I wasn’t going to put this on my blog, and was intending to put this together as a Word document to email to my family, but it turns out I can’t remember how to do that efficiently any longer and it’s easier for me to add images and links in this format.
Four years ago, I saw this video on YouTube and it changed the way I thought about Christmas. My family (both immediate and extended) has humored me by doing Christmas a little differently ever since:
Since I’m not a great gift giver anyway, the focus on giving to those in need instead of each other really appealed to me. Each year we give the kids a sum of money and they pick out “gifts” for each other from a charitable giving catalogue like Samaritan’s Purse or Heifer International using the money we would have spent otherwise.
This year we didn’t buy any gifts. For anybody. BUT, because our extended family is willing to forgo presents in exchange for this type of present, we were able to give more than ever before. THANK YOU Mom, Dad, Carrie, Wendy, Kristy, Patrick, Jeremy, Darin, Eli, Jack, Faith, Mom, Dad, Ginger, Amy, Shane, Mia, Noah, Jacob, Mason, Calvin, Carter, Caleb, and Camille. And Merry Christmas. Because of you we were able to buy:
50 pairs of shoes through Soles 4 Souls (thanks for the idea Mia!)
2 gift baskets of food for sponsored families and 2 staff gifts through Amazima, an organization in Uganda that serves both the orphaned and the poor in Uganda.
financial help for iSanctuary, a non-profit organization that helps girls who have been rescued from human trafficking in India and Orange County, CA (we’re proud of what you do, Wendy!)
And from the Samaritan’s Purse catalogue, the boys chose these items:
2 families to begin farming
water for a community
milk for 3 children for a week
I hope you all like your “presents” this year and don’t feel ripped off as if we donated to The Human Fund in your name. We love you and wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Joy to the World,
Robin, Josh, Calvin, Carter, Caleb, and Camille