~Giving Update~

15 days have come and gone already in this 30 Days of Giving Challenge, and I wanted to give an update on our journey.

Some of the ways we've given:

-Operation Christmas Child: we filled 2 boxes and I wrote a letter to each of the kids, and we actually sent them in!! (last year we got 2 boxes but never filled them)

***If you want to give to OCC, This week is National Collection Week so hurry!!***

-visited a friend who is going through a tough custody battle and gave her the gift of a listening ear and unconditional love

-donated my time and talents at a nutrition program for the YMCA (I finished up 5 weeks of cooking lessons for kids)

-made a cute baby blanket and "Welcome" cake for my cousin's brand new baby girl

-gave my little man a full afternoon of "Mommy time" and we got his hair cut, went out for ice cream, and played and tickled and read whatever C wanted

-used my coupons to get extra cleaning supplies (super cheap) for a friend who just started a house-cleaning business

-brought coffee to my amazing daycare provider to make her Friday afternoon a little easier

-baked treats and delivered them to friends

-I helped at church in the nursery

-B helped do powerpoint for both services on Sunday

-donated new toy for a toy drive at a local shelter

More plans for the rest of the month:

-donating gently used clothing to the Salvation Army

-spending quality time with my grandpa who has recently suffered a few strokes

-finishing and donating baby blankets to an organization called Sunshine Hugs or Blankets for Canada that will send them to Interval House or Morningstar Mission (both in Napanee)

-donating unused yarn to volunteers for Sunshine Hugs to make other items including dish rags, hats, scarves, mitts, and afghans

-giving time and organization to our family by de-cluttering our home

-getting an early start on my Christmas baking, and bringing some treats over to the Bethel Houses (a program started by my church to help men recovering from addictions)

-using this list from our church to help us find more ways to get involved in volunteering locally

-listening to the promptings of the still small voice to give even when I don't think I have time and especially when I have to step outside my comfort zone

Do you have any more ideas on how I can give?

~A