A Craigslist Christmas story

It's finally Christmas and today was a day to remember. You might already know that my family has been trying for weeks to adopt a family for Christmas but it never worked out. Last night I posted another ad on craigslist advertising "Free Christmas Dinner" and finally got a response. Everyone kept warning me that it was a huge risk inviting complete strangers to my house, but I was going to anyway. Today we ended up with 6 new friends over for Christmas while other family came and went throughout the day. I had no idea how amazing today would be.

The group included:
-Lloyd: an amazing man who has fallen on rough times and is homeless in Seattle. I picked him up this morning at a gas station and he has brightened our home since he got here. Simple enthusiasm about things that I so easily take for granted really made me rethink my attitude. We gave him a few basic things: a pair of jeans, some socks, and a travel bag of razors, shaving cream, tooth paste, etc. He was practically a different man after showering, shaving, putting on clean clothes, and enjoying a normal dinner. He will never know how rewarding his presence was to me today.

-Ann & her daughter Charene: These 2 drove all the way from Tacoma just to be with us. I don't know their story but they were a delight to have. I'm glad they joined us for whatever reason it was.

-Brad: a mid 20's navy man that doesn't know many people in the area or have any family that is closer than the east coast. He lit up my little sisters face with stories about Japan & held my dads attention while talking about his duties aboard the ship. He ended the night by inviting my family over on Thursday for dinner at his house so we'll see what comes of it..

-Jim: An older man with so much life in him. He told stories about how his mother would host soldiers in their home over the holidays, and remarked that invitations like this were so rare these days. He would have spent Christmas alone at his house but instead he put on a nice shirt w/ slacks, and braved the snow flurries to join us.

-Don: a middle aged man who absolutely cracks me up. He was so funny and was in the greatest mood all night. He kept the conversation going between everyone by talking about social differences and why people are so unwelcoming to each other in this area. He really appreciated having a place to spend today and kept reminding me that family is really taken for granted until you find yourself spending holidays alone.

I really do encourage more people to do something like this in the future. It was absolutely amazing and more rewarding than I ever would have imagined. We barely spent any extra money on food and everyone had more than enough to eat. All the food that normally becomes forgotten holiday left overs went to feed someone instead. There was no drama, no crazy people, no violence. We chatted while dinner was cooking and listened to holiday music in the background. We made a line and went around the table buffet style, then gathered in the living room to pray before eating. Everyone even helped clean up the kitchen afterwards. We watched "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and then played the board game "Risk". By the end of the night everyone had really bonded. We made copies of everyones names, phone numbers, and email addresses, along with a promise of meeting up again someday. I'm glad that we were able to pull 6 random strangers out of the cold and enjoy eachothers company for a day. If everyone always helped out someone else- we would all be taken care of. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday.

a little peace... please

There are millions of people on this planet, and a good percentage are in true need. I posted an ad on craigslist in the "FREE" section saying I'd like to host a needy family for Christmas dinner at my house. I recieved an overwelming response from people thanking me for my kindness. It's so sad to me that we have become a world where kindness and love are out of the ordinary and require special attention or appreciation. If everyone always took care of someone else, we would all be taken care of.My point in writing this is to hopefully make everyone know and understand that giving and recieving- love and compasion- forgivness and understanding- these things should not be the exception. They should be the norm. I should be able to post a free meal at Thanksgiving and Christmas, know in my heart that I'm doing right, and not recieve a million emails thanking me for being a good person. I am simply a person who struggles one day to the next in my own life to keep everything together, and trying to spread a little bit of compassion to anyone I meet.
So if you're the homeless guy on the corner, don't be surprised if I circle the block and bring back a burger for you, and don't be scared when me and Jackie hold up traffic to dump our halloween candy in your lap and give you some change because it's all we had. We mean well
Happy holidays to everyone who reads this... and I hope that you haven't forgotten the real meaning of Christmas.

What I REALLY want for Christmas

Seriously, screw the presents. I have enough lotion, candles and perfume to last until I'm middle aged. I hate it when other people buy me clothes, and there isn't anything material that I really want/ need, unless of coure you'd like to pay my tuition or buy books for school.... Plus my room is so tiny I don't know where I could possibly cram more crap.

Anyways, if you were planning on getting me a gift this year, please check this out instead:
http://www.changingthepresent.org/water/gifts

If you scroll down on the left and click on "stocking stuffer", there are a whole bunch of donations in there that go to good causes, and are all super cheap. Thanks guys happy holidays!!!