there it goes.
some days i feel like when one of the kids awakens,
they have grown several months instead of just a night's sleep.
bianca woke up saturday a true toddler.
sure, she's been toddling around for months, but
i think it was the curls that sprouted from her sweet, little noggin
that sealed the deal.
there goes the baby.
full.blown.toddler.
we're getting ready to all get in the kitchen & make a meal.
one for us & one to take to someone.
i'm always on the lookout for more things our whole family can
do while serving together.
it is more challenging with young kids, i think,
but i figured many of you probably have great ideas.
we sometimes make meals, drop off groceries, weed gardens, collect shoes,
send cards, lemonade stands, shop off the angel tree...
do you have other creative things you do to serve as a family?
feel free to leave links.
i remember hearing of an organization that collected hand-tied blankets for those in
need that i thought would be fun to do as a family.
happy new week, friends!
What a great thing to do.
ReplyDeletewish i did, but thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteWe are involved in visiting the local nursing home and shut-in church members...the eldery love having young families visit them and my son loves having time to visit "granny's" since we live so far away from family...they love to be entertained, too, so maybe your big girls could put on a show!
ReplyDeleteheather--great idea! i'd mentioned to our neighbor that we'd love to visit his father in his nursing home sometime. we should definitely do that soon!
ReplyDeleteand the kids would LOVE to put on a show.
thanks!!!
The adorableness continues though!
ReplyDeleteTake the kids to visit a nursing home. Take a craft for them to do with some of the residents. It will make some of those people's YEARS! :)
ReplyDeleteJust read the above comments...Sorry! Didnt' realize that idea was already mentioned. I used to work at a nursing home though...and it really is such a blessing for them to see kids!
ReplyDeleteLove this. Wrote a post about it a while back - another fave - walking in fun runs together!
ReplyDeletexoxo Jamie
http://www.birminghammommy.com/2010/04/april-is-national-volunteer-month-weve-got-a-few-ideas-about-volunteering-with-your-kids.html
when i was a kid, my mom would have us go through our toys &/or clothes & pick out a few things that we could donate to a shelter or the orphanage that our church donated to (not just a thrift store). even at 3 or 4, i remember choosing very carefully - never just some old cast-off toy - & being incredibly proud of my contribution to kids-in-need.
ReplyDeletei can't wait to start that tradition with my own kids.
also, i jut noticed that bianca & i have matching amber [cut to look like corn pops!]. love it.
ReplyDeleteWe serve at our local food pantry...the kids can stock shelves and Habitat for Humanity has team builds all over that are super family friendly and they can all get invovled!
ReplyDeleteI love involving our girls in out reach too! Right now our focus is launching our church in 5 weeks, but in the past we have done what I call LOVE in action. For awhile it was every month. Here's a link to blogs about our love in actions...
ReplyDeletehttp://barbiemyree.blogspot.com/search/label/Love%20in%20Action
Love your pics:)!
My almost 17 year old nephew had back surgery in July and because he was still considered in pediatrics, he was given a hand-tied fleece blanket and pillow case when he returned from surgery. It was a small gesture, but it was something that really touched his family. And my sister-in-law used the blanket to sleep with while she stayed with him that night because he was hot but the room was cold.
ReplyDeleteYour kiddos could help choose some fabrics and after cutting the strips of fleece, they could tie the blankets. I'm sure a local Children's hospital or even the pediatric unit of a community hospital would love a few blankets and/or pillow cases.
Becky P.
Love, thanks for sharing these ideas. Our family has adopted a shelter for abused women and children that is near our home, and we made fleece blankets for each of the children living there. When we delivered them, they were so very thankful and the staff was in tears, because these children have NOTHING to call their own. The children were so sweet and my girls enjoyed visiting them so much. We plan to continue this every year, since there will always be new children there to give to.
ReplyDeleteWe also have helped send care packages to soldiers, coordinated through our church. The kids have written cards of gratitude, and we have sent snacks and toiletries that they need. That was a great learning experience about what the soldiers are doing and what they are sacrificing for us.
I definitely agree with the nursing home visits as well. We have gone with small groups of families, and given bookmarks with a Bible verse, paper wreaths for their doors, and brought a Valentine's craft one time. I've never seen my children loved on like they are at the nursing home.
Thanks again for posting this! Great idea!!
How awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have a few ideas! There is an organization here in Ohio (and I am sure there is a similar groups in every state) that helps preemies and their families. This is the link to the Ohio group so you can get an idea of what they do. http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/ My twins got handmade caps from this group when they were born and it was so nice to have something that actually fit them correctly and I still have them as a precious keepsake.
ReplyDeleteI also love these groups!
http://www.uglyquilts.org/
http://www.mvob.org/
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/
I just did a blog post last week that was a great service project idea to do especially with little girls. Have you seen the paperclip angels? A little 7 year old just sold 1,000 for a dollar at our local hospital as she was raising money for orphans.She sold them as her Mom was in surgery!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of book/movie night with kids and the kids bring a book to donate for admission check it out: http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2010/08/02/book-party-the-joyful-life-library/
ReplyDeleteI volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House. We sometimes have families come in to make a home-cooked meal for the parents who are staying at the house. After spending a day with their sick kiddos at the hospital, they appreciate the yummy food waiting for them.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything similar near you?
I totally love that you serve together as a family. We're hoping to discover many, many new ways to serve as we travel across the US in an RV in the coming year... :)
ReplyDeletestephanie@giveeveryday.com
We like to make and send snail mail cards to friends...often w/ packs of gum, fruit leathers, stickers, and rolls of mints inside. :)
ReplyDeletestephanie@metropolitanmama.net