Every year at this time I consider, at least briefly, whether I can handle the Pathways holiday gift drive again. This is the 6th year I’ve decided that even though my life is perpetually crazy and some of my own family’s gifts don’t get wrapped until Christmas Eve, organizing the Pathways drive is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.
If you’re new to my blog, Pathways is the local family shelter, and I organize a small army of family, friends, and coworkers to help make Christmas happen for the kids who live at Pathways, and those who have recently moved to permanent housing. I get a wish list from the shelter and divvy it up between the enthusiastic volunteers, and then host a brunch at my house on drop-off day. It’s complete chaos, but so much fun!!
Anyway, one of the things on my to-do list for Saturday was to buy 45 Christmas stockings at the Christmas Tree Shop. On my way there I remembered that last year someone had offered me a coupon but I had already bought the stockings. I didn’t have a coupon this year either, but figured I’d have to just bite the bullet.
Norah and I had made a full circuit around the store and I had the cart overloaded with stockings, stocking stuffers, gift wrap, etc., when one of the moms from Aliya’s soccer team came up to us and asked if I had a coupon. I swear, I got a little misty! I was able to save almost $50, which equates to a gift and stocking stuffers for one extra kid. 🙂
As I was driving Norah around the store in the carriage, she entertained herself and the other shoppers by singing one of her favorites, “From This Moment.” It cracked me up because it must have been so funny to hear it coming out of a carriage of stuff. Usually she just makes up her own words but I think she was distracted by the camera. Here’s a short clip:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjNeqm9VV78&fs=1&hl=en_US]