Operation Christmas Child!

Samaritan's Purse has a program called Operation Christmas Child. This is a great opportunity for you (and your children!) to participate in an act of service that shows the love of God!

Samaritan's Purse ensures that children all over the world (who might otherwise not receive anything) receive this special gift. The shoeboxes are sent to more than 100 countries to bless children regardless of their race, religion, or gender. 

“My favorite items in my shoebox were school supplies. 

They were really important to me because 

it meant I could go to school.”

Luis, Panama
Check out the website's Packing Ideas for more quotes from children who have been blessed and, of course, to get some more packing ideas!
Consider adding a "Let's Be Friends!" page where you can write a short letter and identify on the map where you're from!

Here's a checklist my kids and I have made. Feel free to leave a comment if you think we should add anything to the list!

Hygiene	Toys	School Supplies
toothbrush	stuffed animal	pencil crayons
comb/brush	musical instruments	pencils
soap	card games	erasers
face cloth	balls	calculator
	cars	note books
	soccer ball and pump	school books
	puzzle
	jump rope/Chinese rope
	stickers
	flashlight
Clothes	Practical	For Girls
shirt	sewing kit	jewelry
socks	kitchen spoons	hair clips
gloves	tools	hair elastics

capybaras ~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

The Legend of the Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall

"The Legend of the Christmas Cookie -- Sharing the True Meaning of Christmas" by Dandi Daley Mackall is a beautifully illustrated book with a sweet and thoughtful story.

This book tells of young Jack who learns the story of the Christmas cookie and the blessing of sharing God's love with others.  Spoiler alert -- Jack gets the opportunity to share God's love (and his special cookie) with a traveling stranger.

Each Christmas cookie is made using an intricately carved wooden mold, as in the Middle Ages.  It would be great if a set of these molds were for sale to go along with the book.  I have a wooden mold from New Zealand of a kiwi bird and so I have seen firsthand how interesting the cookies made from wooden molds can be.  For those of you who bake, there is a recipe included in the book.

While the book doesn't go into great detail about the actual story of Jesus' birth, the angel's declaration of the good news is key to the story:

"Today in the town of David 

a Savior has been born to you: 

He is Christ the Lord."

It seems that this book is intended for those who are already familiar with Jesus' birth and with why Jesus came to earth.  So -- the true moral of the book is for those who DO know to share God's love and Jesus' gift of salvation with those who don't yet know.  Overall, this is a sweet and inspiring story that will encourage those who believe to reach out to those around them.

If you have any questions about Jesus' birth and the reason for it -- please don't hesitate to ask a question in the comments below or e-mail me.  I would love to tell you more about God's love for you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

Operation Christmas Child

Samaritan's Purse has a wonderful outreach called Operation Christmas Child where people can fill shoeboxes with gifts for a child who might otherwise not receive anything.  Samaritan's Purse ensures that children all over the world receive shoeboxes regardless of race, religion and gender.

For homebodies, you can "fill" a shoebox online for approximately 25 - 37 dollars depending on your country of origin.

BUT, I highly recommend getting involved with the hands on process of filling a shoebox.  Children can draw or write out lists of essentials and can pick items out themselves at the store.  This is a great way to show your children that it is such a blessing to give to others.

Check out the website for details about what you can (and what you cannot) include in your box and about drop off locations:

Samaritan's Purse Canada           Samaritan's Purse USA 

Collection dates are November 16-22, 2015.

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

Focus on the Family Advent Fun!

Check out this free advent devotional available to download!  It comes with an interactive poster where you add characters such as King David, Isaiah and John the Baptist to the poster each day as you read about that person's (or animal's) part in the birth of Jesus!

Visit Focus on the Family to find out more information!

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

No Child Should Have to Endure This...

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

I just finished reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (1972) aloud to the kids.  I read the book when I was young and remember being stunned by how horrible the Herdman kids were.

Reading it again to my own kids reminded me of how sweet the message is.  This heart warming book is a quick read and opens the door to discussions about bullying, loving people who seem less than loveable and the true meaning of Christmas.

 ~ Chelsey ~

Silly Reindeers Celebrating Christmas -- Wordless Wednesday

Eljah, mid-craft, notices his hand looks like a reindeer.

Desiree, mid-meal, notices her fries and meatball make her look like a reindeer.

Christmas Eve -- opening pajamas. 

 Desiree and her new cd player.  She loves listening to Adventures in Odyssey or music at night.

Elijah is ecstatic about his Toy Story lego city and can't wait for Desiree to get the box opened for him.

The Gingerbread House pre-decorating and pre-gravity.

~❀~ Chelsey (and the kids) ~❀~

The Cow, Mary and Baby Button Baby Jesus -- Wordless Wednesday

Elijah (4) felt "Joy to the World" wasn't being sung joyfully enough and so he leaned in towards the mic and sang "Let every heart prepare him ROOM" ... and then they moved the mic away from him.  Sufficient joyfulness had been reached.

