Operation Christmas Child

We had the opportunity to get involved with Operation Christmas Child this year, through Samaritan's Purse. Anyone not familiar with this amazing organization, take a minute to explore their website. Every Christmas since Jason and I have been married, we have done something to help children in need for Christmas. Several years we participated in the wonderful ministry, Angel Tree, which places Christmas gifts in the hands of children who have an incarcerated parent, we donate to Salvation Army several times throughout the Christmas season, we've taken names from the Christmas tree in department stores and bought from their wish lists, we've filled bags for children in foster care, every year I was teaching, we took my 4th or 5th grade class to the local homeless shelter to feed a meal..., but this is our first year with Operation Christmas Child.

We had a great time watching videos on their website to learn more about the children who receive the boxes. Then we headed to Wal-Mart, where each kiddo had a chance to pick out about 20 items to put in their box. We came home and filled the boxes, then before taking them to our church to drop off, we prayed over the boxes. Our biggest prayer is that the children who receive the boxes, will learn about Jesus Christ and that He paid the ultimate sacrifice for them because He loves them unconditionally.





Dakota putting a coloring book in to her box:






Jaxon picking out the perfect car for his child:







Once we finished shopping, we decided to go through the self-check lane and let the kids scan each item for their box. This took some extra time (and patience), but it was well worth it to give them even more ownership in this amazing selfless act.



She said, "Good Girl!" after every item she scanned.








Back home arranging the boxes:






We are so proud of our kids for getting involved with this project and being so excited about it. Neither one asked for a toy or candy for them self while we shopped, they were too excited to keep filling the boxes to care about their own wants. After we put Jaxon to bed last night, we heard him get up and sneak in to the hall. I decided to hide and listen to him to see what he was doing out of bed. I saw him empty a small box of books and cram as many toys as he could in to it. Then he picked up the box and said, "Now we need to take this box to church and give it to Pastor Brock because he's going to mail it to some kids in another country who may not get Christmas."

Talk about a proud moment! He's starting to get it!!