Something I’m proud of

One of the goals I set for our family in 2010 was to make an organized effort of teaching our children to have giving hearts. So the idea was born to do a giving project each month with our kids. It had to be something "hands on" for them so it wasn't just mom or dad doing it. Let me preface this by saying I am not posting this to brag on myself – that's not my intent or heart (if you know me, I hope you would agree). I just wanted to share this in hopes that it might inspire someone else, or spark an idea. I get so many of my ideas from reading other blogs! My parents instilled such a heart for giving in my brother and I, so I want to do the same with my kids. I had a plan that worked for us and since I set it as a goal, I was motivated to find a project we could do each month!

What fun we had giving back to others in 2010! Here is what we did: January – collected coats, hats & gloves for our Community resource center; February – filled backpacks of weekend food for kids in need; March – made cinnamon rolls & passed out to postal worker, garbage truck driver, librarian, hair stylist; April – picked up trash in our neighborhood; May – made gifts for their teachers; June – made & passed out flower pots in assisted living / nursing home; July – sent a package to a soldier; August – collected pencils for The Pencil Project; September – donated & filled sacks in our church's food pantry; October – made cookies for a neighbor with cancer; November – Operation Christmas Child; December – made chocolate popcorn for each of our neighbors.

It was definitely work and we found things that they could "do". I'm so proud of them. My 6 year old really got into everything we did – it was having an impact on him. My 3 year old didn't exactly understand everything, but I trust that he learned as well (even though, many times it would have been easier to just leave him home – we pushed through)! We enjoyed doing this so much and plan to do it again this year. We have been blessed so much by God and out of that abundance, we give! Hope you are inspired too! Happy giving in 2011!

"It is more blessed to give than to receive"

Acts 20:35
Tara

Snowpacolypse 2011

Since January, we have received 35 inches of snow! Amazing! The first snowfall was lots of fun. The blizzard that dropped 21 inches of snow was pretty cool too (especially since we were safe, warm, and well prepared)! The 6 inches of snow that fell this week was over the top for me! Eli is now going on 9 straight days of missed school. It's crazy. Thankfully in the next week we are supposed to have almost a 100˚ degree change! That's right this past week recorded temps of -21˚ and forecast is 70˚ next week. Thank you God for sending us 70˚ weather to melt our mountains of snow! I think I'm done with winter. Here are a few notes from past 2 weeks we've been confined to our home.

• snow days are not relaxing when you have a 3 month old, 3 year old, & a 6 year old (I never got to sit by the fire and read!)

• For some odd reason snow days = low motivation (had a difficult time accomplishing anything)
• Snow ice cream loses it's luster after 3 straight days of it!

• Wearing pajamas all day gets old after 3,4,5,6 days!

• Dinosaurs make a good way to measure snowfall
• I've made a record number of meals in a row
• I love snowboots
• I thrive on a routine for my little family
• Owen is an awesome sleeper – seriously!
• Thank goodness for Facebook to give me a little socialization!
• Eli and Caleb have been great little playmates for each other.

Here are some pictures of our little snow life!

Our house during the blizzard

Outside the front door – the snow is deep!

Snow fort!

A familiar site

Snow tunnel

Snow after the blizzard – a mere 6 inches, but a fun way to document it. I was planning to wake at 3:00am to get a pic of the progression, but slept through the alarm. I know, I'm crazy!

My house looked like this at some point every single day!

Hopefully life will be back to normal next week! Ha!

 

Tara