Chistmas charities , toys and gifts for free or very low cost , free downloads free holiday music ,and much more.
*****There's nothing wrong with your computer ! Yes , I do keep changing the colors on this page !*****
Please read : If you choose to buy toys(or food etc.) this year , or if toys are given to you ,and you have any question about their safety , here is a link for you by my wonderful friend , Elaine of TSA , from Aidpages :
IDEAS FOR A NO OR LOW MONEY CHRISTMAS
On this page are : lot's of fun ideas and charities for help , as well as free things to get and to make.
The emphasis will be on giving . Not the " I wants" . Not the "gimmes".Not "poor me I don't have (fill in the blank)".Not the latest $$$$ fad.
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As always , The Toymaker has great holiday toys to print out and put together. Here is her Christmas page :
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CHRISTMAS CHARITIES
*Charity links are towards the bottom of the page. (There are 8 plus so far !)As a gift to me (soulight) this Christmas , please read some of the information on the way down to the charity links. : )
From my friend on Aidpage , a tip for people who may have missed the deadlines for toys and other items for Christmas : Soulight, for all the posters I see who have missed application deadlines, they may want to call their local mayors office which usually has toy drives too.
On this Christmas page ,the emphasis is on the true meaning of Christmas*
The emphasis is charity , simplicity and JOY !
* This is what I mean by celebrating the true meaning of Christmas :
Charlie Brown and the true meaning of Christmas by soulight
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*I am not saying that we should not celebrate Christmas with presents and parties.
*I am saying that we should do so with a heart that is in the right place.
*Christmas is not about Santa and the give-me's.
*It is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday.
* It may not be the "historically accurate" actual date of His birthday , but I don't use that as an excuse not to celebrate my Lord
* Any day is a celebration of His life and resurrection.
So , have a Blessed Christmas. I sincerely pray that we all get our true heart's desire this holiday season.
Christmas Stories that are Heartwarming
Every year , I search for books that might have good , heartwarming stories for Christmas . This year , I have found some on the web. I would like to share them with you.
A great story about a man who wanted to celebrate real things at Christmas time ,and his wife who understood.
Here is a story about a beautiful tablecloth and how it helped three people at Chrismas time.
Old Time Radio Shows were not about buying things at Christmas time.
They emphasized love , charity and the Birth of a King. Going back to an earlier time can help us get our perspective back.
Listening to these shows I think about values and what has happened since the more simple times. Are we yearning to go back when we talk about being simple ?
What kind of values do we really want ?
Are we happy with the ones we have right now ?
Christmas time is also a time of reflection.
Turn back time for a night or too and gather around the radio instead of the television .
Here are some shows for your family to listen to together !
So turn off the TV
and listen as you work on some fun Christmas activities or projects together.
From a site called "Senses Working Overtime" If you tried this link before and it didn't work , it does now ! :
CHRISTMAS 2007 , Senses Working Overtime
From another great About dot com site :
MORE OLD TIME AND HISTORICAL RADIO SHOWS TO ENJOY
More really good old time radio Christmas shows :
PART ONE
OLD TIME CHRISTMAS RADIO SHOWS
PART TWO
OLD TIME RADIO CHRISTMAS SHOWS
Directly below are some wonderful links for ideas about how to have a simple low or no money Christmas.Simplicity is a wonderful concept to embrace . You will recieve more than you can ever imagine if you are willing to let go of material ideas about Christmas .
If you are not there yet , start the transition this year. Embrace the Love of Christmas and the Child of Christmas. Cherish family and church and friends. Reach out to the disabled , elderly , single mom , and low income person.
Giving truly
gives back
in the form of
true Joy.
TEN GREAT IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
HOW TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS WITH NO MONEY
MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT MONEY CAN'T BUY
HAVE YOURSELF A VERY SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
FINDING PEACE AND JOY IN THE MIDST OF COMMERCIALISM RUN -AMOK
ALTERNATIVES FOR SIMPLE LIVING CHRISTMAS IDEA PAGE
Talking about Gift Giving
FOR AGES: 4 to 10
"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo.- THIS ARTICLE SAYS IT IS FOR AGES 4-10 . HOWEVER , IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START A CHANGE FOR THE GOOD IN YOUR AND YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES. FAMILY DINNER RAP
10 Tips for a Simpler More Meaningful Christmas
1. Plan ahead. Instead of going on auto-pilot the day after Thanksgiving, hold a family meeting to decide what the group really wants to do and who's going to do what.
2. If you need a symbol for giving (in addition to Jesus and the Three Wise Ones), learn about St. Nicholas. Santa Claus has been completely taken over by commerce.
3. Avoid debt. Refuse to be pressured by advertising to overspend.
4. Avoid stress. Give to yourself. Don't assume that things have to be the same way they've always been.
5. Draw names rather than everyone giving something to everyone else in your giving circle. Set a ceiling for each recipient. Give children ONE thing they really want, rather than so many gifts. If need be, pool funds.
6. Give appropriate gifts. Get to know the recipient. Give what they want to receive, not what you want to buy.
7. Give alternative gifts. Give 25% of what you spent last year to the needy... individuals or groups locally, nationally or internationally.
Buy crafts and clothing from developing countries at alternative gift markets, not from commercial importers, so that the artisans receive a fair price for their work.
Give of yourself, not just "stuff" - a coupon book for future services (such as baby-sitting or an "enchanted evening"); something baked, sewn, handmade, composed, etc.; or a family service project, such as working together at a soup kitchen.
8. Celebrate Advent for four weeks before Christmas.
9. Put the gifts under the tree shortly before opening them. Then take turns opening them around the tree, not all at once, so that each gift can be admired and each giver thanked.
10. Make changes slowly but persistently. Don't try to change everything and everybody all at once. The resistance will make you feel defeated and lonely.
For more help and a free catalog of ideas, contact Alternatives for Simple Living at 800-821-6153.©1997 Alternatives for Simple Living. Used by permission.
