Giving Challenge Update #2

I think I am associating all of my "giving" with money....or I am just not creative! I know "giving" does not have to be just about the money but I am having such a hard time being creative with non-money-related opportunities to give! Sheesh! Well, I take that back...I did volunteer at school this week and that is being giving of my time (which is probably more valuable than money, right)! OK so this past week I did some volunteering in Connor's class, bought Starbucks for a stranger behind me in the drive-thru (one of my favorite things to do) and purchased gifts for sick children that will be spending Christmas in the hospital (at Phoenix Children's Hospital). Speaking of that, I emailed several of our friends to see if they would be interested in participating with us and we had at least 5 friends commit to giving to this awesome cause! I can't wait to see how many gifts we will be able to distribute this Christmas at Phx Children's to offer them a little hope and let them know they are not forgotten!!

As far as our blessings go, I know we are blessed each day by simply waking up to spend another day together here on this earth.....but, we received the pathology report back on Jim's endoscopy/biopsy and there is NO Barrett's Esophagus! Huge, huge, huge blessing for us as that diagnosis brings along lots of doctor visits each year, an annual endoscopy with biopsy and more waiting on pathology....so we are thanking God for His hand in that awesome news!!!

Well, I think I am learning through this challenge that giving requires effort....no matter if its big or small...it does require a conscious choice daily to think of someone else and not yourself...to look for opportunities and needs that surround us daily!