Every year our Christmas season begins with one of my favourite traditions. Before the Christmas tunes come out, before the decorations go up, and before a tree comes home our family fills shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child delivers the shoeboxes we fill with gifts, personal care items and school supplies to children in desperate situations around the world spreading the meaning, joy and love of Christmas. It’s an easy way to share with a child who may not receive a gift otherwise.

As this week is Collection Week I thought I’d share a little about the program and hopefully inspire some of you do to the same.

My family has been filling shoeboxes since I was a teenager and now I’m continuing the tradition with my children. We love this yearly activity. I enjoy the fun of gathering items for the boxes and the littles love choosing gifts and packing them with me. We are thrilled to imagine who will receive them and where they live. It’s such a great way to remind us what Christmas means and avoid some of the commercialism which so often threatens to overwhelm us with wants.

I think about the boxes all year tucking away discounted t-shirts, sunglasses, school supplies and toys. Sometimes I’ve added sneakers I’ve found on sale or socks and underwear. This year I bought jump ropes at the end of the summer. Then in November we pull them out and pack it all into boxes along with soap, a toothbrush, a comb, a hand-crank flashlight and some other small items. We also write a letter/draw pictures and include a family photo to say hello. We often pack for a couple of different ages but I always try to have a couple for the older boy group (10-14 year olds) after my mom let me know there are usually the fewest boxes packed for them.

If packing a box yourself doesn’t interest you (or time doesn’t allow) there is even an option to pack a box online. The website (American website here) offers lots of suggestions on how to pack boxes and what to include. The American site even allows you to track your box online!

Here’s a peek at some of the things in our boxes:

We’ve got a few more things to add to our boxes so they’re full to the brim and then they will be on their way.

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do you have any fun traditions to get in the holiday mood? do you have any organizations to like to support with Christmas donations?

In Flanders Field the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks still braving singing fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Field.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from falling hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep though poppies grow

In Flanders Field.

~ John McCrae, May 1915

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Today we are remembering and giving thanks.

Three months gone in a blink. Didn’t I just post a two month update? We’ve had days that have floated by in sweet smiles and gurgles. We’ve had days that have been highlighted by sickness and frustrations. But through the highs and lows this smallest girl of ours has brought a bounty of peace to our household. Not just to this mama who soaks up the quiet moments nursing, snuggling or simply baby gazing. Mira is doted on by siblings who will interrupt the most energetic play to offer a kiss, tell her she’s cute or pull goofy faces in hopes of winning a smile.

We are blessed by this wonderful girl who so perfectly suits her name.

Ask a dramatic five-year-old for a superhero pose and you may get something like this.

This little hoot slept through all the excitement but her noggin was toasty warm.

Halloween was a blast this year.

I had great plans for costume making, most of what we needed was thrifted with some additions from the fabric store and I was going to be ahead of schedule…Then I got sick and only got myself back together (or almost) just in time for the big event. None of the costumes were too intensive but I was feeling the last minute push as I was sewing at 5:45pm on Monday.

Once the mad dash to finish costumes and feed hungry mouths was over (because candy does not a dinner make), costumes were donned (with layers upon layers upon layers) and Mira was snuggled in her ride (the Ergo). We headed out in the now dusky evening for trick-or-treating.

All five of the them got into the swing of things very quickly. The Cowboy, Peacock and Captain Underpants led the pack while the sweetest little Cupcake moved those little legs with unexpected vigour (even before candy sampling). The darling Sharky preferred to hang back with mama’s hand so we held a slower pace while he made such precious announcements as, “Me share, Mommy!” and exclaiming, “Weird” at every skeleton, jack-o-lantern or bat we passed.

Everyone carried their own bags (or dragged as the Shark preferred) all the way around the small loop.

Now here’s the deal. My children don’t eat much candy. They even still have candy from last year’s small haul. We limit sugar and especially food colouring so a bag full of what they call “junky treats” is a thrill they don’t take lightly. That being said, I think I may be more excited about the candy side of the day than they are. I can’t help it but I’m suddenly transported back to the joys of childhood Halloweens. My mind cries, “Candy! Free Candy!”. I want to visit one more cul-de-sac, one more house just as much as my eager children.

Until, that is, the candy gets strewn, piled and sorted and I wonder what we’re going to do with it all. (I won’t even get into how badly I start feeling about all the plastic waste, consumerism and greed the holiday encourages.) They ended the day on a high (it wasn’t just the sugar), the candy will soon be forgotten and next August will find us planning Halloween costumes once again.

*Confession on the outdoor photos: These were not taken on Halloween. We re-staged them a day late in brighter conditions (the only bright spot in my November yard being in the alley by our yellowed corn stalks). There may have been some bribery, note the suckers, but no one minded the costumes although Sharky rejected his grey sweats. In fact three of the costumes followed us to the chiropractor and a certain little shark is dreaming of fish in bed.

This weekend got busy real fast. Between costume making, pumpkin carving and some small home renos it flew by in a blink. Despite the lengthy to-do list, we found plenty of ways to enjoy ourselves.

There was a family grocery outing (think groceries are boring? go as a family of eight), a quick thrift shop where I grabbed a missing title and updated a dog-eared copy, and an indulgent fall treat. The wonderful switch to the flannel sheets, woollens in full force but hoping we can last without the furnace for another couple of weeks. A last (produce) market visit of the year and a seriously embarrassing amount of apples (we’re set until January at least). An extensive pumpkin carving session including the use of previously untested methods (Dan’s Dremel and my stamp carving tools). Too many sugar cookies, too few vegetables but lots of apples. A beautiful fall walk with great friends and no camera, a late night cutting felt and enjoying a classic of sorts, and a late, late night finishing a peacock’s tutu.

Not enough sleep, great company, hot drinks, laughter, tears and spooky pumpkins*. Everything the last weekend in October needs.

Happy Monday! How’d you enjoy this October weekend?

*Despite our “nothing scary” halloween rule we ended up with a couple of rather spooky pumpkins thanks to some creative imaginations. The skull is not spooky, though, it’s just bones…some kids here would like you to know.