Christmas giving

It's that time of year again.  The celebration of Christmas.   Christmas is Jesus' birthday so we want to honor him with gifts just like we do for family and friend's throughout the year.  That's what gift giving
is all about at Christmas time.  We give gifts as the Three Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.

So how do we give "gifts" to Jesus.   He tells us how.  "Give to the least of these and you give to me".

Well there are many ways to do this.  Lend an elderly neighbor a helping hand with their yard or groceries.  Take an angel off an Angel tree in the mall and provide for a needy child.  Buy a blanket for
a homeless shelter or volunteer there.  Drop off food at a soup kitchen.  Donate to a worthy cause.
The list is endless.  Find something that speaks to your heart and get started.

I'm going to ask you to consider donating to Children's Hope Chest.   Trees of Glory and Kind Hearts
are two of their day centers in Ethiopia.   I know personally that the money they receive has made a hugh difference not only to the children who attend the day center, but the community around them.

Many of you have been such a blessing in donating to previous fund raisers for Trees of Glory.  Buying farm animals (cows and chickens), the well project, books for their school library and stocking the medical clinic.

Karen Winstrom has just lead a group in November to visit Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory.   Kind Hearts has an urgent need to build a new school  building.



From Karen's blog:

My friend Robyn Davidson, has once again created a beautiful card for Christmas, that to me exemplifies the spirit of Christmas giving.  Not empty giving - but giving out of love to someone truly in need. 

THIS GIFT is literally a life-changer for kids that have little hope.  (The photos on the card are just a few of the 195 kids currently enrolled at Kind Hearts - beautiful faces filled with hope and purpose!)

Kind Hearts care-point in Ethiopia is now serving nearly 200 kids - providing nutritious food, clean water, clothing, medical care, education and Christian discipleship.  And it shows.  I have known these kids for four years and I have seen lives and families transformed and redeemed.  

But we are over-enrolled right now (we have grown from an original 68 kids to 195!) and the strain shows in the kids and in the staff.  Staff members are doing their best but with too many kids and too few staff, the strain shows.  Eating in shifts because there are not enough plates and not enough places to sit, the strain shows.  Not enough classrooms and not enough desks and chairs ... the list goes on.

With a new school building, Kind Hearts will have the resources to double the number of kids they can serve - including all of the kids who hover at the fringes of the care-point, hoping and waiting for the day they too can enroll and go to school and take the first steps out of hopeless, grinding poverty.

Here's how Robyn explains it ... "Giving a gift in someone’s honor is incredibly meaningful. It says, “I know you appreciate the significance of a good thing.” If you ask me about gifts I’ve received in the past, these are the gifts I remember. The simplicity of sending this card to family and friends can help improve the lives of hundreds of children for a lifetime. That’s a worthy gift."

Robyn is completely funding these cards and postage (as her worthy gift to her husband and her husband's gift to her) so that 100% of the proceeds can go to Kind Hearts.  Please click to Robyn's blog for details http://davidsonpartyoffive.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-have-perfect-gift-for-you.html 

Please consider this gift for those in your life who already have "enough" - and give a gift worthy of the season.

Put some love in your giving!

                  The child I sponsor, "Muri" at Trees of Glory at been

such a blessing to our lives.  

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor at Kind Hearts or Trees of Glory,

you can find information at Karen Winstrom's link.

Remembering to be grateful in all things

876.  Marlene is on her way to recovery

Yeah God!

877.  gno Christmas crafting

878.  gingerbread house making

879.  peppermint ice-cream

880.  shopping and lunch with my mom

881.  Mike helping me with my crafts

882.  Muri's smile

883.  lunch with my great friends/former bosses

884.  the most beautiful November weather on record in Orlando

885.  chickens that lay eggs that feed children

886.  twinkling lights

887.  Christmas music

888.  Avalon Christmas fireworks

889.  family