Imagine every child has a toy this Christmas

The Story family kicked off our holiday season this past Saturday by visiting the local Walmart-no we are not crazy!!! To start off our season of giving, the kids pooled the money that they had been saving for church and decided to utilize their stash by purchasing as many gifts as possible for the Imagine project at our church. We hit the store in high spirits-the kids were REALLY excited to make their choices!! After MANY trips up and down the aisles (big sigh from Mom and Dad) the kids started choosing their items-it was amazing to see how picky they were!! What did we end up with?

6 Littlest Petshop sets, a Glam Barbie, Polly Pockets, V-tech little first laptop, snap n style blocks, Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head, Burger Builder playdoh set, Hannah Montana Barbie, Playschool little people school set, Spud Buddies Potato Head set, and a remote control car.

The coolest thing?? Can you imagine the look on peoples faces as we walked around the store with this cart full of toys?? Some were openly staring. The kids were very quick to share why we had this cart full of toys and where they were ALL going. I was so proud of their general attitudes of giving (now I would be lying if I didn't share that there were a few moments of can we get something?) and the look of satisfaction on their faces.

These toys will be taken to Eastview on the 15th and will join the other toys that people are bringing in for the Imagine Saturday in December.

I have to say that doing this was such a wonderful way to start off the holiday season! Seriously-it was so much better than just handing the kids the Big Book of Toys or looking at the American Girl Holiday catalogue.

If you are volunteering or participating in any activity this holiday season post a comment on my blog-I'd love to read about it!! If you would like to volunteer but aren't sure how to get started please visit www.eastviewchurch.net and click on the Imagine icon-there are lots of ways to get involved in making a difference this Christmas!

Think of how many lives we can impact if our families each do one small thing-wouldn't that be awesome??

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in various forms.
1 Peter 4:10

Imagine

I've heard the talk already-you know those people who have purchased each and every Christmas gift, have them wrapped and ready to ship. I've heard the countdown to Christmas in weeks, hours, and minutes. But what has really been on my mind is this: Christmas, and all of the weeks leading up to the big day, is not a happy time for many families. In many households these are times of stress and true duress. Single Moms are not looking forward to the big Toys R Us catalogue coming in the mail or having to hear the wants and wishes of their children. Dads who are out of work are pained to know that they cannot provide their families with a holiday meal or even simple necessities such as a winter coat.

So please do this for me.....imagine a holiday season where each of us do something for someone else. Imagine buying a toy or two and giving it to that toy drive at work. Imagine taking not just one but two mittens off of the mitten tree at your church. Imagine picking up that empty food box and filling it to overflowing so that some family you will never meet may have a hearty holiday meal. Imagine buying one coat (and they are reasonable at Walmart) for a child or preteen so that while they are waiting out in the cold for the bus, they are reminded of Jesus' love for them each day as they snuggle into their newest possession. Imagine volunteering somewhere doing something, anything for another family this holiday season so that we all remember what Christmas is really all about.

I needed to do this imagining for my own family as I started to listen to their holiday wish lists. It is very humbling to hear your children rattling off high end, pricey items that they KNOW Santa will be bringing. It was humbling to realize that Derek and I do not have to worry about the same holiday stresses that are just beginning for so many parents in our own community.

So as November unfolds, check back to see how the Story family is imagining how we can make a difference. We are going to do our best to be the hands and feet of Jesus this holiday season.

Here's to making a difference in the lives of others!!!

Kindergarten Trip to Tanner's

Emmy, Nadia, and Levi
Emmy and Ashtyn

How sweet! Ashtyn is trying to catch Emmy.

It was a soggy trip back in early October, but the kindergarteners braved the weather and had a great time at Tanner's Apple Orchard. Emmy came home and informed me that she slept on the bus "all the whole way home Mom!".

As you can see Emmy had a blast!!!!

Halloween Night 2009

The winner!!!
Trunk or Treat with PaPa, Grandma Pat, and Great Grandma Donhardt

Berlyn a.k.a Little Red Hiding Hood

The Story Haul....

Well we made it!! The Story children once again brought home the mother load of candy!!! Here are some more fun photos!! Emmy decided to wear the Bear in the Big Blue House costume (after we watched the video), we went to Trunk or Treat at Dad and Pat's church, and of course we couldn't pass up sharing our candy score (mind you this is AFTER we threw a bunch of stuff away before the kids even saw it!!!!). Dr. Hall (our dentist) would be so disgusted if he saw all of these goodies!!!!