"The Feather Thief" (A #WhatsOnMyNightstand Book Review)

I don't remember who recommended this book to me, but I feel like it was a childhood friend on Facebook, after I mentioned a book I had recently finished reading. Since I'm always up for "stranger than fiction" real-life tales, I added it to my "To Read" list on Goodreads and eventually ordered a copy (used of course) from Amazon, to add to my nightstand reading stack. It's probably been at least 2-3 years since that recommendation, but I finally got around to reading it this year, and since life happened and I didn't get my July post written, I'm hoping that an August 1st book review post will make up for the oversight. 

May I introduce to you, The Feather Thief, by Kirk Wallace Johnson. A story of the most unusual theft, by the most unlikely of characters, with a somewhat unsatisfactory outcome. But still one of my favorite books of 2022 so far. 

When Johnson first heard the story of Edwin Rist, he almost couldn't believe it to be true. It was too far out there. A twenty-something American flautist, studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London, obsessed with the rare art of salmon fly-tying and the even rarer (and more illegal) feathers to tie them, breaks into the Tring museum, a branch of the British Museum of Natural History, in the dead of night and waltzes out with a suitcase full of hundreds of bird skins. Using the local train system as his "getaway" vehicle, he made a clean escape, only to be found through his sales on eBay and a loose-lipped buyer. 

Think Oceans 11, The Italian Job, and Jason Bourne, only with a homeschooled American boy who wanted money to buy a nice flute so he could play classical music with a German orchestra. Truth truly is stranger than fiction. Without giving anything away, let me just say that although the long arm of the law did, eventually, catch up to him, justice was not served. In a plot twist that would fit well in Catch Me If You Can, Rist and his feathers are still free in the world, much to the chagrin of Johnson, who slowly became obsessed with this unusual heist, and the man who got away with it.

Available on Amazon, you can buy it new or used, or look it up at your local library. The world truly is a funny place. Happy Reading!

How @trytheworld Got Me Blogging Again

The last time I sat down and wrote a post it was January, and I was wrapped up in blankets drinking hot tea. Today my windows are open and I'm wearing sandals. Life goes marching on and before you know it, it's been four months since you've blogged about anything and nothing.

So what brought me back? Food. 

Remember when I wrote that post about the hobbies I had that weren't worthy of Pinterest? Remember how the first three things on my list were eating, travel, and culture? Well, today I'm writing to tell you about something that gives me the best of all three worlds - made all the more perfect by the fact that due to numerous reasons, the Hubs and I are currently tied down and unable to travel internationally, as we would like to do.

Meet a brilliant idea called Try The World. 

Someone liked a post on Facebook that mentioned Try The World, and it caught my attention. Food, culture, and something to look forward to in the mail every other month? That was intriguing enough to make me click through and learn more.

With the Hubs 40th birthday coming up this week, I was already on the hunt for something unique to give him, and Try The World seemed to fit the bill.

I've looked at a lot of subscription services over the years, but all of them were too rich for my blood. Not so with Try The World. One box of goodies from a different country, every other month, for $33 a box (including shipping) that I can cancel at any time? I may be cheap, but even my Scotch blood could stomach that deal (sweetened by the fact that when I ordered I was able to score a free BONUS box of food from one of our favorite countries, France).

We  began our journey in Marrakesh, Morocco, and as soon as the first box arrived the Hubs declared it one of the best birthday gifts ever. Coming from someone who is not highly excitable, that's a huge complement!

Over the weekend our bonus box from France arrived, which we unpacked with much glee. I particularly squealed when Hubs pulled out the canister of Fleur de Sel, one of my favorite salts to use in cooking, and the jar of fig jam (if you recall, we fell hard for figs last year). The index card contains information about what is included in the box, while the Culture Guide shares recipes, musical playlists, recommended country-specific films, and more. 

Bottom Line: if you like food, if you like culture, and if you're looking for something fun to do as a couple (or as a family) on a Friday night, we highly recommend investing in the Try The World boxes.

*     *    *    *    *

Full Disclosure: Try The World hasn't given me anything for writing this review, but if you click on any of my TTW links, it IS a referral link. The good news is that if you use my link, you get $15 off your box (and I get $15 off if you click), so it's a win-win situation.

