Week 21: Christmas Care Packages

Last week's activity has been an annual tradition for my kids and me for a decade now: filling three boxes with self care products and fun treats for kids to be distributed as part of the Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child. 

Each year, my kids coordinate a date to hit the store to fill their boxes. They each start with selecting their recipient's gender and age group and then start shopping! 

I couldn't help but notice the evolution of their purchases this year. When they were younger, the toys were the first thing my kids would add to their boxes, knowing how much they themselves would enjoy them. 

Now that they're ages 16, 18 and almost 21 years old, they have come to accept that soap, deodorant, new socks, hair care items, etc are luxuries for the kids opening their boxes and they seemed to pick those things out first. But don't you fear, plenty of toys and art supplies were gifted as well. 

Stuffed animals (and a stuffed boba drink?), coloring books, toy cars, crayons and special pens, and plenty of notebooks will all be finding new loving homes this holiday season. 

What a gift it is to be in a position to give.