Giving Back

In an effort to teach our children to look outside of themselves we, like most people, like to find ways to serve others.  It could be as simple as the way Lexie dishes out compliments, thus 'making' someone's day or the way the older three cleaned up after someone else's 'tee-pee' job across the street or the way they share their musical talents with others.  But during the Christmas season, like most families, we like to expand our efforts and do something a little more organized as we reflect upon our own rich blessings.

As tough as the circumstances were surrounding my pregnancy and early life with Viviana, I cannot fathom going through that during the middle of Christmas.  How would you do that with so many little kids???!!  Certainly, we rise to the challenge and find ourselves capable of doing much more than we ever could have imagined in times of trial.  So last year as a family we made gift baskets for several of the women on bedrest at Mary Birch Hospital.  It hit home and really meant a lot to us to be able to 'give back' with a situation so near and dear to our hearts.

This year, we expanded our efforts and included some NICU families with baskets full of micro-preemie to newborn  sized clothes, blankets, bows for the girls, lotions, journals for the moms, homemade frames, homemade jewelry and tons of snacks and other little goodies.  When planning for this, we tried to remember our experiences and the little luxuries and warm thoughts that made our time at the hospital just a little bit easier.  We were delighted that my mom was able to join us to deliver the goodies.  We were also able to visit with a few of Vivie's nurses from her NICU experience.  What a joy it is for them to follow her progress and see first hand how their job as 'nurse angels' really makes a difference.

While coordinating the basket-giving with the social worker, I was astounded to learn that this is a completely untapped service effort.  The staff was overwhelmed that we wanted to do this.  I would absolutely LOVE to start an NPO helping these NICU families from all walks of life that are experiencing such difficulty and trial in an effort to establish even just a little bit more hope and joy.   

It is my hope and prayer that as we serve as a family in different capacities that those acts of beauty, however simple or complex, will become second nature to our children and they will realize the true joy that is to be found in the service of our fellow man.  And it is my most deep desire that they experience this joy all throughout the year.  

(so if you have any desire to join in our efforts next  year, please please talk to me and we'll orchestrate something even better and bigger next year!)