Nov 30 2010

Mommy, tree in house???

Posted in Family, Media

Hello blog friends! I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving! We enjoyed a trip to Alabama to visit family and came home ready to break out the Christmas decorations. It’s been interesting to try to explain our American Christmas traditions to Yohannes. When I told him we were going to put a tree in the house, he looked at me like I had two heads! We got it in the house and decorated Sunday, though, and he was completely giddy with excitement!

To be honest, Christmas feels a little different for me this year. I’m completely over the whole commercialization of the season. Don’t get me wrong. I like to decorate, I enjoy riding around with the kids looking at all the lights, spending time with family is great, etc. I just think (like many things in our culture) that it’s so excessive. There are people all over the world literally dying every single day, and we’re busy decorating multiple Christmas trees in our warm, cozy houses and running from party to party and store to store to find the “perfect” gift. It’s estimated that America spends $450 billion every Christmas. That is some serious money. Instead of over-indulging or purchasing obligatory gifts, think about how many lives could be changed with that money. Since Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, shouldn’t we ask ourselves how He would want us to celebrate? Several months ago, I ran across the Advent Conspiracy website, and I LOVE the ideas promoted there. If you haven’t seen this video, check it out:

We’re still buying gifts for our kids and other family members this year, but we’re scaling way back. We’re also trying to purchase more fair trade gifts & gifts with a purpose. For example . . . to be able to give a great gift AND help a woman in Ethiopia leave a life of prostitution because she has a real, sustainable, dignified job is AMAZING, and those are the kinds of gifts we want to give this year. Seeing poverty first-hand in Ethiopia and Haiti this year has changed our perspective a bit lot, and we’re not willing to ignore the reality that exists all over the world anymore. What about you? Are you doing anything different this Christmas season? Do you know of good fair trade companies we can help support? Tomorrow I’ll be posting about some that I’ve come across recently, so stay tuned!

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Kirsten - November 30, 2010 - 8:18 PM

I’ve been thinking about a lot of the same things this holiday season, as we have become more aware of the poverty so prevalent in much of the world. Do I really need another knick-knack to put on the mantel, when I could be helping a woman keep her family alive and healthy and together? Our pastor actually mentioned the advent conspiracy project in his sermon on Sunday…I haven’t gotten a chance to check out their website yet, but I definitely want to take a look around and plan on things that we can do differently as a family.

Some fair trade companies I thought of right off the top of my head…you may already be aware of them:
Punjammies.com – pajamas made by women rescued/escaped/released from forced prostitution
31bits.com – bead jewelry made by African women
tenthousandvillages.com – fair trade items made by artisans all over the world. wide variety of stuff there.

Mrs. McGoo - December 1, 2010 - 9:06 AM

I’m with ya sister – “To be honest, Christmas feels a little different for me this year. I’m completely over the whole commercialization of the season.”

If many of us, all of us scaled down and instead GAVE accordingly what the difference would be – WOW what a difference could be made. I’m pumped to see you next post on suggested items, because I’m totally for wonderful items that also serve a greater purpose rather than only feeding our fleshly wants.

TFC is doing a “gift giving” thing this year – where you can give in honor or someone – so great to add it to a gift – while also GIVING to Ethiopia – - – eggs, school bags/supplies, school tuition, etc. http://theforsakenchildren.org/give-today/gift-giving/

And of course I love 147millionorphans too –

ADORABLE photos of your baby on this post. Love you guys!

Mrs. McGoo - December 1, 2010 - 10:05 AM

You encouraged me to write & share some more on the same topic. Thank you: http://itsnotmydiary.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-conspiracy.html

Sandra B Townsend - December 6, 2010 - 11:40 PM

This ministry is awesome and God will bless people like you who take the time and love to give it so freely to those in need.. I sometimes wish I could do this also… There are so many children who do not have Christmas where they live, nor do they have proper clothing nor food to eat.. My prayers go out to people like you who take the time to do such a ministry for GOD.. YOu will be blessed!!!

purchase with a purpose » Dunlap Family Adoption - December 1, 2010 - 9:43 AM

[...] yesterday’s post I promised to share some ideas for buying fair trade gifts & gifts with a purpose, so here you [...]

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Mommy, tree in house???