the season of giving...

last nite a group of us headed over to daybreak house (youth homeless shelter) delivering a full blown christmas dinner...i am talking traditional...
turkey, stuffing, green beans, yams...and LOT'S of dessert...cookies, brownies, pies, chocolate...

as we sat around with the kids...getting to know them...there was so much laughter throughout the evening...

christmas carols were sung...i have to say..my favorite part was when we all decided to sing "12 days of christmas" but making up our own words...and then trying to remember them...it was pretty hilarious...but...we did it!

prior year...the kids had gotten a karaoke machine...and it was told that they used it constantly...but...the songs were old...and the counselors were tired of hearing the same songs...over and over...

so this year...the group bought the kids...an additional 900+ songs to add to their singing abilities...and a wii...and we stuffed all their stockings with goodies...

you always hear about these moments...when you walk away from an evening like that...and realize that the kids gave you much more than you gave them...

that is the spirit of christmas...these kids have such bright futures to look forward to...they have come from such bad circumstances...but are not dwelling on that...but looking forward...

and for those of us who have...and still want more...nothing wrong with that...as long as your perspective is right...

dwelling on things that just don't matter in the long run...or realizing...how blessed you are...are two very different perspectives...

i challenge you this christmas season...take the focus off yourself...and give to someone less fortunate...it doesn't have to be monetary...most people are just looking for some "time" spent with someone that truly cares for them...

merry christmas!