Day 7-9 Getting caught up

So our own very busy schedule has gotten in the way of a DAILY service project so we had to combine couple of activities and do them in one day.

Today we did TWO very FUN and REWARDING projects.

First, something we wanted to do last year but again waited too long to get it done and the opportunity wasn't available. We went with the intention of paying off one family's lay-a-way at Wal-Mart. We had a dollar amount in mind that we'd like to stay around but it was hard to find that amount- either some were too high (we wanted to pay it off not just some) or they were way under what we had come expecting to pay. So the workers had an idea to pay two with the combine total of what we wanted!! PERFECT!

When the first associate came to help us she was shocked and felt like she had to go as permission to do such a thing. Once she had gotten permission, I had one associate and TWO managers helping me with our project. They kept going on and on about us and our family and how amazing what we were doing was. And I over and over told them how blessed we are and we are just trying to help others be blessed! The associate even let me write a little note to each family saying "Merry Christmas- Pay it Forward When You Can".

What a rush that was!


Next we participated in You've Been Jingled This was probably by far one of our favorites yet! We filled 8 bags full of goodies and a sheet with instructions and took them to 8 friends houses, left them on the doorstep and RAN!! As Caleb got more courageous he would ring the doorbell or knock. We did get caught one time but only once out of 8 isn't bad :)

The point is- when you've been Jingled you hang a sign in your window that you've been jingled (so it doesnt come back to you) and you secretly take another bag of goodies of your choosing with directions to a new house and so on and so forth.

Thats what really got Caleb excited- when we started thinking about how many people could be having fun like us "Jingling" others and how many people would be blessed by getting goodie bags!!

Also, I was able to take the opportunity to explain to Caleb through both of these activities why we do things in secret. Its not to give our name glory but to point everything we have and all we are to Jesus!!!! We had sooooo much fun tonight- thanks for letting us share. And remember you can start a Jingle all on your own without getting one first!

Just for fun I have some video of Caleb jingling and running!! ENJOY!!