OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Join us as we strive to collect 100 shoe boxes for the Operation Christ Child Project! All you need to do is fill a shoe box full of toys, leave it outside your house and we will come by and pick it up! Please e-mail us at ussmiths@gmail.com or leave a comment you would like to help us achieve this goal, I am keeping count and will up-date everyone as we get near our goal!!

Here is how you can pack a box:

1. Find a Shoe Box
Use a sturdy shoe box or plastic box (please, no larger than 9x12x5”). You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required.

2. Boy/Girl Labels
Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or girl and choose an age category: ages 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Attach the appropriate boy/girl label on the TOP of your box and tick the correct age category. Labels are below, right click on label to save and then print. Black & White labels are accepted.

3. Fill With Gifts
School Supplies: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or pencil crayons, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yoyos, skipping ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, Slinky®, etc.
Hygiene Items: toothbrush, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
Other: Candy (hard through the centre, in manufacturers packaging), T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, etc.

A Personal Note: In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family.

Do Not Include:
TOOTHPASTE (Due to customs regulations)
LIQUIDS OR ITEMS THAT LEAK, MELT, OR FREEZE (These can spoil boxes) shampoo, gels, paint, cream, lip balm, liquid glue, etc.
FOOD ITEMS (Due to shipping regulations) chewy, soft-centered, crumbly, or unwrapped candy, gum, Rockets, Tootsie Rolls, etc.
USED ITEMS (Due to customs regulations)
BREAKABLE ITEMS glass, porcelain, mirrors, etc.
ITEMS THAT CAN SCARE OR HARM A CHILD knives, war-related toys, toy guns, etc.

4. Include Your Donation
Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover project costs–including shipping–and expand assistance to children and their communities.

If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation. *Tax deductible receipts will only be issued for donations of $15 or more. Samaritan’s Purse does not provide receipts for the value of gift items included in a shoe box.Ways to donate:
Simply give online
Place your donation in an envelope on the top of the gift items inside your shoe box so it is clearly visible. Cheques are recommended and should be made payable to Samaritan’s Purse.

Pick Up/Drop off:

Vancouver Friends:
Please leave your box outside your front door on Sunday November 23rd, 2008. We will go around town to pick up the shoe boxes. Please be sure to e-mail us beforehand to let us know that you will have a box outside so we do not miss your house. Thank you!
If you prefer to drop off the boxes yourself, you can drop them off at any Safeway. They will be collecting the boxes November 24th - 29th, 2008. Just give it to Customer Service in the store.

International Friends:

Please visit this link http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Drop_Off_Locations/ for drop off locations!

Thank you in advance for your help and participation, you are making a big difference in a child's life this Christmas! "Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do." Deuteronomy 15:10

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For more information visit the http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/occ/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJdiinalW_0

Christmas In July Challenge

I made this layout for the "Christmas In July" challenge for Noel Mignon's Blog www.noelmignonchallenge.blogspot.com :

As you can see I am still working on my wedding photos......it's been 2.5 years since our wedding! Never too late, I guess :)

Wake Up Call...

I woke today still feeling bad that I missed a good friend's birthday this year. Not only did I totally forget, but she was so forgiving AND thoughtfully surprised me with a belated birthday gift!

I sat there drinking my coffee this morning reflecting why this happened, "am I a bad friend?". I am not one to celebrate my birthday because of strange hang ups I have with my father leaving the family when I was just 13, but I realize I've become an insensitive person who really doesn't celebrate friend's birthdays either.

'Love others as well as you love yourself.' Jesus gave us this command in Mark 12:31 and as much as I thought I was following this command, I was not! Clearly this event proved it. I am not loving others AND I realize that I am not loving myself either. I NEED to start letting go and trust God when he says my sins are forgiven. I NEED to stop living in the hurtful past and step forth with faith & love. That way I can start loving myself & others.

So today I am thanking God for Valerie. Your gift was a lot more than a birthday gift, it was also a WAKE UP CALL!

Be Thankful.....

On Wednesday we went to the vet hospital because our dog MUGs could not get up and walk. He was basically paralysed by pain. We had no idea what happened and what was wrong.
We were both sick to our stomach. To watch your dog in pain is a horrible feeling. Since we could not take x-rays till the next morning, we did not know what to do but to pray. To pray that he would be ok and that he would not need surgery. With one bad knee and surgery done just 1 year ago, we weren't sure what to expect.

4PM on Thursday was our scheduled time with Dr. Dobbs to talk about MUGS' condition. Even though the vet was only 10 mins away, we were both so nervous that the ride was silent.

When Dr. Dobbs entered the vet room we were both immediately attentive. Good news......well sort of......he has spinal disc deterioration and will need medication & lots of rest. No surgery though.

WE CAN DO THAT! Medication & Rest it is! We could not believe it, both of us were expecting the worse. But the worse did not happen.

That night I had to remind my husband and myself to thank God for answered prayers. In every situation we learn a bit about our relationship with God, this time I learned that I should NEVER forget to BE THANKFUL.

Once the bad passes we often forget who gave us the relief....always BE THANKFUL first and then rejoice!

OLW #30 Challenge....**Now** My Cup Is Full.

Somtimes all you need is a little chocolate to make your cup in life more full :)

You are the God of my salvation...

I often watch the news at night and think that our city, in fact, our world is growing grim. I am pretty sure you would agree. Somedays I find myself thinking..."when will it get better? Will it ever get better?"

Not too long ago my life seemed really down & out. I was churchless, I was uncertain of my faith, I had what I thought was a purposeless life, and I was at a job that made me distressed. God lead me to read this psalm...

Immediately I felt that there was hope. I could not help but know that He is my salvation and is always one step ahead of me. From that day I prayed for 'hope' in my life....and within months I found a new Truth spoken church, I registered for a summer course at Regent College (seminary school), and I left the job that was holding me back.

My life took a sudden turn for joy, hope & peace. This time around, I can not doubt that it was all in the hands of our Lord.

In Him I will trust.