Fun tradition.

Note:  I've posted this before but I think that it's worth posting again.  I've added a few things...

Every year at the beginning of December we put together a Christmas chain.  We make a list of all of the things we'd like to do together and for other people and each link gets an activity.  The links count down the days until Christmas and every morning the kids race to see what will be the activity of the day. Each of them wants to be the first to take a link off of the chain.  It's a big part of Christmas for us and the kids look forward to everyday.

So far we have:

Gone to the resuce mission twice.

Gone to a matinee movie.

Eat dinner by the tree while we watch a Christmas movie.

Make gingerbread houses

Go Christmas shopping for each other.

Play a Christmas game (we make a family Christmas game and book each year).

Go get our Christmas tree.

Decorate the Christmas tree.

Ride in the car and look at Christmas lights.

Made little hats for newborn babies in 3rd world countries.

Make toffee for school teachers.

Make a Christmas game.

Go to Salt Lake and meet up with Louis Palos and his sweet family for Temple Square lights, dinner, and hot chocolate.

Take soup to the homeless.

Make a Christmas book.

We've made gingerbread and had a gingerbread making party with each of the kids inviting a friend.

 We've done some of these things this year already and we're going to be doing quite a few things on this list.  After reading "The Soloist" it has renewed my desire to help the homeless in our area.  We've got some plans for doing some work in Charlotte.

Here are some other ideas you may want to try:

(Some friends and I came up with a lot of these so I can't take all of the credit.):

Make up survival kits for the homeless. Include things like:  toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, bandaids, Neosporin, washcloth, blanket, etc.  Take them around after dark when people are settling in for the night.  They are easier to find.  You can also ask local churches where to find the highest concentration of people who need your help.

Go to McDonald's and buy 100 jr. hamburgers and take them around to people settling in for the night.

Make soup and take it warm on Christmas day with warm bread.  Doing it on the actual holiday is important.  There are a lot of people who give Christmas dinner the day or week before Christmas.  Most organizations aren't able to do anything on the actual days of Christmas and Thanksgiving.  When you arrive on Christmas you'll it will look like Christmas in their eyes.

Discreetly give out cash to those you feel inspired to give it to.

This doesn't even have to be just for homeless people:  Walk around just giving people $5 while you're shopping (or more!  Secret Santas have been going around Charlotte handing out $100 bills.  They've given out over $30,000 now!).  Or keep a $50 or $100 in your bag and pray for the wisdom to know who you  need to walk up and give it to as you're out and about.

Never pass the Salvation Army bell ringer without putting something in the bucket.

I want to hear your suggestions!  Please put them in the comments so we can all benefit!

enjoy. LIFE.