Tis' the Season

This week is the start of the holiday season.  We are busy lining up holiday get togethers, thinking about gifts, planning Thanksgiving dinner.  I only have to work two days this week and then off for five days.

This is always the first family activity we do to kick off the holiday season:  Operation Christmas Child boxes.  We go shopping and each of the kids gets to fill a box of goodies.  We require them to put in some toiletries, school supplies and a couple small toys.  The concept that this may be the only gift a child receives for Christmas really hits home.  They spend a lot of time selecting things to fill the box.  The kids are proud to take the boxes back to church and turn them in to be shipped.  We then track them online, and research the country when we find out where they ended up. 

So here we go...I am going to try not to be overwhelmed by all of the activities during the next six weeks, and remember the reason for the season!