There are so many reasons why I love this time of year.  I started a tradition a long time ago after I lost my father much too early to cancer.  He passed away in June and when it was time for Christmas, I decided to adopt an ”angel” off the Angel Tree at a local department store in his memory.

As I lost additional family members through the years, I would adopt additional angels in their name.  I also asked my friends to support their local Angel Tree instead of giving a gift to me.  I started this tradition over 20 years ago and last year, my husband and I started a new tradition.  We now adopt a family and help them at Christmas.  As much as I love opening gifts with my family, I have to admit that when I deliver the gifts to our adopted family, sharing that joy with them is my favorite part of Christmas.

This year, we have a single mom and her 12 year-old daughter, whom I’ll call Jill.  Jill’s wish this year was to have her room painted pink and she also wanted a zebra comforter set with matching curtains.  Two weeks ago we delivered that comforter set and curtains along with a stocking full of girly things and some clothes for her.  We also picked out some things for her mom too.  We contacted our local painter, Bear Mountain, and told them about Jill’s wish.  Bear Mountain donated the labor and most of the paint and Sherwin Williams also contributed some of the paint.  Bear Mountain painted the entire room including the ceiling.  On Christmas morning Jill, will have her Christmas wish wrapped in her new comforter set in her pink room!  My sincere thanks go out to Bear Mountain Painters and Sherwin Williams for their generosity.

Giving just feels good especially this time of year.  There are so many ways you can give of yourself and giving doesn’t always mean money.  You can give of your time through a charity or mentoring.  Find a cause you believe in and make a difference.

One charity that I think is fun and a little different is Kiva.  On Kiva, you can make loans of all sizes to entrepreneurs all over the world.   Your loan is typically repaid a little at a time.  I wait until the loan is halfway re-paid and then I loan it out to another entrepreneur.

One of my New Year’s resolutions this year will be to give more of myself next year.  I lost a dear friend last week.  She was sick for only a few weeks and unfortunately I didn’t get to say goodbye.  She gave so much of herself to our church and to our outreach projects.  I will miss her so much.  She was someone I always admired and so I want to give more of myself next year, in her honor.

We can all make a difference in this world.  It doesn’t matter how small or big the gift.  It is just a matter of reaching out

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” ~ Mother Teresa