Handmade and Personalized Family Christmas Stockings
December 13, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 6 Comments
When I was 4 years old, my mom made each member of our family stockings that looked like us. Mine had two brown ponytails and freckles. My dad’s had black hair, black-rimmed glasses, and a long tie. They were made out of felt and fabric and each year, my mom hung them on the wall in the most prominent place in the house.
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We always looked forward to the time she’d pull them out of the box and begged for them to be the first Christmas decoration to go up. With each new child, she’d make a new stocking to add to the mix until today, we have 8 stockings, each resembling the members of my family.
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Last year, my sisters got together to make similar stockings for their families. I wasn’t able to go, so my sister made two just for my boys. As we brought these out this year along with the other Christmas decorations, I recognized the excitement I felt growing up for “my” Christmas stocking.
What fun holiday traditions do you have?
Teaching Children to Give—Reindeer Cookies as Holiday Neighbor Gifts
November 29, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 5 Comments
When I think of favorite holiday activities, giving is the first one that comes to mind. I love seeing all the Angel Trees around town, collection bins for the Food Bank, boxes accepting winter coat donations, and much more. That so many organizations are centered on helping those in need is uplifting. I appreciate them making it easy for me to play a part in that outreach!
My parents were like these organizations. They provided ample ways for our family to help others while at the same time helping us fall in love with the act of giving. So, as the holiday season gets under way, I want to share a few ways you can teach your children to fall in love with the act of giving as well.
Service and giving can have many different recipients: self, family, friends, pets, neighbors, community, the world, etc. Part 1 of my “Teaching Children to Give” series focuses on those right around you—your neighbors.
Neighbors are a vital part of the community in which you live. They often are the people you see at common places in your life—at the grocery store, at church service, at your kids’ school, at volunteer activities, at community events, and more. Showing appreciation for them and teaching your children the importance of valuing them is not only important, but can be fun!
Baking reindeer cookies is a tradition I started with my two boys several years ago. My mother in law shared the recipe with me and helped us bake our first batch. Now, my family bakes these every Thanksgiving holiday weekend and takes them around to our neighbors to kick off the holiday season with a bang!
Check out this Whrrl story for more pictures and detailed steps on how to make them!
If you join or log in to Whrrl, please comment and share your fun holiday giving traditions too!
What’s on Your Holiday Wishlist This Year? ($3800 in Prizes???)
November 23, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 9 Comments
Win a Sleighful of Gifts!
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter, I’m sharing this meme with you. Did I mention this giveaway features $3,800 in prizes? For those of you that know me, you know I’m not exaggerating, because if I were, I’d exaggerate using an odd number. LOL!
Click here to check out the ginormous amount of goods.
To enter to win them, all you need to do is the following three things:
- Answer the questions in this meme on your blog.
- Make sure to post links back to TodaysMama.com and Provo Craft (using this link: http://bit.ly/4ikY3c ).
- Tag your friends!
Create a Wishlist!
1. What 5 items are top on your holiday wish list?
- A piano
- A trip to India
- Maid service (even one a month would be heavenly!)
- A trip to New York City (I would love to get this gift early, so I can go this December!)
- A new printer like my old one (where the sheets feed into the copier)
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
Do my grandma’s banana cookies count? Honestly… there is no better handmade gift than that!
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
I’d love to knit a hat as long as someone else could do the knitting for me!
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
Holly Hobby Easy Bake Oven… hands down the best gift evah!
5. What items are top on your kids wish list this year?
- My 6YO wants an electric guitar.
- My 8YO wants us to get a piano. He’s willing to forego toys for it!
6. What is your favorite holiday food?
Where to begin?
- Reindeer cookies
- My MIL’s sugar cookies
- Saurkraut
- My mom’s prime rib roast
- Caramel Apple Spice from Starbuck’s
- Hot chocolate
- Veggie trays (especially if I got to chop the veggies)
- Olives (especially when eaten off my finger tips… tell me you did that as a kid too!)
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
Thankfully, nada (unless making reindeer cookies as neighbor gifts counts)!
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
All of them! I love holiday movies!!! If I had to choose just one, I would probably say How The Grinch Stole Christmas, especially the part when his heart pops out of his chest!
