It was at least 20 years ago that my father said we were no longer exchanging Christmas gifts. He was not being a Grinch, he just felt we have too much already. My Dad wanted us to give gifts that impacted lives in honor of one another; specifically in developing nations. A new family tradition was born. INTENTIONAL GIVING has been central to our family Christmas celebrations ever since.
INTENTIONAL GIVING has been tradition in our family for over 20 years. It started with my father who felt gift giving at Christmas should be with purpose. He challenged all of us to use the season to consider intentional giving. Our Christmas presents since have been purchased from a World Vision Gift Catalogue enriching the lives of many. The spirit of Christmas can be found in each gift purchased through a variety non profit agencies working in developing countries. In my blog Sheep, Chickens and Bees I share how I have creatively wrap these special gifts. The goat-themed gift basket presented in this blog is another creative gift giving idea. I have built a theme around this meaningful intentional present that changes lives!
A rewarding and fun project this Christmas is giving a Gift with Purpose Themed Basket! Intentional Giving is a very meaningful way of gifting. The Gift is built around a theme with the central item being purchased through an impact catalogue. Our family has sourced our Intentional Giving through the World Vision Gift Catalogue. They provide over a hundred animals, items and services that you can donate to families in developing nations.
I thought it to be a simple project. I would paint my front door to give my entrance a lift. It would take one afternoon and add color to my life. I could not have been more wrong. The challenge was in the perfect shade of blue I desired. I literally weaken at the knees when I view the shade of blue painted on the shutters and doors in the South of France. French‐themed websites and Pinterest Boards are adorned with this color.
The symptoms were present for at least a week each month: general discomfort, chronic fatigue, proclivity for irritability, and a debilitating sense of doom. The monthly female cycle played havoc with my well‐being. It overshadowed half my life with a malaise, which was both tiresome and most inconvenient. PMDD diagnosis is part of my backstory.
With my love for lavender firmly established, it only makes sense that I would want to grow it. However I have not succeeded in such an endeavour in the past. It seems to flourish beautifully throughout the south of France – so what’s my problem? Oh, how to grow lavender in Florida?