Truly the most wonderful time of year!!

And I wish I could find some way to make it last all year!

It amazes me how people are so giving, this time of year! I really appreciate it, don't get me wrong, I just wish we could keep it going! But, before I sound ungrateful for the time we do get . . .

For those of you who have absolutely no connection to or any interest in the housing industry, in the Phoenix area, let me inform you that it is in a slump! And, as I work for a window manufacturing company, that has had a HUGE effect on our business! In June of 2006, we had 232 employees, now we have 129 . . . get the picture?

Anyway, there have been continuing lay-offs at my place of employment since July of 2006, and each time we have sadly bid farewell to co-workers. In the first part of November, a co-worker and fellow carpooler (okay, she's a friend, too!) was laid off. She has two children and is a single mom.

So, two weeks ago, on a Monday, another girl in the office said to me, "I feel so badly for her -- I wish I had the money to do something for her!" Well, I responded with "I don't have a lot of extra money to help either, but if you asked around the office, maybe other people would want to help, too!"

So between the two of us, we composed a little "angel tree" poem, and she sent it to everyone in the office. She gave them a due date and time, as to when we needed contributions, and we waited!

A week and a half later, we had $275 cash and MANY gifts contributed to this little family! We bought giftwrap, and stocking stuffers, a $100.00 gift VISA for Mom to pay bills or buy groceries with, and just had fun shopping for them!

Then, when the time came to deliver the gifts, we had this elaborate plan . . . which originally involved Santa, but didn't happen that way! But, I picked her up from work (she started at her new job 2 days before this project was launched!) on the premise that I had some books that I had read, that I wanted to give her. It was good to catch up on how the kids are, etc.

So, we arrived at her home, and I said, "Okay, here's my books, oh, and this for you!" as I handed her the gift VISA. She was very humble and very gracious about this gift -- little did she know that there was MUCH more to come!!

Then, my co-conspirator showed up, and we carried armloads of gifts into the house. She was flabbergasted! And then the tears started . . . tears of joy, gratitude, humility and the true Spirit of Christmas! And not just from her!! My friend from the office, my husband, her and I were all teary-eyed as she thanked us over and over!

Meanwhile her daughter arrived home from school, and her son woke up from his nap. They were so cute, because they were so excited to see us, that they didn't notice all the loot at first!

But WOW!!! I wish I could can that feeling up and save it for later!! It's beautiful . . . and no wonder Jesus Christ gave His life, if giving a few simple gifts can make a person feel so good!

I love this time of year because of that -- The Best Gift that we could never buy or give, of ourselves, but which we can glimpse a little piece of when we share the love!