Our tradition at our home has always been that every year I've purchased a hallmark Christmas ornament. It arrives in her stocking each year and it is something that she looks forward to getting. The ornament usually signifies something that is dear to her or that it somehow has related to the time in her life.
Chelsea is sixteen and she has received one for every Christmas. When it is time to put up the tree she takes each and everyone out of their box and as she hangs each ornament on the tree she recalls each one and the meaning of what it meant by receiving it. It is a wonderful time to reflect how good things can be with such simplicity.
I started this tradition with the intent that one day, when she starts that new chapter in her life, she'll be able to take those ornaments and decorate her own tree. She'll be able to recall and remember her childhood tree decorating days listening to Christmas music and remembering the special moments spent with her mother.
Kimberly & Chelsea Boland
Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Caroling on Christmas Morning
Our first tradition, which started when my grandchildren were babies, is to have a birthday cake (candles too) and celebrate Jesus' birthday. This is part of our Christmas Eve family get together and would not be complete without the cake and music.
The second tradition(last year was the first) is to go to the Life Care Center in No. Billerica and sing Christmas Carols in the Alzheimer's Unit on Christmas morning. This included friends and family (two of my grandchildren are 10 and 11). The grandchildren made small gifts for each of the patients which they personally gave to each patient. The Alzheimer's patients, some of whom never talk, could remember the words. Music is such a great thing to bring out the happiness and joy hidden in people. The last song we sang was the 12 Days of Christmas. We did fine until we got to the 12th day and no one could remember. We just stopped at 11 and no one knew the difference.
Both these traditions are such a rewarding experience and have given my family the real spirit of Christmas.
Blessings,
Deb Willard
The second tradition(last year was the first) is to go to the Life Care Center in No. Billerica and sing Christmas Carols in the Alzheimer's Unit on Christmas morning. This included friends and family (two of my grandchildren are 10 and 11). The grandchildren made small gifts for each of the patients which they personally gave to each patient. The Alzheimer's patients, some of whom never talk, could remember the words. Music is such a great thing to bring out the happiness and joy hidden in people. The last song we sang was the 12 Days of Christmas. We did fine until we got to the 12th day and no one could remember. We just stopped at 11 and no one knew the difference.
Both these traditions are such a rewarding experience and have given my family the real spirit of Christmas.
Blessings,
Deb Willard
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A New Tradition of Giving
Here's a tradition we recently began that I'd like everyone to consider.
Stop giving to people who already have more than they need and start giving to people who don't have basic necessities of life.
There are many ways to do this:
Contact Servants for Haiti (info@servantsforhaiti.org), an organization based right here at GCC. In a loved one's name, you can donate a bag of rice, medical care for an orphan, an education for a child, or other needed gifts.
Buy something from the World Vision gift catalog: http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10389 . Who wouldn't want to receive a goat, some ducks, or a chicken for Christmas, knowing that it will change a family's life? The catalog has dozens of ideas in all price ranges.
Or give the gift of water: http://www.water.cc/ . Lack of access to clean drinking water is one of the major causes of death around the world. Americans will spend $450 billion this Christmas. It would only take $10 billion to give every human in the world clean water. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K14c4NGuhDI )
I don't want to stand before my Savior at His throne (Mt 25) and explain why I spent the money He blessed me with to buy Zhu Zhu Pets for rich kids when children in other parts of the world are dying for lack of clean water to drink.
I wish we'd discovered the Advent Conspiracy years and years ago, but it's never too late. Repenting of my past extravagance means changing my present and my presents.
I want to celebrate Jesus's birth the way He would.
The Conti's
Stop giving to people who already have more than they need and start giving to people who don't have basic necessities of life.
There are many ways to do this:
Contact Servants for Haiti (info@servantsforhaiti.org), an organization based right here at GCC. In a loved one's name, you can donate a bag of rice, medical care for an orphan, an education for a child, or other needed gifts.
Buy something from the World Vision gift catalog: http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10389 . Who wouldn't want to receive a goat, some ducks, or a chicken for Christmas, knowing that it will change a family's life? The catalog has dozens of ideas in all price ranges.
Or give the gift of water: http://www.water.cc/ . Lack of access to clean drinking water is one of the major causes of death around the world. Americans will spend $450 billion this Christmas. It would only take $10 billion to give every human in the world clean water. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K14c4NGuhDI )
I don't want to stand before my Savior at His throne (Mt 25) and explain why I spent the money He blessed me with to buy Zhu Zhu Pets for rich kids when children in other parts of the world are dying for lack of clean water to drink.
I wish we'd discovered the Advent Conspiracy years and years ago, but it's never too late. Repenting of my past extravagance means changing my present and my presents.
I want to celebrate Jesus's birth the way He would.
The Conti's
Monday, December 7, 2009
Gifts for the everyday work
I've always enjoy baking different types of Christmas cookies and sharing them with coworkers and friends. I also put plate of wrapped cookies in my mailbox and Globe box with a card and money gift or DD card. For the trash and recycling guys, I set out a thermos of coffee with to-go cups, milk and sugar on the side,in a box turned sideways with a placemat to make it kind of nice. I put out a plate of cookies for them to take and a card with two or three DD gift-cards, usually the amount of guys that are working. They always appreciate a small break in their routine and are grateful for the gesture, and I love doing it.
