Merry Christmas

As it happens each year, the last week of school is mass chaos!  This year was no different.  Our sweet boy came down with the flu with made some aspects of Bear Necessities a little crazier than usual.  I normally plan for my family to pack and deliver bags on the last week of a quarter so that I have an opportunity to see everyone at school and say thank you for their help in our mission to serve the kids.  Alas, my desire to NOT share the flu was greater than my desire to pack the bags as a family.  So, we depended upon the wonderful people in this community to come through for us and you did!  Thank you to Jen and Jack for packing two weeks worth of food for us!!!  

While Jen and Jack were packing bags I was working in another area of the basement and that allowed me to be blessed even more than usual.  About half way through their packing session, I over heard this:

Jack:  I love you Mom.  

Jen:  I love you too Buddy!

My heart just melted as I was reminded of one of the most important things that was laid upon my heart when Bear Necessities began; we were created to serve one another and when we do, God's love overflows from us.  Even the littlest of us have that need and when it is fulfilled in them, the result is the same.  

If you have not served with your child, whether at Bear Necessities or somewhere else, I absolutely encourage you to do it.  Yes, they may whine a little and yes, you will have to encourage them and remind them of why you're doing it but I promise you, it will be worth it!

THANK YOU to everyone who comes through for this mission week after week.  During December we provided gifts for 18 of our students, had one family completely adopted by another, provided food for the remainder of the weekends in 2012 and collected for the first week of 2013!  It has been glorious and I literally cannot tell you how many times I have walked away from the door, in awe of the PILE of stuff on the porch, singing praises to the ONE who provides for us all.  (I'm sure glad that you all can envision my singing to sound like that of the angels and that no one actually overheard the reality of that singing!) 

May each of you enjoy a safe, blessed and Merry Christmas!