tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post533637074017250889..comments2024-03-25T03:13:16.489-04:00Comments on BECAUSE I SAID SO: Believe in CHRISTmas!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00465587872521082056noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-501277710955272972008-12-18T18:46:00.000-05:002008-12-18T18:46:00.000-05:00I'm catching up on your blog, but I really like th...I'm catching up on your blog, but I really like the idea of having people share what they're doing to be "Christ-like" this Christmas. I am the adopt-a-family chair for the PTA at my son's school, so in addition to the items our family bought to go towards families I also helped coordinate the whole process and arrange deliveries (and did some of the driving). It was a huge blessing to be able toAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-17434563699768127572008-12-16T03:27:00.000-05:002008-12-16T03:27:00.000-05:00for christmas, my co-workers & i select someon...for christmas, my co-workers & i select someone in the community to give to (in lieu of giving gifts to each other).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-65714463908439129592008-12-12T19:14:00.000-05:002008-12-12T19:14:00.000-05:00Our church presents a Christmas program for the co...Our church presents a Christmas program for the community that runs nightly Wed. thru Sunday with a Saturday Matinee the first full week of December each year. I live within hollering distance so I try to go evey night, but had to bow out of 2 shows this year. I'm just one of some 2-3 dozen salvation workers who encourage those who receive Christ during the invitation portion of the program. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-86699463472845201282008-12-12T05:35:00.000-05:002008-12-12T05:35:00.000-05:00I've been reading your blog since the pokeman list...I've been reading your blog since the pokeman listing was still on ebay! This is the first time I've commented...(I know you hear that all the time!) Anyway, I have been very interested in volunteering lately, and I have emailed 10 or so different places to get involved, but haven't hardly gotten any responses...! How sad is that? I am 23, and living at home (again) lol and I suggested to my Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470970627092818418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-90564300461551674032008-12-12T03:15:00.000-05:002008-12-12T03:15:00.000-05:00This year we did adopt a less fortunate family thr...This year we did adopt a less fortunate family through the Woodridge Food Pantry. I specifically requested a family with children the same ages/sexes of my kids if they had a family as such. They did. My kids helped choose and wrap the gifts. My kids decorated stockings for their kids. We talked A LOT about this family; we've prayed for the kids at church and at home. We know their names and MaNiC MoMMy™https://www.blogger.com/profile/14038801888210803955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-71767248876232666362008-12-11T21:34:00.000-05:002008-12-11T21:34:00.000-05:00I am going to bake a birthday cake for Jesus. I'l...I am going to bake a birthday cake for Jesus. I'll let the kids decorate it (who knows what it'll look like!) but we can sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and be reminded of the real reason for Christmas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-29837547191941752742008-12-11T19:17:00.000-05:002008-12-11T19:17:00.000-05:00What an encouraging post! We, too, have been work...What an encouraging post! We, too, have been working on instilling the true meaning of the season with our three kids. This year, we did Operation Christmas Child. I organized it for my Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group here in Virginia, and our group of 20 moms put together 67 boxes! We didn't have the money for shipping, but God provided EVERY PENNY we needed (and even a little extra!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-50894963027362009942008-12-11T18:55:00.000-05:002008-12-11T18:55:00.000-05:00What an awesome way to share CHRISTmas with everyo...What an awesome way to share CHRISTmas with everyone! As a family we always do Operation Christmas Child, at least two boxes. We have a compassion child we sponsor and love re-reading the letters we've received all year long. We also sponsor K-LOVE! Individually we each have our own missions as well. I'm a MOPS coordinator and always participate in Angel Tree (presents for kids who's parent is Nickalli Braatenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01896196905103200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-89728626712625818392008-12-11T18:00:00.000-05:002008-12-11T18:00:00.000-05:00I love the program that we have here called Gift f...I love the program that we have here called Gift for God's Children. Some of the children even ask for a Bible which of course thrills everybody. I love to stuff the box with their needs and extra cool stuff too.mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02862203003427970904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-1927050773762019802008-12-11T15:25:00.000-05:002008-12-11T15:25:00.000-05:00We practice advent every night the month before Ch...We practice advent every night the month before Christmas - reading the Bible, singing some Christmas carols, and praying. It helps us stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas admist the hustle and bustle of things around us. We love this tradition!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-5430466146157950032008-12-11T14:47:00.000-05:002008-12-11T14:47:00.000-05:00well, I feel a little backwards in what we're doin...well, I feel a little backwards in what we're doing. But my oldest is now 2.5 and we're doing Santa for the first time. Every year our church participates in Operation Christmas child and has a Fall Festival that's like an indoor carnival. The kids can choose to redeem their tickets for prizes for themselves and to get toys to put in shoeboxes located across the hall from the prize room. It's so Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-11526889621969204732008-12-11T13:24:00.000-05:002008-12-11T13:24:00.000-05:00I'm doing a LOT of baking this year to help cut ex...I'm doing a LOT of baking this year to help cut expenses and to get us back to "basics".