It's just a Box...

It may be 'just a box,' but it will also be all that one child gets for Christmas this year. It makes me sad just to think that!  All I did was go to the $1 Store and pick out books and toys and shampoo and toothbrushes for as cheap as I could.  But this is it for some kids...

One for a girl...

Once fore a boy...

I got the info through our church, and decided this would be a GREAT way to start our Holiday Season (a little early ;-), but I believe it's the way we will start it... and the way we will end it!

I also thought this could be a valuable lesson to my over-privileged and 'spoiled' kids too!  They know no different than what is in front of them!  And if I don't share what's 'normal' for the rest of the world, they will always think that they are 'normal'!  It's hard for them to wait on a prize until the next Holiday... be it Valentine's, Easter, President's Day, Christmas, Thursday, whatever it may be - let alone grasp NEVER getting prizes!!!!!

So, Jake and I shopped while Sam was in school, then the four of us sat down in the floor after dinner to pack the boxes.  Both boys were excited to see what was in the bags... until they realized it wasn't for them.  Then the disinterest set in.  I call the time after dinner 'the bewitching hours' because they are winding down (or up, actually) from their day and are tired, cranky, and somewhat difficult to deal with most some nights!  BJ and I powered through and did our best to explain that this is all some kid will get from Santa this year.  We asked them if they would be happy with only this box on Christmas morning... we got a resounding NO! I think it sunk in for Sam... in that moment. Jake, however, was his usual pinball-self and was all over the place talking NON-STOP about ANYTHING!  Sam and Jake wrote a note to each child - well, they dictated it to me - and we called it a night.

I don't feel successful... my children have no grip on reality!!!  BUT - I will keep working on them and I KNOW that one day they will realize how blessed they are!!!! They're only 3 and 4.... in a lot of ways - I'm SOOO glad that they have no grip on reality!  That means that I am doing my job of sheltering them and providing for them - well, the grandparents are too ;-)...... but there is that fine line of them being blissful and content - or them being blissful and clueless!!!! I'll take content - my prayer is that my boys won't ever have to know hunger or sadness!