Hellobee Boards

We are going to start a tradition of participating in Advent this year. DD is only 1.5, but I'm hoping starting the tradition early with help to instill a sense of purpose to the season!

We will do Operation Christmas Child, its close to my heart. I can't wait to pick out a kid who's the same age range and gender as DS and have him help pick out the stuff that goes in the box.

The red buckets were always my mom's thing - growing up any time she passed a bell ringer I saw her dump whatever change she had in them - and I'll probably keep doing that so my son has that memory too.

We will definitely have a strong Christian bent to our holidays as the "reason" we celebrate the season, so I'm not sure I really want to bring in the Santa component at all because I think its confusing. I'd rather focus on the gift we receive through salvation and grace and that be the reason we give gifts to others. I'm REALLY not into my MIL's obsession with gifts as the big thing at Christmas, so I will have to figure out a way to curb that. I think perhaps we'll use the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas to round up lots of old or unused toys and donate them to the crisis nursery or other place that can use them as a good way to "give" and also make room for the influx of presents he will be sure to receive. I also want to do Toys for Tots, eventually with DS using his own allowance or money to do it. We will probably also sponsor a World Vision child at some point that is the same age as our son and use the holidays as a way to send presents and a letter to that child as well.

I'd also really like to get my son into making Christmas gifts for family members. Whether its helping me bake cookies or make ornaments or crafts - I want him to learn how to take his natural skills and talents and use them to be thoughtful towards others. I think it teaches service AND giving, over just buying presents.

We also have a fair number of Jewish or non-observing friends whom we send gifts to for Hanukkah or just holiday baked goods and stuff, so I'd like to get my son involved with that too - again, just getting him to understand the idea of joyfully giving and celebrating with others as a reflection of how we also receive unearned grace from God.