Our Month of Operation Christmas Child ~ January 2016

Just thought I'd share some photos of what's been happening around here related to Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes in January, many of them have been on our Facebook page or other posts, but here's what we've been up to this month.

We got a good deal on these chess games for Dad's 10-14 year old boy boxes.  Since checkers is a simpler and more universal game than chess, we decided to try to give them the option of using the boards for checkers as well.  The smaller game we gave buttons for the larger game we gave poker chips.

We bought some balls on clearance, and some said "Naughty" didn't really want to send that to kids, so managed to cut it off.

Mom & I got started on our penguin themed boxes (to see inside the tins and cups-check out my post on "nesting")

We also worked on our snowman themed ones, there's still a lot that needs added, and packaging removed, but it's a good start.

Finally tallied and organized the post-Christmas shopping:

Made dinosaur play sets in eggs from a big bottle of figures I got on clearance

We've been doing some spring cleaning/trimming down of our possessions and found some things we didn't need that'd be good for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes:

What's been the highlight of January for your OCC shoeboxes?

Every Saturday Sarah shares what we have added to our stockpile.  You can see them all here:  Adding to Our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Stockpile.

Welcoming My Daughter Sarah to Simply Shoeboxes ~ And Saying Goodbye

As many of you know my health and that of my mother's has kept me from being able to post here at Simply Shoeboxes.  Because of that I am turning the blog over to my daughter Sarah.  She, too, is busy caring for her grandmother and helping me, so her posts may be few, but she is crazy for Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing and has a lot of great ideas.

A shoebox Sarah filled one year with things she got great deals on at CVS only.

She blogs at Simply CVS (about CVS/pharmacy deals) and at Sarah's Scribblings (about her attempt to brighten the world of those around her).  At times, the two cross.  Like when she got these fun report covers (along with dozens of other items) at 90% off at CVS:

9 to 15 cents each

She will be using them to make these Stationery Packets for her 10 to 14 year old girl shoeboxes that she shared about on her Sarah's Scribblings blog:

Sarah has a lot of great shoe box ideas and she puts a piece of her heart into each shoe box she packs.  She is an inspiration to me and helps me to strive to pack better boxes.  I am happy to pass the reigns of Simply Shoeboxes over to her.

You can follow her on Facebook, too, at:

• Simply Shoeboxes
• Simply CVS
• Scribbling Sarah

I invite you to welcome her to Simply Shoeboxes and enjoy packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes with her.

And thank you all for the fun times I had packing with each of you!  Goodbye for now.  ~ Cheryl

Real Life Called: It Wants My Attention Back

Should I answer when Real Life calls?  I'm guessing I should.  Blogging, keeping up the Simply Shoeboxes Facebook page, replying to emails and chatting it up with other shoebox packers takes a lot of time, energy and emotions.  Three commodities I do not have enough of lately.  No matter how much I love it all.

When I do a thing I put my whole heart into it.  Unfortunately my heart is only so big, no matter how hard I try to increase its size by stretching it around more projects.  And I've tried to cut back, do things more simply, but I found that more stressful.  It's easier to change my schedule than to change my personality.  And I'd much rather cut something out of my schedule than cut out some of my caring or passion from my personality.

So to answer Real Life's call I need to hang up on blogging, at least for now.  Simply Shoeboxes will remain online so you can refer to it and share it as usual, but I won't be sharing any new posts.  I will miss my sweet readers and hearing about your Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing adventures.  I'll miss the inspiration and ideas I glean from you all.

Hopefully one day I will be able to return, but for now a final:  Happy Packing!

Image courtesy of Operation Christmas Child.

Winnie The Pooh Dress Waits to Be Finished for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

Well, instead of a finished outfit and the beginning of an Operation Christmas Child shoebox like I normally share I'm sharing a very patiently waiting Winnie The Pooh.  I began this pillowcase style dress a couple of weeks ago, and yet here it sits on my sewing machine table waiting for my return.

Life sometimes gets in the way of crafting for shoeboxes.  As most of you know my mom lives with us and her care takes quite a bit of time.  Recently more time has

Game Testers for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

I never lack for helpers on my shoe box packing adventure!  I shared how I was able to purchase $1200 worth of items from Kohl's with free gift cards I had won.  Well, when the games came several were put thru the fun meter by the in house game testers. They all passed!  Hopefully the kids who receive them in their Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes enjoy them, too.

I will be making some drawstring bags for the ones with small pieces so they don't easily get lost.

Do you ever "test out" items you buy for Operation Christmas Child?

Ten Women Who Have Inspired My Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing

When it comes to Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing I don't think anyone is an island.  I think we all have others who have crossed our paths and have inspired us to "Keep Calm & Pack On."  I'd like to introduce you to several women I have never met yet they have been an inspiration to me and their examples have helped "design" my shoe box packing style.

These are listed in no special order.

Mary  ~ Have A Passion for Packing

Behind the Scenes: A Peak at My Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Messes

It is fun blogging about my Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing!  I get to bring you lovely images of finished items and neat shoebox stockpile organization.  All beautiful and organized.  It's like I enter a shoebox dreamland whenever I am blogging.  But then I always return to reality.