<BR/><BR/>Our department at the university I work for adopts needy families from a grade school that is close by. This grade school is mostly low income and the university does a lot with the school throughout the year. We don't buy for each other - just for the families. I am the one that organizes things Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-20001626556984086802008-12-11T13:13:00.000-05:002008-12-11T13:13:00.000-05:00Every year we take some names off local christmas ...Every year we take some names off local christmas trees and buy presents for those less fortunate than us. This year, we are asking the children to help us to make more meaningful presents for one another and others, as opposed to buying things. It's been fun to watch them shift their christmas lists to things that can be made from the commercialized ones from last year. The money we save fromNikki Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450222494932156409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-26134586135039838182008-12-11T12:28:00.000-05:002008-12-11T12:28:00.000-05:00I am really trying to teach my children about givi...I am really trying to teach my children about giving and gratitude. This year we donated stuff to the food drive at school, shopped for toys and clothes for two needy girls at school, and bought hats and mittens for a giving tree. I took them with me when we shopped and they helped pick stuff out. We are focusing on the spirit of giving and talking about ways Jesus would want us to celebrate hisKristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03225091223279523680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-58901692176800362332008-12-11T12:21:00.000-05:002008-12-11T12:21:00.000-05:00My team at work adopted a family for Christmas, no...My team at work adopted a family for Christmas, not just the kids, but the mom and dad also. It's the spirit of giving that inspired us to think of others that have so little and to imagine their faces full of joy on Christmas just warms my heart and soul. <BR/><BR/>Hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas and healthy Happy New Year! =)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-49477352507102601392008-12-11T11:43:00.000-05:002008-12-11T11:43:00.000-05:00You know I actually haven't sat down and thought a...You know I actually haven't sat down and thought about it. We are one of the fmailies who do need donations (haven't asked for them but know we need them) so I haven't thought about how I can help. I know there are so many ways to help without money..donating your time...but a mother of three working two jobs I don't have time. The local schools here always adopt fmailies to help donate gifts. I Blendedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17920402229282324244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-34203932272024556712008-12-11T10:48:00.000-05:002008-12-11T10:48:00.000-05:00I'm Jewish, my husband is an agnostic. We are...I'm Jewish, my husband is an agnostic. We are children of Catholic, Lutheran, Presbeterian & Jewish heritage.<BR/><BR/>We have a friend who's beautiful, 8-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. We are making sure that this little girl has plenty of things to keep her distracted and build up the fight in her. She's getting DVD's galore to watch while Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940281643977753944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-75151231805027407982008-12-11T09:09:00.000-05:002008-12-11T09:09:00.000-05:00For a couple years now, we've given our kids only ...For a couple years now, we've given our kids only 4 presents each. One is a "Santa" present, just something fun, the rest represent the 3 gifts Jesus got, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The "Gold" gift is a big gift, "Frankincense" is an incense used in the temple, so this gift is something spiritual, and Myrrh is for the body, so this could be anything from bubble bath to new clothes. <BR/><BRMandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344144210786946827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-62131885712578174042008-12-11T08:33:00.000-05:002008-12-11T08:33:00.000-05:00My friend Rhonda and I have joined together and ha...My friend Rhonda and I have joined together and have formed our own group called Family Sponsoring Families. We raise money from friends and family and collect donations and/or gift cards from local companies to give to needy families. We are both board members for a local non-profit organization called AIDS Project Quad Cites (APQC) and this year we have changed it up a little bit by joining Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-68565695730984878712008-12-11T07:27:00.000-05:002008-12-11T07:27:00.000-05:00We adopt a family at church every year and this ye...We adopt a family at church every year and this year we bought gifts for an 8 year old boy. Do you know what he wanted? Shoes. That just broke my heart, and it made my 4 kids feel really good to go out and buy him a few pairs. We also forgo adult gifts, and donate what we would have spent instead to Mayan Families, a group that helps indigenous people in Guatemala- where our youngest son is fromAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-60020981725886725412008-12-11T03:18:00.000-05:002008-12-11T03:18:00.000-05:00My church participates in OCC every year now. Its ...My church participates in OCC every year now. Its a really fun thing to do, and you are helping out kids in different countries who maybe aren't allowed to have what we in the US call a 'normal' childhood.Liz's Random Thoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06065136361971960339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-47774313658025579192008-12-11T00:59:00.000-05:002008-12-11T00:59:00.000-05:00I already posted but I wanted to say two more thin...I already posted but I wanted to say two more things for ideas for others. Last year a friend of mine sold copies of her daughter's paintings (who is in heaven) for $15 a piece. Then they used the money to put together Christmas packages for the kids in the hospital where her daughter spent so much time before passing away at 6. I think they raised over a $1000. <BR/><BR/>I thought about Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-84481996143308840492008-12-11T00:36:00.000-05:002008-12-11T00:36:00.000-05:00This year, instead of exchanging gifts with family...This year, instead of exchanging gifts with family across the country, we're taking that money and using to help those less fortunate closer to home. One of our chosen charities is Newborns In Need which helps with the material needs of newborn and premature infants in crisis, whether it be a health situation or a financial one. We're also donating generously to Toys for Tots to help make sure candihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507905514952143331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-64090159976747956832008-12-10T23:31:00.000-05:002008-12-10T23:31:00.000-05:00I've already posted a comment under this post but ...I've already posted a comment under this post but I decided on another charitable contribution. This year I am going to try as hard as possible to not throw things at my husband. Does that count?Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17231113364045904036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732255176396931795.post-18300107205568917232008-12-10T23:29:00.000-05:002008-12-10T23:29:00.000-05:00Instead of spending on my side of the family (pare...Instead of spending on my side of the family (parents, brothers and wives, etc) we're all donating our money to World Vision. You can pick out what you'd like to purchase for a needy family in a third world country. We've done this before. My brother actually 'bought' two ducks for my daughter's birthday this year. Of course she doesn't get the ducks but a needy family that could raise kymommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750918279815685709noreply@blogger.com