9. Favorite holiday song?
I can’t choose just one:
- Oh Come All Ye Faithful
- We Three Kings/Star of Wonder by BNL & Sarah McLaughlin
- Bring the Torch, Jeanette Isabella
- That one by the Osmond’s that @troypattee dies for (can’t remember the name… not Puppy Love though!)
10. Favorite holiday pastime?
Giving!
Tag! You’re It!
Now, it’s tag time! I’d love to see answers to these questions from all of you, but since the task is to tag some of you and since tagging all of you would mean the rest of you would have no one to tag, here we go!
- Amy from Mom Spark
- Niri from Mommy Niri
- Robyn from Pensieve Robin
- Melissa from Isly
- Carissa from Good and Crazy People
- Angie from 7 Clown Circus
- Elizabeth from Parenting Pink
- Kim from Crafty Mama of 4
- Holly from June Cleaver Nirvana
- Jenny from Jenny on the Spot
Giveaway! Let Crayola Help Make Your Holiday Gift Giving Easier!
November 7, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 434 Comments
Enter to win one of two amazing gift packs and let Crayola help make your holiday shopping easier this season!
Prize
Two lucky winners will receive gift baskets from Crayola right in time for the holiday season and gift giving.
- Grand Prize Winner will receive a gift pack loaded with 30 amazing starter products to get those first-time Crayola kids started on some colorful fun (retail value: $200).
- Second Place Winner will receive six new products from Crayola: Magic Light Brush, Glow Board, Glow Station, Glow Dome, Color me a Song, Crayon Maker.
Entry Requirements
To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do the following four things. Make sure to leave a comment here linking to each one:
- Check out the #gno Crayola Whrrl story and leave a comment on one of the pictures.
- Follow @Crayola on Twitter.
- Become a fan of the Crayola Facebook Page.
- Retweet and/or post the following two messages on Facebook and Twitter and comment here, linking to your update/post:
Join #gno Tues 11/10 (9-11 pm ET) 2 chat about creative holiday gift giving w/@crayola RSVP: http://bit.ly/1cuZfL PLS RT
GIVEAWAY! Enter 2 win @Crayola gift packs just in time 4 holidays (2 winners/ret. val. $200!) http://bit.ly/QoTq8 #gno PLS RT
The Fine Print
No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Crayola and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Wednesday, November 11 at midnight PT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. Winners will be notified and will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the e-mail. If they do not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older. One entry per person.
Chat About Creative Holiday Gift Giving This Tuesday on Twitter With Crayola
November 6, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 98 Comments
With the height of the holiday season right around the corner, are you getting excited to start your shopping and decorating? Or, have you already begun?
Join us at the #gno Twitter party this Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. ET as we discuss creative holiday gift giving with our friends from Crayola. They, along with other amazing women in our community, will be sharing shopping tips and highlighting the latest and greatest from Crayola (like this project created with the new Glow Dome, left)—just in time for the holidays.
Also, join the #gno Whrrl story to share your holiday shopping tips! Click here to join, contribute to, or view.
- What: Crayola is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, November 10, 9-11 p.m. EST
- Where: Click here to party with us on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtags #gno and #crayola.)
- Topic: Creative Gift Giving
- Who: @carissarogers @cerisecheri @crayola @gograhamgo @jollymom @makeandtakes @noflashcards @skybluestacy
- Party Favors: Click here to enter for a chance to win products from Crayola just in time for the holidays.
- RSVP: Please leave your Twitter ID in the comments to follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #gno gals. The best format is as follows: http://twitter.com/jylmomIF.
Mom Blogger Spreads Holiday Cheer That Lasts All Year
June 14, 2009 by Danielle Smith · 1 Comment
It doesn’t matter how cold it is outside when there is someone in your life—or in your own blogosphere who is willing to warm you up with kindness.
Georgie Johnson, author of the Decisionally Challenged blog, is just that kind of someone. As a married mother of 3 living in Oklahoma, and an avid blogger, she decided to spread a little cheer, right when everyone needed it most.
This past Christmas season Georgie decided to do a little outreach. She create the SSS—Secret Santa Soiree—as a way for bloggers to spoil each other a little—but in a sweet and secret way. The rules were simple: fill out a questionnaire so your exchange partner would know a little about you, buy a gift in the $10-15 range, ship it off, and most importantly, keep it a secret.
