I don't know about everyone else, but we get hit with lots of requests for help this time of year. In the past we have done nursing home names, angel tree names, and various other things as we feel led. Sometimes its hard because you do have to turn some things down, but I will say, I have tried to be more intentional about giving all year long, not just during the holidays. It seems like we always choose something depending on the season of life we are in that year.
We chose two main things to do this year, and we've added a fee smaller ones in as well.
We filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritans Purse. I highly recommend this to everyone. These shoeboxes are sent all over the world and I have to say, I had a ball filling them. I have high hopes of the children helping me shop and do this for years to come. Right now, I decided they may get more upset about having to send things off that they enjoy and not understand, so I stuffed them myself. I thought a few of them needed more stuff, so I also raided the kids' stocking stuffers I had bought. I'm kind of excited to know another little boy somewhere will get a John Deere tractor from Carson. I hope he loves it as much as Carson loves tractors! Baby dolls are big around here too, so we sent those as well. I'm not even saying you have to spend a lot to do this, because I started shopping in the summer, scouring clearance racks and also loading up on school supplies during the back to school sales. Our church actually got a letter from a child last year, although the country it was from escapes me. I think this is a really worthwhile cause and you can also give other things through Samaritan's Purse for Christmas gifts, like chickens, goats, etc. Truly, who needs more stuff? You can give these items and make a huge impact on someone half a world away.
Our second charity that we sent things to was the NICU where Emilynn stayed for the first week of her life. We did the same thing last year, and I hope it will be a tradition we always continue. We sent Preemie sized "my first Christmas" sleepers for all the babies that will be spending Christmas in the NICU. It was so nice to give back and we got such a nice letter in return. My hope is to one day actually deliver them to the NICU door, we would never actually try to go in and compromise the babies health, but for now we just mail them.
A little history- Emilynn was born with a valve in her heart that was supposed to be closed but wasn't. I don't know the medical term for it, but for a spell we thought she may have to have surgery to fix it. Luckily, it healed itself, praise God. Our first Christmas with our twins was spent in the NICU. It was the best Christmas I've ever had. It would be easy to say it was awful, or ruined, but it was not. It was amazing, simple, and full of what really mattered-love. We anxiously awoke that Christmas morning two years ago, got ready, and made the short walk to spend our first Christmas as a four-some with Emmy. When we arrived, the nurse came and whisked Carson away, saying they'd come get us when they were ready....they had a surprise for us. When we went in, both babies were in matching "my first Christmas" sleepers. They were also given ornaments, we got cards with their pictures and footprints, and they got homemade Christmas quilts made by volunteers. I was overwhelmed with the generosity of strangers and the lengths they went to to make us feel so special. I also watched in amazement as each nurse took the time to dress each tiny, tiny baby. They made sure they covered all their leads and tubes so they could get the best picture for each parent. It took hours. I still tear up thinking about how sweet that was and how they did everything each day to make you feel so special and loved. We were so blessed by the experience and will always remember the angels we met in the NICU.
I love shopping for the babies and thinking about them on Christmas morning, and how far we've come with our babies. It's funny how the best Christmas I've ever had involved absolutely no gifts, no decorations, no nothing except TWO tiny babies. Kind of reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas and another special baby....Jesus. :-) I encourage everyone to remember the true meaning of Christmas and not get absorbed in the materialistic hype. It really is all about family and being together.
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