Christmas In Bethany

A little post-service learning celebration at Gramma Terri and Grandpa Gene's. Their first Christmas presents of the holiday season (a beautiful box full of holiday items for their fairy village) and some time spent with the darling tree in the corner of the dinning room made for an absolutely magical start to our Christmas celebrating! Thanks mom and dad for a lovely day, and for such perfect gifts for the girls! Everything about Saturday was truly wonderful! xo

An Afternoon Of Service And Remembrance

Today, the girls and I traveled to the Connecticut State Veteran's Cemetery to meet up with my parents and brother and sister to attend the Wreaths Across America wreath laying event being held there. We decided that since we'd all be together that we'd also celebrate Christmas too. A perfect blend of service and family time.

I had first heard about Wreaths Across America after the convoy had passed through the area on the way to Arlington National Cemetery. A quick Google search lead me to the Wreaths Across America webpage and the notion that you could sponsor wreaths to be placed at veterans graves at Arlington or at other cemeteries around the country. As soon as I read that I knew exactly what we'd be doing for my father and brother for Christmas- wreaths sponsored in their names. A little more floating around the WAA website and I learned that they had something called Patriot Pairs. Choosing this option meant that a wreath would be placed on a veteran's grave AND one would be sent to the person who it was sponsored on behalf of. Done! Two Patriot Pairs were ordered (one Army, one Navy) and sent to my father and brother earlier this month.

So, it was because of this that we gathered together (along with a few hundred other people in Connecticut) to participate in this incredible event. It was a beautiful though cold day, and truthfully the speech portion of the afternoon went on much longer than one would have liked given the very cold temperature we were blessed with outside. We were thrilled to know that enough wreaths had been sponsored for one to be placed at each grave in the cemetery (a total of 9,200 wreaths).

Slowly, people began making their way over to the various sections of the cemetery and the piles of wreaths that were ready to be brought to their new homes. Before each wreath was laid, the person's name and rank were read aloud. It was incredible to hear names spoken as we passed by to get or place more wreaths, and it was equally as moving to watch how quickly the cemetery transformed from what it looked like when we first arrived to what you see in the pictures above. This was truly a day we shall never forget. xo 

Scouting For Food

Nothing like a good service project to kick off the weekend! xo

September 11th

Last year it was decided that we'd make treats to bring to the first responders in our town on September 11th. It felt like a good way to give back to men and women who, though perhaps not there in NYC on September 11, 2001, put their lives on the line for us each and every day. Last night, as we tucked the girls in bed we asked them what we should do for a September 11th service project. "Let's bake treats for the Firemen and Police!" they replied. And so we did. Cookies were baked, decorated and delivered (along with notes of thanks) and the events of this day thirteen years ago were quietly reflected on by their Papa and I.

Today- and always- we wish the world peace. To those who are grieving today please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. xo

National Day Of Service And Remembrance

 Yesterday was the National Day of Service and Remembrance. The girls and I chatted over breakfast about what we could do for our "good deed". I told them a little bit about September 11th and the helpers that were present that day and they decided that we should bake something yummy to take to the fire department and police department in our town. 

One quick trip to the store,and some coloring pages printed from online, and our service project was ready to go. 

We decided to wait until David got home to deliver the brownies so that he could be part of the project too. 

It was the perfect way to spend our September 11th. Taking a day that was so horrific and doing something good with it is just what is needed. Such a simple project and yet one that brought so much joy to all involved. The fire department and police department were both surprised and honored to receive homemade treats and cards. I imagine those brownies didn't last long!

Community Service Learning is such a very a powerful thing and something that I am happy is a such major part of our family and how we roll. I love that giving back is second nature to the girls. I love how all they need to hear is that there is a need somewhere and they come up with a way to fill it. I love that they will grow up using this day to serve and give back. It is my hope that they never know first hand anything like the events of that awful day all those years ago; but if they do I know in my heart that these two sweet souls will surely roll up their sleeves and find a way to Do Good. 

One Good Deed Deserves Another

Over the weekend the girls and I cleaned out the closets and the basement. We found lots of books, games, clothes and toys that were no longer needed but that still had lots of life left in them. "Let's bring these things to the Food Pantry, Mama. This way we can share what we have with people that really need them." suggested Grace. Emma agreed. I'm sure that I don't have to say how much I loved hearing that!

So, yesterday we headed over to the Community Cupboard to do just that. We dropped off three big bags of stuff, along with the doll stroller that now looked teeny tiny as Emma was pushing it on our way in. The ladies at the Cupboard were thrilled to see all the items that we had brought them. In fact, they were so over the moon that they offered the girls a thank-you gift. This was so not something that was on our radar as we have made many donations over the years and this had never been offered before. And I have to admit it through me off a wee bit. Reflecting on this later I couldn't help but feel that we should have graciously declined. "The act of giving should be reward enough" I keep thinking. I wish I had thought of that sooner. Regardless, we accepted their invitation and two craft kits were chosen. A paper doll one (pictured in this post) and a 3D card kit (which I am sure we'll explore very soon). 

On our way to the car Emma remarked "that was really kind of them to let us choose these new things, Mama. Can we check them out as soon as we get home?" And that (as you can see) is exactly what we did! 

The girls spent close to two hours tracing and cutting and decorating and working together. It was lovely and truly a great reward for their generosity.  

I am so proud that the girls have such giving spirits! I love that they never fuss or argue about passing items on that they no longer need or use. I love that they love helping others, always making sure that everyone has enough. 

And I just love how grateful they were to be given such sweet tokens of thanks. It was not at all expected though very much appreciated!

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is one of our most favorite days ever. And to honor this day we always try to find something to do. We usually read some lovely Earthy books and then take a walk around our neighborhood to spruce it up. This year, in Grace's quest to earn all three of the Daisy Journey badges before she bridges to Brownies, she decided to do her Clover project on Earth Day."Mama, I want to make a banner to hang up for the neighbors to see and then we can clean up the street." Sounded like a good idea to me so we got out the supplies and the girls got to work.

Thank goodness for blue painters tape! The girls did such a great job on the banner and it looked just perfect hung up on our fence! Once the banner was hung it was off to spruce up the neighborhood!  The girls collected two bags of stuff before we headed in for lunch and quiet time. What a great idea for her Clover project and what a lovely way to honor Mother Earth on this glorious (albeit chilly) Earth Day!