I was working on the finishing touches yesterday for the packing party and it happened.  Again.  It happens every year.  Panic!  I work all year to shop and locate items for the boxes.  I think I am doing great, then I look at the pile of goodies and think, “It’s not enough”.  Have you ever been there?  Worked long and hard and at the end of the journey thought, it’s not enough.

I was reading a devotional this morning.  I am a few days behind, so technically it’s not even the November 15th devotional, but there it was.

God spoke to me.

He told me not to worry.

It is enough.

If I push myself beyond what I am supposed to do for God, then I get the glory, not Him.  I need to step back and watch how He is going to provide the last minute items so He gets the glory, not me!  I have a tendency to swoop in and try to save the day.  I am a control freak.  I also don’t want to look like a fool.  I need to relax and let God do His thing.

We are packing 600 boxes tomorrow evening.  To God be the glory!

Be blessed!

The big packing party is this week.  I’m a little scared.  I’ve never done a packing party for 600 boxes before.  Last year we did 300 boxes.  That was fun, but a lot of work.  This year we are setting up a day early so I can see if there are any needs I missed.  I have a few gift certificates left to pick up any last minute things.  I will be packing up the trailer today…..wish me luck!

Last minute purchases:

I still needed pens, so I found a seller on Amazon that was selling 1,000 misprinted pens for $43 including shipping.  They arrived Friday and they are NICE!  Yay!  They were cheaper than the pencils I ordered.  Yes, I had to order pencils.  I didn’t have the money or enough gift certificates during the school supply sales.  Also, I didn’t have good luck finding large quantities of supplies this year.  Most of my purchases had to be broken up into running to several stores.  I hate to shop.  Did I ever mention that?  I hate to shop.  I am a homebody.  I prefer to sit at home an read and order whatever I may need through Amazon.  Shoebox shopping puts me into several stores several times a week.  I don’t like it, but I do it for the kids receiving the shoeboxes.

One of the life groups at my church is going to bring in filler items for the boxes too.  That is such a HUGE blessing!  I spend most of the year buying the general items for the boxes and when I have extra money or can’t find my items on sale, then I go looking for the fillers.  The fillers are what makes the boxes more unique.  Every box gets a toothbrush, notebook, pens, pencils, etc., but the fillers make it personal.  I love watching the kids pack their boxes with the regular items and then get to the end to pick out something special for their box.  They spend a lot of thought on what to put in the box.  I usually hear things like, “They need a shirt.” or “This art kit is really needs to be in this box.”.  I am praying we have enough filler items to make the boxes special and full!

Updated numbers:

spiral notebooks 600+  complete

crayons/markers 600+  complete

washcloths 600+  complete

toothbrushes 600+  complete

combs 600+  complete

toothpaste 600+  complete

stuffed animals 600+  complete

stuffed animals 600+  complete

soap 600+  complete

pens 1700+  complete

pencils 3091+  complete

candy 221 / need 379 more

pencil sharpeners 434 / need 166 more  (I need to check these.  I think I may have more, but I am not sure.)

Fillers :

girls 2-4  78 / need 200

girls 5-9  146 / need 200

girls 10-14  104 / need 200

boys 2-4  37 / need 200

boys 5-9  241  complete

boys 10-14  35 / need 200

generic fillers 61 / need 600-1200

I had a donation of generic party items leftover from a Halloween party that will be counted and added to the collection.  My numbers are not looking real great for fillers, but I can’t get to the boxes right now to see if I added something to the boxes and forgot to update the total.  All my filler boxes are buried behind the soaps, notebooks and toothpaste boxes.  I have to finish bagging the candy I purchased after Halloween.  I had never gone out the day after Halloween to purchase candy before.  I SCORED!  Lots of great candy for half off!  Woo hoo!

Ok.  My brain is overloaded with all the work I have to do and all the things I still haven’t got yet for the boxes.  I need to go pray and calm my heart.

Be blessed!

Giving Mom

Well, I have some exciting news!  The quest for free washcloths is over!  I was able to finish the washcloths up last week with some Kohl’s cash.  Yay!!!  I really hate spending money on washcloths, but at this point I feel they need to go in the boxes.  I use every opportunity to get them for free.  I was also able to add to several other areas with Staples Rewards, JCPenney Rewards and I cleaned out a craft cabinet and found new items that could be donated instead of stored indefinitely.  That’s a win-win, folks.  I used Swagbucks and purchased pencil sharpeners from Amazon.  I converted Bing Rewards into an Amazon gift card to buy toothbrushes.  Things are moving along nicely, which is great……since the packing party is in 3 1/2 weeks.  Gulp.

