It "Dozen" Get Much Better Than This

This was a very different Christmas for our family!  This year we gave Christmas away!

As a family, we decided that we have been truly blessed and quite honestly didn't need anything.  Sure, we had kids that wanted a few things, but nothing that they couldn't live without.

This year we decided to give our children the gift of time.  We chose to spend more time together and less time running all over town, buying gifts for each other that we didn't actually need.  We also chose to use the money we would normally use for gifts and instead use that money to buy things for others.

Sunday evening we prepared a box full of all the trimmings of a Christmas dinner!  We sent a couple of boys out in the cold, dark night to 'ding dong ditch' a special family that we felt could use it!  They almost got caught, but thankfully in the end, were able to leave the box without blowing their cover!

This year we went on a magical train ride in the mountains that took us to Santa's Village.  While we don't put a lot of emphasis on 'Santa' in our home, it was enchanting for the youngest children to experience the whole wonder of it!  We also explained to them that Santa would not be filling their stockings with toys, that instead we had asked him to share those toys with others.  Santa brought them lots of yummy treats in their stockings instead!
















On Christmas Eve, we took all 18 of us (we had cousins and an Aunt here too!) to the movie, Frozen!  What a perfectly, lovely movie!!!  Everyone absolutely loved it.....even the teenage boys!!!!

When we got home, we loaded 15 plates with homemade treats and cookies and took them to different family's from church.  We caroled at each stop and our kids got to see the look of pure joy as family after family opened their door to our singing and goodies!

On Christmas Eve, we continued our tradition of opening Christmas p.j.'s as well as their ornament!  Each child gets a new Christmas ornament from Scott and I every year.  But the highlight on Christmas Eve are their new jammies!




We awoke on Christmas morning to not a single gift under the tree.  But what we did enjoy were fresh baked cinnamon rolls and eating the treats out of our stockings!  We had a lazy morning and then began preparing our Christmas feast!  We were honored to share our dinner with a new family from church.  They had 3 young children and we all had a great time eating, laughing and telling stories. 

When they had returned to their home, we began the highlight of our day!  We had 20 bags full of hats, gloves, wool socks, hand warmers, jerky, granola bars, apples, oranges, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, homemade cookies, Christmas chocolates as well as a few other items!  We also had 8 heavy sweatshirts and jackets to give to those who really needed something more.  We loaded into two vehicles and made our way into Boise.  We were looking for those that may be in need of our bags.  We encountered a gentleman in a park, that was looking for a place to unroll his sleeping bag.  He was the first recipient.  We then made our way towards a local shelter.  Along the way, we found 4 more gentlemen that were thrilled to each receive a bag!  When we finally pulled into the shelter, we quickly realized the need was so great.  We made our way inside, passing out a few more bags outside as we went.

Once inside, a gentleman in charge suggested we take our bags over to the family side.  My heart dropped.  I hadn't even considered that their would be families in there.....as we walked past the tables of people, eating their dinner, all eyes were on our group of 18.  I'm sure we were quite a sight.  As we entered the room, we were swarmed by children.  Immediately, tears began to form as I realized I would not be able to give each of these beautiful children their own bag.  I blinked them back and listened as Scott shared a little bit about what we were doing and what we had for them.  He then said we wanted to share a Christmas carol with them before we left.  There was no way I was going to be able to sing but we belted out, We Wish You A Merry Christmas for them! 

One little girl took a bag and could hardly hold it!  It was almost the same size as her!  Another little girl dug into her bag and pulled out a candy cane!  Another one found a chocolate!  Their were smiles and giggles all around us!

I heard a mother whisper, "Take these socks to your daddy!" to a little boy.  We passed out the jackets and heard quiet "thank you's". 

As we slowly made our way out of the shelter, our children got a good look at the life these people live.  Their hearts were touched.  There was a quiet reverence as we made our way to the car.  As  we passed by the men and women outside, we heard shouts of, "Merry Christmas" and "God bless you!"  As we yelled it back, my heart was truly full for all of the blessings we enjoy in our life.

After arriving back home, we paused for a few minutes to discuss what everyone felt.  We were truly humbled, to say the least.  It was decided that next year our focus would definitely be on the children.  For them, this was just another day, nothing special, no traditions, no stockings bulging with goodies, no one caring, and no one reminding them that the Son of God was born in a manger and that He loves them and knows them by name......our children had no idea that there were children who were homeless!  Now when I ask them to clean out their clothes/toys to share with those who don't have what they have, they will be able to think back to the children they saw today in their scraggly clothing and un-brushed hair and realize I'm not asking a lot.

Our children were not completely bought into the whole idea of giving their Christmas away at first, but I can honestly tell you that after spending this past week together and especially after today, they are 100% on board!!  As I tucked them into bed tonight, I thanked them for their willingness to give Christmas away.  They each said they were glad they did it and no one had any regrets!

And that my friends, is what Christmas was all about this year for our family! We hope that this Christmas brought you everything you wished for!  We hope you were surrounded by loved ones,

May this New Year bring peace and happiness to you and those you love!

Our congregation at church has been working for the past couple of months, preparing to present a beautiful play called, Savior Of The World.  It was an hour production of the birth of Christ that they presented to the community, of the birth of our Savior.  Several of our children were in the play and had such a wonderful experience as they went to rehearsals and learned their parts!  Last week they performed two shows.  I was able to get a picture of the girls that were involved but the boys took their costumes off too fast plus there was no way they were going to let me take a picture of them in their make up!  They were a shepherd, Roman Soldier and a Temple boy.

They all did such an amazing job!  It was a pleasure to watch them all perform!!!

Last week while I was shopping at the store, I picked up a baby doll for Olivia.  It was just the perfect size and softness.....I loved it! When we got home from the store, I introduced them to each other!  It was magical!  She listened as I explained what it was and helped her feel all the parts.  Then I just let her experience her baby doll by herself.....here are a few pictures!!

One of my favorite things about Christmas is matching Christmas dresses for little girls!  This year is no exception!!  Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday, just before we left for church!!!

On Monday, a certain little Princess turned 6 months old!  How can that even be possible????  What a joy she is!  How blessed we are to have her in our family!  She is growing and learning new things and teaching us what life is really about.  We love her so much.

We got our cd of pictures and were thrilled at how they turned out!!  Of course we'll share them with you!!!