give this christmas away

Last weekend, instead of church services, we were told to head out into the community and do good for others.  You could sign up through the church for a service project or think of your own idea.

Juan Pablo was right when he said we better just sign up because we might end up doing nothing.  But once I'm signed up, it always prompts me to go a little further.

The night before, Isabela and I had made cheesecake...from scratch.  They are super simple to make and absolutely delicious!  And our recipe made enough for two cakes...one of which was begging to be given away.

So the kids and I brainstormed as to who to give it to...and the lucky winner was our local police station.  We whipped together some cards and delivered it the next morning.  We're not sure what they thought of it, but it really does make you feel better to do those random acts of kindness.



Then we were on our way to our 'real' service project...sorting and cleaning at a local thrift store.  I couldn't believe it!.... given my love of thrift stores, I knew I wouldn't be able to count this as work at all.

Unfortunately, JP couldn't be there, so it was just the kids and I off to do some good.

This was the hardest for Joaquin....he is SUPER sensitive to smells...and if you've ever been in a thrift store, you know that musty smell I'm talking about.  He fussed and fumed and complained about not being able to breathe...but all that died down after the first hour.  He was the most help at bagging up the old stuffed animals to send to Honduras.  He's a stuffed animal lover just like his mom.

(The day took an exciting turn when he discovered a dead mouse buried under boxes of toys.  Later, when he was asking 'how much longer do we have to do this?' the owner nicely explained, "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do...like when I had to pick up that dead mouse...I didn't want to do that."  I was fascinated that the kids were getting their first experience at what a real job might be like when they're older.)

Diego found random things to play with, including an old organ and a toy vet hospital.  The extent of his helping was throwing some hangers into a box.

But Isabela was in her element.  She loves to be busy with a helping task and walked around on her own like she worked there.  She said the time just flew by!

The best part was watching the change in the kids.  When we first arrived, everyone was nervous and a little scared of the lady who ran the place.  She was nice as can be, but had a little thing on her eye that distracted the kids.  But by the end of our shift, they were talkative and interested and exploring all of the amazing trinkets you find at thrift stores.

On the way home, we all chatted about how much fun we'd had.

Of course, we didn't walk away empty handed.
Diego came home with a tube of bubbles.


Joaquin found a little cut the rope stuffed animal and made his own game version.



I finally got the tree skirt I've never had.  I couldn't decide if it was vintage looking and lovely, or just plain ugly.  I went with the vintage, which the $5 dollar price tag helped convince me of.



Plus I found these awesome walls stickers for $1.  And I finally did the right thing in the design world by buying more than one of the same thing.  I was able to hang these around my pictures...



....and the kitchen cabinets.



Would you believe Juan Pablo came home late and didn't even notice them?



(and yes, I totally straighted up my counter before I took these pictures.)

I'm grateful for the timing of this give away project.  When there's unbelievable evil in the world,  it's reassuring to know we can each do our little part to make it a better place.


“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 
― Mother Teresa

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” 
― Charles Dickens

“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.” 
― Ben Carson

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” 
― Kahlil Gibran

“I know what I have given you... 
I do not know what you have received.” 
― Antonio Porchia

Believe me, our kids will be receiving plenty of presents under the tree this year, but I'm so thankful that our church guided my hand in helping us remember how great it is to give of yourself.