Thankful Christmas...

This Christmas, I was honored to be able to do for others...I have been so very blessed in my life with a great childhood growing up, parents who raised me in the church and taught me to love the Lord, to have a Savior that would die for me so I know, without a doubt, I have a heavenly home awaiting me, a wonderful husband who loves me and treats me so very well, children who are hard-working, respectful and all around great people, my Mother lives close and I can see her often, a job with a wonderful family that I love, several church families that I've been fortunate to be a part of and am still a part of, a comfortable home on a beautiful lake with neighbors that would do anything in the world for us and us for them, good health and food to eat and so many more things that it would take pages to list them all!!  I really tried to help as many people as I could this year and it felt wonderful...instead of a bunch of stuff under the tree that my kids and family either don't really need or they can buy for themselves, I chose to give to others.  I do a lot of these every year, but some things are new and some things I do year-round but all are important and to be the hands and feet of Christ in this world is something I really want to do.

Franklin Graham's organization, Samaritan's Purse, ships shoeboxes full of goodies all over the world to deliver to children who otherwise wouldn't have Christmas.  They also hear the Christmas story and learn about Jesus.  I took five shoeboxes to the local drop off location.  Just look at all of these boxes! 

Thankful for this wonderful organization evangelizing, all who filled boxes and for the volunteers that make it all happen.

We have four shut-ins at our church and I made goodie bags for the preacher to deliver to them.  Thankful for church members who have worked all their lives serving and can now rest, for my pastor who visits them weekly and for Northpoint Church.

Thankful for funnies that make me laugh!!

This is a wonderful sentiment and one that absolutely rings true...thankful that others know how I feel.

Thankful for my little tree at work, the little manger that was in my kids room while they were growing up, and the family I work for.  They treat me so well and I can't imagine working anywhere else...ever...

Thankful for the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home who take care of children that no one else wants.  I was blessed to be able to get Christmas for four of those children.

Thankful to bless some women at the shelter with personal items and purses. 

Thankful to have an active youth group at church. They went on a trip after Christmas and I was able to sponsor one young man's trip for him and buy breakfast for the group for one morning.

One of the shut ins bags with the card we had youth and church members sign.

Thankful for the wonderful, Christian day care I was able to send my kids to when they were little. And thankful for this drawing my 4 year old made for me that I treasure to this day!  It's not Christmas until Rudolph goes up on the refrigerator...:)

Thankful for the thoughtful people who bring by Christmas goodies!

Thankful to belong to an organization who helps people...so many groups helped throughout the year and I was able to help the family of seven at Christmas with a gift.

So very thankful for our veterans.  When Kenneth and I stopped at iHop for breakfast, there was a WWII veteran eating all by himself.  We picked up his check anonymously and the waitress said he had tears in his eyes when she told him someone wanted to thank him for his service and wish him a Merry Christmas. Small price for the large sacrifice he made, for sure.

Thankful I'm able to help the homeless people I see on the street.  I keep bags in my car year-round with a bottle of water, protein bars, personal hygiene items and a Bible to hand out to street people.  I gave out two last week.  It breaks my heart to think of living on the street and though it's not much, it's something to let them know that they're thought of.

I'm thankful for Jesus, who came into this world and saved us all by His grace and mercy...

...and I'm thankful for Grandmother, who gave me this while she was alive and could give me a hug with it.

And I'm thankful for this beautiful lake and the sunset I was able to catch on the way home from working late because my awesome boss lets me take off extra at the holidays to see my daughter who got to fly home for Christmas...and I'm thankful for that, too...