*Note: Fabric, puzzle, and Eiffel Tower not included

Christmas Is More Fun With Stockings... #HollyJolly

Stockings have always been a part of our Christmas celebrations. I remember one year I found a tiny set of blue and white dishes tucked into my stocking. Then out came a stunning white china tea set with pink roses on the side. When we finally got to the gifts, my final present made the stocking stuffers make sense: Her name was "Charlotte" and she was the most beautiful china doll I had ever seen. But it all started with the stocking stuffers. 

While I am no longer hoping for tiny tea sets in my stocking, it remains a tradition in our home to open stockings first - although I do prefer a cup of coffee before digging in! In the early years of our marriage, Peter didn't quite get the point of stockings, but over the years he has warmed to the idea, and is now the king of stocking stuffers. 

If you follow Modern Mrs. Darcy, I hope you caught her list of stocking stuffers for kids last week. She recommended some really fun items. Yesterday, Jessica shared her stocking ideas on Life as MOM (what can I say? Great minds think alike... even if we don't always agree on books!). And if you're looking for more adult ideas? Well, here's what makes my list of fun gifts, based on what I have received in the past that I enjoyed, as well as what I would like to find in the future (hint, hint "Santa"). 

Give Their Tootsies Some Love

• Splurge on wool - something really nice that will last
• Go for warm fleece - something they can wear on Christmas morning
• Have some fun with holiday-themed footwear (they always make me smile!)
• Fuzzy socks are always a winner (I'm geeking out over these fuzzy knee-highs!)

Anne included tights on her list, and I would agree - but for adults. Last year Peter splurged on some really nice 100% wool tights and I adore them!

• Check out these fleece lined tights for the cold-blooded in your life (SANTA!!)
• Merino wool - a bit of a splurge, but also good stocking filler

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

• Go with Godiva - it's once a year, splurge! I like these...
• Hot Chocolate packets - grab one or two Ghirardelli mixes at the grocery 
• I'm not a fan of instant coffee, but Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks looks pretty yummy 
• Christmas morning - need a kick? Put some chocolate covered espresso beans in a stocking!
• Grab and Go with these Pretzel & Dip snack sets - so cute!
• Hot tea lover? Try THIS, THIS, or THIS (one of our favorites)

The Sights and Sounds of the Holiday Season

• Update a favorite Christmas movie to Blu-ray (we did The Muppet Christmas Carol this year)
• Add a Christmas movie to your collection (like TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday)
• Everyone can use more Christmas music, and we added a few CD's this year

Cook Up Some Fun

• Silicone hot pads (available pretty much anywhere) - I use mine all the time!
• Inexpensive and awesome, we love our egg timer
• Best. Spoon. Ever. We have 3.
• Silicone Non-Slip Tongs - worth every penny
• Specialty salt - it's amazing the different flavors (Fresh Market has a nice selection)

General Fillers

• Bring a smile to work with a 8 GB Mini Cooper Car or a 4GB R2-D2 USB Flash Drive
• ThinkGeek always comes through with something unique - check their sale section
• For something a little wacky - Ben Franklin Action Figure (last year, Peter got me Jane Austen)
• This 300lm Mini Cree LED Flashlight is inexpensive and small (but VERY slow shipping)
• A fun winter hat, a new pair of gloves, or a warm scarf (store bought OR hand knit!)
• A mug - to enjoy their new coffee, hot chocolate, or tea in!

The bottom line is that you should try to tailor stocking stuffers to the recipient's tastes. If they're a techie or a car buff, play to that, or if they enjoy music and coffee, include a CD and a bag of specialty coffee (preferably whole bean - if you know they have a grinder). Whatever you do, don't just fill the stocking with junk - fill it with thoughtful gifts. It doesn't have to cost a fortune, just some thought and time.

Do you have a favorite stocking stuffer story?

What would make YOUR list?

The Scrooge Factor #ColdIsCheap

I'll be honest: there are some months we do great with budgeting and paying down debt, and other months when we get a little out of control with our spending. Stewardship is a lifelong practice, not a "once and done" lesson. However, there is one area where we are steadfast when it comes to our frugality, and that's the temperature of our house.