Desiree (7) did great as Mary.  She had been worried about memorizing lines, but I told her all she had to do was look lovingly at the baby.

And then ... her comedic timing alarm "rang".  At the end of the pageant, Desiree stood to bow and made sure that Baby Button Baby Jesus took a few bows too.

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

Cutting Down Fake Christmas Trees and Other Traditions

Traditions create memories and a sense of belonging in a family.  Here are some of our Christmas traditions -- many I'm sure you've heard of before, but some are unique to our family.  

~ The kids get pajamas each Christmas Eve and an ornament each Christmas.  

~ On Christmas Day we read the story of Jesus's birth and re-enact it with our nativity set.  We have the Little People nativity set by Fisher Price that the kids can play with (and there's no chance of it breaking!).  

~ At some point during the Christmas season we drive around and look at Christmas lights in our community.  Our newspaper has a list so we can spend a night driving around and looking at the most impressive ones.  Last year we found one that was timed to music on a radio station!

~ We set our fake Christmas tree up in the backyard and then we go search for a Christmas tree to "cut down".  This year we walked all over the neighbourhood admiring the Christmas lights before we found the perfect tree right there in our own backyard.  Next year I might "plant" the tree somewhere else to add to the excitement.

Christmas 2008

~ We have a family sleepover on Christmas Eve where we all camp out in the family room after watching a Christmas movie.  Some of our favourite Christmas movies are:

  

  * How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated!)

  * The Toy that Saved Christmas (Veggie Tales)

  * Small One (Disney short)

  * Elf (Will Ferrell)

  * It's a Wonderful Life (Jimmy Stewart)

  * The Family Man (Nicholas Cage)

One thing we don't do is wake up early.  My kids are both night owls (like me!) and would rather lay awake at night buzzing with excitement about what's to come than go to sleep early and wake up early.  This could be in part because at our house no present is opened without Mom and Dad watching so waking up excessively early just means you  have to wait longer...  

~ I take the kids stocking stuffer shopping at the dollar store where they can each buy a couple presents for each family member's stocking. The kids are able to practice the art of giving by thinking of what each person would like (and because we're at the dollar store it doesn't cost too much of our money!).

Two years ago, Elijah (then 2 1/2 years old) bought me a red train for my stocking.  Once Desiree bought Daddy a set of water paints so that he could paint with her and a pair of work gloves.  It's so neat to see what they come up with.

I love that the kids have the opportunity to give.  By having them do the choosing, wrapping and sneaking around, I hope they're learning that "It's more blessed to give than to receive".  They sure have a lot of fun, that's for sure!

What Christmas traditions do you have in your family?  

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

Send a Child a Shoebox Full of Love

Samaritan's Purse has a wonderful outreach called Operation Christmas Child where people can fill shoeboxes with gifts for a child who might other wise not receive anything.  Samaritan's Purse ensures that children all over the world receive shoeboxes regardless of race, religion and gender.

Each fall my kids and I enjoy making lists and shopping for their "friends who live far away".  I love how this experience teaches them about giving to others and showing love to others.

This year I found some adorable stuffed dogs and bought them for the shoeboxes, but my kids fell in love with the dogs and didn't want to part with them.  I gave my kids the dogs with the agreement that they would use their own money to buy more dogs for the shoeboxes.  Desiree(6) is thrilled that her friend who lives far away will now have the exact same dog that she has!

If you like, you can visit the Canadian website to pack a shoebox online.  Online shoeboxes will be sent to Haiti and are a minimum of $37 Canadian (which includes shipping).  Anyone can donate via this website, but please keep in mind that if you want a valid tax receipt you must donate to the country you live in.

For Americans who would like to know where your shoebox ends up, you can donate the shipping fee for your box online at the American website and track your shoebox through a label that you attach to your shoebox.

You can fill a shoe box for a boy or girl in one of three age categories 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14.  You can include items such as stuffed animals, toothbrushes, calculators, t-shirts, sunglasses, school supplies, hard candy, soap (in a plastic bag), socks, stickers, cars, balls, and hair items.  You can even include a personal note and photos if you like.

Avoid  toothpaste, liquids, glass items, soft candy or chocolate, food, playing cards, war items and used items.

Check out this Shoe Box Video for more pointers.  Visit Samaritan's Purse Canada and Samaritan's Purse USA for more information (such as collection locations).  Samaritan's Purse is also located in the UK, Australia, Germany, Spain and Hong Kong.

The Power of a Simple Gift is a video that will show the journey of shoeboxes and the impact that they have on the children who receive them.

 ~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

The Incredibly *FREE* Veggie Tales Christmas Album!

American friends: Head on over to Amazon.com to get a FREE download of the Veggie Tales album: "The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree"!  

Merry Christmas!  (a little early, but you know how I am...)

 ~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~