The Spirit of Giving

I posted quite some time ago about my involvement in a project called Operation Grenada Child.  Well, that project wrapped up last week as 80, yes I said 80 shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts were handed out to the children of the Limes After School Program in Grenada, West Indies. 

I of course was not present for the gift distribution, but I was lucky enough to be in Grenada when all of the boxes arrived.  And am of course thrilled that so many pictures were taken by volunteers during the days festivities, specifically a saint of a man named James Forester who gave up his time to come photograph the day.  I cry happy tears every time I look through them.  The pictures fill me with the Christmas spirit more than Christmas trees, presents, stockings, and holiday lights ever could.

I KNOW that these children will remember this special Christmas for a long long time and I am so very honored that I had even a little part in the happiness that these gifts brought them. 

Here's a video of the days events, complete with games, reindeer puppet making, present opening, and a special lunch.

May it touch your heart just as it has touched mine. 

Merry Christmas.

A Bit of Closure

...and some sunshine too.

The trip to Grenada is over.  After 11 days in island paradise with my Limes kids, I feel like I may finally be able to move forward.  Of course I will always miss Grenada and the kids.  And I enjoyed every second of every moment that I spent with them, but I feel like after the trip, I was finally able to start letting that part of my life go.  Maybe someday I will go back and I will continue to pray for those children daily but it's time to move on.  And I'm finally okay with that. 

I have faith that there will always be volunteers who will fall in love with those kids just like I did and they will make sure that the children are getting the love and support that they deserve.  I will continue to remain as active as I can through projects like Operation Grenada Child and any other things that come along, but my life is in California, with Josh, and there isn't anywhere else I'd rather be.

So here's some photos of my time in Grenada.  Moments I'll never forget and treasure forever.