Giving to those less fortunate, even when you're having hard times yourself

 It has always been very important to us to teach our children the "true" meaning of Christmas and with that said we usually try to do something for those in bad situations, normally we "adopt" a child from another country every year. 

This year however, has been a whole other story.  Like many others, with the economy failing as it is, we are having an extremely hard time.  We, ourselves, had to ask from help for Angel Tree this year just for our children to be able to get presents. But in the depressing situation we have found ourselves in it only makes us want to try and give more. We have decided that although we do not have extra money to "adopt" a child this year, or buy new toys for toy drives we can still find a special way to help those that may not be as fortunate as we are.  

My children requested to give away their toys that they no longer play with to those who need them, so everyone can have a Christmas.  I am blessed at being able to watch my daughter wanting to offer her strollers, babies and dress up clothes saying that some other girl might love it as much as she did, even her more expensive toys like her leap pad!  And my oldest son willing to give up toys he has collected since he was young that he loves, but is at an age that he no longer plays with them!  Even my two year old has been helping hold up the bags and shaking his little head yes or no on whether or not he still really wants to keep something.  And to my amazement I feel like this year we are helping more than we ever have even though we don't have the income we have had in the past.

I feel more blessed today than I have in a long time.  Blessed in the fact that my children really grasp the concept of giving and not something they just say they understand.