Advent Begins

Our Giving Tree- our hands stretched out!

This year is about Giving- "It is far better to give than to receive." this is something we are really trying to impress upon the kids this year. Our church is doing the Advent Conspiracy- Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More.

There are a few ways in which we are trying accomplish this:
1. Worship Fully. Each day the boys and I are studying the different names of Jesus. We look up the Bible Verse where it is found, read it, talk about it's meaning. We also write the name down on a star and put it up on the wall.
2. Spend Less. There is no Christmas shopping being done this year. See below how we are giving this year instead of receiving!
3. Give More. We are donating to Free Wheelchair Mission on behalf of our family members (a wheelchair that changes many lives is only $60). We are also giving 25% of what we would normally spend on Christmas and give it as a special offering on Christmas eve. Part of the money will be going towards an irrigation system for a ministry in Zimbabwe and part will be going towards a great organization that digs water wells all over the world (fresh water is a precious gift). Also, each day the kids and I are putting food items in a bag to be given to Second Harvest Food Bank instead of a candy advent calendar. As we give the food, we pray for those who will receive it.

This way of celebrating our Savior's birth is what I hope becomes our new tradition. After all, God gave us the greatest gift of all- His one and only Son- Jesus Christ. The least we can do is give to those- near and far- who are truly in need. We know how extremely blessed we are- with our health, family, home, food, jobs and our friends- our cups runneth over!!

Our Three trees