Highlights from Christmas

Christmas was a wonderful time again for the Grisham family. It was our third year to participate in Advent Conspiracy and we certainly slowed down even more this year. Despite having 4 different family Christmas gatherings, they were all spaced out and easy on our schedules. Each one was unique and enjoyable. And Neighborhood Church had some really great events to guide us in our "relational giving" and "loving all."

My favorite Christmas highlights were:

• Caroling at the Cooper Young gazebo: The young families in my neighborhood gathered to sing carols and then were followed by the holiday concert of our neighborhood school choir. It was cold, old-fashioned, and fun. A little ghetto (we do live in the city!) and I had to take down the Christmas lights the next morning to keep them from being stolen. But for a brief moment, we had an idyllic, Stars Hollowish little neighborhood!

• The Clean Water party at the Spicklers: This was the second year they have given this party and we collected $500 for Living Water International. The best part was hanging out with my favorite people near the festive twinkle lights!
• The Christmas service at NC. I invited a guest musician and neighbor, Art Edmaiston, to join Robert for this service and was moved to tears during their performance. On soprano sax, he played O Holy Night, What Child is This, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel and Silent Night. It was one of the most worshipful experiences I have had this year.
• Christmas morning at the Grisham home. This was a first for us. Santa actually visited us at home this year! We all really loved it. Santa brought us a Wii and a few games. We spent the morning creating our Miis. And then after breakfast, we talked about Compassion International with Adam and he helped us choose to adopt Gino, a boy his age from the Phillipines. We look forward to getting to know Gino as we pray for him and write him letters.

Adam's letter to Santa. Actually, the first letter he has written.

• Family Christmas Gatherings (and various pictures)

Adam and Yoda, gift from Aunt Megan

Aunt Megan reading the Nativity Story...

Micah demanded to sit in her lap while she read.

Adam's gift from Pa Max and Mama Jerri, his own scooter!

Up was in this Christmas! From Nana and Pa Rick

Yes, Jackdog got a snuggie from Bugula...spoiled dog!

And the newest future addition to the family,

Stephen Wilson, met the whole Fuller fam this day!

Even Granny got in on the Wii action. She's a pro at bowling!

And Pa Howard painted this beautiful wooden rocking horse for Micah.

Addie gave him a ride (and apparently Adam wanted a ride as well...)

We hope your Christmas was wonderful too!

Fair Trade and Advent Conspiracy

I came across this video while on the Advent Conspiracy website.

After last weekend's IJM documentary,

I've been wanting to learn more about fair trade.

This video was thought provoking.

Money Quote: "If every person who attended church in our country

made just one fair trade purchase,

one million families would be lifted out of poverty for one whole year."

Relational Giving Ideas

Over the last few years, our family has made some effort to focus on Christmas a little differently as we've joined the Advent Conspiracy. We've tried to give relational gifts and really put more thought into the person we are giving to. Sometimes we save money, sometimes we spend more. But most times, we give much more time than we used to. It's a challenge sometimes, but very rewarding too. I began compiling this list of relational gift ideas last year and have added to it throughout the year as I think of things. I hope this helps you in your gift-giving this year!

Christmas Cards:

Create a video, post it to YouTube, then send an e-mail with the video embedded. (We did this in 2007 and 2008. We're still planning the 2009 video!)

Make your own cards

For Kids Gifts:

Video the child’s favorite family members telling him/her a “Once Upon a Time” story. Burn it to DVD.

Create an ABC scrapbook or flashcards with pictures/drawings of the child’s favorite things, friends, or relatives.

Create a book about the adventures of your child. Use your own photos, drawings, clip art, or magazine cut-outs to illustrate the story. Bind it at an office supply store for a few dollars. (This could also be done by a child for another sibling, grandparent, or cousin.)

Give lessons that encourage an interest (ballet, soccer, art, piano, etc…)

For less expensive toys, find gently used ones on Craigslist, eBay, or at a consignment store.

Take your child on a “road trip.” (Our favorites are Shelby Forest or Shelby Farms)

For Family Gifts:

Give a membership to the gym, zoo, Children’s Museum, Pink Palace, Brooks Museum, Botanical Gardens, etc…

Give gift cards to a restaurant or movie theater to be used on dates.

