Advent Conspiracy.

First, watch the video.

Inspired, yet?

It is easy to get caught up in the commercialism and shopping and family drama of the holidays. {And believe me, I am not exempt from this.}

But especially as we are about to embark on the busiest month of the year, it's good to re-evaluate, prioritize our time, our resources and our values and perhaps make Christmas this year more than just a month long shopping spree of events and activities on high speed with a Christmas ham thrown in for good measure.

"The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?

Welcome to Advent Conspiracy."

Is there one gift you can give up buying this year and instead donate money to a charity, such as what the video suggests, for clean drinking water? Or perhaps your local food bank?

Could you buy one extra toy while out shopping and donate it to a family that is lacking this year?

My family is not perfect, we struggle with these lists of wants and Christmas to-do's, we are in no place of authority on this subject.

This year we're trying to be intentional with our shopping, we're donating to "Adopt-A-Family" at school and hosting a Toys for Tots Holiday Party. We're also looking to give up buying a gift or two so we can donate.

Rachel, who I mentioned the other day, is heading to an orphanage in Haiti in a couple weeks and I would love to help support her trip. Will you help me?

This is what you can do:

*Purchase small items like toothbrushes/toothpaste, gum, matchbox cars, small boxes of crayons, mini etch-a-sketchs, silly bands...small items as they don't have a lot of room. {They already have candy canes and stockings} As of December 2, this need has been met. THANK YOU.

*Help financially pay for the extra suitcases full of goodies going to Haiti. For two suitcases, this is a cost of $140.  As of December 4, the suitcases are paid for.


*There is a family in Haiti that Rachel and her traveling companion have adopted that allows their land to be used for a nursing school clinic. This family needs shoes for their children. Can you imagine your children running barefoot and not being able to buy them shoes? Will you consider donating money towards the purchase of shoes for this family? As of December 4, there is $60 donated towards shoes.

The paypal link has been hit or miss and is not working this morning (Dec. 4) if you would like to donate please email me or leave a comment and I can email you the paypal donate location.
All $$ donations MUST be received by Sunday December 5, 2010 if you are donating online or received by mail on Monday December 6, 2010.
 

Please think about if there is one less gift you can buy this Christmas or one less coffee you could drink and donate, whether it's $3 or $30, your money and gifts will be used and appreciated so very much.

 And thank you, in advance, for being part of our advent conspiracy!

*If paypal's not your thing, email me and we'll figure something out!*