Holiday volunteering

So I had some grand plans for holiday volunteering, but the holidays snuck up on me... How on Earth are we careening toward the end of December?

I didn't get my "holiday mail for heroes" cards in the mail early enough. I have a stack that I was too late to send last year that I was going to send this year and when I went to look up the address, I had missed the deadline. Darn it! It's sad that I'll be able to send them next year because these wars will still be going on...

So I'm headed out to spend the day at The Salvation Army's distribution center to hand out gifts. I would imagine that this is going to be a little like working retail during the holidays and less like being one of Santa's little elves, but it's work that needs to be done, so I'm going to go and do it.

We're also forgoing gifts for adults on the in-law side of the family and doing donations instead. We're sending money to the American Cancer Soceity in Lindsy's name.

(And for those wondering, the reason we're not donating to something related to the condition that affected our baby is because it's not something that can be prevented--it's just a random occurrence of nature that somehow very early on, the cells that would have made kidneys never grew. No reason, no treatment, no cure. It just is what it is.)

Maybe after the holidays the family can hook up with another organization to volunteer and give back like with did with Access shelter a few years ago. I just feel like I haven't done enough this year and despite how 2009 has been a bit of a shit sandwich, I am unbelievably grateful for the love and support of our friends and family. We truly do lead charmed lives.

xoxo and happy holidays to all!