The Giver

Grace, Carl and I have been really reevaluating how we think about this season this year. We are trying many new things, creating new traditions and keeping old ones!  We decided to make many of our gifts this year as well , so hang on to your scarf!  Most of all though, we've been giving to the community here. It feels good to be helping people and I really wish we cold have done this when Grace was smaller.  We volunteered ( and will continue to do so) at a local food pantry, sang carols at a nursing home and participated in several toy and clothing drives.   The best , by far, was the food pantry. I had contacted the head of the pantry to see about the homeschool community participating with the pantry on a semi-regular basis. I was  given very strict age guidelines of 12 and up to help with Bagging of food etc.  In order to see the pantry however, I had to bring Grace along for the tour and trial day. She did wonderfully, and the man even guessed her to be fully 3 years older than she currently is!  It was great to fill the bags and get them out to people who need them. At first, it was a bit confusing, as the pantry was "split" down the middle, with one worker on each side, and there are "directions" next to each "section" telling you how much of what to put in the cart, based on family size.  We soon got into the spirit of the thing, with Grace in one section and I in the other! She just needed help reaching some of the cans. :D

At the end of the 2.5 hours, she asked if we could go back again TOMORROW.  I must say that this was a strong success and I will be talking o the man about having other children and parents help out. Now that Grace has done such a good job "opening the door". I think they will be more likely to trust that the younger kids can help out VERY well. 

The nursing home sing-a- long was every bit as much of a success! I really must thank the mom who organized it. It was a great experience for the children to have and the adults at the nursing home obviously enjoyed so many young, smiling faces!  Grace really couldn't have been happier! 

Grace went to  her first movie alone, without us yesterday. She went with her girl scout troop and had a wonderful time. They went to see "The Tale of Despereaux" as an end to their book club on the same. (Grace had read it prior and was eager to participate...)  Her review is that the movie is "All action, to please the audience, and very little of the book's magic". Hmmm. 

In any case, as she was busy at her movie, Carl and I had some interesting discussions and did some shopping in town, which was nearly empty the weekend before Christmas, but that is another story... 

As we finished up our shopping with a trip to the local chocolatier, the snow falling gently around us, we both agreed that Grace is indeed a very special and kind young lady. She really does want good for this world and tries to live this way in her daily life. Sure, she has fun in her everyday existence, kids around with friends and gets annoying once in a while, but at the heart of this still-very-young child is a young lady beyond her years who is extremely "good" and has a heart of gold--That is the best gift WE could hope for. 

Happy Holidays everyone!  May you days be merry and bright, and if you are lucky, your Christmas or Hanukkah could also be white! Check the weather for the Northeast today!  :)  

Ze List: 

I had Grace draw up a list of a few small items she might wish for for the holiday. She listed some plush friends from Hansa, Yomiko and others and her obligatory Marzipan. I then asked her if there is anything that she would REALLY like from us, as in , anything she's been "dreaming of", in teh small-child, holiday way. Her answer? Hold onto your drink...

A HOVERBOARD. ;) 

We told her that she'll have to build her own, as they don't exist for market prices yet.