6.

Make an Advent gift for a spirit in need.

          Over my time as a teacher I have met quite a few families that have pulled on my heart. These families have some of the most beautiful children you will ever meet. Their parents are spectacular not only because they are raising fabulous children but they persevere. Life is tough, but life is also beautiful. One particular family I have had the pleasure of meeting has three children: 1 with typical needs, 1 with special needs, and 1 with a rare form of cancer. Here is the letter I included with my anonymous gift (guess it isn’t now).

Dearest Family, The Advent Season is upon us. And while there is much to celebrate your family has "more than the usual amount of holiday stress." So here is a small care package for your family. Enclosed is a little something for each of you. Along with 24 individually wrapped packages. For Mom & Dad: The peanuts, dark chocolate bar, and peppermint sticks. For H: The gift bag counting from 1 to 25. A chocolate Advent calendar. For B: The gift bag featuring Santa and a little boy. A chocolate Advent calendar. For A: The small pink gift bag. Each of the tissue paper wrapped gifts is for your family to open each night. Please enjoy these Advent treats and remember many are praying for you and your family. May God grant your family peace throughout this holiday season and through the new year.

 

As for the gifts for the children they were just small little tokens to remind them that they were special. The individually wrapped gifts were 24 books for Christmas. Thanks to my cousins for helping collect so many great books. And I grew up with an Advent calendar and thought those kiddos would enjoy it too. Thanks Mom for finding them again this year!

The most difficult part of this mission was figuring out how to deliver it and stay anonymous. I did not feel comfortable leaving a huge gift bag on their doorstep for fear the weather would ruin it or it might disappear. Dropping it off at their daycare minutes before it opened was super successful. Thanks Madie for that idea.  

Overall, this brought me so much joy I hope to make it a yearly tradition. Goodness knows I could pay it forward my entire life and never return all the favors and gifts that have been bestowed on me.

Merry Christmas everyone!