Give coupons for free babysitting.

Open your home as a “Bed and Breakfast” to serve a friend or another family from out of town.

Organize a family photo session with a photographer. Pay for the sitting fee, then let each family member purchase the photos they like.

Trade taking family photos with another family. (Free!) Then purchase your printed pics from an on-line store.

Create a photo calendar complete with everyone’s birthdays/anniversaries.

Give games that will bring the entire family together.

Organize a family vacation instead of giving gifts. (My family did this when I was growing up. I don't remember many of the gifts under the tree, but I remember every single ski trip and mission trip we took as a family!)

For Parents/Grandparents:

Give home-made gifts (ornaments, frames, candles).

Make a scrapbook of favorite childhood memories.

Compile/edit home videos or old photographs and burn onto DVD.

Give a coupon for free yard work, or a day of completing the “honey-do” list.

Give homemade freezer meals.

Make a date once a month to treat them to a home-cooked meal with your family.

Invite them to join your “Muffin of the Month” club. Take them a batch of muffins each month.

For Friends:

Treat a friend to a sporting event, concert, or art show.

Treat them to a round of golf or tennis game.

Organize a weekend get-away or camping trip for friends.

Organize a regular game night.

Give home-made dinners or desserts.

Wrap two copies of a classic book to read with a friend.

Use your talents:

If you are a techie, offer free “technical support” to friends and family by working on their computers, cameras, or phones.

If you are artistic, ask a friend to work with you to create an art piece of their choice.

If you are gifted musically, offer to give free music lessons to a friend.

If you are a great cook, give away your own recipe book by putting recipes inside a small photo album. You could also offer free cooking lessons.

If you are an organizer, offer your services to help clean out a closet, garage, or help prepare for a yard sale.

If you have a green thumb, divide some of your plants and help a friend start their own garden.

If you are a writer, write a “Year In Review” Poem for friends or family. Frame it and give away.

IJM and Lindsay Cade

Another Advent Conspiracy event that NC hosted this weekend was a viewing of the documentary "At The End of Slavery" from the International Justice Mission. Meredith Pace organized this event and had a great turnout. I happened to get to go by myself (whoo-hoo!) while Robert stayed home with the boys. The film was moving and inspired some great discussion afterwards. It's amazing how blind we can be, if we want to be, to the hurting and injustices in our world, even in our city.

The focus of this film was to inspire us to encourage our government to send strong messages to the countries where modern day slavery is most prevalent. In most of these countries, the law is in place against slavery, but the local governments are not enforcing the laws. IJM has teams of people in these countries who are qualified to train local law enforcements how to take down slave organizations in order to send messages to others, which seem to fall away when they realize the law is being enforced. There were also amazing success stories of children who have been saved from slavery and are involved in healthy environments now.

Our discussion afterwards also included talk about sweat shops and where we buy our clothing. Ignorance is bliss, and also irresponsible. I'm challenged to learn more about free-trade and socially responsible companies. Then we wrote letters to our congressman and senator encouraging them to support a bill that will support IJM's efforts.

To top off the night, Lindsay Cade performed some great tunes for us. LC was the first person to join us in Memphis before we started Neighborhood Church. She is such a beautiful person and has so much to share with the world. We sent her to Canada for a while and then Poland. And now she is in Nashville. I tried to tell her Memphis would love to have her back (and we would love her as a worship leader!), but she seems good in middle Tennessee.

Advent Conspiracy Photos

On Saturday, Neighborhood Church hosted 25 free photo sessions to launch Advent Conspiracy! It was the most beautiful fall day you could imagine. Just perfect for family portraits! Our two incredible photographers had such generous attitudes and seemed to really love taking photos for 4 hours. We had a great time. Our hope is that by receiving free sessions, the families will then use the money they saved to help someone in need or give to a charitable organization this Christmas. The premise behind Advent Conspiracy is that Christmas was meant to change the world, but has become about consumerism instead. I look forward to the other AC events we will have in the next month!