Blessed to Give

Finding the perfect gift for someone can be stressful. For years I've been told, "'Tis more blessed to give than to receive," but I've found it difficult to really feel blessed. This year, though, I determined to approach my gift giving a bit differently, and I'm realizing what a greater blessing it is. I'm not giving my friends and family anything. Brilliant, isn't it? OK, so I'm not really such a Scrooge. I, personally, have too much stuff...and so does everybody else I know. So, this year I've started giving gifts in the form of donations in honor of special occasions (birthdays, baby showers) to Partners International instead of buying more things for the people I care about. The joy and excitement I feel when I purchase an Arabic Bible for a North African Christian or milk and cereal for a child in Senegal is so much greater than the pleasure that innumerable amounts of stuff could provide. I feel like I finally know what it means to be blessed in giving.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I'm going on vacation!!!!!!!! OK, so I have 2 months until I leave, but I got to actually book my flight and choose my seat assignments and all that fun stuff. Yay for hangin' out in Texas with my sister and bro-in-law! (And it just so happens that we'll get to celebrate both their birthdays while I'm there!) Now, if only I can be patient until then....

Kisses

Check out this adorable picture of Hudson and a furry friend. What a doll! More to come later on my weekend in Montana....