CHRISTMAS PRESENCE SmAIC Style! http://www.adventconspiracy.org/hope/
Here is the list of the things we came up with to Spend Less and Give Presence and don’t forget to pray and find out where the Holy Spirit is leading you to give
http://www.water.cc/ http://apps.facebook.com/causes/5398
· Make scrapbook for parents—of family memories
· Run with Grandpa
· Go to football game with dad—do something with parent—that you might not like but they do!
· Cook meal AND Clean up!!
· Spend time with parent doing chores
· Make dinner before parents get home from workday
· Set aside weekend day to spend with family
· Dispute cards – to parents!
· Randomly send text message with scripture and “I love you”
· Egg hunt—fill plastic eggs with words of encouragement specifically written for each family member—a specific egg color is designated for each family member and he/she only searches for eggs of that color
· Clean car Detail it Baby!
· Mow/shovel Pick a Choir they do not like and do
· Clean house
· Nag-free chores!
· Do something you don’t like but parents like to do
· Family date night “FFF” Forced Family Fun!
· Metaphor of family
· Go for a walk in a cool place—12 parks within 20 miles of Columbia
· Plan a date night for Mom and Dad—clean house, prepare food and entertainment—get all preparations completed.
· Submitted by robbyandjoanna on Tue, 12/02/2008 - 00:16.
· Christmas Memory Game
· This game consists of looking through old pictures, brainstorming about well-known family memories/traditions/favorite movies, and putting it all together in a memory game. I did this for the first time last year and my family loved it! The game look like a grid of anywhere from 20-36 large memory cards face down in the middle of the room, each one having a match (for a creative twist have 2 that don't have matches that instead require the contestant to do a funny task, like rub your belly and pat your head and say "why did I choose that one"). Then have each family member (or split into teams if you have a big family) take turns turning over two cards trying to get a match, when they do, they have to answer a question about the picture/icon on the card. Here's how it can come together:
· Step 1 - gather family pictures, try to find pictures that you can ask a question about (ex: what was happening in this picture? what did little sister call that blanket? how old was mom turning in this picture?)
· Step 2 - consider other family distinctive (favorite movies, favorite restaurant/activity, various memories or traditions) and come up with an icon that would represent the family distinctive (for example, my dad was a football coach and it was something we all rallied around, so I took the logo from a past school, and the question that went with the match was, "what was their record in '93?")
· Step 3 - optional ... 2 other options: 1) come up with a couple of funny activities that someone would have to do if they turned that one over (dance and sing your favorite Disney song) 2) do a Bible verse and reference as a match, have the person that turns them over read the verse and say how it relates to Christmas, we used James 1:26
· Step 4 - scan the pictures and icons (type up the other options if you use them) and print them off (I used 8 1/2 by 11 paper).
· Step 5 - Play! lay your memory cards face down and take turns turning them over ... when a match is found, have the person answer a question about the picture/icon. Maybe look for the opportunity to have people say what they are thankful for about each member of the family throughout the game!
·
Make a Christmas ornament or a series of Ornaments or
One Christmas growing up, my mom presented each of us three kids with a special ornament. Each one represented an aspect of our God-given character.
Laura: Star-shaped ornament, representing my ability to reflect the light of God to those around me
Emily: Heart-shaped ornament, representing her tender and giving heart
Brian: Shepherd ornament, representing his ability to guide and shepherd people
I don't remember many of the gifts given at Christmas, but I sure remember this one!
The Coupon Book of time together…3 Coupons 3 Cool events...Think of what they would want to do...Like go to an action movie with Dad and then go out for ice cream and share about the movie...What was the manliest moment in the movie...then share a time when you saw him as a manly man...use the movie as a plat form to build him up...or take family photos and make a memory video for mom. Take down all the Christmas Crap...Scrap the Ice off the car and car warmed up…Mow the Lawn...multiple coupon books to keep giving them stuffs
Family Scrap book
Family Scrap book Video
The Letter
Several years ago, I started what has become a tradition of creating a letter, in an envelope, to close family members. It is personal and just for them to read. It gets very emotional because I write about how special each person is to me. It has become the "dessert" as we open gifts in the living room. As different family members arrive, their letter is their dessert. Lots of tears, lots of love. And free. It is a true blessing to everyone.
Bandages for the Soul Surprise Mom, Grandma, or a teacher with words of wisdom.
To make your own soulful first-aid kit, cut bandage shapes from colored paper, write out motivating quotes and well-wishes, and present them in a doctored-up bandage box, or take it to the next level and write out a specific time that they did something or said something to was very meaningful and or healing for your heart.
Canvas Montage
Collect several pictures of you and your friend(s). On a computer change each picture to be black and white. Buy a canvas of any size and deco-page the pictures to the canvas.
This gift is a gift that keeps on giving. All you'll need is some paper, a pen and something to hold the sheets used.
Cut the paper into tiny strips, just enough to hold one to three sentences. Use approximately 25-50 sheets. On each sheet write down a memory with the person for whom your making the gift. Fold the slips of paper in half and put them in a jar, box or glue them in a tiny book. If you want to get real crafty you can glue them in a book you already own.