During the winter months, we set the thermostat on 61° (16° C) during the day, and 55° (12° C) at night. When I worked as a pharmacy tech, one of the few bright spots of the job was the fact that I knew I would be warm for the 8 hours I was there. However, considering that 55° is a good 20+ degrees warmer than our house in Lesotho on a winter morning, I often give myself a reality check that it could be - and has been - worse.

When we first started thinking about ways to save money and bumping the heat down came up as an option, we started at 69° during the day and 65° at night - and that felt cold. Over the years we have adapted to the chill, and I now recognize that my frugal tendencies are starting to become a bit more ingrained as I find myself wondering if we couldn't move it down another degree or two.

However, frugal has a price. Since I've been freelancing from home for the last year and a half, I find my frozen toes and fingers to be a bit distracting, and I look forward to taking a bathroom break because it means I can turn the wall heater on for about 2 minutes to thaw out. But there are other ways that I have learned to cope with the cold, and whether you decide to crank your thermostat down quite as far as ours or if you're just cold all the time, I have a few items that I would like to recommend that make my life a little warmer. (NOTE: No affiliated links, just honest reviews of my favorite products.)

Shortly after we returned to the States and started thinking a little more frugally, Peter gave me a pair of Wicked Good Moccasins from L.L. Bean. A pricey initial investment, these slippers have more than lived up to their name and paid for themselves as they keep my tootsies toasty. Cough up the dough (says Scrooge-ette), and put these puppies under the tree this year (they come in 5 colors - for men & women).

Available at L.L. Bean and L.L. Bean.com

Last year, Peter purchased the Biddeford Heated Micromink and Sherpa Throw from Target. Machine washable, but still a hefty little investment at $50 (though it was just on sale for $35), this blanket keeps my legs warm and toasty as I sit in our home office all day. When my fingers get too cold to type, I stuff them under the blanket for an instant warm up. Know someone cold natured? This blanket is perfect!

Available at Target and Target.com

My addition to the personal warmth factor came this fall when I popped onto Eddie Bauer's website after receiving their catalog in the mail. Normally, I stay away from EB due to the price (& fit) of their clothing, but this year, I was sucked in by the Flannel Lined Washed Pants. I put them in the online cart and let them sit for a few days, ended up hitting a sale, got free shipping and free return shipping (not needed), and they're easily my favorite winter trousers! I love the fit (though they might be a bit low rise for some), I love the feel, and I LOVE the flannel. And no, I don't wear them rolled up.

In fact, I liked them so much, I even decided to try the Flannel Lined Jeans, which also made the cut. A word of warning, however: I went with the petite (I'm 5' 2.5"), and they work great with boots, but they are RIGHT at my ankles, so if you like things a little bit longer, you may want to keep that in mind. I went with the Harbor color, and they're still a bit washed for my taste, but I love everything else about them so much, I figured I could deal with it. Best of all? They got the Husband Stamp of Approval, which is saying something.

Available at EddieBauer.com

How do YOU stay warm when the weather (or your house) gets chilly?

The 2013 #WishList

For the past three years, I've shared my Christmas wish list on the blog. And even though "Santa" has already done his shopping this year (he's early!), it's still fun to dream, right? I do apologize that every single picture is missing from the 2011 list, if you click on the graphic box, it shows up. Another lovely technological annoyance that I'm too lazy to fix for my little blog, so you'll just have to trust me when I say... it was some cool stuff.

2010   |   2011   |   2012

{2013}

A Book Bag

Available at the Literary Gift Company

A Set of Grammar Mugs

Also available at the Literary Gift Company

An Umbrella Stand

No longer available at Pottery Barn {sad sigh}

A {Stupid Expensive} Camera/Laptop Bag

Available at ONA

Scissors

Available at YoZo Craft

Hymn Art

Available at Red Letter Words

Any Season of Poirot - in Blu-ray

Available on Amazon

What's on YOUR Christmas wish list?

