Giving

Mondays can be rough, but today was pretty good.

The girls got right to work this morning and stayed on track up until about noon. The girls started losing focus for a couple of reasons. One was that we had Baby Girl home all day. SNOW! The second reason was today was our day to do our shopping for our Red Cross Angel names we picked. The girls are finally at the age were they are understanding what we do and why we do it.

I have to admit most times it can be hectic. I typically pick 3 names off the tree, one for each girl. I love to let the girls pick out something practical, an outfit and then something fun, usually a toy. The children we had this year had pretty simple requests. We actually had 2 boys this year, this typically takes me out of my comfort zone for the obvious reasons. I often wonder who these children are and what their lives are like. I had a chance to talk with Lovely and Sporty about it a little bit, but I am hoping to discuss it more tomorrow.

The girls understand they are not allowed to purchase anything on this shopping trip..it is strictly about others and not ourselves. They usually are okay with that, but we had some slight problems this year. Lovely was insisting she needed model magic to make an ornament for the lady who would have been her teacher this year had she stayed in school. WHAT? I was a little confused, and my answer was still NO! Sporty had a small melt down after I picked up a nail painting kit that she wanted. I told her some little girl will love it. I got an angry glare and a grumbling response. I hope you all don't think I am torturing my girls. I really want them to understand the desires of others can and should be met before our own.

The Christmas season sometimes brings with it a sense of entitlement. I don't like that! To me it is such a joy to know that someone in need will be blessed with a small gift. It gives me joy to know that GOD uses me to help others. I am humbled to be a part of making someone else happy. I am so trying to teach these girls that we have been given the greatest gift in our SAVIOUR! Jesus came as a sweet baby and died as a humble sacrifice. How do you top that? My prayer for the girls is that they will find JOY in giving and JOY in knowing JESUS!