Spend less. Give more.

 

I’m afraid it’s too late for us this Christmas.  When Jeff and I added up how much Lily is getting between us and two sets of generous grandparents… it was a preposterous amount of money.  Kids are so spoiled these days… and it’s totally our fault. 

While packaging up some stuff for a local family that my Mom heard about at school who had lost everything in a house fire, I was shocked at how reluctant Lily was to give up things she NEVER played with or wore or even cared about…. and what a big lesson it was for her to be a part of giving to someone who needs something more than she does.  She’s still talking about it and how it makes Jesus happy when we give.  She’s TWO!

I made up my mind.  Instead of teaching my children that love comes in the form of gifts… I want to teach them that love is shown in the form of giving. That happiness doesn’t come from having everything we want… but from giving everything we can.  I LOVE my daughter and new son… and I want them to LOVE Jesus and LOVE people…. and do it with purpose and show it with their WHOLE lives.

Jeff and I are pledging that next year, and every year, we will… spend less. give more. give as a family.

Have you seen these ads with the baby bottle with brown water in them?  They make me sick to my stomach. We are so blessed to have been born where we were.

When I heard about Project 320, I immediately wanted to be a part of it. 

It is based on this verse:

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us,  He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.      Ephesians 3:20

It is incredibly powerful, as a stay at home mom, to be able to give something that I made with love with my own most valuable resource - time… and not just part of a paycheck that I didn’t earn.  One of my canvases will be part of one of the amazing handmade bundles given away this week.  Each day 3 new bundles will be introduced and open to comments until midnight.

All you have to do is donate to charity:water from their site.  10$ donated equals 1 chance to win.   1 chance to win equals a chance to participate in giving clean water to people that need it.

These are the official rules.

Click the link below  or on the ad I put in the top right corner above the semi-creepy bouncing fetus (that Lily thinks is a live webcam to her baby brother)

to check it all out and donate if you feel led to:

Project 320