A Jane Austen Christmas

Apparently people have gotten this crazy idea that I like Jane Austen. {ahem} This Christmas, my friends and family went all out in the Austen department. It started with a beautiful, hardbound copy of Sense and Sensability from a former co-worker at the pharmacy. From one bookworm to another (even though our taste in "literature" might differ a bit) - it was an incredibly thoughtful gesture.

However, Peter picked up the Austen-gifting mantle and ran with it. From the book that he found all by himself The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen, to the 2009 BBC version of Emma (that I have yet to see), to the ultimate gift for any Austen fanatic...a Jane Austen action figure, he wins the prize. Before you ask, no, he did not pay $80 for a plastic doll, but the thing is apparently discontinued now. Sad day for all of you.

While the books are tucked away on my shelf of Austen, and the DVD is waiting for the next free weekend, Jane is ensconced on the desk next to my laptop. While she stands at the ready with her trusty quill pen, I muddle through writing copy for websites and book launches. She never judges me for spending my days writing 140 character tweets, or reminding me that I'm hardly writing the next Mansfield Park, but she sparks a reminder that I should never look at it as "just" doing anything.

I'm not "just" writing copy - I'm learning how to work with the great English language.
I'm not "just" editing small books, I'm gaining experience for the day when something bigger comes along.
I'm not "just" writing nonsense for a small-time blog, I'm building an audience and enlarging my circle.

Thank you, Jane. We all need those reminders.

What was YOUR favorite Christmas gift this year?

On My Wishlist...

So, can a girl who has drastically changed her view on stuff and become decidedly cheap frugal, still come up with a Christmas wish list? Yes indeed! While my views on materialism and unwanted excess have changed quite a bit, I'm still human, and I still see things that I would like to have (just look at my lists from 2010 and 2011!), I just don't feel as compelled to buy them. However..."Santa" might feel differently, which is why I still make full use of the universal Amazon wishlist button. {ahem}

{1} 
Sherlock Holmes Marble Coasters

{2}

Masterpiece Mystery: Complete Inspector Lewis


{3}

Eye-Vac EVPRO Professional Touchless Stationary Vacuum 


{4}
NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System


{5}
The Rifle Paper Company 2013 Cities Calendar

{6}

"Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost" Luggage Tag

{7}

"Mind the Gap" Doormat

{8}

Any pair of pajama bottoms from Punjammies 

(love the cause)

{9}

Java Coffee Beans from Avodah Coffee 

(again, love what they support)

{10}

Let's end on a bang, eh? This leather suitcase from Saddleback Leather. Pricey? Oh yeah.

What would make YOUR Christmas wish list?

I Was Framed!

Right before we left for Montreal, I had the opportunity to design and order a custom frame from 1st Frame.com, in exchange for a review of my experience. Honestly, I'm always a little hesitant to agree to those kinds of things, because you just never know how the product is going to turn out, or if it will be deserving of a glowing review (which is what everyone who gives something away wants, obviously).

As I was in a hurry to place the order, I quickly selected a quote from author Oscar Wilde, picked out a font, and hoped for the best. Later, I wondered if I should have chosen something else, but my mind was set at ease after I received the preview email, showing me a mock-up of what my frame would look like when it was done. If I hadn't liked it, I could have said no and done something different - now that's service!

A few days after I returned from Montreal, I received a box in the mail, containing my beautiful 1st Frame creation. I was excited to see if it would look like the mock-up email {it did}, and if it would make me want to actually buy more frames in the future {yes}. As you can see, I was happily "framed"...

My new frame sits on my office desk, as a daily reminder to be who God made me, to use the talents that He gave me, and not to wish I was like someone else. I have a photo of Peter and I at the beach, as a further reminder that I am blessed to have a husband who loves me, quirks and all! 

A lot of people are talking about shopping local this Christmas, doing their part to support small businesses rather than the large chain stores. Although 1st Frame isn't exactly "local" for me (it's located in Michigan), it is a small, family-run business, and I highly encourage you to get to know the man behind the frame. 