Here are the updated numbers:

spiral notebooks 600+

crayons/markers 600+

washcloths 600+

toothbrushes 600+

combs 600+

toothpaste 1 / need 599 more

candy 221 / need 379 more

stuffed animals 1 / need 599 more

pencil sharpeners 434 / need 166 more

stuffed animals 0 / need 600

soap 5 /need 595

pens 748/ need 452 more

pencils 319 / need 2681 more

Fillers :

girls 2-4  78 / need 200

girls 5-9  146 / need 200

girls 10-14  104 / need 200

boys 2-4  37 / need 200

boys 5-9  241

boys 10-14  35 / need 200

generic fillers 61 / need 600-1200

My God goal this year is 600 shoeboxes for $600.  I spend $50 a month out of my pocket for tax, any time I go over, etc., but the rest of the money is provided from God!  Here is what I have so far:

spiral notebooks 600+

crayons/markers 600+

washcloths 382+78 from yesterday=460 / need 140 more

toothbrushes 8 / need 592 more

toothpaste 1 / need 599 more

candy 221 / need 379 more

stuffed animals 1 / need 599 more

pencil sharpeners 600 / need 600

combs 3 / need 597 more

stuffed animals 0 / need 600

soap 3 /need 597

pens 23 / need 1200

pencils 128 / need 3000

Fillers :

girls 2-4  69 / need 200

girls 5-9  139 / need 200

girls 10-14  83 / need 200

boys 2-4  30 / need 200

boys 5-9  241

boys 10-14  29 / need 200

generic fillers 61 / need 600-1200

I also have other items my kids have made that will to added to the totals above at a later time.  (I try not to add to my numbers until they are boxed up with all the OCC supplies.  That way I keep my numbers straight.)

Well,  I could look at this list 2 ways.

First, “Wow!  This is discouraging!  I have so many items to collect and not much time left!”

Second, “I can’t wait to see how God pulls this off!!”

I’m choosing the second choice!

Be Blessed!

Giving Mom

I am so excited!  I was able to use $50 in Kohl’s cash yesterday to add to my washcloth collection!  I have been working all year collecting items for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  I have a God goal of 600 boxes for $600.  Yesterday I purchased 13 packs at $3.99 each.  I spent $2.02 and have added 78 washcloths to my collection!  When I went into Kohl’s yesterday, I was praying the washcloths would be on sale.  They are regularly $9.99 for a  6 pack.  I don’t buy them until they are at least half off.  Right when I got to the washcloths, I thought it would be great if they were even cheaper than that, and they were!!   I will give an update on my other totals soon.  Isn’t God good!!

I work for Jesus.

I should be fired.

I have been given several tasks to complete……but I haven’t.

I should be fired.

I show up late.

I should be fired.

There are days I show up with a horrible attitude and short temper.

I should be fired.

There are days I DON’T EVEN SHOW UP!!!

I should be fired.

I should be fired, but that isn’t how Jesus works.  He has lovingly come alongside of me and is leading me by the hand.  I try to control my life.  That is where I fail.  I need to ask the Holy Spirit to show me daily where I need to go, what to do, what to say.  Daily.  Sometimes hourly.  There are days I even need to ask minute by minute.  When I ask my Heavenly Father to be in control and I actually follow……..huge mountains start  to move my friends!

I should be fired, but I’m not.  I’m still in the apprentice phase.  I have a lot of learning to do and as long as I am willing to learn, I will not be fired.

Isn’t our God awesome!!!

Go to God and ask Him to lead you always.  Even when you mess up, He won’t fire you.

Be blessed~

Giving Mom

I have been battling God on several things for several years.  I haven’t won a single fight yet.  I have been called to do certain things, but I do not have training.  I’m not organized enough.  I’m not creative like the others.  I don’t have the right schooling.  My list goes on and on and on.   I also have another list.  I’m too lazy.  It’s too much work.  I don’t know where to begin.  It’s too overwhelming.  LIFE is too overwhelming.  Can anyone relate?  I have been called.  I will be obedient.  God will supply the equipping.

It has been an internal fight.  I do not feel equipped to “do a blog”.  I am walking out in faith that this is what God is calling me to do at this time.  The time is NOW for Christians to stand up and be obedient to what God has called each of us to do.  It won’t be easy.  I won’t be pretty.  It probably won’t be fun all the time either……but, it will be filling.  It will bring us in a closer relationship with God.  It will bring us to closer relationships with others.  We will be united when we all seek God first and then obey.  I’m nervous but excited to see how God will use me!  Want to join me?  Want to be obedient?

I have been challenged to fill 600 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child for $600.  This does not include the shipping fee.  That will be taken care of separately.  First of all, 600 boxes is a BIG goal!  It is more than we have done in the past.  I’m wondering where I will store all the items for 600 boxes!!  Whew!  That will be a lot of stuff.  🙂

I am going to use $50 a month of our money for the challenge.  I will also use any “free” money to help purchase box supplies.  This includes things like Kohl’s cash, JCPenney $10 off a $10 item, Staples ink rewards, Bing rewards, etc.  I already have a pretty good start on the year and I will share some of the items and sales I have found.  I have been praying a lot that God will show us how He wants this done.  I am pretty excited to see what treasures I will find for our shoeboxes.  What to join me in our journey?  What is your Operation Christmas Child goal?

I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for many, many years.  I have owned this domain on and off for about 8 years.  I started it once and let it expire.  I feel very out of my element, but I’m going to go for it and give it a shot.

I love all types of mission work.  My heart goes out to those that are hurting.  I do many things to help.  I pray.  I give money.  I make things.  I give things.  I give my time.  This is the place I will share my heart.  I want to be anonymous…..as anonymous as a person can be in the information age.  This isn’t about me.  This is about following our calling to minister to those in need.  I love Matthew 6:3-4a “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”  This is my wish.

Be Blessed!

Giving Mom