The problem this year is that now we have just one big blue barrel that's taken by mechanical arms; how to make the driver see the cookies? I'll work on that one.
Cyn
The problem this year is that now we have just one big blue barrel that's taken by mechanical arms; how to make the driver see the cookies? I'll work on that one.
Cyn
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A simpler Christmas
When our children were small (now 26 and 28), we started the tradition (with our extended family members) to make Christmas gifts ourselves. We have wonderful memories of planning, and spending time together to make gifts for cousins, uncles and aunts. Gifts they would truly enjoy and have good use of. Christmas memories include being amazed at each others skill and effort. The gifts were always very simple. Fudge, marmalade, cookies, small articles with folk art paintings, traditional Christmas cake, the list goes on. Everything baked or made from scratch. Most of the time we would use favorite family recipes. Often with home made tags and lots of thought put into the packaging. Always simple, inexpensive, but stylish.
We are still doing it today. The best part is, seeing how our daughter is keeping the same tradition in her own family and with her in-laws today. We are doing very little Christmas shopping, unaffected by the race and spending habits. We do not know what it means to be overwhelmed by Christmas expenses and hours of shopping.
We pray that this Christmas season will be a time of true rest and peace for you and your family.
Tian and Engelie Blomerus
We are still doing it today. The best part is, seeing how our daughter is keeping the same tradition in her own family and with her in-laws today. We are doing very little Christmas shopping, unaffected by the race and spending habits. We do not know what it means to be overwhelmed by Christmas expenses and hours of shopping.
We pray that this Christmas season will be a time of true rest and peace for you and your family.
Tian and Engelie Blomerus
Got Giving?
In 2 Corinthians 6-15, Paul describes a cheerful giver. Let's take a look on what he thought we ought to do:
Sowing Generously
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
This is what We [me & my family] will do this Christmas to support the Kingdom of God. IN ADDITION to our monthly tithe, and our contributions to relief organizations, we will make an extra Gift of $45 every first week of the month starting now, to support our church family here at Grace! Why? Because hard works lays before us, to truly spread the "good news" and sow the seed the God has given us. And guess what. This Church will be a Beacon of light in New England, and we don't want to be the goat on the left field, do we?
So what do you say? Will you join me in growing the kingdom of God? Remember, it's just $45 | $1.50/day | $10.50/week
Believe me, if I can do that, you sure can too. And so I close this post with a dream and prayer that we all will truly see the love of Jesus entering our lives this season, transforming our hearts, removing our worries and challenge us to for once, deeply trust in our God!
(from a Grace Community attendee)
Sowing Generously
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
This is what We [me & my family] will do this Christmas to support the Kingdom of God. IN ADDITION to our monthly tithe, and our contributions to relief organizations, we will make an extra Gift of $45 every first week of the month starting now, to support our church family here at Grace! Why? Because hard works lays before us, to truly spread the "good news" and sow the seed the God has given us. And guess what. This Church will be a Beacon of light in New England, and we don't want to be the goat on the left field, do we?
So what do you say? Will you join me in growing the kingdom of God? Remember, it's just $45 | $1.50/day | $10.50/week
Believe me, if I can do that, you sure can too. And so I close this post with a dream and prayer that we all will truly see the love of Jesus entering our lives this season, transforming our hearts, removing our worries and challenge us to for once, deeply trust in our God!
(from a Grace Community attendee)
Friday, December 4, 2009
A life focused on giving...
This is so awesome!
Certainly we all forget at times, what Christmas is all about!
In a time, where instant satisfaction is so important, gifts are so important, too. Imagine the eyes of your children if they only receive 1 gift. Imagine the looks from your friends when you tell them about just giving 1 gift, hm.
The question remains, aren't we [the faithful] at fault here?
Did not we create children that "need" more and more by not living a life that focuses more on giving, rather than receiving.
"As for me and my house, we serve the lord."
Maybe, just maybe, this year we can change that, and we buy 1/4 gift for every gift we bought for someone else and give it to some one who has nothing. Or, if that is to radical for you. Just take 1/4 of the money you spend on stuff that actually will end up in your or someone else's basement in about 3 month, and give it to an organization that helps those in need.
Remember this: w.w.j.d.? How about you remember that saying this year every time you go "Christmas"-shopping. It helps me a lot when I question myself if Jesus would really by the 5th gift for my wife, or if he wold go and change the world with that money......
(from a Grace Community attendee)
Certainly we all forget at times, what Christmas is all about!
In a time, where instant satisfaction is so important, gifts are so important, too. Imagine the eyes of your children if they only receive 1 gift. Imagine the looks from your friends when you tell them about just giving 1 gift, hm.
The question remains, aren't we [the faithful] at fault here?
Did not we create children that "need" more and more by not living a life that focuses more on giving, rather than receiving.
"As for me and my house, we serve the lord."
Maybe, just maybe, this year we can change that, and we buy 1/4 gift for every gift we bought for someone else and give it to some one who has nothing. Or, if that is to radical for you. Just take 1/4 of the money you spend on stuff that actually will end up in your or someone else's basement in about 3 month, and give it to an organization that helps those in need.
Remember this: w.w.j.d.? How about you remember that saying this year every time you go "Christmas"-shopping. It helps me a lot when I question myself if Jesus would really by the 5th gift for my wife, or if he wold go and change the world with that money......
(from a Grace Community attendee)
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