After all, shopping is the reason for the season, right???

Of course, you and I both know that is not the reason! 

Jesus is the reason for the season! 

Now that we have established that, listen to this!  Whether or not you like to shop at this time of the year, it seems we always end up doing a bit of that.  (Hopefully not at the mega-mart on Christmas 'eve either!)  And while the shopping isn't mandatory, if you are like most, it is FUN to bless people with gifts at this time of the year!

  If you are like some folks, you have already been busily making hand-made gifts for your family, friends, neighbors, the mail man, etc.,  BUT if you are more like me, "last minute Sally" you might be doing your shopping online!

Whether it is about shopping or making things, Christmas definitly is about giving!  God gave us the most precious gift of His son, all we have to do is accept the gift!  It is right there, neatly wrapped up......just open it!  Thank you Lord, for Jesus!

One of my favorite gifts is YOU dear friend!  You who bless me by stopping by to see if I have written anything encouraging, funny, serious.......hopefully I haven't wasted your time here as you read my blog.  Your time is  important!  And fleeting.  So we all want to be good stewards of our time and resources.  My blogging friends are a blessing to me, and I know you are a blessing to many other Moms out there!

I have a Mom friend that I want to tell you about, and tell you a way that you can be a blessing to her!

  About a year or more ago, I got a call from a homeschooling family from New Jersey who was moving to my city.  They wanted to get some info on the local climate here for homeschoolers and info on getting connected up with a group.  Hopefully, I was able to help.  They ended up moving here and we have visited a few times.  What a wonderful lady!  Wendi is a mother to 9 children!  From college age down to "just walking" she has a lovely family.

Wendi's family has had some trials this year, and although God is wallking them through it and they are basking in His grace, there is something you can do to help her family this Christmas, and it will also help you! Here is how:

 Wendi is a HomeStyle Specialist with At Home America.  She felt the Lord leading her to do a little something to suppliment their income.  I looked at the website and found some really neat looking things on there!  I told Wendi I would love to host a show for her, but we found out we would have to do it by the 8th of this month if we wanted to guarantee delivery by Christmas! 

So I told her I had a lot of great online "e-pals" who might just join forces with me to bless this family.  Of course, you could just send them a gift---but how fun to shop, bless someone else, AND bless Wendi with a little commission on the sale!?  Does this sound fun?  Yes, and by doing this, you know you are helping to support a friend, and a homeschooling family.

Here is the website:  www.athome.com

*If you order, please use Wendi's I.D. so she will get the credit!  32299.  After you get to your shopping cart, it will ask for a password.....that is not mandatory.  Just continue checking out and you will see where it asks for the HomeStyle Specialist's number.  It is so easy!

I was just looking through the catalog and wow, there are some really cute and very affordable gift ideas in it!  How about a cast iron Liberty Bell doorstop!?  Perfect for a homeschooling Mom!  And these wonderful little salt and pepper shakers that look like little mini-mason jars.  How cute!  Now I just have to decide~

You can find some fabulous bargains in the "attic" section, and be sure to look at the discontinued housewares!  Ooh, I felt like a kid in a candyshop!  You can even look at their catalogs page by page. 

I hope you will take this to heart and bless Wendi!  And while you are at it, don't shop at the mega-mart for ANYTHING this holiday season!  Shop the Mom and Pop businesses, ok?  We all here at HSB know plenty of families who are providing for their families on Home Businesses!  Let's bless them with our patronage this holiday season, and all through the year!

Please feel free to pass this on, or link to it on your blog, ok? And don't forget to use her I.D. so she gets the credit.

Thank you,

Christmas Blessings,

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz Homeschooling Is Life! 2006