Create a customized journal. Purchase an inexpensive, old-fashioned, black and white composition book (usually smaller than a regular notebook, and with the pages sewn in). Cover the book with aluminum foil, giftwrap, or fabric, wrapping the edges to the inside. Use spray adhesive to secure it to the inside of the cover. For teenagers, even duct tape (which comes in colors) can be used to cover the book. Add stickers, photos, magazine cutouts, and handwritten words (inside jokes, names of recipient's children) reflecting the recipient's interests. Write a short note on the first page about how much the recipient means to you.
Personalized Clock
Pop the plastic cover off an inexpensive clock and remove the clock face. Cut prepared artwork to the same size as the clock face and add numbers around the edge. Slide the artwork in place and replace the plastic cover.
Note: If you cannot remove the clock face, it can be colored or your child can add stickers.
Make a Hollow Book for them to keep their Treasures
http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2006/02/how-to-make-secret-hollow-book.html
Make a Family History book
We are now writing a chapter of our family history each year. We’ll pick a topic, and each family member will write about it. One person plays ‘editor’, collecting the stories, and presents them all together for Christmas. We’ve written about our favorite Christmas (seven differing perspectives on the same year), the house we grew up in, and this year we’re writing about how we met our spouse. Last year, my Mom sent out her first draft of her entire life history. This gift costs nothing, unless you choose to make fancy copies or books. It does take a little time if you want to contribute quality. It will, however, carry a lasting value unmatched by any tangible gifts we’ve exchanged, or even experiential gifts!”
No Sewing Fleece Pillow
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11350
· Make a Christmas ornament or a series of Ornaments or
· One Christmas growing up, my mom presented each of us three kids with a special ornament. Each one represented an aspect of our God-given character.
· Laura: Star-shaped ornament, representing my ability to reflect the light of God to those around me
· Emily: Heart-shaped ornament, representing her tender and giving heart
· Brian: Shepherd ornament, representing his ability to guide and shepherd people
· I don't remember many of the gifts given at Christmas, but I sure remember this one!
·
· The Coupon Book of time together…3 Coupons 3 Cool events...Think of what they would want to do...Like go to an action movie with Dad and then go out for ice cream and share about the movie...What was the manliest moment in the movie...then share a time when you saw him as a manly man...use the movie as a plat form to build him up...or take family photos and make a memory video for mom. Take down all the Christmas Crap...Scrap the Ice off the car and car warmed up…Mow the Lawn...multiple coupon books to keep giving them stuffs
·
· Family Scrap book
·
· Family Scrap book Video
·
· The Letter
· Several years ago, I started what has become a tradition of creating a letter, in an envelope, to close family members. It is personal and just for them to read. It gets very emotional because I write about how special each person is to me. It has become the "dessert" as we open gifts in the living room. As different family members arrive, their letter is their dessert. Lots of tears, lots of love. And free. It is a true blessing to everyone.
·
· Bandages for the Soul Surprise Mom, Grandma, or a teacher with words of wisdom.
· To make your own soulful first-aid kit, cut bandage shapes from colored paper, write out motivating quotes and well-wishes, and present them in a doctored-up bandage box, or take it to the next level and write out a specific time that they did something or said something to was very meaningful and or healing for your heart.
·
· Canvas Montage
· Collect several pictures of you and your friend(s). On a computer change each picture to be black and white. Buy a canvas of any size and deco-page the pictures to the canvas.
· This gift is a gift that keeps on giving. All you'll need is some paper, a pen and something to hold the sheets used.
· Cut the paper into tiny strips, just enough to hold one to three sentences. Use approximately 25-50 sheets. On each sheet write down a memory with the person for whom your making the gift. Fold the slips of paper in half and put them in a jar, box or glue them in a tiny book. If you want to get real crafty you can glue them in a book you already own.
·
· Create a customized journal. Purchase an inexpensive, old-fashioned, black and white composition book (usually smaller than a regular notebook, and with the pages sewn in). Cover the book with aluminum foil, giftwrap, or fabric, wrapping the edges to the inside. Use spray adhesive to secure it to the inside of the cover. For teenagers, even duct tape (which comes in colors) can be used to cover the book. Add stickers, photos, magazine cutouts, and handwritten words (inside jokes, names of recipient's children) reflecting the recipient's interests. Write a short note on the first page about how much the recipient means to you.
·
· Personalized Clock
Pop the plastic cover off an inexpensive clock and remove the clock face. Cut prepared artwork to the same size as the clock face and add numbers around the edge. Slide the artwork in place and replace the plastic cover.
Note: If you cannot remove the clock face, it can be colored or your child can add stickers.
·
· Make a Hollow Book for them to keep their Treasures
· http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2006/02/how-to-make-secret-hollow-book.html
·
· Make a Family History book
· We are now writing a chapter of our family history each year. We’ll pick a topic, and each family member will write about it. One person plays ‘editor’, collecting the stories, and presents them all together for Christmas. We’ve written about our favorite Christmas (seven differing perspectives on the same year), the house we grew up in, and this year we’re writing about how we met our spouse. Last year, my Mom sent out her first draft of her entire life history. This gift costs nothing, unless you choose to make fancy copies or books. It does take a little time if you want to contribute quality. It will, however, carry a lasting value unmatched by any tangible gifts we’ve exchanged, or even experiential gifts!”
·
· No Sewing Fleece Pillow
· http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11350
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PUT A TIME LIMIT ON EACH COUPON/ACTIVITY—AND IF IT’S NOT USED BY A SPECIFIED DATE, THE RECIPIENTS OWE THE GIVER $50.00!
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