Showing Holiday Spirit by Giving Back #cbias #shop

As a mother, it is important to me to teach my children about giving back. I want them to grow up being kind and generous to others, both friends and strangers.  I want them to understand that the little things we do CAN make a big difference in someone's life.  There have been times where I have been on the receiving end of a random act of kindness in a drive thru line, and it has made me smile - and sometimes even turned my day around!

When we go out to play in the snow or shovel our driveway, it fills my heart to see my kids running over to our neighbours to shovel their front walk

Other ways we teach them about giving back are adding food to the donation bins when we do our grocery shopping. At Christmas, we donate toys and food to a local initiative to help families in our area that don't have food for Christmas dinner or gifts for under the tree.  Even something as simple as saying hello with a smile to people you pass on the street.

This year I wanted to add something else. We went to our local Walmart store to purchase supplies, and then we came home to make cards and treats. We made these cards so that we could visit a local nursing home and brighten the day of a few of the residents that may not have family or friends to visit them.

Construction paper, scissors and glue purchased at Walmart

 We had a snow day (the buses were cancelled) so we took some time together and set to work. No phone, no computer, no video games - just us getting crafty at the kitchen table! We had Christmas music playing in the background, we were chatting about different types of designs we could add (snowmen, Christmas tree's and more) and being messy and creative!

Mr. K hard at work decorating one of his cards

They wanted to make a Christmas Tree card!

We had a lot of fun with our activity, and really looked forward to delivering the cards to a local seniors home. We then decided that we would bake some treats to go along with the cards!

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Ingredients

- Devils Food Cake Mix

- 2 eggs

- 1/2 cup of shortening

unsure of original recipe source

Once the cookies were cooled, we packed them in a container and headed off to the retirement home.  

Cards and Cookies all ready to go

Mr. J showing off one of his snow men cards

arriving at the retirement home

When we entered, we were greeted by Morgan at the desk, and a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby.

We told Morgan why were there, and she said that she would be happy to hand out the cards and cookies to the residents!  Then we asked if we could take her picture to include with our post.

We are hoping that our afternoon of craftiness and baking will help to put a smile on some faces of others, and after completing our activity will add it as an annual tradition!  What do you to give back in your community?

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