Advent

I love Advent. The candles, the music, the preparations for Christmas. This week is the week of Hope. I am hoping, that as the children are getting older, that they understand there is so much more than the gimmes. It's hard when everyone and their brother is asking them, "What are you asking for from Santa?"

I have decided that each Sunday in Advent we will do something for someone else. These might be tasks I would have normally undertaken, but we will be more intentional in sharing the responsibility with our children this year. Plus, they see all of these activities as fun, which is wonderful.

I had three activities already planned: making goody bags for Justin's co-workers, baking for our neighbors, and Christmas caroling for some shut-ins, but I had one week open.

I asked Kate who she thought we should do something for. After the thoughtful, but prohibitive answer, "Do something for someone who is hurt in the hospital," (I don't happen to know anyone to visit, and with patient confidentiality an issue, I suspect we can't just call the hospital at random.) she came up with Yafrelis, the child we sponsor in The Dominican Republic.


We made a little folder out of some neat prismatic card stock weight paper I bought with the intention of using it for Yafrelis last month.


We made her a paper doll. I've been looking for some to send her for a few months, but didn't find any that are actually made of paper (instead of cardboard).


I sketched out the doll and then made a dress pattern, so we can make several dresses to fit her. Each of the girls decorated a pink construction paper dress.


We're also stocking the folder with a few odds and ends of paper goods (everything we send has to be flat and made of paper).

If you're interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion International, here is where you can get information.