O Come O Come Emanuel

Advent officially begins today. It is that glorious season of waiting before the joy of Christmas. It's a time of preparation, much like the secular preparations of shopping, baking and decorating. Unlike the materialistic frenzy of the holiday season, Advent allows us time to spiritually prepare.
Each year, I wish to have to have a good Advent, one where I am not rushed or hurried or stressed. I desire to have the peace and joy that the season promises. It's a matter of focus. I can let myself be caught up in the madness and frenzy of the secular side of the season.

4Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

5Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25

Today's Psalm provides focus for the season. Lead me in your truth for me is to focus on what I need to focus on spiritually this season. This season of waiting, our family is planning on service projects over the next 23 days. It's a great life lesson for my son, and a chance for our family to bond.

As a family, we made a decision on what we wanted to do to make the world a better place. One cause that we are passionate about is animal rescue. All of our animal companions have been adopted from an animal shelter. We are making pet treats and toys for the Sioux Falls Humane Society.

The other cause we are passionate about are kids. My son will be making cards for the kids at Children's Care Hospital, and as a family we will help, too. We collect food for the food pantry year round. When I go grocery shopping, I always pick up a few extra items for it. It's a good object lesson for my son, to remind him how blessed we truly are. This winter, The Banquet, our local soup kitchen, is collecting underwear and winter gear for those in need. We serve there several times a year as well. Little Man is too young to serve on the line, but he can help bus tables and fill napkins and utensils. It's a family job!

Goody Two Shoes

In honor of Martin Luther King day today, the Little Man and I had a chance to serve with Samaritan's Feet,
(http://www.samaritansfeet.org/)
providing shoes for community members in need.
We had started the morning off in Sunday School, were the topic of the day was be becoming a disciple. (ever feel like the Holy Spirit works in your life?) I also had the kiddos watch Dr.King's "I have a Dream" speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Which for some of them, it was the first time they had heard him speak. They were transfixed and for my son, it had set the tone for the rest of the day.
We went to serve after church. For a kiddo with autism, the fact we weren't following our routine was a little troubling, but we made a nice recovery.
We got to the SF Ministry Center and were ready to work. Samaritan's Feet is an organization that provide shoes to those in need, both around the world and here in the US. When I count my blessings in my gratitude journal, I always add having shoes on my feet as a blessing. In many areas, there are no paved roads or sewage systems, so that is what you are walking through. Even in our own country, with today's economic circumstances, many kids are wearing shoes that dont fit properly, and are unable to fix that problem.
The guests were invited by 12 different agencies, and included families and individuals. Seeing kids his own age really impacted my son. He went from whining about not going home to play with his toys to being grateful he had multiple pairs of shoes to wear.
An object lesson come to life.
The guests had their feet washed by a team of volunteers and dried. They were then fitted with a brand new pair of shoes.
We served as shoe runners. We got shoes from the table and handed them to the guests. Little Man worked with me, and was very quiet the whole time.
We stayed about an hour, and on the way home, we had a great discussion on want VS need. Little Man said he never expected to see kids his own age there. He also was surprised that he, a 9 year old, was able to do something to make it better. Pay it forward is a common phrase in our home. I am a firm believer if you've been blessed you best bless others. I never understood people who didn't give back to the world. It's all about karma-you put out bad vibes, they come back to you.
Im just grateful my son helped to put love in action yesterday.

Boxing Day

The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day, with traditions going back to the Middle Ages. Churches would open their alms boxes and distribute it to the poor. In Victorian times, the servants had the day after Christmas off, and would be allowed to take home the leftovers in boxes, with the day off.
It has nothing to do with fighting or in the ring.
For many folks, Boxing Day is an opportunity to do a service project together as a family. There are many little ones you can do in a day, that don't require any skills or advance prep.

Bring a tray of cookies to the local firehouse or police station.
Bring a bowl of apples and bottles of water to the ER, ICU or NICU waiting rooms. It's no fun being sick.
Take last years toys that are no longer played with (not broken) and bring to the homeless or domestic violence center.
Bring a meal to those staying at the Ronald McDonald house.
Donate blood.
Donate pet food to your local shelter.
Recycle wrapping paper and make cards for the local nursing home
Bring cookies to the nursing home
Many larger cities have homeless drop in centers-if your town does, see if they need help with clients laundry or someone to read to clients children.

There are so many different ways to continue spreading the joy this season.