adopt-a-family

this year, like last, we are adopting two families for xmas. 

i found out the idea through a friend here and thought it was damned good.  she got me in touch with the salvation army and i was able to connect and sponsor 2 families last year.

i have always wanted to take the focus of presents OFF xmas, and do something good for other people.  i'm not a people person, but helping out anonymously appeals to me greatly.  i had always wanted to serve xmas dinner at the food bank or soup kitchen, but the years i inquired, they were completely full of volunteers.

i always had it in my mind and last year i told ch that i wanted to do this, that a friend had the info and we should do it.  so instead of stressing out and buying gifts for the family, we just bought gifts and groceries for strangers.

let me tell you, it's a liberating thing to give to others.  it really is.  it's wonderful to take the time to give someone something you take for granted.  ch and i went shopping on two separate occasions to our walmart supercentre and bought 2 carts full of groceries and gifts for one family, and repeated the process a couple of days later for the second family.  and ch is NOT a shopper.  ordinarily, you couldnt drag him within 50 feet of a store without a protest, but when it came to our families, ch was enthusiastic and a real trooper in terms of picking out gifts.  and on xmas day, he woke up and said "by now, our families are opening presents".

to give is really the greatest gift of all.

so we just buy for the niece and nephews because christmas is about kids.  as for the adults, we are all old enough and financially well off enough to get what we want when we want it.  and honestly, i know i sound spoiled, but i really dont need another hastily thought out gift where i have to pretend i'm happy to receive it and simultaneously wondering where i'm going to hide it for the rest of the year.  and honestly, i'm not tight enough with anyone in ch's family to know what they want or need...they'll simply go and get it themselves.  even in terms of my parents, they have everything...what could i possibly buy them?

of course my family, specifically  my mother, does not believe in charity.  my mom thinks that all people on welfare are gross and dirty and are somehow cheating the system.  despite my claims to the contrary, she will not listen when i tell her it takes GUTS to ask for help.

i just ignore her stupid washed up beliefs and focus on the good.  yes, there will always be people who cheat the system, but there are people out there who had a hard time coming to terms with asking for help, too.