It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas. . .

Well not really, but kinda-sorta.

I have started collecting shoe boxes, packing shoe boxes, and getting them wrapped! It is so exciting to see the shoe boxes roll in and think about all the little lives that will be touched!

It is amazing how different this year is from last. I have learned several lessons. For starters, every year I always have a couple of people that need the actual shoe box and I have been asking everyone I know for them. Then the light went off in my little head...CALL A SHOE STORE! So I did exactly that. A store here in Oxford displays the shoes and saves the boxes for people who ask for them! So do not fear, I have plenty of shoe boxes!

The online shipping fee that everyone pays prior to giving me the shoe box is amazing! I am always kinda nervous about handling other people's money. This way, it is all in your hands and I just tape the label with the barcode right on the box and we are ready to ship. Plus, this way you can claim it on your taxes! ;)

I have found a few "jewels" around town and feel like I need to share them with you! I ran into Fred's today to pick up some extra soap and gum for a few boxes and ran into the kid asile. I found hard back books that are all about Baby Jesus. How perfect? I mean we are trying to minister to these sweet children and I bought everyone they had...8! Oh, they were only $1.00! If you ask me, you can beat that. So, if you pass a Freds, run in and grab a book for your box!

I picked up two boxes from my sweet cousin and in each of her boxes, she had a "all about me" coloring page! As many times as I have searched this website, I have never seen them. So if you are participating this year and have small kids, print this page out and place it in your box! (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/images/occ_art/ColoringPages.pdf)

Another thing we are doing this year, is placing a card in each box that allows you to put your address on it. This tells the child who packed the box and gives them the opportunity to write you back.

We are approaching our goal....

As of October 16, 2009 we have 17 boxes!

Our goal for Nov 1, 2009 is 50 boxes!