My twenty cents keeps moving! - Our favorite Holiday tradition-- Works for Me!

Nov. 15, 2006

Our favorite Holiday tradition-- Works for Me!

Posted in WFMW

We have only done this for 2 years, but it was so much fun that I am sure we will do it for many more. And I love that it teaches my kids to focus on the joy of giving instead of the Gimme Gimme attitude that sometimes prevails at Christmas. I think it truly teaches the spirit of Christmas.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Each year we select a person that needs cheering up. Two years ago it was an elderly member of our church who had been out sick for a few weeks. Last year it was a lady who is taking care of her mom with Alzheimer's and no longer gets to come to church. This year, hmm we'll have to see.

On the 12 days before Christmas (or you could pick Dec 1-12 if you are going out of town, it really doesn't have to end on Christmas Day) you secretly hide a "themed" gift on their doorstep with an anonymous note. Here's some example but you can change it to fit your budget or the needs of the recipient. (One of ours was diabetic which made it hard LOL)

1st Day-- we give pears and make a funny note about the store being out of partidges.
2nd Day-- Dove chocolate or Turtle candy ( we used dove soap for the diabetic lady)
3rd Day-- Chicken Soup
4th Day-- We gave a preety notepad and pen and said the calling birds left a message
5th Day-- Pineapple rings (this was the favorite both years, not sure why)
6th Day- We made candy eggs one year and the other year we gave her a half dozen real eggs.
7th Day-- I think we gave bubble bath or bath salts and made a joke about swimming
8th Day- milk duds
9th Day-- a cheap christmas cd for them to dance to
10th Day-- candy canes-- the lords retired but left their canes
11th Day-- for the pipers we gave them hot cocoa and told them to serve it piping hot
12th Day-- instead of hiding it, we show up with Drumsticks (ice cream) and reveal ourselves.

Both years, the recipients were so grateful and enjoyed it so much. I can't wait to do it again this year. We did it as inexpensively as we could, but you could use drawings and things to make it even cheaper if you are on a tight budget. (The funny notes are half the fun anyway, so be creative!)

It really is the thought that counts.

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Comments

Nov. 13, 2006 - What a neat idea!

Posted by 5atkins

I am already narrowing down my list of possible recipients! :)
BTW, I am no help in the carb domain! Ah, such good intentions! It is just so hard unless everyone in the family does it and I eat nothing at church functions which we have at least weekly and some weeks more! I am seriously thinking about going to a WW points system again or actual calories. One time my sister and I did a fat count. We never went over 20 grams of fat in one day. That worked slowly, but surely! I need to do something! I have been praying for you too Leslie!
In Him, Eva