Friday, November 18, 2011

It's here!

This weekend will kick off my favorite family tradition!!!

Those that have been around my blog for a while know that about 3 years ago we started a new tradition with our grown kids...

After looking around us and seeing all the blessings God had poured out on our family over the year, we decided to take the money we would spend on the kid's large gift for Christmas and give it to them over Thanksgiving. They each then have till Christmas to give it away. Any way they want. It could be all to one place or they could spread it out. They could give it to a charity or to a person they know is having a hard time. The options are limitless and are their own. It is up to them, alone, to give their gift to someone else. 

Then on Christmas morning, instead of opening the gift, we each tell how we spent the money and the blessing that came with it.......and there is always a blessing!!!  Each year, the 5 of us have given to 5 completely different places....it has been so fun to see where God directs each one.
 
But it is extremely hard to keep it a secret till Christmas!!
It is so exciting to be part of God blessing someone else and that excitement is hard to contain....at least for me!

You can go here, here and here to see where God used our gifts in previous years. 
The cool thing for me is that they have all been so uniquely different each year.

So, this weekend we all get our money.
 
God has already laid on my heart where mine will go....
 
....I now have to work on keeping it a secret till Dec 25th!!!

9 comments:

Penny said...

Awww! What a beautiful tradition, Sara!!

The Bug said...

I really think this is so cool. Maybe we'll have to try it sometime (although my dad gives us money each year & we use it to pay bills. Sigh.).

LuAnn said...

Yes - I have seen your family do this for the past 3 yrs and love it. Always look forward to the post letting us know what everyone did with their $$$$$.

STILLMAGNOLIA said...

I love this tradition. Frank and I were talking about Christmas the other day and we said....no gifts this year...we buy what we want when we want it.....so we are going to do something for someone instead.

SusanD said...

It's a blessings to see where God uses the $$$ each year. Thank you so much for sharing. It's a tradition I'd like to start in our own family. Have a fabulous weekend. Blessings, SusanD

http://abebedorespgondufo.blogs.sapo.pt/ said...

Very good.

Cathy said...

I look forward again to hearing this year what you all do with your money. God bless (and I know He will).

Karin said...

I totally love this tradition of yours and hearing how the money was used. :)

Sara@iSass said...

I love this tradition too. Can't wait to read about this years "Gifts".