The Ultimate Gift . . .

Have you seen the movie "The Ultimate Gift"?

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite movies! In case you haven't seen it . . .the short of it is this - A very wealthy grandpa dies and he leaves his grandson a series of gifts . . . leading up the "The Ultimate Gift". During the course of the movie, the grandson learns/receives 12 gifts from his late grandpa.

Jody and I were watching it a couple months ago . . .and it gave me an idea!!!!

You may recall these pictures from the last two Christmas's . . .

This is Christmas 2007 . . .all the presents under the tree are for ONE child!!!!!

This picture is Christmas of 2008 . . . all these presents are for TWO children!!!

Needless to say, I went a little overboard on the girls! I admit that I have always liked buying them stuff . . . to a fault! However, after last Christmas, it kind of ruined me. Just a couple weeks after Christmas you would find two very bored girls who had "nothing to do". Toys have gone virtually untouched over the past 10 months, and I decided some time ago Christmas was going to be VERY different in our house this year!!! I didn't know how to change it, but I knew I wanted it to be drastic!!!

So, I was inspired, after watching this movie (for the 10th time) to put together my own "Ultimate Gift Experience" for the girls. I am using all 12 gifts presented in the movie, but I have tailored them to our family . . .specifically the girls! I created a little box, and inside are 12 letters with "instructions". The girls will open up an envelope each month of 2010 and we will read the letter, memorize an associates Bible verse and complete the assigned task.

This is the box and the envelopes! The gifts we will "receive" are as follows:

1- The Gift of Learning
2- The Gift of Money
3- The Gift of Friendship
4- The Gift of Work
5- The Gift of Dreams
6- The Gift of Family
7- The Gift of Giving
8- The Gift of Laughter
9- The Gift of a Day
10- The Gift of Love
11- The Gift of Gratitude
12- The Gift of Wisdom

I have been working on a couple other projects for some of these "gifts": This is "Autumn's Pile". The "Dreams in a Can" I decorated and it will be her time capsule for gift #6. It will hold a picture of her, a list of dreams and goals and a description of her perfect day. It may hold more, I am not sure yet, but once we seal them, we will not open them for 10 years!!! Also I made a little box and cards to go in it (on the right side). These are for the gift of wisdom (#12). Autumn's 2 favorite colors are pink and brown, so her stuff is made around those colors.

This is Haylee's "Bucket of Dreams" and her box for the gift of wisdom. I still need to tie ribbon on the handle and and finish the cards for her box. Haylee's favorite colors are purple and yellow.

And so, Christmas this year will consist of each girl getting new pajama's (a tradition), a stocking, one gift off their "list" a journal in which they will document our Ultimate Gift Experience and the combined gift of the Ultimate Gift Experience Kit. The idea is that this gift will be one we get to experience all year as we learn lessons we can carry through the rest of our lives! We watched the movie again with Matt and Kristie last weekend, so the girls will be a little familiar with the idea when it is presented to them. I might sneak the movie in one more time before Christmas . . . just to make sure they get it (although when we watch it, they have no idea we are doing it for more than entertainment).

As we complete each task, I will be sure to post the letter, pictures and thoughts for each one!!!

Serving Him,
Jess