I walked into my Operation Christmas Child shoe box stockpile hallway the other day and thought, "if they could see me now!"  I could hardly walk thru it at all!  I have been ordering a lot of items thru Kohl's and Toys R Us because of large gift cards I won on blog giveaways.  My daughter has carried them all downstairs for me -- after I dug thru them all to look them over.  So those and a few other local purchases fill the aisle!

Then I entered my laundry/sewing room...well, let me take you on a tour.

Generations of Hands Packing Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes: Helping Grandma Again

I shared earlier how I am trying to find simple ways to involve my elderly mother in our Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing.  She is easily confused, which makes even the simplest project a challenge, yet she gets such fulfillment out of helping.  She not only feels she is helping the child, but she also feels she is helping me.

We had some soap that was quite fragrant and I wanted to double bag it so it didn't permeate the contents of the whole box.  I thought this might be something

NOT Setting Goals: Preparing for 2015 OCC Collection Part 1

As I begin to prepare for the 2015 Operation Christmas Child collection week (a year away) you would think the first thing I would do is set a goal.  But I am purposely NOT setting a goal.  Well, not a goal with an exact number of boxes to pack anyways.  My goal for 2015:  to pack as many shoeboxes as possible without tallying them.

The main reason I am choosing to not set a goal for the number of boxes I will pack is because I want to look at the individual box, not the whole.  I want to think about the ONE child who will receive the ONE box I am packing.  I am a "numbers" gal, so I tend to forget about the humanity behind the

Involving Mom in My Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing

My elderly mother lives with us and is virtually home bound.  We purchased this house with her in mind because it has a mother-in-law suite (fancy words for two little connecting rooms and a bath).  At that time she could no longer cook or drive but otherwise could care for herself.  This has changed greatly.

Each day she seems weaker and more confused.  She never receives visitors and rarely does mail arrive for her.   Finding things to keep her interested is a challenge because of the confusion and weakness.

I always keep her abreast of what I am doing with my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  Since it is all in the basement and she can't go down the stairs she can't see what I am doing.  Each time I sew a dress or apron I take it for her to see.  I kept wishing she could help me sew somehow, as she sewed much in her younger

My Favorite Thing About Getting New Shoes: The Empty Shoebox I Can Fill for Operation Christmas Child!

I rarely get new shoes.  I seem to run them right into the ground before I get another pair.  But when I do I am so excited to have another empty box to fill for an Operation Christmas Child delivery!  Now off to pick out fabric from my stash for another Pillow Case Style Dress to tuck inside this one.  Perhaps pink & green will be nice.

Wondering what type of box to use?  Check out our post:  What Type of Box to Use for Operation Christmas Child.

Smiling Faces On Every Christmas Child ~ Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Song

One of the first images of shoebox kids in my memory is from an Operation Christmas Child video from years ago (many, many years).  They put delightful (and not so delightful) images to the song below.  We made it an annual Christmas shoe box packing tradition to watch this video as a family at shoe box packing time.  But it is sooooo moving, that my daughters, now adults, agreed it was too depressing to watch each year.

Image courtesy OCC.

Even my husband gets teary eyed watching it.  My youngest daughter tells how she remembers if she was sitting next to Daddy while he watched this video he would

Christmas Fun!

My daughter was working on preparing cards for the kids at church to send to the home-bounds and she mentioned how cute this Penguin was shouting "Christmas Fun!"  I immediately thought, "he must have packed some shoe boxes!"  Packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes is certainly Christmas Fun!

Thankful to Give to Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection

Thankful to see this sweet little one in Uganda in a dress I made.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States, my mind and heart agree that I am thankful to be on the giving end of the Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

May I work harder than ever this year to share with those in need, encourage and inspire others who also give, and next Thanksgiving may I be able to look back and be thankful for what I have been privileged to accomplish.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wouldn't It Be Lovely? What a Needy Child Might Sing If He/She Knew OCC Shoebox Gifts Existed

Do you recall the song "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" from My Fair Lady?  It came to mind the other day and I began singing "All I Want is Shoebox Please" in place of  "All I want is a room somewhere."  I cannot give these children a room from the cold night air, but I can give them an Operation Christmas Child shoebox with a few necessities and niceties.   I just had to re-write the lyrics into what a needy child may wish for.

All I want is a shoe box please,
Packed with love, care and things I need.
A comb, some soap and toys,
Oh, wouldn't it be lovely?

Pack a stuffed bear for me a treat,
Gloves and scarf, hat and socks how sweet
Warm face, warm hands, warm feet,
Oh, wouldn't it be lovely?

Oh, so lovely sitting absolutely, patiently still.
I would never know inside
Are school supplies as well.
Here's my box resting on my knee,
And I'll know that you thought of me.
God takes good care of me,
Oh, wouldn't it be lovely?
Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely.

We have the opportunity to make a life more "lovely" with a simple gift.  What an honor and a pleasure.

You can hear Julie Andrews sing  the original version on Youtube.  You may want it playing in the background while singing thru these words if you don't know it well (it is a restricted video so I couldn't embed it in this post).

If you are looking for some lovely things to craft for your shoeboxes check out our Crafting For Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes Tutorial Index.

One of my all time favorite shoebox song is Smiling Faces on Every Christmas Child.  What songs encourage you in your packing?