Let me explain ....
Since the "12 Days of Christmas" happens to start about one month from right now, I thought I would show you what we are going to be doing around here in case you want to join in on the fun -- (and this gives you a whole month to think about it!) .... The 12 Days of Christmas Kindness.
Ideas for Christmas random acts of kindness are popping up all over blogland and Pinterest, and this is just my version.
These are 12 things our family plans to do in the 12 days before Christmas (although a couple of them might need to be done before then - and I'm not necessarily promising to do one a day ... there might be days (like the weekends!) when I do three or four on one day!).
Several of these ideas are things I've done before (or do often - like paying for the Starbucks customer behind me in the drive-thru, which is so fun!), and some of them are new ideas from Pinterest -- or my own imagination. :-)
I would love it if you would jump on board, make your own list .... and leave a comment, telling me all about it! :-)
Will this be a bit of a sacrifice for our family? ...Yes.
Will it be worth it? ...Definitely yes.
And I plan to do this every year from now on .... I think it will be even more fun as Lucy get older and can really help me plan and execute the ideas!
What a great way to teach her about the spirit of Christmas!
It is my hope that we can - in big and small ways - share the love of Christ and the JOY of this CHRISTmas season .... Lord willing, especially to some people who are in need of an extra-special blessing the most. :-)
Have fun with this! I hope it inspires you to kick of the season with a spirt of kindness!
That's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI am doing 30 days of giving in November, but I like the linking of the giving with Christmas
We are doing this too! I am so excited. My boys are 3 and 1. My youngest wont really get it but my oldest will.
ReplyDeleteI think these are great ideas =) I really want to do some of these as well. Hopefully I am able to! Hope you have a great week!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome ideas! You have inspired me to come up with my own list for my family :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! My neighbor and I (and our kiddos) are going to be doing this too! We are going to attempt 25 days of giving but since we are doing it together it will save us some money :) I love imparting a spirit of giving onto our kiddos during this season which can easily be focused on selfishness! Blessings and have fun!!
ReplyDeleteI love your emphasis on "CHRISTmas" - it's so easy to get caught up in the season and forget what you're -really- celebrating. Money's a little tight this Christmas, but I'm definitely going to donate to the bell ringers! <3 All your ideas sound so cute, especially the goody bags for the garbage man!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of giving....I am doing something similar too. I am tying it with Advent.....mainly because I want to focus more on Advent this year. I am also doing this with my kindergarteners.....we are doing random acts of kindness at school as well.
ReplyDeleteSue
Fruity Lemonade & The Very Busy Kindergarten
Love this!! Please come link up to our link party going on...junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-it-up-wednesday_08.html
ReplyDeleteLove these! Very fun & touching :)
ReplyDelete-Jodi
This is very cool Bec! I need to come up with a list for our family! I love doing random kindnesses!
ReplyDeleteOh Bec, what wonderful ideas!!! Maybe we'll figure out how to do some of this this year and keep adding to it over the years. The kids are sitting here reading/listening with me and think it sounds pretty cool! Thanks for the ideas and hope you have a WONDERFUL Christmas!!=)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! If you get a chance, I'd love to have you link up to my party at http://scrapbookingez.blogspot.com/2011/11/anything-goes-linky-party_10.html. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm making up one of these for my son to do around his school....he's in 7th grade. Gifts for teachers, buy and extra cookie for the kid in line behind him, offer a bus-riding a ride home, and give anonymous gifts to a couple of less fortunate kids from "secret santa"....still working on more ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! You are going to make some people very happy!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so fun!! I think it would be fun to have the kids help come up with ideas - and at the same time teach them more about giving.
ReplyDeleteRachel
adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com
As 4 Me & My House we will be starting on advent
ReplyDeleteMost of my clients cannot even afford 2 go 2 starbucks! I have one client who will become homeless, her home is being condemed! She could barely pay her tax's. There r many due 2 the changes in the job situations and economy who r 4 no reason other than lost of jobs r now homeless, or worst living in the streets, in the
parks, etc. There r many "rules" if U go 2 in2 a
homeless shelter. Ur NOT allowed 2 bring in Ur belongings, & the little u r allowed, if U happen 2 really fall asleep, Ur belongings R mosttimes stolen, if not by other "residents" then by the workers. There must be something we can do as collective bloggers, in bloggerland!
YOU ARE ON A GREAT WAVE HOW CAN WE MAKE IT GROW BIGGER! MAYBE WE ALL NEED TO STRIKE BLACK FRIDAY, 7 SAND A MESSAGE TO THE BANKS, WE WANT TO SERVE ALL OF US...4 TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE CARE OR EACHOTHER!
You've been featured!
ReplyDeletehttp://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2011/11/top-ten-features-from-11162011.html
Thanks for linking up. See you this at the next Thursday party.
DaNita
I absolutely love your list. FanTAStic. I've never heard/thought of some of those ideas. And I hope I'm behind you in Starbucks. :) Would you share this here?
ReplyDeletehttp://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2011/11/shine-on-fridays-2-and-some-fabulous.html
Featuring YOU tonight over on my blog. You were one of the most viewed links at {wow me} wednesday last week! Thanks so much for linking up! Hope to see ya this week, too! :)
ReplyDeleteGinger @ gingersnapcrafts.com
http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2011/11/wow-me-wednesday-26.html
Hi friend! I am SO honored that you linked up at my party. That just means so much to me---you have no idea {especially because I look up to you so much!} Anyways, I LOVE this list. I am going to have to print it and really do everything. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJaime
This is such a wonderful idea and your list is great! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteWe do most of these each year, I just never made a list, so it will be nice to have the reminders! Something to add: Put a couple of cans of soup in the oven on warm just before you leave to shop, run errands, etc, take them and some disposable spoons and napkins tied in festive ribbon with you to hand out to folks you see standing on the corners holding signs that say "homeless, hungry, need work". Great way to bless them without giving them money for their drinking habit! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea about the warm soup. However I do have to say not everyone standing on a corner holding a sign is a drinker. This economy has put so many people out of work that lets face it any of us could be one of them standing there at any time. Again what a great idea.
DeleteGreat ideas here. Saw this on Pinterest and plan to use a few for our Advent calendar this year. TFS
ReplyDeleteWe've long been inspired by urban art and have finally created a collection that pays homage to this secret addiction of ours!
ReplyDelete