World Vision Update

So.....we finally (a couple weeks ago) managed to raise our $100 for our World Vision gift of two chickens and a goat! This was something my four year old and I started around Thanksgiving and we put in pocket change, a dollar here and there, and he put in lots of his spending money (not just from his giving jar) into the bucket and we did it!!

Now, we have begun a new gift to work on...5 rabbits for $80. The boy is loving this and I love seeing him want to put all the change he can find in the bucket and seeing how fast we can fill it up! I discovered a clean cottage cheese container with a slot in the lid is a great way to do this because you can count it periodically and when you do lots of change like we do, you can take the whole thing to be cashed in when it's full and put the cash back in it right then. We put a picture of the rabbit on the container just like we did the goat and chicken one and we are all set!!

Also, World Vision will send you a card with a picture representing the gift you gave.

A Goat and Two Chickens

  With Thanksgiving approaching, I have really been trying to think of ways that I can convey being thankful and helping others to my four year old. I feel like God has put it on my heart to find ways to do missions with my children. It's obviously not very feasible with a four year old and baby in tow to serve at a soup kitchen or travel great distances to serve. I've racked my brain and finally come to the conclusion that for now, we can do something that may not involve face to face contact with those we are helping but will be meaningful and help teach my little ones about giving.

So, this year during the holidays, we are starting two projects. Our first one is A GOAT AND TWO CHICKENS ($100) through World Vision.

We are going to make a jar with this picture on it and a little meter we can color in until we save the $100 together. Now, I won't be putting in all of it...Cooper has chores he does and he earns money for them (now most of them are only a quarter), but he can put some or all of his money in our jar and I will put in money as well and match his too. I haven't tried this before so we will see how quickly we can do it. I would love to do this one by Christmas and continue giving projects throughout the year!

For our second project we plan to make cards for troops. My brother is in the Navy and he says it's great to get things in the mail, especially when you are not stateside. This is something fun we can do that is not expensive but that may mean a lot to those who receive them.

I pray that we can be a blessing to people we don't even know this holiday season and that we will experience the joy of giving like never before! Happy Thanksgiving!