In no time at all, more than 70 women had signed up. And better still, not ONE of those women neglected to fulfill their promise of a gift and of course, keeping it quiet.
Georgie wasn’t trying to grow her own blog. She was simply trying to spread a little joy. And she certainly did—in 70 big and small ways. After all the gifts were exchanged, the gift givers were revealed, creating new friendships and recognizing these women, who were willing to give of themselves in such a hectic time. So many of these women enjoyed the giving feeling so much that it carried over into their daily lives.
True to her giving spirit, Georgie says much of the credit for the entire event goes to her friend Amy who did a lot of the work and ‘kept her sane.’
And don’t worry, if you missed the SSS last year, Georgie will be ‘Momming It Forward ‘ again. The 2nd annual SSS will be taking place this holiday season!
About the Author: Danielle Smith is a mommy to two smart and sassy small people, as well as the founder and primary author of ExtraordinaryMommy.com. You can catch her hosting a brand new live show, The Spin Cycle, on MomTV.com every Wednesday at 9pmEST. She also hosts a show on Blog Talk Radio and contributes to WhyMomsMatter. Danielle is thrilled to be contributing to MomItForward as ‘giving back’ has always been an important part of who she is and what she hopes to teach her children
Family Picture Stolen and Then Found 5000 Miles Away. Copyright Infringement?
May 31, 2009 by Danielle Smith · 2 Comments
My family is…well…kind of noticeable in the Czech Republic. And not because we asked for any notoriety, but simply because we posted family pictures on the internet.
Here is the basic story…
This is a family picture we took this past October. I posted it on my blog and Facebook to share with people I care about. We loved it so much, we used it as our Christmas card.
Apparently someone else loved it so much, they swiped it, and used it to advertise for a high end grocery store—in THE CZECH REPUBLIC. That is nearly 5000 miles away from where I live. Note the langauge at the bottom of the ad.
An old friend from college (who I’m recently back in touch with thanks to Facebook) lives in Prague—and nearly scared his wife half to death when he yelled out in surprise as he drove down the road. The picture is life size—maybe even bigger.
I have felt a variety of emotions about this….this intrusion into my life. I have been alternately flattered (really? Of all the pictures they could have stolen, they chose ours?) to confused (how did this happen?) to offended (who do they think they are?)
But what has been most amazing to me since I shared this story is the outpouring of opinions, shared thoughts and feelings, suggestions and offers of help.
Some moms offered to ask husbands/cousins/friends for advice on what I should do. Some didn’t wait to ask if I needed anything, they called ‘people in the know’ and then emailed me with advice and additional help. Many suggested I laugh it off, some yelled SUE!, others said, “I’m not sure there is anything you can do, but it is a good picture.”
Ninety-eight percent of the people (mainly moms) who contacted me are not people I have ever met—they are people who reached out, hoping I wasn’t too scared. They wanted my world to feel small and comfortable again—not big and unknown. This is what moms do, don’t they?
For that, I am grateful. I’m proud to be a mom. I’m proud to call so many of you friends.
About the Author: Danielle Smith is a mommy to two smart and sassy small people, as well as the founder and primary author of ExtraordinaryMommy.com. You can catch her hosting a brand new live show, The Spin Cycle, on MomTV.com every Wednesday at 9pmEST. She also hosts a show on Blog Talk Radio and contributes to WhyMomsMatter. Danielle is thrilled to be contributing to MomItForward – as ‘giving back’ has always been an important part of who she is and what she hopes to teach her children
10 Tips to Raising Service-Oriented, Giving, and Charitable Children
May 21, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 2 Comments
Growing up, I remember feeling frustrated when my parents dragged me from service project to service project, forcing me to give up precious time with my friends and, let’s face it, even more invaluable time sitting on the couch watching tv LOL! I was convinced my parents were service-a-holics. And what that meant for their six children, especially me being the oldest, was a life of indentured servitude… or so I thought.
Now, with two children of my own, I have realized that my parents taught me one of the most powerful lessons a parent could teach—a knowledge and a love of service. So, now as I “drag” my own children from project to project, I have wondered what, exactly, it was that my parents did that helped me turn my drudgery for service into a passion.
Here are 10 tips I have extrapolated from their parenting that I hope to instill in my children.
