humanitarian Center with the whole family. You'll love it. Film to watch and everything. Definitely a good cause with a feel-good ending. (but giving never ends. . .)
Post a Comment