Most years in our neighborhood our friends and neighbors opt to do a big service project in lieu of getting each other tasty neighbor gifts that fill our bellies and expand our waste lines. One year our neighborhood decided to bring Christmas in to a few families in our ward who needed help. One of those families was a young family with 2 kids (and the Mom was pregnant with the third) and the Dad tragically died from heart failure at the age of 34, just weeks before Christmas.
Another year we did a neighborhood food drive, and this year we did a neighborhood FHE night where those that wanted to met out on the street to sit around a camp fire and eat treats. The cost to get in was a can of food to go to the Food bank for needy families, and a plate of cookies to share. I just love that our neighborhood does this and is so focused on giving instead of receiving.
However, even though we don’t do neighbor gifts for everyone in the neighborhood, we still really enjoy making tasty treats to take around to our widows, good friends, some of the inactive families in our ward, and those who we visit and home teach to at least let them know that we are thinking of them and love them. We really are so blessed to be surrounded by such great people! So one evening Adam and the kids and I made a whole slew of sugar cookie bars, and then the next night we made plans to go and deliver them. For me, this is really an opportunity to show my kids how fun and wonderful service can be, and an opportunity to show them the true meaning of Christmas. I especially enjoy the opportunities to go and sit with and visit my widows whom I love and adore.
As we go we talk about the families we love, we sing Christmas carols together in the car, and then we go and sing carols on the door steps of our friends. “We wish you a Merry Christmas,” “Silent Night” and any others the kids feel like singing. Its always a magical and fun night for all of us.
While Adam was gone Adalynn and Dawson and I were able to go and visit for an hour or so with my wonderful widow neighbor Venice, who we just adore, and then afterwards I was able to give her Grandson a ride to the auto shop to pick up Venice’s car that had needed some work (he had been planning to walk in the snow the 10-12 blocks to go and pick it up for her).
Then on our official “deliver neighbor gifts” night we were able to go and have a nice visit with our wonderful Madge Clark (who is like family to us) and who introduced us to her daughter and her family who were visiting. We ended up staying for quite awhile and left feeling like we’d known her daughter and son in law and their sweet girls our whole lives. It was just so fun to meet them. My boys all got into the car saying things like “wow, they were soo soo nice!” or “That was so fun Mom. I loved it there.” It truly was such a fun night.
Then we were able to go carol and sing and drop off treats to our other friends and neighbors as well, but I just wanted to record nights like this one because they truly are the nights that stick out in my mind when I think about Christmas. The lovely wonderful nights where the Spirit of Christmas is strong, and where love and joy and happiness abound. Where I just want to hold in time those moments when we are all smiling and singing in the car, and feeling the joy that service and love bring into our hearts. How I love the Christmas season and love the opportunities I have to teach my Children what Christmas is really all about. I just feel so blessed to have the gospel in my life and to know that my Savior is REAL and that he lives today and knows me intimately. Knowing my Savior truly is the greatest gift I’ve been given.