One of my favorite holiday tasks this month has been shopping for our office's adopted family in need. The family has three children – a 12-year-old girl, a 2-year-old girl, and a 3-month-old boy. We've been collecting clothing items and toys from the wish list provided by the mother, and will drop off the wrapped packages to the coordinating center tomorrow morning. Personal shopping fun aside, it has been so good to focus on a project where the recipient really NEEDS the items being received (some of the most basic being socks….SOCKS for crying out loud). The whole experience has been humbling and centering amid all of the "for fun" giving during this season. So happy to be working with a company that is more than willing to take projects like this on and provide enough leeway that we can make a significant impact for this family.
On a similar note, Page and I recently listened to the audiobook of President Bush's Decision Points while on the road for Thanksgiving. At one point, President Bush quoted a phrase I have heard many times before: "To those whom much is given, much is expected." Fueled by this idea, Page and I felt compelled to add some less fortunate recipients to our own holiday shopping list and have purchased a handful of goodies for Toys for Tots. We've never stuck with any one holiday charity, but we love that this one in particular benefits children – more specifically, children of those who are serving/have served our country. It was fun to shop for kids – we don't often get to. I just hope we picked out some decently cool, "in" items. 
Do you participate in any charitable giving – time, gifts, or otherwise? I would love to hear about it. Don't you just love the season of giving?
