Welcome to Friday's Fave Five. Thank you for joining me in pausing our hectic weeks leading up to the holidays and looking for those blessings we are grateful for. It has been a very busy week for me, so I'm thankful for this pause that helps me notice blessings in my life.
~ Occ Boxes loaded and delivered to the drop off location ~ Sunday was collection Sunday at our church and we prayed over the shoebox gifts as a congregation. Then we loaded them up for the next step in their journey into the hands of a child. Tuesday I dropped them off at the main collection center in town where next week they will be loaded into a semi for their journey to the processing center in Calgary. I love every step of the shoebox journey.
~ work Christmas party ~ last night was our agency's Christmas party. We had a lovely turkey dinner and got to meet and interact with some of the approximately 70 educators that have family dayhomes that are licensed with our agency. It was a fun evening and I'm grateful for all the work the admin ladies did it putting it together.
~ gift of beef ~ One of my dayhome families gifted us with a roast and some steaks from a cow they had butchered. With the insane price of beef around here this was such a blessing!
~ Christmas shopping started ~ I've been dreading the holidays coming up, in fact the whole month of December. Last year was when my Mom went into hospital at the beginning of December and passed a week before Christmas. But I picked up gifts for the dayhome kids this week and a couple of others on my list. I'm trying to keep it simple and not second guess myself this year like I usually do. So I've got those and moving on.
~ a three year old's belly laughter ~ such joy it brings. I love when one of the dayhome kids gets the belly laughs or something silly. It's infectious. You can't help but laugh along.
What have been your favorite blessings that you are thankful for this week?
I remember the first holiday season after my mother passed was so difficult. It really does help to have the laughter of children. It's so joyous. I will be praying for you as you navigate through the ups and downs of this first Christmas without your mother.
ReplyDeleteOur OCC boxes were collected last Sunday, too. Such a neat ministry. That was great to have a work Christmas party, especially when so many of the people there work alone. Wow, beef is a great gift! We've been thinking about Christmas presents but have only bought one so far. A child's laughter is so sweet and fun.
ReplyDeleteMy mom passed away in December, too. We were at an adult Sunday School party when we got the news. The next year, I just couldn't go to that party again. It was like reliving the experience. I went in the years after that, but just couldn't go that year. The first Christmas without a loved one is especially hard. My father died in December, too, though several years earlier. Some of my siblings just want to cancel all the festivities. I think our parents would want to be remembered but also would want us to be happy. But, as one friend put it, it's okay to minimize some of the "froth" of the season if need be and enjoy it in quieter ways.
Those belly laughs are so good! Peace to you as you navigate Christmas without your mom.
ReplyDeletethe first holidays without a beloved family is so hard. This is our 2nd thanksgiving without my father in law which was his absolute fave of course being a direct descendent from the Mayflower. but we think my mother in law will actually be at the dinner this year. It's our turn to cook so we will be leaving Monday Am for the week
ReplyDeleteI too am keeping Xmas simpler and easier this year. We decided as a family that we were only giving a very few gifts to one another. I told the girls ONE THING only for me. (they tend to be like me and over shop/over give). I'm at the age where i'd rather play games and just BE with them for the day vs all the opening of stuff we no longer need or use.
YAY for OCC.....our church is hte main collection site for this area and last I heard there were over 3000 boxes collected. The truck left this past week. I love that ministry!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend
I am also celebrating my first Christmas without my momma. Prayers for you. Have a cozy weekend.
ReplyDeleteOur fellowship class had our collection for OCC boxes, too. Love this ministry.
ReplyDeleteNow that you're part of an agency, you have work holiday parties! Glad it was a fun time connecting with others.
What a thoughtful gift from that dayhome family! A lovely way to bless others.
Good for you, managing to get the shopping started despite the sadness of the loss in your family.
Child belly laughs are so fun to hear. And so are the adults' laughter -- I heard a man at the store yesterday, laughing loudly and it made me happy.
ReplyDeleteI always love reading about your involvement in OCC. It is a wonderful and special ministry.
Glad you enjoyed your work party.
Have a blessed week.