Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child

(Guest post by Natalie Grimm)

I love the Christmas season. All the joy, anticipation, family events, calories... the celebrating of Advent, Christ's coming. Of course let's not forget the whole getting gifts part either. Everyone I know likes receiving presents every now and then, and as a person who enjoys giving gifts, there's equally just as much joy in planning, and shopping for those items for that particular person. And for me, during the Christmas season, I get to "reach out" to a child who wouldn't normally receive a Christmas gift through the ministry of Operation Christmas Child. Paige asked me to share a bit about how I go about packing and shopping for my boxes, so here's the breakdown, starting with what to pack:

Hygienic Items (Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Wash Cloth, Bars of Soap, Brush/Comb,Hair Accessories, Chapstick).

This little girl's box held colorful ponytails, socks, bright hairclips, a brush,
a pink jump rope, and several school supplies and other necessities.

School and Art Supplies (Notepads/books,Coloring Books, Crayons, Colored Pencils, Pencil Sharpeners, Erasers, Pencils, Play-Dough, Pencils Bags/Holders, and Stickers)

The Fun Stuff! (Dolls, Stuffed Animals,Balls, Jump Ropes, Puzzles, T-Shirts, Flip-Flops, Socks, Sunglasses, 

Play Jewelry, Hot Wheel Cars/Trucks/Trains, Blocks, Slinky, Mini Etch A Sketch, Glow Sticks,and Other Small Toys)

Hard Candy (IndividuallyWrapped)

A small note or card with some encouraging words and reminders that you're praying for that child who received your box (plus the shipping fee, $7 via check or online, in which case you can track your package) 

And a Few of My Cutting the Cost Tips...

Your dentist is probably more than happy to throw in a second free toothbrush/toothpaste in that take-home baggie, which you can include in a shoebox.

Collect school supplies during the back to school sales (tax free day especially). You can get boxes of crayons, erasers, pencils, etc. for less than a dollar.

Keep an eye out for fun toys and t-shirts at Target when they go on sale. (Usually when you first walk in there's a mini section of trinkets that they're selling for $1, $2.... up to $5, and there are special 

sales of course after the various holidays throughout the year) 

Check out the dollar store and see what they have as well. For instance, I picked up that bag of Ring Pops (4 per bag, each one was individually wrapped as well, which is perfect) and my tupperware box 

while there (which is practical since it can be used for storage later on).

Buy in bulk. Certain items such as bouncy balls, play dough, pencils, and erasers can be bought in bulk either during the back to school sales or at your local party planning store, which can then be divided into more than one box.

And then I usually like to splurge a little on a couple of items (usually the toys) ;) Which yeah, I know it's not cost effective necessarily, but I think it's nice to have a couple of "nicer" items too. For instance, one year I snagged a couple of mini lego sets for less than $5, which is pretty good when you consider that one of those 

is usually double that amount.

The main thing though, is to be shopping all year round when there are sales and to just store it all until packing week, speaking of which, after Christmas sales are headed around the corner for us, and the "inner elf" in us should be preparing for next year now! 

*Christmas 2012*

Well, y'all, it is that time again... Christmas! I am so excited about the Christmas blog this year. I have a few surprise guests who will be appearing here in the near future, so be ready for lots of pictures, lots of crafts, and perhaps even a few recipes. 

Typically, I would be posting pics of my bright red & green sparkling, glittering, somewhat "Grinchy" Christmas decor. This year however I have a surprise. With the new look of my room there has been a complete overhaul in my Christmas decor. Anyone who has grown up with a love of crafting knows that my handmade decorations took a few hours and much planning throughout the last month. I'll let you decide, but personally I think it was worth every minute of it!

This year I went for a vintage look- paper, burlap, and old photos!

This star may be the only thing not hand-touched on this tree.
With its fogged glass, pearls, and copper wires, it was perfect for
my new look.

Thick burlap ribbon wraps around while silver balls hang from the branches.
I used brown and silver snowflakes. The paper chain is strung with jute, and the old photos
were the finds from MANY Antique Alley trips. 

This year I tried something I have been wanting to try for years. I used
brown paper to wrap my gifts, hoping to give them a
"just came from the general store" look.
A vintage tablecloth is being used as a tree skirt this year.

My mother is to thank for this window treatment.
She used old book pages for the ornaments and strung them
across with ribbon. Plastic gems are secured in the
center of each with hot glue. 

