Turkey Dance

While you are waiting for your turkey- dance to the Turkey Dance Song by Bianca Merkley!

beistos, xo

Turkey Dance- just in case you missed this lovely.

World of Thanks- GIVEAWAY

I attended a Play Therapy conference a few weeks ago and they had some great vendors selling toys and books for children. I was in heaven.
 I came across this:

It was just what I needed to get Little Man involved in saying Thank You to others and understanding the meaning of gratitude. 

We went through a list of people we wanted to thank and he just loved creating his ocean with all the fun sea life stickers. 

He even wrote a little secret message that only he could read. A child is never to young to learn what gratitude is.

We are making progress even at out nightly gatherings. Every night we go around and talk about what were were grateful for that day. At first he didn't get it. Then he would point to me and say, " I am grateful for mommy." But now he can branch out and think of different things he is grateful for. It is always fun to listen to what a two year old is grateful for.

I

So- who wants one of these fun Thank You card kits??


Well good news!  I AM GIVING AWAY a set- The North American Animal Kit so you can make Thank You cards with your kiddos!

You are going to love how well made and fun they are for you and your kiddos!

It's free for you- all you have to do is enter here:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

besitos, xo

Thanksgiving 2004...a day I will never forget.

Today, I am grateful for the blessing of ABUNDANCE that I have in my life. 
I am so blessed with  food, warm water, shelter, a comfortable bed, and a variety of clothes in my closet. 

Remember that photo I showed you a few posts back of the boy from the dumps? Well here is more to his story.

In 2004, as newlyweds, Brooks and I flew down to El Salvador and came upon a garbage man who let us take a drive on his truck or I should say Brooks- I was behind him filming. (I know random) Brooks was interested in filming a documentary and thought it would be a good adventure. When we arrived at the dump- words can't describe what we saw. As we approached the facility, the smell was so strong that I had to hold my breathe. That's when we saw it....hundreds of people (including small children) were collecting trash to take to the recycling facility in exchange for about one dollar for a days worth of work. What the?? We couldn't believe our eyes.

We knew we had to do something. 

Upon arrival back to the states, we immediately gathered our resources, raised some money, and were able to collect an entire container (40 feet by 10 feet tall) full of clothes, shoes, hygiene kits, and toys. What better time then around Thanksgiving to distribute our items.

It was that Thanksgiving that I will never forget. 

We spent it in the garbage dumps of El Salvador handing out the food and clothing for an entire community. We raised money to help a baker rebuild his oven that was destroyed by an earthquake. We gave jewelry and taught the women how to make items to sell. We fed and clothed the children.

Most importantly,  We became their friends. 

The images and their stories will be forever etched into our minds.
   If you want to read more you can find some articles Here  and here and here.

That was then...we were poor newly weds- so, obviously it was easier then. Wait, what? That can't be right...what is my excuse now when we actually have something to contribute? If two poor college kids could do it- then anyone can. What's holding me back? Inconvenience? Time? Being a mom? 

If I want to teach my children what my parents taught me growing up about serving...It's time to begin now.

Some of the friends we made that trip

This boy found an American flag and held it up. What a sign that we needed to do something.

This little boy stole my heart. 

We found this little boy eating fried chicken he found amongst the trash. The exact fried chicken from a place we ate that same day.

This little girl's name is Marisol. We fell in love with her too.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
What are you grateful for today?

besitos, 

 

Turkey Song over here...

I am over here today-  with another song from Bee for Thanksgiving and we made these lovelies to flap around to the song...check it out! 

visit www.howdoesshe.com

Besitos, 

Music Monday- Kernel song

Today I am grateful for my sister Bee and her music. Little man could watch her sing for hours.

Happy Music Monday.

I found these at Hobby Lobby for less than $1 each....

besitos,

Grateful day 3

I am grateful for hot chocolate with whip cream. 

Especially when it ends up on my nose. 

xoxo.

Charity is not an act...it is a condition of the heart.

Today I start my 60 days of gratitude challenge: 

Today I am grateful for this guy.

So, as the holidays touch our hearts and we want to serve-

 how do we teach our children to have gratitude and charity?

Answer? 

Practice it ourselves- then teach them through example.

I had another fabulous class by Carleen Tanner last week. We discussed charity. 

The thing that stuck out to me the most is the reminder that 

charity is not an act...it is a condition of the heart.

How do we condition our heart to be like this?

She  gave us a continuum that looked somewhat like this one below...and asked us where we we fell on the spectrum of serving others.

Oh boy...

The idea is to reach #5 one day- "The May I Serve" category where we are continually looking for ways and others to serve. Once we are there...our children will learn what gratitude and charity means.

Wow...looks like I have some work to do.

No better time then now I guess?

#1 I WONT SERVE:	#2 I HAVE TO SERVE:	#3 I WILL SERVE:	#4 I WANT TO SERVE:	#5 MAY I  SERVE?
Doesn’t want to serve.	Does it but complains.	Serves out of duty not joy.	Willing to give the time required when asked.	Seeks out ways to serve others

besitos,