Fall leaves & Operation Christmas Child

When John and I first had Lillia, our firstborn child, we decided we wanted our children to grow up knowing the absolute meaning and purpose of Christmas. We immediately decided to eliminate Santa Claus (although discuss the real St. Nicholas) as a gift giver, greatly downplay the gift-giving - basically remove the commercialism and focus on the true meaning.

One of the traditions we began that first Christmas as a family of 3 was Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, which is run by Franklin Graham. Operation Christmas Child sends shoeboxes around the world to underprivileged children. Each shoebox is filled by the giver with toys, games, personal hygiene items, and a picture of the giver. Samaritans's Purse also includes a little booklet inside each shoebox that presents the true message of hope that is ours at Christmas, illustrated with eye-catching pictures and written in the child's native language. Every year at Christmas, we fill a shoebox for each child, and send it off with prayers and excitement.

This year was no different, but even more exciting, as we filled 6 shoeboxes. It brought tears to my eyes as I watched our new children proudly and carefully packing their shoeboxes. Just 3 months ago, our kids would have been potential recipients of these shoeboxes. And now, they are packing them for other children. Wouldn't it be something if God directed their shoeboxes to the orphanage in Belgorod-Dnestrovsky, Ukraine? I don't make this statement in a cocky or look-at-us, sort of way. It is just a statement how reaching out in some small way can make such a huge difference in the life of a child.

Our dining room table was full of packages, shoeboxes, goodies and excitement this morning as the children packed their shoeboxes.


Anabella was napping while we packed our boxes, so the kids helped me pack Anabella's. However, Anabella woke up in time to help decorate the box with stickers! She took her job quite seriously!


This afternoon, after the shoeboxes were packed, the boxes decorated, pictures drawn, photographs enclosed and letters written, the kids enjoyed a beautiful sunny, albeit crisp, fall day. It didn't take much encouragement for them to immediately enjoy raking the leaves, jumping in them, hiding each other in them, and throwing them. The remaining pictures below are the kids just being kids! What a joy it is to see that!

Lillia, Olesya, Sasha and Mariyana playing in and raking the leaves in our front yard!


Oh the joy of throwing leaves! Mariyana couldn't get enough of it!