Since the month of November was super special for me, the Scripture we chose to focus on for the month of December is Mosiah 2:17.
We sat down as a family and came up with a list of 25 service activities that we could do together for our Christmas Countdown. I made an advent calendar and matched up our selected activities with a calendar to make sure the simple activities landed on fuller days and the more time consuming activities landed on days that we would have more time.
I made this with my cameo, of course. I purchased this
advent mitten shape, sewed two of them together with the tops open so we could put our activity inside. The kids loved it.
Then, a few days into the month, we watched a movie called "
Christmas Angel" and it changed our way of thinking. In the movie there is a man who just looks for opportunities to serve. It's never planned what he will do, he just goes and when he sees a need, he helps. So, that made us think a little bit harder. After that, we only used the advent calendar as a back-up for if we didn't notice anything around us. This was the best month ever!
Here is what we did, in extreme random order since I don't really remember what came first once we let the Spirit guide our service.
~ We hosted a neighborhood party for everyone on Grove and Hyline roads. Then invited a few of our friends that live close by so when none of our neighbors came, we could still have a party. This actually turned out really nice, I got to know some of our neighbors that I never knew before, and found out things about them that I would have never known.
~ Hoss took a gift to his friend who just had eye surgery. He picked out (all by himself) a John Deere swather and a super cute ballon. It was extremely hard to find helium, but we did it!
~ I drove to town and picked up one of my young women from school and gave her a ride home.
~ I embroidered the Christmas Gifts for the young women at church.
~ We adopted one of Sexy Farmer's co-workers for Christmas. He works with a single dad who has 3 kids. We went to the store and purchased enough items to fill one of those jumbo 200+ count diaper boxes, one for each child. Then I wrapped them up super cute with a massive bow and holiday tag. We took them to the co-workers parent's house, arranged them on the porch, rang the door bell and ran.
~ We left a $100 gift card in the car of another one of Sexy Farmer's co-workers. This one ended up being very special, with how Sexy Farmer was inspired to give it to that certain man, at that certain time.
~ We delivered treats to our neighbors.
~ We cleaned our church building.
~ Cleaned the house and donated 10 boxes and 3 trash bags full to Deseret Industries.
~ The kids delivered simple treats to their teachers, both church and school, including the bus driver, lunch lady, custodian, principal, office secretary, and librarian.
~ We took dinner to a special family.
~ I taught a lesson for one of our bishopric members on the new youth curriculum at church.
~ Sexy Farmer and I helped with the youth temple trip.
~ I talked to a dad of one of my young women at church and got her something she has been really wanting for Christmas.
~ I was asked to help with the centerpieces for our ward Christmas party. Good thing my mom has TONS of nativity sets.
~ Duke and I helped block the road for a local farmer whose sheep stampeded the wrong direction during a field change.
~ I helped with the school Christmas Concert by wrapping up empty boxes for stage decorations, then made a pair of rabbit ears, reindeer antlers, a Santa hat, and 25 Rudolph noses for the play.
~ We helped out my sister and brother-in-law while he was admitted to the hospital. Day 1 - Sexy Farmer helped with a Priesthood Blessing.
~ Day 2 - we took our niece & nephew bowling and out to dinner. I came in dead last on the scoreboard.
~ Day 3 - we took their kids to church, and taught them swing dancing moves.
~ We sent a surprise package in the mail to Aunt Megan & Uncle Johnny.
~ I dropped Lilli off with her dad for Christmas instead of the prearranged agreement of him picking her up.
~ We made a plate of goodies for our Bishop.
~ We returned shopping carts to the store. (sorry, I got a little distracted while taking the picture!)
~ Sexy Farmer bought donuts for everyone at work.
~ I left a pretty hefty tip to a waitress in Weiser one day while I was getting lunch for Sexy Farmer. I wasn't prepared for her reaction. She immediately started crying. I had to turn and leave fast before I lost control of my own emotions.
~ Sexy Farmer changed the flat tire for a woman off the I-84 interstate between Twin Falls and Wendell.
