the True Gifts of Christmas

 The TRUE GIFTS of CHRISTMAS

LOVE - JOY - PEACE - HOPE

Christmas is a time of giving gifts as we celebrate

the Greatest Gift ever given - Jesus!

Did you ever stop to think about the gifts you give

and receive that are not material items?

For the past few years, we've made a chart each December

listing ways we give and receive Love, Joy, Peace and Hope.

I want to share a few from this year with you ...

We spent two Sunday afternoons driving around

stopping at homes of family ...when they answered the door,

we greeted them with singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" 

then gave them homemade goodies with a smile and a "Merry Christmas".

We made 7 stops for Matt's family on the first Sunday.

My mom joined us for the 8 stops we did the next Sunday for my family.

This was one of my favorite gifts we gave this Christmas!

I got creative with my yarn scraps and made

these 4 hats plus the 4 pair of slippers below to donate.

Grace and I made handmade Christmas cards

sending a holiday greeting in the mail to 15 people

from our church that were going to be home alone

for Christmas.

Nathan and Grace made handmade ornaments

again this year to give.

We put a lot of thought into gifts

giving "at home" joy and love..

{Below is the lap blanket I made for Matt's mom.}

Grace got right to work on her new horse puzzle

while Nathan started studying his new atlas of

Alaska topographic maps.

Our neighbors gave us a gingerbread village kit

which was a gift of joy for Grace as she

made it and us as we watched her excitement.

We were blessed with time together over the holidays

playing games (Matt even played a family game of Monopoly!),

sledding, reading, watching some t.v. together, hiking, 

celebrating together, and getting some much needed extra rest!

From our family to yours ...

May your life be full of giving and receiving 

LOVE - JOY - PEACE -  and HOPE!