"Season of Giving"

Everyone is always talking about how we should be thankful this time of year, and how it is a time of giving. This manifests itself in the giving of gifts to family members, friends, coworkers, etc. It is fun to actually get to see your loved ones open the gift that you thought about, took the time and money to go out and purchase, and wrapped (or had gift-wrapped!) with care. Ideally they would be excited initially and get enjoyment out of their gift for years to come. Sadly, this does not happen in every case. I know in my experience of giving and receiving Christmas gifts, sometimes the gift is enjoyed for a few months or years, and sometimes the gift is something we don't like, but can't take back, so it sits in a closet for years before someone digs it out and sells it in a yard sale or flea market. I have seen some children clearly show disappointment at a "lame" gift they received, tossing it aside to quickly open the next gift. (and the next, and the next, and the next....) Cringe.

Sometimes we have office parties and are obligated to spend $25 on a gag gift. Really? Spend $25 on something that isn't even supposed to be taken seriously or used at all? Basically, it is 25 bucks spent on a laugh or reaction that is meant to be strictly funny, most of the time in a coarse or inappropriate manner. Do we really do this?? Those gifts oftentimes get thrown in the trash, sold in a yard sale for 50¢, or re-gifted at the next party. It seems slightly pointless and very wasteful. 

I am not claiming to have never done it; I have done it and looking back, I think about how "lame" and wasteful that was. Yikes. 

You may think I am being overly dramatic about the whole thing, but that depends on who you ask, I guess. 

I was recently reading a blog of a friend of mine, and she posted something about some catalog where you can give gifts to people in need. It sounded interesting and it is the same organization that does Operation Christmas Child: Samaritan's Purse. I got on the site and checked it out and it is a way to "shop" for people across the world. The gifts aren't things like iPads and board games and Webkins (or whatever they are called). The items listed are things like goats for a families that have nothing, farming supplies to impoverished people, water wells for clean, filtered drinking water, blankets, food, and medical supplies, etc. There are so many different options. You can donate anything from $6 for a blanket to $10,000 for building a school in a location that desperately needs one. There is even an option to donate baby chicks to a family so that family can have fresh eggs for eating and selling in the market. You can spend $25 for an entire set of clothing and shoes for a child who has none instead of spending it on an inflatable wreath. (Seriously, you can buy those for twenty bucks. Why?) 

Check it out. You can give easily online. Here is the link: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/gift_catalog/?&utm_source=GiftCatalog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gc12

Merry Christmas. Tell your co-workers sorry for not getting them tooting slippers. (Also real. Also $25.00. Wow.)

{You can even donate livestock, like donkeys! This isn't from the Samaritan's Purse website or anything, and has no affiliation to their organization that I know of. This picture was taken on a medical mission trip to Honduras I went on a few years ago. I am just using it for an illustration. People need these types of animals for carrying heavy loads where trucks aren't affordable for the people or the terrain doesn't allow for vehicle passage.}

Homemade Wreaths

Fall is in the process of passing and winter is quickly coming upon us. I know what is to be expected in the next couple of months; bare trees, cold winds, frosty mornings, snow, and possibly dangerous road conditions. With the exception of dangerous road conditions -although I have to admit that if the roads are too bad, then my husband can't go to work, and that means we get to stay home together and be cozy all day!- I like all those attributes of winter where I live.  There is something about the transition period from fall to winter and something about the concept of ending a year with bareness, coldness, and seemingly emptiness that just makes me a little sad. However, one of my favorite parts of winter is to try and counter that: the effort to cozy-up a home with Christmas decor. I love the decorated trees, the music, and the food (of course!) I think this was probably the whole point of decorating for Christmas to begin with! The glitz and glamour of sparkling mesh and glittery balls is pretty, but the simple, old-timey decorations are just as stunning! If you have any cedars or juniper trees in your backyard or on your property, you can make these wreaths and garlands in just a few minutes. It also smells wonderful! You can also sometimes find pretty red berries from a tree of which I have no idea the name. Be careful.

The first thing you need are gloves. These things are prickly and if you are picking any berries, they could irritate your skin or even be poisonous, so be careful! You will also want some twine or jute or string of some sort to tie your wreaths with.

You will need to cut about 12 pieces of greenery for each small wreath, each piece about 1'-1 1/2' in length. The larger wreaths will take about 17 or 18 pieces. It helps not to cut pieces that are so big they have large side shoots, but choose the thinner ones for easier braiding.

When you have all your pieces cut and gathered, start with three pieces about the same height and thickness. Lay the pieces out to be braided, as shown in the picture below.

Braid the pieces, adding new pieces to the braid as you go. Don't be afraid to braid tightly; these should be the more tender branches and should bend easily. Keep braiding until you have used about 10-12 pieces and then form into a circle to see if the size suits you. If you want the circle to be bigger, keep adding pieces. If you are satisfied, go to the next step.

Bring the ends around so they overlap each other slightly and wrap your jute around several times to secure the branches, and tie securely. See picture below.

Now you should have a pretty little wreath shape! Take some smaller pieces if you want stick in the wreath to fill in any gaps you might have.

{yes, I have a blue picnic table and I LOVE it!}

To make a garland, do the same thing as above, but do not tie into a wreath shape. If you want to add berries, tuck them gently into the wreath or garland. I would advise not putting any wreath or garland in the house that you have put berries on, as they could fall off and children or pets might find them and try to eat them, and many berries found in the wild are very poisonous.

Happy Decorating!