We've Moved!

Hi everyone!  We've moved the church blog.  You can find it at:  http://shilohjasper.wordpress.com/

Ding-Dong [Teri]

Soon after Wally Wilms, our janitor and Principal of the Preschool (as the children thought), passed away, we received a new doorbell in the office. It is set to ring once when anyone enters the outer office door.

The doorbell had a habit of ringing when the shredder was used. This was the alternate ring, you know, the fancier ring. We got into the routine of remembering Wally when this bell went off. It was a comfort.

Recently, the doorbell was ringing as it wished. Finally, the beginning of January this year, it was going off constantly and we had to have it changed. We jokingly said that Wally was over-excited about all the glitter left in the pews after Christmas. (Anyone who remembers Wally knows his dislike of glitter and loose staples in the rugs!) Well, on January 10th, the anniversary of the fire, we could not get the doorbell to shut off and we had to unplug it.

So now we shred without additional noise or reminders of our friend.

Wally, we miss you!!

Gifts that Give Back:: Day 12

Quite the morning we are having isn't  it?  I hope everyone is safe at home - or if they had to travel that they are safe at work .  My wonderful boss told me to stay put for awhile, so I am blogging from the living room while watching the weather channel.  All I have to say is - I think we were lucky.  It looks NASTY in other parts of the country.

I did learn this morning that my doggie Dixie can ice skate.  I saw her do it on my driveway this morning!  I have been so blessed in my life in the last year and a half to have a great friend in Dixie.  She was a gift from my loving husband - best gift I've ever gotten.  And that got me thinking about gifts that could give back to a pet - or how about bringing a new friend home with you this Christmas?  We have a Humane Society right here in Jasper!

So what do you do to bring a new friend home?  You can get on their website here, and see all the friends they have there that need adopting.  You can also attend their open adoption hours from 4:30-6:30 on Wednesdays or 11-1 on Saturdays.  You can go into the building during these times and look your new friend in the eye!

I did some looking online, and if I were going to bring a new friend home this Christmas it would be one of these two:

Simon, a Shetland Sheepdog Sheltie/Border Collie Mix.  Look at that face!

Or Lotus a beautiful short-hair.  I would go get this little lady today if my husband would let me.  

Three reasons why this is a great gift that gives:

1.  You take in a little friend who has no one.

2.  Your life will change when you bring a pet home - they love unconditionally.  You bring them food, water, a little scratch here and there, and they love you.

3.  You make room in our local shelter for another pet that has no family.

Gifts that Give Back:: Day 11

Are you a gift giver that loves to give plastic? You know, plastic gift cards?  I love to give them at weddings - then the couple can just pick out what they need after opening all their gifts.

But this isn't a wedding, it's Christmas, and we are looking for ways to give back.  What if I told you there were groups that sold gift cards for charities?  What?  That's right - you can buy a gift card that is good for over a hundred charities and then the recipient can choose what charity the money goes to.  Pretty neat huh?

I found a couple of different groups that do this, but my pick Charity Gift Certificates .org  They are a non-profit that sells gift cards on their website, and then you give them to someone.  And the person on the receiving end then gets on line, goes to the website and redeems them.  Pretty sweet huh?  This is for the person who has everything for sure!  I was having a great time going through the list to see all the different choices there were - including some that have been featured on this blog before - Samaritans Purse and the USO to name a couple!

Gifts that Give Back:: Day 10

How about something local you ask?  (Actually nobody asked, but I have to start this conversation somehow.  You know you can leave comments on these posts or on the post of facebook.  Go ahead - I dare you!)  Anyway, how about giving back locally?  There are few ways, and today we are going to focus on Toys for Tots.

Toys for Tots is a locally run toy drive driven by the local Marines.  They collect toys during the months of October, November, and December and the distribute them to needy children in our community.  Here's what you do:  You go to your favorite retailer (Walmart, KMart, Rural King) and you buy some kids toys.  I love to buy games like Candy Land and Shoots and Ladders - it not only is a great gift, but it brings families together. Then you put them in the Toys for Tots boxes.

Where are the boxes you ask?  EnStyle; KMart; WalMart; Nonte Chiropractic; Uebelhor & Sons Toyota; Dollar General North and South;  Rural King; CVS; The Sun Station; Big Lots; Old National Bank-Main Branch.  Whew!  That's a lot of boxes that need filling - and this is just in Jasper!

Have you ever watched kids open their Christmas presents?  I love the look of joy on their faces when they realize what they got under all that paper.  I know I won't get to watch the kids open the Candy Land games I gave this year, but somewhere in my own community someone is feeling that joy.  I don't need to see it.

Alright people, get out there and fill those boxes!!!