I grew up in Vancouver, Washington so we have always gone out and cut down our own Christmas tree....but in Oklahoma, not so much. We have had to improvise since moving here...one year we got our tree at Home Depot and for some reason it was already dead when we got it home...dang. One year we went to the one and only Christmas tree farm to cut it down ourselves and there were no actual Christmas trees, there were Pine trees. Pine trees are VERY different, they have long 7 inch needles that are in round clumps and they turn orange...not what we had in mind, so luckily they had a few imported trees that we real Christmas trees and we got one of those beauties...imported straight from Vancouver, Washington. Sweet. For a small price of $70.00 it was ours. (that was sarcasm because in WA we got our trees for a meager 10 bucks) This year and last we found a school that we now buy our trees at, and they have been lovely. Last night we shoved that 7 foot sucker into our little Ford Focus and are quite happy!
So here is what Eric and I have decided to do for Christmas presents for each other this year...We are feeling very led to help and do our part in ending poverty and AIDS and helping orphans in Africa...although, much of what we do is pretty insignificant, we are always looking for ways to do little acts of service here and there. Neither Eric nor I have had much of a desire to do a big Christmas this year, just feeling like there are so many others out there who are actually dying for things like water and food and warmth- it definitely makes things like a new ipod or leather jacket seem silly. So we have decided to only buy things for each other that will benefit others as well. Things like Gap Red products, One campaign stuff, I picked our some Ethiopian jewelry that was made by Ethiopians and the proceeds go to orphans there, we even got the Hallmark Red wrapping paper so that all of the extra money we are spending this season will help some sweet soul in the country that my baby boy calls home. I just thought I would share where we are at and what is going on in our hearts so that maybe others will feel led to do something similar. I know we are all at different places in our lives and this is not meant to make anyone feel awkward about their Christmas plans, I just wanted to be open and honest about something very small that we feel led and excited to do and will hopefully help someone out there. :)
12 comments:
Your dad takes great delight in who you have become. To quote the Great One: "You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."
Well, if you still want the leather jacket, there's a product(red) one that's pretty cute... http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=20862&pid=503960
(I only know because I thought about asking for it..)
Great idea about the gift giving, though! When you think about all the different crises in the world it makes our Christmas shopping look really ridiculous. I'm a fan of the idea.
I love buying Christmas trees from schools and churches - they have the best trees!
Great idea on the gifts! We're not doing much this year for Christmas either (new baby - mom not working, etc.) but what we are doing for others I'm hoping to incorporate the same idea - buying products that will help others. Good thinking!
Glad to see this post, Tara. We are the same way. We got the kids each one gift from us and one gift from Santa. We told each other that there really wasn't anything we needed or even wanted. It seems that the adoption process has affected us in similar ways. All the stuff we think we need and want...seems kind of silly when you look at the world that our children are being born into. But, you are right....this is just a personal conviction. We bought the Red wrapping paper and Christmas cards this year too. I absolutely love the cards that I got.
Amy
oh oh...you could also ask for or give a pair of Toms Shoes as a gift. www.tomsshoes.com they are cute and trendy. Every pair of shoes you buy, they give a pair away to a person in need in a 3rd world country. They just did a shoe drop in South Africa?? I think. Anyway, another idea.
I love Malak's ornament and I love your idea of buying gifts that give back. Very sweet. Hey, even the money you spent on your christmas tree went to help school children. How very humanitarian of you!
what great ideas! malak has a very special mom and dad:) love his very first Christmas ornament, btw!
I am so with you! I saw some Christmas card somewhere that said something along the lines of "hope you experience over abundance this holiday season" or something like that and I thought about how wrong that card seemed for days. I don't want over abundance and it bums me out to think of how little others have this Christmas. Ugh. Anyway, great post.
I Love the ornament! I think you have done your inspiring for the day! What wonderful ideas!
i knew you would crack and buy an ornie this year. i win.
tarry you are such a sweetheart. i totally get what you mean about ridiculous spending for christmas when there are so many out there in need. i mean i am in portugal..europe, not even 3rd world or something, and i feel how much people are in need here. since everything changed over to the euro the level of prices and living has gone up up up, but everyone is still earning the same amount. i donºt even know how many times i have thought "how are people surviving here?" i think that we all need to give our best to do our part to help others out. here, here.
kim
tara silvertree....
if you ever EVER say that the things you do are insignificant, we will NOT be friends anymore.
and I'm totally for serious and on the real real.
that is all.
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