Early Christmas Gifts
It's only the first week of December and Christmas gifts are already coming my way! The first little package arrived on December 5th. My "little brother" Chris and his wife Britt are the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy, and mama and baby are both doing well. Chris' mom says Baby Liam looks just like Chris did when he was a baby - and he was pretty cute! I can't wait to see him! I'm finally an aunt!!!
Another special gift came via a phone call on Thursday. My cousin and I have hosted the annual Christmas dinner for our family for the past three years, taking the reins from our aunt who took the reins from our grandmother. We have averaged between 80-100 people each year. We have great food, take family pictures, and enjoy catching up with our herd of cousins and other relatives. Yesterday's phone call was from my Great-Aunt Ruby. I can't recall Aunt Ruby ever calling me on the phone, but there she was, telling me she planned to be there on the 17th. Then she told me she wanted to sing me a song. I heard her lay her phone down, start her music, and sing me a beautiful hymn. I haven't heard Aunt Ruby sing since I was a kid when she and my grandmother would sing together! I told her to call me and sing to me any time! It was a great gift just to hear from her. Aunt Ruby was a school crossing guard until just a couple of years ago when she was hit by a car. While in the hospital she suffered a stroke and neither walked nor talked for a while. She sounded like her old self on the phone, and I was sure thankful for the memories she brought back to me.
Today I got to give and receive at the same time. The GaSDF participated in Shop With A Hero in Acworth today. This is hosted by the Joy Foundation in a partnership with Kohl's department store. Underpriviledged children are give $100 gift cards for the store and go shopping with a Hero - policemen, firemen, EMT's, soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines. The front parking lot of the store looked like a carnival! There was entertainment, moonwalks, displays, and all kinds of things for kids to do. Santa arrived atop a fire truck with a screaming police escort. The early part of my day was spent being a medic and checking on our troops as they were posted around the area doing traffic details. Around lunch time the sergeant major told me to "go be a hero". I signed in at the volunteer tent and waited with other servicemembers and police. Finally I got my assignment and met my shopping family - a nice couple with three little boys. The twins were 9 and the brother was 10. With $300 worth of shopping cards safely in my pocket and my notepad in my hand, we started off through the store. A Shop With A Hero volunteer went with us too, a teen who's father was one of the founders of the program. The little guys were very sweet and well-behaved. They all wanted to start with a gift for their mom, who was a very sweet lady. Two of them bought her sweaters, and the other wanted to get her a warm, fuzzy blanket for her bed. Next came gifts for dad, shoes for the boys, gifts for grandma and grandpa and little cousin, and an outfit for each boy. The remaining money was spent in the toy department, where each little guy picked out something for himself. The cart was full, we spent $300.10, and I gladly kicked in the dime. They all thanked me for shopping with them, and it just made my day! I will gladly volunteer for this duty again next year!
Another special gift came via a phone call on Thursday. My cousin and I have hosted the annual Christmas dinner for our family for the past three years, taking the reins from our aunt who took the reins from our grandmother. We have averaged between 80-100 people each year. We have great food, take family pictures, and enjoy catching up with our herd of cousins and other relatives. Yesterday's phone call was from my Great-Aunt Ruby. I can't recall Aunt Ruby ever calling me on the phone, but there she was, telling me she planned to be there on the 17th. Then she told me she wanted to sing me a song. I heard her lay her phone down, start her music, and sing me a beautiful hymn. I haven't heard Aunt Ruby sing since I was a kid when she and my grandmother would sing together! I told her to call me and sing to me any time! It was a great gift just to hear from her. Aunt Ruby was a school crossing guard until just a couple of years ago when she was hit by a car. While in the hospital she suffered a stroke and neither walked nor talked for a while. She sounded like her old self on the phone, and I was sure thankful for the memories she brought back to me.
Today I got to give and receive at the same time. The GaSDF participated in Shop With A Hero in Acworth today. This is hosted by the Joy Foundation in a partnership with Kohl's department store. Underpriviledged children are give $100 gift cards for the store and go shopping with a Hero - policemen, firemen, EMT's, soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines. The front parking lot of the store looked like a carnival! There was entertainment, moonwalks, displays, and all kinds of things for kids to do. Santa arrived atop a fire truck with a screaming police escort. The early part of my day was spent being a medic and checking on our troops as they were posted around the area doing traffic details. Around lunch time the sergeant major told me to "go be a hero". I signed in at the volunteer tent and waited with other servicemembers and police. Finally I got my assignment and met my shopping family - a nice couple with three little boys. The twins were 9 and the brother was 10. With $300 worth of shopping cards safely in my pocket and my notepad in my hand, we started off through the store. A Shop With A Hero volunteer went with us too, a teen who's father was one of the founders of the program. The little guys were very sweet and well-behaved. They all wanted to start with a gift for their mom, who was a very sweet lady. Two of them bought her sweaters, and the other wanted to get her a warm, fuzzy blanket for her bed. Next came gifts for dad, shoes for the boys, gifts for grandma and grandpa and little cousin, and an outfit for each boy. The remaining money was spent in the toy department, where each little guy picked out something for himself. The cart was full, we spent $300.10, and I gladly kicked in the dime. They all thanked me for shopping with them, and it just made my day! I will gladly volunteer for this duty again next year!
posted by Jennifer at 9:21 PM
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