1. Serve With Your Children. Serving side by side with your children is one of the most powerful teachers of how to serve all while bringing the family closer. While kids may complain, the bonding time you share sticks in their memories as a positive experience. When they have children of their own and search for ways in which to bond with their children, they will want to repeat the positive experiences they had as a child and the cycle will continue.
- One of my most memorable service projects as a child was a family picnic where my dad did all the service. My dad was the president of our local Rotary Club and they were raising money to wipe out Polio. I was 10 years old and remember the hot Arizona day, watching my dad prepare the dutch oven luncheon for the event and him talking to me at length about Polio, explaining why the Rotary Club was focused on raising money to eradicate it, and the importance of my participation. I felt important! I didn’t do a thing but talk to my dad and eat the picnic lunch, but I felt I had made a huge difference for mankind.
2. Talk to Your Children About Giving and Sharing. When you are not able to serve side by side with your children, share in detail your experiences after the event. Specifically, help them understand the need, how you helped to meet the need, and why your giving and sharing was so important. If you can, take pictures or video and share it with them. Your excitement for your volunteering will be contagious!
Family Service Project at Assisted Living Facility
3. Choose Service Activities Your Children Are Passionate About. Service activities come in many shapes and sizes. Identify what is important to your children and choose activities and causes that fit with their interests. Some suggestions include animals, the environment, children will illnesses, an illness a family member suffers from, etc.
4. Choose a Cause That Taps In to Your Child’s Talents, Skills, & Abilities. Does your child play a musical instrument? Does she like to do arts and crafts? Is he good at weeding or picking up trash? Can she make homemade greeting cards? Can he sing in a group? Nursing homes is just one example of a place that allows kids to visit and share who they are with others. This act of sharing and giving boosts self esteem and helps children learn that their talents, skills, and abilities can be used for good.
5. Tie Everyday Tasks Into Service. Make service an everyday activity and giving a constant thought by reinforcing these concepts in simple things like sharing toys, taking turns, secretly doing a sibling’s chores, giving family members hugs and kisses, etc. You can do this by saying things like: “Johnny, great job at sharing your toys with Billy. That shows that you are a giving person.” To help kids recognize the many ways to serve, create a Giving Chart, where they identify either in written or drawing format things they can do on a daily basis to serve those around them.
Cousins Creating Treasure Boxes (Gratitude Charts)
6. Show Gratitude. Helping kids recognize and show appreciation for things they are grateful for is an important aspect of service. Involve your children in gratitude activities such as keeping a gratitude journal or art book; going on gratitude walks; keeping a Daily Gratitude Chart on the refrigerator where you, as a family, can list your blessings; and having activities such as sitting in a circle and sharing what you are grateful for about the person sitting to your right. Check out Fishful Thinking for their Grateful Sayings activity.
7. Add an Aspect of Giving to Holidays & Events. The Christmas and Hanukkah season is a terrific and natural time to give to others, but you can add a touch of service during many other events as well. For example, many people are now donating their birthday gifts to charity.
- When I was 11 years old, my parents enlisted our help in doing the 12 Days of Christmas for a family whose mom was dying of breast cancer. Together, we picked out all of the gifts, items that would help the family feel joy during the holiday season. We created a strategy for how we would anonymously deliver the gifts. Then, we created a schedule of which family member would take responsibility for various tasks: wrapping the gifts, delivering them, etc. Each day, we huddled together after it got dark to work on our tasks and carry out the project. I will always remember that as one of the best Christmases. Not surprisingly, I don’t recall what I received for my gifts that year.
Kids Bowling to Help Fight Poverty in Africa
8. Serve even when you’re away from home. What a better way to get to know and bond with a destination location than to serve it or its community? If you’ll be away on a long trip, you can arrange a project through an organization. Nearly every major city has a homeless shelter or rescue mission, for example. For shorter stays, simple tasks like picking up garbage at a park and smiling at strangers on the street can make a big difference. Before going on a trip, plan as a family by answering the question: What can we do to give back to the towns and people we’ll be visiting?
