Austin Charities List for CHRIST-mas

Austin Charities. Christmas. Austin. TX. 2012

http://www.cbofaustin.org/
Christmas Bureau of Austin
Adopt a family, register online & deliver gifts by Dec 23.

Austin Area Food Bank
Donate at the Dec 1 Downtown Stroll. http://www.austinfoodbank.org/events/downtown-austin-alliance.html
Donate at Wildflower Luminations Dec 8
Multiply your donations by giving cash https://secure3.convio.net/cafbtx/site/Donation2?df_id=7280&7280.donation=form1

http://www.austinchildrenshelter.org/site/DocServer/ProjectSanta2012_In-Kind_WishList.pdf?docID=6421
Drop off listed items to Austin Children's Shelter Thru Dec 22.

http://austin-tx.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx
Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots

http://www.salvationarmyaustin.org/
Angel Tree, gifts for children of prisoners or donate to red kettle online


http://austin.culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-09-11-12-18-operation-blue-santa-delivers-joy/
Blue Santa
Donate an unwrapped tor during the Chuy's parade Dec 1 @ 11:00 am downtown
http://www.chuysparade.com/

http://www.brownsanta.org/
Dec 9 Run https://www.edsregistration.com/events/39
Eat at TLC on Dec 1 http://www.brownsanta.org/dineanddonate.html

http://www.kvue.com/community/Coats-for-Kids-2011-133552228.html
Coats for Kids

Buy a tree, they give books
http://www.austinoptimistclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3%3Atree-lot&catid=3%3Aprograms&Itemid=11

http://www.cbofaustin.org/%20 christmas

www.cbofaustin.org

identity analysis

I've always thought it is important to understand how other people work.  Some of the labels we put on people help us with that.  Like their love language, their learning style and their propensity to being clear minded in mornings or nights.
Then I saw a clever craft with just dates on it from a favorite blogger and I liked it.  Then it made me think of the initials, birthdates and helpful labels as a craft to frame.  One step further was to color code similar letters, numbers and traits of family members.  It shows how similar we are to our spouses and how similar our children are to ourselves.
I liked what it showed.  Our family is diverse  but connected.

Hymn Bird

When I was at Garden Hills Baptist Church, they were getting new hymnals. So, they were giving away the old, faded ones. I was thrilled to get one! It contained familiar songs I have sung since I was a child.

In held onto this sentimental book from the years l was first married for over 20 years! I always thought I would craft something with the music filled pages. And one day I saw a bedazzled paper bird ornament on a Christmas tree at a store, and I immediately knew that was why I was going to create with my old hymnal.

Here it is in it's stages of production:
Adhering the hymn pages onto card stock with spray adhesive,
Tracing and cutting out the shape and hot gluing 2 pieces (twisted together) of pipe cleaner,
Adorning with bow, bauble and acrylic stones, and
The finished product with "To and From, Merry Christmas" written on back...

Seasonal Time Off = Mom Stress

Keeping my only child socially fulfilled over the Thanksgiving & CHRISTmas breaks this year shouldn't stress me out like this!

But with no guest or travel plans for Thanksgiving, my stress is opposite to most moms...how to fill the time off we have with fun & memorable activities. Because most people make Turkey Day plans with their families, either near or far, our daughter will have fewer friends available to invite to hang out with her. She will text each one to come over or meet up, but will feel rejected when they don't respond or have other plans. I have seen this on several occasions and it breaks my heart for her.

Since we have no social plans for December, I feel it's my duty to create a fun schedule for her two weeks off also to soften the low off rejection and keep her busy.

Why not just make travel plans to fill the time? Because my husband enjoys the quiet down time. He gets very little free time working 60 hour weeks. And he loves to work with his hands on his projects when he has several hours at a time. Unplanned free time is the best gift I can give him!

So for years now, I've solved my dilemma of protecting his time & making hers enjoyable with careful planning. Searching fun activities she & I can do that give Dad some space during the day is a trick.

This past year, I've pinned many crafts and fun things we can do together over the holidays. Thank God for Pinterest! She & I will work together in the kitchen and practice timing dishes to finish at the same time. We'll set a pretty table. I'll have her help me pick a few crafts to do, and we'll buy the supplies at the hobby store. We'll bake and surprise neighbors with goodies in cute containers. We'll practice random acts of kindness. We'll send out our photo cards & share in the fun of opening other's greetings. Etc.

What stresses you out about the impending holidays? How do you cope?