This has to be my favorite little village. After visiting the $1 store,
my mother brought these pieces home to refinish. A coat of white paint,
a little shading, and some glitter gave them a completely new looks.
Oh, and the "snow" you see is actually home grown cotton!

I hope these pictures have put everyone in a Christmas mood! There will be more pics
of more trees and decorations over the next few weeks. As soon as I find another minute, I'll
be adding some more of these images to the crafts page. In the meantime, I am
off to enjoy "Falling in Love at the Christmas Table"! 

A Celebration of Hope

It goes without saying that Christmas is my favorite time of year. I've never really considered why, though. I know that I wait all year for this time of year. Especially this year, I've been more anxious and hopeful of it than I can recall.
When things haven't gone well, or as hoped I should say, I have had this one time of year to look forward to and know that all would be wonderful. These days leading up to Christmas are filled with craziness. Each member of my family runs about in childish delight. There are gifts to be hidden, decorations to be hung, and hundreds of recipes to bake. Cards are mailed. Movies are watched, and we drink more hot chocolate than Santa himself.
Every year is different though. Some years Daddy works more. Some years traditions are changed a bit. One year we even moved Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.
By the time Christmas Day arrives nothing else seems to matter. Whatever wrongs occurred throughout the year, whatever hurt was felt, all of this is forgotten on this one day.
Although New Years Day is officially the start of the new year, for me it begins on Christmas Day. With all disappointment lost and all pain forgotten, I find all of the hope I've been waiting for. I immediately begin thinking of the possibilities to come. All season I am surounded by my family. We seem to find energy and excitement from one another. I know that their love and encouragement will follow me into the new year.
It really isn't about the gifts or even which day Christmas is celebrated. It is about the hope that Jesus brought to us the day of His birth- a hope that is given to us so many years later.

Welcome Christmas!

I can remember being a little girl at Christmas time. The day after Thanksgiving, Daddy would take our newly flocked tree and set it in the corner of the living room. I would find a spot amongst the boxes being unloaded around the tree. My mother would have the Chipmunks Christmas tunes playing on the stereo. With my head on my hands I would lay across the arm of the couch, offering every few minutes to help my mother. I would stare into the open boxes. There were boxes within boxes. Hallmark boxes were printed with ornament images and I’d sit wondering if the ornament within looked just as the picture portrayed. Shoeboxes, striped boxes, old brown boxes were marked with my mother’s handwriting. I’d wait impatiently for her to open each box, unwrapping from the tissue paper all of the figures we loved to see. After what seemed like a lifetime to me, my mother would turn and ask with a knowing smile if I’d like to hang an ornament. She would reach into the largest brown box and retrieve the one ornament I was allowed to hang each year. I would reach for the ornament eagerly, noting the character’s little hat and cape. I can’t remember when the tiny “Rescuers” mouse had found its way into my parents’ collection, but it was always exciting to see her. I would hang the ornament and ask if I could help some more, knowing full well I had just hung my only ornament.
As the years passed, my parents began new traditions. For a few years, my parents took us to Shreveport. There we would visit “The Christmas Store”. My sister and I were allowed to pick out one ornament each while my mother began collecting more for us. We would walk from tree to tree studying the ornaments and looking through the baskets on the floor. We usually chose ballerinas. Even now, we pull from our own decoration boxes the ornaments we chose so long ago.
At this time of year, I can find myself all alone in a room and yet feel surrounded by old friends. Memories from all of the years past come rushing back to me before the Thanksgiving turkey has been bought and they stay with me until the new year. Whatever bad days are had, whatever disappointments may occur, they all fade away as something from my past reminds me to be cheerful. I can’t remember a year when Christmas wasn’t filled with excitement. More importantly though, it was a time filled with love. Trips to see Christmas lights, sugar cookies, late night Christmas movies- as great as all of these things are, none of it would have meant much at all if it hadn’t been for the love behind it. As I grew up, I found that allot of our Christmas seasons were filled with some sort of stress (usually involving our extended family), but I never would have known it. Whatever craziness was going on, my parents kept hidden from us. Even when I did begin to learn of it as it occurred, they made the effort to have it forgotten. They succeeded too, because looking back I can’t recall a single disappointing season.
The holiday season has arrived. While my mother begins to make her shopping list for Thanksgiving, we also begin preparing for Christmas. All that we’ve known and loved throughout these years has come back to welcome us into the season. Cards, gifts, traditions abound and we hardly know where to begin. While it is Christmas Day we await, it is everyday until then that we will have to enjoy. Together with my family how can I possibly dismiss the love that surrounds us?