Share & Care Project

I have a special guest sharing some goodness today_ meet Katie.
Katie is such an encourager and has become my friend since blogging. 
If we didn't live on the other side of the world I just know we would have a coffee date every week. 
Check out this project she is sharing....

There is no better time than the Christmas season to reflect on all that we have been given and to teach our children to give back in return.

Giving is also a great way to counteract any serious bouts of "I wants" which seem to plague our home come December.

Inspired by the bags I saw from Joy's Hope over Thanksgiving, I asked my friend Karen if she wanted to join me in the creation of the Share and Care Project.



The idea is simple and affordable.

You first need to gather items from your local bargain store. I found Wisps, beanies, gloves, foot warmers, and lip balm at the 99 cent store and Target dollar bins. I added bottled water, a granola bar, raisins, and a pack of nuts.



The bags are not limited to these items. Mini bags of tissues, McDonald's gift cards, protein bars, etc. are also great items to include.

To make the bags special and personal, the children first decorated homemade sugar cookies, which they of course had to sample. You know, just to make sure they were good!





After decorating cookies, they made Christmas cards to add to their bags.





Each child made a bag. We will store the bags in our car and when the opportunity arises, such as when we see someone with a sign off a freeway off ramp, we will hand them the bag.

Even the younger children understood the basic concept that we were meeting together to make a bag for someone who does not have the simple things that we take for granted like a warm, safe house and a refrigerator and pantry full of food.

I encourage you to take part in the Share and Care Project this season. Gather with family, friends, co-workers, or church group and make it happen.

As an extra incentive, try this sugar cookie recipe. It gets raves every time. You will want to share these cookies, trust me!

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream butter. Add sugar gradually. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla and cream well. Sift flour and baking soda together and add to mixture. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Roll out on floured surface to 1/8" thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on cookie sheet. Bake until very light brown. Cool. Frost and decorate. (Serves 2 dozen large cookies).

Enjoy the time doing something that will bless the lives of others and teach your children the gift of giving. And may you each experience the ultimate gift which we celebrate on December 25th.

Merry Christmas!

Much love,
Katie

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Thank you again Katie for sharing.
heather.

Guest Post_ Meet Jami

Jami is one of the first friends I made through the blogging community. 

She is a gem and I always look forward to hearing from her. 

Her and her family have the opportunity to go on a missions trip and I wanted 

ya'll to have a chance to hear and be a part of their story....

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Hi, my name is Jami and I blog at Call Me Blessed. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share with all of you a missions project my family is working on.

For the past two years Hubby has gone to Mexico with our church to build houses.  I am still amazed that this can be done. A group of people can go for four days, be the hands and feet of Jesus and completely change the lives of another family.  These families live in shacks made of pallets and cardboard. Sometimes they don't even have that. These are families just like yours and mine.  Families with Moms and Dads who love their kids the same way I do. Kids who just want to play, be carefree and have a bed to sleep in.

Hubby, I and my two oldest kids have the opportunity to go and give a family some security. A dry place to lay their heads. The kids and I will be able to play with the local children. The group even does a Vacation Bible School while we are there. We are so thankful for the opportunity to get our hands dirty with our kids. To show them how blessed we truly are. To experience how taking just a small bit of our time and resources, and sharing the love of Christ can change everything for someone else.  I won't pretend that I don't have any nerves about this trip. After prayerful consideration and seeing the pictures and videos Hubby has brought home, I don't see how I can't go.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

pictures from Hubby and W's last trip.

We are traveling with a missions group called Yugo. Please go to their website, see the amazing work they are doing and help us spread the word.

We are trying to cover all of our own travel costs but still need to raise money for the building materials. Every dollar helps. Instead of buying a Starbuck's coffee or a magazine today, will you consider helping us change lives in Mexico?

I hope you will consider partnering with us in this journey. The more money we raise, the more houses we can build. We would also love to have you praying for us. Praying for God's provision financially and safe travel.

To donate, you can simply visit Call Me Blessed and click on the "donate" button in the left sidebar.

I can't wait to share the pictures and memories we bring back with us.

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Also, I'm guest posting over at enoughfaithfortoday.

So go check out the 20 random questions Kimberly asked me to answer!

Have a great Monday!

Heather :)

Guest posting: Mrs. T. Naturally

Hey... today I'm honored to be guest posting over at Mrs. T. Naturally.

She recently moved across the country and is starting to get her family all settled in.

I can definitely relate..  our move will happen in just 2 days. Whoop!

So if you get a chance_ go check out her blog and the post I wrote for her today titled "Believe".

A hu-ge thank you to Mrs. T for having me over at her space.

Heather :)