The Toy Box Years: 31 Days of Giving.....

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Since My Marine left in July, we have been so blessed with the kindness of friends! Anything from having our grass cut to meals, coffee, chocolate, wine, and babysitting......the list goes on. I am incredibly touched and humbled at how loved my family is!

So, I decided that I wanted to continue to pay this kindness forward! So for the month of December, the girls and are doing a "31 Days of Giving" project. Every day, we will intentionally GIVE BACK -- in some way. It may not always be a monetary thing.....but maybe just a small gesture of kindess!

I'm trying very hard to teach my girls to be kind, empathetic, and above all.....to have a giving spirit, to be grateful for all they have and to share a little of that back. I don't want them to be all about "me, me, me" and "take, take, take". While we do embrace Santa here in our home, I don't want them to just associate Santa with getting presents. I desperately want them to connect the dots with the spirit of Santa and the joy and the REASON for Christmas -- the coming of Jesus!

I hope you'll come back and read a little bit more about our adventures and what we did!

2 comments:

Masshole Mommy December 2, 2012 at 8:10 AM: I can't wait to hear all about them! For me, those "small gestures" usually mean the most.
Natalie PlanetSmarty December 9, 2012 at 3:10 PM: I find it SO difficult to teach my daughter to give, especially since she is "the only". Good luck with your project!