I finished quilting the first of my 12 days wall hangings. The 12 days before Christmas is our kids favorite time of year. We pick 3 family's each year to giveaway too. We have done this for 5-6 years now. We give gifts each day for the 12 days leading up to Christmas Eve (Christmas is for family's so we end the day before). Each year we have picked completely different family s last year we picked 2 next door neighbors which is difficult as we do a sorta ding dong ditch delivery method (up tell the last day) then on Christmas eve we deliver a bigger gift with my whole family and put the kids (we generally pick family's with younger kids) out of their misery if they have not already caught us. They can finally see who has been bringing them treasures. This year one of our gifts will be the 12 days wall hanging. We made it out of non Christmas material so it would be appropriate to leave it up all year and to help that family enjoy the gift of giving.
So today is our 3rd day. Yesterday we had some wrapping paper and bows. The first day this year we gave some Christmas dishtowels. So what you ask is tonight? I am not sure my wife has a box that she loads up all year with "12 days gifts" we start buying the leftover Christmas stuff when it goes on sell the week after Christmas at a killer deal.
So why do I tell you all about this? I want you to understand my desire to give at Christmas. So what do I want you to do? Pick a friend or even a enemy that is feeling a little down this Christmas and do something special for them. If not for your own desire do it for me. As I can only do 3 family's a year we set that limit years ago.
Jared made another treat that I promised to share so here it is.
If you are interested in commenting to me today I am interested in family traditions. I have every year since I was married visited the lights on Temple Square here in Salt Lake City. It is a fantastic view if you have never seen it. I would like to add new traditions to my family but I don't have any great ideas do you?
If you are interested you can find more of my Temple Square pictures here.
Very nice Richard....you and your family are amazing people!! I think it is wonderful the way you give so very much. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteLast year, a friend and I started a new giving tradition. The best part is that we get help from quilters all over the US. You can read about it on my blog. What we do, in a nutshell, is that we gather donated quilts and deliver them to a shelter for Teen in Need/Crisis. We delivered yesterday. The teens seemed so young and vulnerable. It made my heart happy to make them smile.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tradition you have started with your 12 Days of Joy at Christmas. I love that you do the ding dong ditch delivery!
ReplyDeleteOne of my good friends here is 12 Days-ing another of my good friends. It's fun to be in the middle and hear it from both ends! =) This year I decided to do something different, too. I can't do the things Paul and I did now, so I bought a dozen ornaments from Cracker Barrel when they were 40% off and got tissue paper and little bags. I'm taking them next week to twelve men and women in our ward who are elderly and alone, and spending 20-30 minutes just chatting with them. The gift of time is the best thing! And it helps me, too. =)
ReplyDeletePaul and I used to always invite a family over on Christmas Eve to feast and decorate our tree. We strung popcorn and cranberries and had ham and all the yummies to go with it. Often missionaries would come, too. Paul was the cook, so I can't do that now. LOL
Is there any volunteer activities you can do in your community for Christmas, maybe not on Christmas day but leading up to it? That is a good way to show children how it is better to give than to receive and remind them of how much they have.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to give credit to Temecula quilting for the 12 days of Christmas pattern :0)
Merry Christmas to you and yours