Blessing!

Hello.... I know I know... it's been a while. I have just a few followers yet but hopefully they miss me when it's been a while and I haven't posted anything. Hope you are fine. I've been incredibly busy at work... so busy that I really haven't done any Xmas shopping... (not that I will spend a lot or are used to buy a lot of presents because remember it's the 3 Wise Men the ones who mainly visit my house, but still I haven't had the time for any of that... but I believe in magic!!!!). Anyways, I made this layout to somehow reflect what Xmas means to me.

I used a photo of the three of us and the title is "Blessing"... and in my journaling I tried to explain that there's a lot of things we thank God everyday, but no matter all obstacles in life, or how you feel, it's in the Holidays you think most about God's blessings, because Christmas is magic!!!

I used some pre made embelishments but I also made some with stamps, and distressed circles of different sizes, and so. I hope you enjoy it and at least make you think of your own blessings.

(Patterned paper: Basic Grey, My Mind’s Eye; Chipboard shapes: Fancy Pants; Stamps: Inkadinkado, The Angel Company, Portafolia; Inks: Color Box, Vibrance; Adhesives: Scotch, Generations, Glue Dots, Scrapbook Adhesives, Glossy Accents (Inkssentials); Paper punches: Martha Stewart, Memory Makers; Miscellaneous: buttons, cardstock scraps, gel pens, fiber/feather, scissors, paper trimmer)

I also wanted to share with you some photos of us participating of the Operation Christmas Child. It's an activity coordinated by a non profit organization. They ask people to donate Xmas gifts for children in need around the World. It's fun to do it, a process you enjoy, and especially if you have children of your own I would think it's a great activity so they can understand the value of giving to other children in need. These kids from other countries will receive a gift from your kids and or families in a very cool way. I am very happy we were invited to participate and had the opportunity to do it.

Let me explain more... You have to use shoe boxes. Decide age and gender of the kid destined to receive your gift. Wrap the box, fill it with nice gifts that you can accomodate in the box, identify it and you are done.

We decided to make 6 presents; 3 for girls and 3 for boys at the three ages groups provided. So we went to buy nice things to fill the boxes.

We then coveed the boxes and lids with nice Xmas wrapping paper.

We also covered the inside of the boxes with Xmas scrapbooking paper.

Some members of the family tried to call our attention while we were working...

We filled the boxes with the nice things we bought (personal care, school supplies and toys).

And we also included a Xmas card and a photo!

Closed the boxes...

... Identify age and gender with the tag provided....

And ready!

Six children will receive gifts from us... and it felt great to do this for little persons we don't even know but we feel they are going to be very happy....

I told you! Xmas is magic!!!! Merry Christmas...