- When I was 12 years old, my parents gave me the wonderful opportunity of visiting their friends in Costa Rica for the summer and encouraged me to do a service project before I left. I planned and ran a bake sale with the help of some of my church friends. I raised a whopping $30, which felt like a million bucks! Once I arrived, Silvia, the mom of the family I was staying with, took me all by myself to the grocery store where we purchases items for three families—food that would help them survive for 6 months. The most memorable part of my summer was delivering the food to the three families, crying with them as they humbly accepted it, and gaining a stark realization at the age of 12 of how other people suffer and that I had the power to make a huge difference. I count that as one of the most fortunate experiences I’ve ever had and thank my parents for ensuring it happened.
Decorating Tree at Center for Abused Children
9. Do Unto Others as They Need You to Do Unto Them. What’s valuable to teach your kids about service is that everyone needs to be loved in different ways and that finding out and meeting their needs is most important. While some people need your undivided attention, others need a quick smile or hug. Still others may need a meal brought in (and yes, kids can and should help with that!) or their houses cleaned. When you look at a person and ask yourself and your child: What need does that person have and how can we meet it, you are getting at the heart of selfless service.
10. Emphasize the Role of Money in Charity. Giving includes all sorts of things, many of which do not cost a cent. A child can donate old toys, clothes, or art supplies to organizations that need them. But, since charities also require money to operate, volunteer opportunities and causes that require money offer a wonderful way to teach children about its value. For example, just as you can teach kids to save by reserving a percentage of their allowances for a savings account, you can also have them put aside a specific amount for a giving account. Turn this into a craft activity where they get to decorate three cans or envelopes, labeling them: “Spending,” “Saving,” and “Giving”.
For some great child-oriented service projects, read http://www.parents.com/family-life/work-money-politics/volunteering-philanthropy/10-kid-oriented-causes/.
(Top photo used with permission from Flickr.)
Topic Talk—Final Installment You RAwK!
December 26, 2008 by jyl johnson pattee · 2 Comments
So many amazing stories, so many amazing women. Mom It Forward wants to thank everyone who participated in the Happiness Headlines Challenge. We think you all RAwK! Here’s five more:
Debra at 9 to 5 to 9
Shannon at Shanno Sez So
Michelle at Wanderlust and Lipstick
Jyl at Mommy Gossip
EcoMom at You Can’t Diaper Their Faces
9 to 5 to 9 tells how her little boy crashed into a Christmas tree at the grocery store. And how when he realized it was a giving tree and that there was a little boy named Rigo who needed warm clothes and a few toys, she couldn’t say no to helping out that little boy.
Here’s what she said:
I’m quite good at telling the guys “no.” I even have an international string of “no” in several languages that I break out when they can’t grasp the concept in basic English, and they’ve heard it a lot since September.
But there was no way I could say “no” to that. Not when Big Guy had just given me a glimpse of a heart of gold buried beneath alternating layers of Sam Zell and Hanibal Lector.
After getting those gifts for Rigo, Deb was the grateful one:
Merry Christmas, Rigo.
And thank you, Big Guy, for giving me a glimpse of your light.
Shannon Sez So was worried she missed the challenge. But since we are moms with crazy schedules our deadline changed about 3 times, so if you told us your RAK we are thrilled to have it! She commented:
I wanted to let you know that I did give an elderly woman a ride to the Metro so she wouldn’t have to wait in the cold for a bus. Does that count?
And I’ve said before. Ain’t it the small things that make the season bright? Thanks Shannon.
Wanderlust and Lipstick has been hosting a fabulous Passports with Purpose the whole month of December. What is it? Well, it’s awesome for one thing. It’s also a fundraiser. With the proceeds going to Heifer International. And there’s all these great items! Amazing travel deals and travel books, even a travel related scrapbook supply basket. But here’s the twist. It’s a virtual raffle! For only $10 you get the chance to ‘win’ hundreds of dollars of great stuff!
Michelle says:
I am a sucker for Christmas. I love the lights, the presents, the trees and the celebration in general. But, as I shop for gifts for my friends and family, I can’t help thinking of the deeper meaning of this season of goodwill: of this urge to reach out and help others.
The Raffle fundraiser for Heifer International is going on until the end of December! You can still qualify! There were so many items, I lost count at 40+!
