Operation Christmas Child

Yesterday I found this organization called Operation Christmas Child when reading a blog.  It's a wonderful organization that collects shoe boxes with gifts for a child and then they ship them all over the world.  After reading the blog and then reading more about the OCC I was determined to share this experience with my children.

So, last night I went shopping with a friend who also decided to join me in this.  We looked at clothing, deodorants, crafts, toys, candy and so much more.  We wandered.  We picked items up and thought about them.  We placed some back on shelves.  We threw some in the carts.  We found items we liked better and took out items we didn't like as much....all the while thinking about the little girl or little boy this gift might be given to.  She picked a girl in the age range of 5-9 and I picked a boy in the same age range.  Since I have 4 boys, I figured it would be pretty easy to find things.

I found Legos that made me smile when I thought of a little boy's delight.  I picked socks that I knew Colin would think were so comfy and cool to have for his own.  I found a tiny Nerf gun that all my boys would go nuts over.  I grabbed Christmas-y chapstick, crayons, markers, colored pencils, gum, tiny playing cards like Old Maid, a candy cane filled with jelly beans, spiderman bandaids, superhero tooth brushes, a small slinky, and a green yoyo ball.  Every time I think about these simple gifts, I smile.

I found some leftover wrapping paper from last Christmas and wrapped the plastic shoe box.  I folded. I rearranged. I opened packaging and organized.  I squished and shoved and pushed and crammed and FINALLY got everything that I desperately wanted in the box to fit...really tightly.

I told each of the boys about the program.  I showed them pictures of children who have received the boxes in the past.  I talked about how this will be a child's only Christmas, that each of the items in the box will be treasured.  I cried and cried and my kids asked me why I was crying.

What a glorious way to bring the real spirit of Christmas into our home.  We don't know exactly who this box will go to, but we have imagined him.  We have pictured him opening his gift.  We love him.

Isn't that what Christmas is really about?  I'm so grateful for the blog that lead me to find this amazing organization.  Go here to find her amazing blog...

http://rachelmariemartin.blogspot.com/

If you want to learn more about this organization go here: Operation Christmas Child

And Have a wonderfully blissful and blessed holiday and Christmas season!