Lullo/McCarty Family Service Project: Cross-Cultural Ministries

As a part of our church small group, Kevin and I have the opportunity to partner with a group called Cross-Cultural Ministries.  As described on their website (http://www.ccmatlanta.org/), "Cross Cultural Ministries operates a non denominational center for children ages 5 to 18 who want to benefit from education and school subject tutoring in a Christian environment, various clubs, and family support."  We don't get to serve with them as often as we would like, so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to help them prepare for Christmas.  On Saturday December 14, Kevin and I spent several hours labeling, sorting, and preparing gifts for the children who participate in CCM's activities.  While we didn't get to see the joy on their faces as they received their gifts, we had a great time being the elves behind the scenes and imagining how loved and cared for they would feel when they received what would likely be the only presents under their trees.  

Dan and Cari Carpenter Family Service Project - The Carpenter Haunted Woods

Dan and I wanted to share our service project for 2013 :)  We help to run our local Superstar Social Club Jr. for elementary kids with special needs.  We hosted the October event at our house, which was The Carpenter Haunted Woods.  We had lots of volunteers come and help make the haunted tour through the woods memorable and fun and then provided hot dogs, S'mores, hay rides (minus the hay) and time to have a good time with peers with and without special needs.  It was our biggest event in 2013, with a total of about 80 people attending (kids+Sr. group+parents and sibs+ volunteers).  Lots of fun! 

Hintz's Family Service Project 2013 - Operation Christmas Child

Boxes for 2 little girls

Nora helping to choose a coloring book

Every Christmas for the last 3 years we have participated in a project
called "Operation Christmas Child." We fill boxes with toys and
toiletries and ship it off to a child in need. It has been an absolute
joy!

This year, Annabelle was at a wonderful age to understand and pick
things out herself. Nora, though she didn't understand, helped make
decisions.

Before leaving for the store, we had Annabelle watch 2 different
videos explaining what it is that we were participating in. She had
also learned a bit about it in Connectionland (her Sunday school). She
was very excited to pick out lots of girly things.

And boy did she. Some little girl is going to have an exploding heart
when she sees all the pink and girly things in her box. The sweetest
thing was when Annabelle insisted that both little girls have a
"blankie".

Picking out a baby to send along

Beauty

Coloring her picture

We came home and packed their boxes to overflowing. The girls then
colored pictures and Annabelle got to fill out a little worksheet with
information about herself to send to her "new friend". We then spent a
short moment praying for each of these little girls. It was an
unbelievably sweet moment.

Packing the boxes

Annabelle's favorites!

Box full of pink

Annabelle's completed picture

Nora's completed picture

Little sweetness praying for her "new friend"

We then chose to donate our shipping fees online so that we could see
where our boxes will end up. I look forward to explaining to the girls
where their boxes went. Annabelle was excited for a little girl who
might not get Christmas presents, to get Christmas presents.

It may not be much, but two little girls the ages of our little girls,
will know that someone in this world cares about them. We will
continue to pray for them this Christmas season. Annabelle may even
receive a letter back from her little girl.

And hopefully our girls, through this and other experiences, will
understand giving and service and humility.

Christmas note

The following is a note that Aunt Laurie found in her stash recently and gave out copies at the mass that was said for Grandma a few weekends ago. It seems that Grandma wrote it after Christmas one year when Jerry and Patrick were little.

____________________________

This business of words whether written or said,
is not very simple and they're stuffed in my head.

If I want them to do a good job and make clear,
our feelings and thoughts for the ones we hold dear.

I'll take time and weigh carefully each one, every word,
and make sure they're the ones that I want to be heard.

"Our Christmas was Great," says this pair of antiques,
this couple of sixties, whose joints always squeak.

Our dreams are much different more different each day,
"you'll know when your older," grown up all the way.

Telephones shared and trying some way,
to bring others home if for only one day.

Boomerangs, beer mugs, and trillions of toy and out in
the snow two rosy cheeked boys.

My annual heart to heart chat with our Chris,
Bob's box of goodies, some cheddar some swiss.

Our guest who's much taller, now looking back,
who must love us a lot cause she always comes back.