Dean is offering all kinds of sales and specials between now and Christmas - take advantage of them and give the folks on your Christmas list a truly one-of-a-kind gift this holiday season! If you'd like to see another 1stFrame creation, I recommend checking out this blog post from my fellow blogger (and co-worker), Molly. She created a beautiful frame with the skyline of her newly adopted hometown - Chicago.

What would you engrave on a frame?

Do you have plans to "buy local" this Christmas?

A Lifetime of Shoe Boxes

In December of 1993, I celebrated my 12th birthday and Operation Christmas Child was adopted by Samaritan's Purse. I don't usually share this, but I was a Graham (yes, part of  that Graham family) before I married Peter. My grandfather and Billy were cousins, we met at a family reunion when I was 7, but we don't exchange Christmas cards. 

However, because of the family tie, my mom heard about the program early on, and was quick to jump on OCC bandwagon. While I tend to be a skeptic of "love languages", I have to say that if my mom had one - it would be gifts. She is forever putting together baskets and boxes for missionaries who are home for the holidays, families at church who are raising kids on a small budget, and even the trash pick up crew, the mail lady, and the newspaper woman are on the receiving end of her gifts. Packing shoe boxes for kids who had nothing? That was right up her alley.   

For the last nineteen years, I have been involved with OCC - finding end-of-summer deals, wrapping boxes, packing them, and sharing about the Shoe Box ministry at church. I still remember walking through the aisles of Wal-Mart, thinking about the 10-12 year old (now 10-14) girl - someone my age - who would be receiving the shoe box. I wondered what her life was like, and what kind of things she would enjoy receiving. As I picked out hair accessories and socks, I wondered about her favorite color and what she did for fun.

After we got married, I continued to pack shoe boxes. During the early years, when money was tight, I might only send one or two boxes. Over time, I got better at stretching a dollar, making the most of my favorite red clearance stickers, back-to-school specials, and holiday dollar bins. While it's not as easy as it used to be, it's still possible to fill a box on a budget, it just takes some creativity and outside-the-box thinking. Skip the yard sales (it all has to be new), and don't assume that DollarTree will be the cheapest option (though I do buy some filler items there). 

While we're busy trying to purge our houses of excess stuff, there are kids in developing nations who are going barefoot - not by choice, but by necessity. They kick around a tin can for a soccer ball. They've never owned a toothbrush. During our stint overseas, I got a much better grasp on what needed to go in future shoe boxes. I've managed to squeeze full-size soccer balls (deflated), backpacks ($3.74 on clearance), and complete outfits into my boxes. I've seen the way that girls are misused and abused in the most abominable ways possible, so I don't pack mini-skirts or pants with a rhinestone encrusted rear end. Use some common sense.

In many of the countries where we lived, children could not go to school if they didn't have a uniform. I keep that in mind when I shop for my boxes. I personally returned to the U.S. with a lot of cavities due to the lack of fluoride in the water (not that it was clean anyway), so I make sure I get anti-cavity toothpaste. I saw kids hauling water in every imaginable (and unimaginable) type of container, so I now include a personal water bottle. It's these kinds of experiences - personal, real, raw - that make me passionate about shoe boxes. 

The 2012 Collection is right around the corner, and even though the back-to-school sales are over, I encourage you to pack a box...or ten! Skip a week of mochas and fill a shoe box instead. Tell your extended family that instead of giving them next year's yard sale fodder, you're going to be packing a box in their name, giving something to a child who has nothing - and encourage them to do the same. Don't have time to shop for a shoe box? Make a donation to help ship the boxes overseas! There are lots of ways to get involved, and I think you'll find - as I have - that it's way more fun to give to those who wouldn't have a Christmas otherwise. I love having a part in making an eternal difference. 

Have you ever packed a Shoe Box before?

Holly Jolly?

Congratulations. If my math skills are correct (which they usually aren't) you have 153 shopping days left until Christmas. That's right. In five short months, your family will be racing through hallways and tearing off wrapping paper and telling Aunt Myrtle "thanks" for the set of polyester pajamas that she sent.

Christmas. The whole idea is that we're celebrating the birth of the Christ child, right? Over the years, we became sidetracked by the shiny bobbles and Santa-themed wrapping paper, and Christ's arrival on Earth was lost behind the new toys and trinkets, the company Christmas parties, and the spiked punch that is sometimes required to get through the family reunions.

