My oldest turned 12 a few days ago. After talking about Christmas and trying to make present wish lists, we got on the topic of how much stuff we really have and how a lot of it doesn’t get used. We are those parents that have in years past gone through all the girls things and gotten rid of stuff to make room for all the birthday and Christmas presents that would make their way into our home. So, long story short, my oldest daughter decided for her birthday she wanted to have friends come over and watch a movie, play, eat popcorn, candy and cake (of course it had to look like a box of popcorn!), and just have a fun time. She also decided that she didn’t want her family and friends to give her gifts for her birthday. She wanted them to give her money, that she would then purchase gifts for The Angel Tree at our local Walmart. So she called her grandparents and told her request for her birthday and we made sure on all her invitations for her friends to let them know she didn’t want presents, but for them to help her in making her birthday wish a reality.

After one busy day preparing, one evening full of laughter and giggles, she came away with $280 graciously given by family and friends to spend on others for Christmas.

The next day we put out the invite to join us shopping for The Angel Tree and thankfully one of her friends was able to go! She and her friend picked out several tags and we went on the hunt to find the items. The first tag the girls saw I think really make an impact on them – it was for a Christmas dinner for a family of four. My daughter was so saddened that a child’s wish for Christmas – instead of cool toy – was merely a family dinner. They each grabbed one. They were able to purchase cologne, many toys, a car seat, a children’s play kitchen, two gift certificates for Christmas dinners and a child’s “couch” that unfolds to become “bed.” The entire time we were in the store, not once did they look at other toys on the shelves or make comments about items that they would like or want. The mission was clear – give to others.

At the register Kailee was proud to pay for all the items in their very full cart. I realized at check out that I had forgotten to throw a roll of tape in my purse so that we could attach the tags to each gift. I asked they clerk if she thought the service desk would lend us tape and was assured they would. As we stood in line at customer service a clerk came over and asked if we had a few items for the Angel Tree because she could help us with them. Her mouth dropped when she was told that the entire cart was for The Angel Tree and Kailee explained about her birthday request. The clerk immediately gave Kailee a big hug and thanked her and her friend, Olivia, for being so kind-hearted. We then went to pick up a few groceries and while we were in line paying for my items, the same clerk came up and asked to borrow the girls. They followed her back to the service desk where they were praised for their good deed by several employees – it truly was a group effort that made this possible!