Shoebox Time!

Operation Christmas Child is going at full force!

In July, I attended a banquet and was challenged to double the number of boxes packed from last year, so more children will receive shoebox gifts and hear the Good News. Last year, we had about 140 boxes; to double it, it would be about 280. This was not about numbers, because every shoebox gift is precious. Yet, it was about stepping out in faith, and trusting God and His provisions, since packing these many boxes was something I absolutely could not do on my own. And along the way, I had the help of friends at church who came on board with promoting OCC with much enthusiasm.

Now we have a booth at church and people are very responsive! Various Sunday School classes, Bible study classes and other groups are participating, and donations have been coming in! Even when I went to a couple of Target stores this afternoon to ask about empty shoebox donations, I got great responses and took home a few dozen boxes.

Packing a shoebox is easy - find an empty shoebox (wrapping it with Christmas wrapping paper is optional), decide whether to fill it for a boy or girl (and what age range), and fill it with age-appropriate toys, hygiene items, school supplies and hard candy. If you can, enclose a $7 donation to help cover shipping costs too. It is a fun and easy project both adults and children would enjoy. Children can also do a coloring page and tell the recipients about themselves, and/or write a letter!

OCC has offices not only in the US, but also Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand - and Hong Kong! So if you are in those areas, please visit their website and look for the icons towards the bottom.

Will you pack a shoebox?

August Birthdays!

It has been two months since my last post. Since two months ago, I have returned to school (part-time), begun a new Bible study, seen my toe heal, and gotten a year older, among many other things. Speaking of birthday, we celebrated three birthdays in the family in August. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

The first one was my sister-in-law Rachel's birthday. We had a pool party at our aunt's house and it was a lot of fun! We also welcomed my other sister-in-law who had moved to the state with her family about a week before.

Rachel cutting the cake while the kids eagerly waiting to have a piece.

Later in August, we had another party to celebrate two birthdays! Princess N's and Miss E's birthdays were only a few days apart and my baby sister-in-law was going through town before moving out of state, so my back-to-Texas sister-in-law threw a party for both birthday girls.

Fun water balloon fight between my nieces and nephews before the birthday (cup)cakes.

Princess N turned 10!

Miss E turned 1!

We ended the day with dinner at Hubby's favorite barbeque restaurant, and with a picture of the five oldest children lined up by height.