As I've gone on this journey of simplifying, I've found myself thinking a lot about the idea of gift giving. Don't get me wrong, there's not much I look forward to more than opening presents with Peter on Christmas morning, but something has been gnawing at me since last year when my family exchanged "stocking stuffers".

As we all sat around my parent's living room and pulled out gift cards to the same restaurant, I half-jokingly said, "So, we all just exchanged money to the same place - maybe we should have just gone out to eat instead." Everyone chuckled and then moved on to the next gift card in the stocking.

However, I continued to think about this idea of exchanging money in the form of gift cards - what was the point? It started because we all announced that we were trying to clean out. We didn't need or want another thermal tumbler, holiday mug, or wind-up flashlight. The sweaters, candle holders, and scented soaps that you spent good money on, all went out in the yard sale last month.

Although we've discussed foregoing the exchanging of gifts this year, and using the money to take a trip instead, everyone wants to go somewhere different and we range in age from 4 to 71, so you can see the dilemma. While some folks truly enjoy exchanging gifts (real gifts, not gift cards), others would rather take a trip with their immediate family over the holidays.

We've held out the lofty idea of using the money that we would have spent on each other, to buy a goat in Africa or a bicycle for a missionary in Asia, but the fact of the matter is - we do that anyway. My parents raised us to understand that money was just a tool from God, and we were to be good stewards of it and use it to help others. To my knowledge, we all support missionaries or pack shoeboxes or buy bee hives in Jesus name. And then on top of that, we give gift cards to each other. It's never been an either-or situation. 

As I watch both my parents and my siblings age, I realize that there will come a year when we won't see each other at all during the holidays. Some, because they live elsewhere, and others, because they won't be with us anymore. I think that's one of the reasons why the trip idea appeals to me, or simply going out to dinner as a family instead of exchanging gift cards so we can go out individually.

For me, it has really become about the time spent together, the fellowship over a well-prepared meal, the photos taken during a shared experience, and the memories that will remain when we're no longer together. At 30, I now realize that the people have become more important to me than the gifts that they give.

How do YOU handle holiday gift giving?

What I Got For Christmas: An Update

Remember my wish list that I shared back in November? Remember the list I made last year? Let's just say that Peter came through, and came through with flying colors. Ladies, if your husband is secretly (or not so secretly) lamenting that he doesn't know what to give you, let me help you out with a tip...email the man a link to a wish list or two. I created two wish lists this year (not counting the blog) on Pinterest and Amazon (using the Universal Wish List button feature for Amazon), and then emailed the links to Peter. Let's just say there was a lot of squealing in our house over this...

{Amazon}

And these...

  

{Target}

And we can't forget these...

  

{Lands' End}

Or the soundtracks to some of my favorite films...

     
{Amazon - used, for additional savings}

Or the original movies to some of my favorite books...


{Amazon - Cheaper By the Dozen / Belles on Their Toes}

And he even indulged my inner kitchen-gadget nerd...

{Amazon}

Yes, he did well.

On a slightly separate note, two days before Christmas I started purging the house like a mad woman. I felt compelled to remove things that I really didn't like, or use, from the house before bringing more junk gifts into the mess. If you have Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket and you have always wanted to mark "Make pasta from scratch" off of your bucket list, then please check out the imperia pasta maker that I have listed for sale on Amazon. For the last 12+ years it has been sitting, brand new (never even removed from the box) in closets and kitchen cabinets, and I'm done storing it. I know that I will never, ever try to make pasta from scratch when I can buy it, so I'm giving up the illusion and hoping to get some money out of the thing. 

{Amazon - find mine listed as New under the Busy Nothings shop}

Ooh, look, it's shiny. Doesn't it make you want to move to Italy and grind your own flour for homemade pasta?

So, what was YOUR favorite gift this year?

