Fun With A Message Christmas Gift Guide
A Wonderful Season
Christmas is a wonderful season to enjoy with our family and see our children’s faces light up with joy as they sip hot chocolate watching twinkling lights and then, giggle with excitement opening up their presents.
Christmas is about love and caring and giving. (Besides enjoying wonderful yummy treats 
)
We are so fortunate to have a wonderful little family to enjoy Christmas!
We have been blessed so we can be a blessing!
A New Christmas Tradition
This Christmas we want to focus on others. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of buying things for the ones we love that we might forget what the season is all about.
As a family, our challenge is to give and send love to those beyond our family.
Fun With A Message has assembled a gift guide to help us do just that.
Hope your family can use some of these ideas!
Gifts of Kindness: Giving Beyond Our Family.
This season, we can bring so much joy to people right around us without necessarily spending money. Maybe a little time and effort? Although, gifts to help others can be sent online… Why not start a Christmas tradition with the kids assembling a gift box for a child that might otherwise not receive anything for Christmas?
But where do we start?
Our gift guide is divided in three sections:
We can bless our neighbors right next door.
We can reach neglected children (near our home)
We can send a gift to a child in another country.
Today, we will be giving you gift ideas on how to bless those right around you. Come back tomorrow for the next section: Blessing the Children.
Blessed to be a blessing!
Out of the abundance we have been given, we can bless others that might be in need, lonely or ill.
Some of these gifts would be really easy to assemble in a shoes box and a trip to the dollar store!
The great thing about this guide is that it can be completed at any time of the year. Maybe some families get a bit more time in the week Between Christmas and New Year’s? People in need would appreciate a gift any time of the year.
Gifts For Our Neighbors:
Gifts for Single Parents:
Offer to watch their kids so they may have a little free time. Lots of single moms would appreciate any help with house maintenance from moving the lawn to repairing a broken fence.
The Holiday Season can also be quite lonely and their kids would benefit from some fun family times. Maybe invite them over for cookies and hot chocolate. Playing board games is an excellent way to break the ice and get to know people.
Gift certificates for groceries are always appreciated.
Useful Links:
Single Parents Alliance of America Provides resources and help to single parents. Free services. http://www.spaoa.org/
Single & Parenting Provides group support. http://www.singleandparenting.org/
The Life of a Single Mom provides a comprehensive list of local and national help. http://thelifeofasinglemom.com/
Gifts For Expectant Moms:
Expectant moms who are single or teenage moms can definitely use some support! You can google and find a center near you for expectant moms.
Gifts you can donate: Household items like: Paper Towel; Toilet Paper; Disinfectant Wipes; Diapers.
And definitely, prayer!!!
Useful Links:
Sarah’s House
P.O. Box 941768
Simi Valley, CA 93094
http://sarahshouse-online.org/
Gifts for families:
Many families are facing financial hardships which make the Holiday Season stressful. If a family in your community is experiencing emotional or financial struggles, they might really appreciate your support!
Gift Ideas:
Sponsor a date night: Thru your local church, gift certificate (does not need to be to a fancy place), or offer to watch the kids.
Board games make a great gift for families.
Kids love holiday treats as presents
Gifts for elderly neighbors:
Older people have a hard time getting around. If they don’t have a family nearby, they might be stuck in the house not just during the Holidays but year round.
Invite them to your church’s Christmas party, take them to the mall, bring over some treats and visit for a little bit.
Gifts for Young Adult Orphans :
Until I heard of Home Connections I never realized the need to help children who have been in and out of foster care and were never adopted. Once they reach 18 years of age they are out on their own. 
Connections Homes
Connections Homes exists to connect young adults 18-24 who are aging out of foster care, homeless or otherwise without family to families willing to walk with them through life.
Gifts for Kids -In our next article.
We can’t forget that the joy in this season comes from the true gift we all received at Christmas. God sent His Son because He loved us so much!