A whoop and a holler from the game watching guys,
some singing, some jigging, some tears in our eyes.

And a new Mrs. Santa, charmed the room as she sat,
and Santa got taller instead of more fat.

Vision of sugar plums are no longer needed,
Our Garden of Dreams is now thoroughly weeded.

Thanks for our Christmas, you loved ones where ever,
From a couple old elves who'll love you forever!

Love, Mom + Dad

Visiting Grandpa

Hours and hours of political news shows and the conversation is bound to come up.

See Annabelle and I just returned from a whirlwind trip to see Grandpa. A few highlights? Grandpa sitting on the floor with Annabelle multiple times even though he knew it was difficult for him to get back up. When I offered to help him, he said "when I can no longer get up from the floor by myself, I won't get down there." And I always forget about his sweet tooth. I doubt the muffins I left will make it past tomorrow (maybe because he kept calling them cupcakes, which would give anyone reason to eat them at any time of day).

My visits with Grandpa are never filled with lots of things to do, but good ol' fashioned relaxing. He talked about how much he looks forward to summer, Patrick getting married next summer, how proud he is at the success of each of his children, and always a little about Grandma.

But today, there was plenty of political news to keep us interested. Wisconsin is in the middle of serious political turmoil, and grandpa and I are not on the same team. We talked about Muslim radicals, and how he says he's seen every new ethnic group in America go through the scrutiny. First the Italians, then the Irish, and so on. He has a strong dislike for Lindsay Lohan. And he admitted he watched Fox news because the women on that channel are the most attractive.

He then pondered aloud how these women could be so beautiful AND smart. I left that one alone.

And then he brought up social security and Medicare. Things I truly haven't thought that much about. But his ability to articulate the issue was uncanny and I took the time to put aside any small thoughts I might have and just listen. We may not always agree, but, to be entirely honest, he is probably more educated and wise on so many of these topics.

anniversary

it seems odd to honor the anniversary of someone's death. grandma would probably think i was nuts. but as i looked back over the several posts made here around her death, i sit back and reminisce. she was a great friend. a friend i could use more than ever now.

she would have loved her. my annabelle. they would have been fast friends, even at the age of 8 months. it seems silly to somehow think about it, but it's true. i can almost picture them together. before she was born, grandma would have taken me to the yarn store to pick out yarn to make something cozy for her. then we would have gone to the italian coffee shop down the street, or for burgers at Fred's. and when annabelle was born, she would have kissed her little face and talked to her and told her how loved she was. and then we would have gone to love inc and picked out some things for her, while grandma introduced her to every person she had ever known, and even to people she didn't. i don't know how, but some way i will impart that love on my daughter.

i have an incredible legacy of women. my grandmother was the most uniquely loving person i know. she made everyone feel special and different and lovely. my mother is the most giving and wise woman i know. i trust her more than any other person, and rest comfortably in her words and love.

may i be that woman. myself, and yet with the beautiful characteristics of the women who have paved the way before me. and though i've said it before, it is worth repeating. annabelle is the most blessed little girl to have these women go before her.

Remembered favorite story

It wasn't long before Grandma was diagnosed that I remember sitting in the painting room and her telling me this story.

She had some paintings hanging in the gallery in Lake Geneva and was pretty excited when a doctor from Chicago saw her work, loved it, and asked to buy several pieces. She was elated (as we all know that Grandma loved the praise of her work). She quickly informed us all of this great news... she was finally finding the success she longed for. After figuring out how to show him the pieces and have them delivered to him, she ran into a friend.

This friend was excited too, she had just bought a piece of original Julie Carpenter artwork. Wow, now Grandma was flying high, but she was curious as to where this friend had found her work. The friend answered back... "I got it at Goodwill for only a few dollars!".

Grandma told me this through laughter... she truly believed that this was God's way of knocking her off the little pedastal she had built for herself.

I am grateful that she was so honest with me about her successes and her failures. This is something I see in the people she raised also. My mom is a prime example of someone who never tries to pretend that she doesn't make mistakes. One of the best lessons I could ever learn. Even though I don't have children, my mom and my grandma both taught me that inevitably I will make mistakes as a mother, and big ones, but that everyone does.