The Stockings Were Hung :: Non-Traditional Gifts

And so we've arrived. There's only a week and a half left until Christmas. Some people have completed their shopping, while others are just beginning to think about it. If you're in the latter group, then you may be interested in some of the ideas in this post as they don't have to be wrapped and in most cases the organization will even do the notifications for you. Sound too good to be true? Come see what has made my list of Non-Traditional Gifts! (Missed one? Find the first seven weeks of this series HERE)

When I first came up with my list of Christmas posts (back in October), I specifically had Samaritan's Purse in mind when I chose "Non-Traditional Gifts" as one of the categories. Apparently a lot of people (bloggers and others that I know in real life) have been feeling the same pull to give something that helps others rather than the traditional "I got you something that will eventually end up in your next yard sale" type gift. I have read blog post after blog post after blog post about thinking outside the box when it comes to spending money on Christmas gifts. In fact, just this past Sunday, our youth pastor shared his desire to be given a goat for Christmas instead of one more thing to clutter up his home.

Here's what I see: despite the fact that shops opened earlier than ever this year on Thanksgiving, people everywhere are tiring of the commercialism that has not only taken over Christmas, but is working it's way into Thanksgiving as well. There is a movement to clean out and simplify - I've even felt a pull that direction this year - and with people watching their pennies more than ever, they want their money to go towards something meaningful instead of another mug or tacky Christmas tie. With that idea in mind, here are a few of my favorite non-traditional gift resources that can help change lives, not just right now, but for eternity...

Samaritan's Purse is one of my favorite organizations (and not just because of the family ties to it). They mobilize quickly when disaster strikes and they serve people in the name of Jesus. You already know my life-long love of their Operation Christmas Child Shoebox program, but did you know that they were some of the first response teams to places like Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, and New Orleans? Did you know that they continue to provide shelters, medical care, and food to people long after other organizations have pulled out? Did you know that you can give as little as $5.00 and you can provide milk for a child? And on the gift-giving side of things, did you know that you can have cards shipped to your recipients that say "In your Honor" or "In Memory Of" - what a delightful way to let them know that you're thinking about them and that someone else who really needed help, received it in their honor and in the name of Jesus! What are you waiting for? Go check them out and start giving!

Source: compassion.com via Carrie on Pinterest

You've probably heard about Compassion International. There are a lot of bloggers out there who are pushing child sponsorship and are talking about their recent trips with Compassion. But did you also know that Compassion has a gift catalog? That means that if you aren't yet ready to sponsor a child, but you still want to help, there is a way. You can give chickens ($16) to the animal lovers in your life, garden seeds ($10) to those avid gardeners on your list, or get God's Word ($5) out to people for the price of a Venti Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks. If you want to go in as a family, you could even help give moms the opportunity to start their own business and support their family for as little as $100. Just think of the possibilities! 

Since it's founding in 1950, World Vision has been focused on providing physical aid for the poor and needy around the globe and reflecting the love of Christ through their actions. Like Samaritan's Purse and Compassion, World Vision has a great Christmas catalog that is full of ideas, starting for as little as $10. Having spent several years overseas, I can tell you from first hand experience how important things like mosquito nets ($18), orphan care ($25), and clean water ($25) can be - life saving in many cases! There are so many things that we take for granted on a daily basis (like shelter and clothing), so before you (and I!) slap down $35 for another sweater, perhaps we should think about all the people around the world who could be helped, here and now as well as for eternity, with that same $35. It's something to consider, eh?

And with that, I end my eight weeks of Christmas fun. I hope you have enjoyed it - thanks to all who have shared links and left comments! It's always such a delight and a thrill to hear from you or to see that you think it's helpful enough to share with others.

I hope that above all, you take a break from the hustle and bustle of Christmas to reflect on the fact that God sent His only Son to become human, to experience the trials and hardships and pain that we go through, and to ultimately be flogged and hung on a cross to die for the sins of the world. It's almost more than I can wrap my mind around.

But here's the even better news: He didn't stay in the grave! Jesus arose and He is waiting with open arms to accept all who will believe in Him and the Free Gift of Salvation that He offers. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior yet, my prayer is that you would find Him and His Gift this Christmas. I'm always here if you want to talk (my email contact is HERE) - it would be my honor to share the Greatest Gift of all, with you.

Merry Christmas to all!

Blessings!