Our very own Jyl at Mommy Gossip made some cookies, and not just any cookies. These are Reindeer Cookies people! (She’s very proud). She and her kids gave away the cookies and some candy canes to neighbors this year. And this video of hers is great. It’s worth the few minutes of watching it I promise! If nothing else watch long enough to see her little boy sitting up on the counter helping with the M&Ms! Precious.
You Can’t Diaper Their Faces says All I really want for Christmas is…. nothing. But she then points out…
Okay… I want world peace and an end to famine, war, discrimination, pain, suffering and the other usual fodder of beauty pagent contestants.
She goes on to say:
Beauty pagent jokes aside, what I want, what I really, really want (are you listening, Spice Girls?) is a better world for my children. That’s kind of hard to stuff in a stocking or put in a bag under the tree. But when I sit and think about what I want… that’s it. A safer, cleaner, healthier, more intelligent world.
Ecomom has come up with an innovative way to give back this year. She hosted a contest and each day right up until Christmas Day, she picked a winner and donated $$ to Christmas Future! This organization lets the ‘winner’ choose the place the money will be sent to and both the donor and the recipient get to see where the money is going. I love this method of kindness. Using Random Generator probably to create a random act of kindness!
What a great time of year, to look back and think about the good things you did for others. We truly believe women make a difference. Moms. Daughters. Grandmothers.
In the coming year we want you all to help us Mom It Forward.
Help us change the world, one mom at a time.
December Do Gooders
December 25, 2008 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
We bring you Four more Mom It Forwards. These women have proven that Random Acts of Kindness are worth it. They bring big rewards. Thanks to all of them for their ideas and example.
Renee at Cutie Booty Cakes
Connie at My Chronic Life
Rhonda at Mother to Mother
Heather at I am Feathermaye
Cutie Booty Cakes makes a few suggestions for good deeds and give backs. She shares the partnership between Fererro Chocolates and
www.sharesomethingsweet.com The chocolate company partnered with Share Our Strength a leading hunger relief organization. And when you use the share something sweet site to send a simple ecard they donate $1 to help feed the hungry. Now that’s sweet! And so is Renee and her son! 
My Chronic Life says she broke the rules for the Happiness Headlines Challenge. But I’m afraid I have to disagree. Instead she points out what some other good doers in her online community did for her. I think she got it just right.
The power of the blogging community is strong. Sure there’s some drama every now and then. Just stay clear of it. I’ve learned my lesson about that. But please don’t let feeling like you don’t know enough about blogging prevent you from starting. Join Twitter, GNO and other groups. Get to know people and watch those acts of kindness, random or not come your way.
Mother 2 Mother is shipping packages to troops in Iraq and Rhonda is still taking donations up until Jan 1st. She says the guys have submitted a list:
Their list includes hard candy, homemade cookies, chips, envelopes & writing paper, pens, deodorant, tooth brushes, tooth paste, food powder, lotion, sun screen, chap stick, batteries (AA, AAA & D), gum, sports and/or automotive magazines less than 2 months old, disposal razors, white socks, cheese & peanut butter crackers, ramen/cup o noodles.
It’s a great way to help and some items won’t cost you a thing, just donate some old magazines or pantry items! Contact Rhonda for details.
I AM Feathermaye had to get a little bit creative to Mom It Forward this holiday season. See. She found herself with an extra tree and all the trimmings when her husband came home with a new tree! Heather thought and thought about how to find a family in need of a great tree with all the ornaments to boot? She called some churches, got no answer, and then…
Yesterday, I got over myself. I made one call to the local elementary school’s main office, who quickly transferred me to the guidance counselors’ office, who was thrilled to hear from me! It turns out that the guidance counselors are working with social workers to match donors with families in need, of which there are many.
In less than 24 hours my little tree and bags and boxes of decorations were promised to a single mother with two elementary-aged kiddos who otherwise might not have a Christmas tree. I was so touched, imagining this family, because it was just a short twelve years ago that Jonathan and I were not so different from them. And if not for the generosity of others, we might have had some sad holidays of our own.
She asked herself:
Is it wrong of me to feel good for being able to do this? Not in an I’m-so-cool kind of way, but in an I-made-a-difference moment, for sure. Because sometimes we’re not sure if we are making a difference, you know?
And, as far as I’m concerned, making even a little difference makes all the difference in the world.
What do you say? Mom It Forward women, is it worth it? The small things that help make a difference?
