HOG and OCC

So, wow, life has been crazy these last couple of weeks. Last week we went to Atlanta for a couple of days to help out in an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) center and it was really amazing.
To see all of those thousands and thousands of boxes (and that's not even all they are getting and it is only one of 6 locations!) and realize that there is a child represented by each one! It was really neat to get to sort through them and see all of the care that (most) people put into making their box. I cried a couple of times thinking of the children who will be receiving those boxes and how grateful they are for things that are so ordinary and commonplace to us. I did go through one box that was filled with screws, nails, a hammer and a screwdriver! All of those things were "acceptable" according to OCC regulations, but please don't ever do that to a child! Luckily OCC has toys and candy available to put in boxes such as these!
In case you're wondering what HOG stands for, it's Hanging of the Green. When we returned from Atlanta on Saturday we had practice for HOG and then the actual service was Sunday night. It's always a neat service and our church people really like to get dressed up for it.

Andrew wasn't really cooperating for pictures, but this one turned out ok. Sometime before next Thursday we have to finish our Christmas shopping and get everything wrapped because we are leaving for Texas then. We are really looking forward to spending time with our family. In January we will be flying to Florida to spend some time with my dad, so things won't slow down for awhile.
I pray that in all of the busy-ness of this time of year we dont' forget that Jesus is the reason we celebrate. If you're like me, you have to make yourself slow down and take a breather and think about His sacrifice in coming to the earth. There is no greater gift!