Christmas 2008

We love Christmas time. Not for the cable channel that shows Elf 24-hours straight (which is great) or all the exciting holiday events, gatherings, etc...but rather for the spirit of giving that is ignited in everyone. Also, for the fact that I'm sitting out on our front balcony and the trumpet band is wandering Manitou playing Christmas songs. Unfortunately the positive aspects of that giving spirit gets hijacked by the frenzied shopping and a common feeling of being overwhelmed by the sales, commercials, and materialism.

So we're doing something different this year. It's pretty simple: no gifts. Well, not in the normal sense. We've called our families (some of you reading this) and told them we're not giving them gifts. Also, we don't want any gifts. Instead, whatever amount would have been spent, we'd like to donate to a good cause.

We'll be donating that money to World Vision. They provide countless services to needy areas around the world and we want to donate towards providing clean water to a village that doesn't currently have access. To read more about World Vision, their Clean Water programs, and other things they provide, check our www.WorldVision.org

We would love participation by anyone else who's interested as well. Please pass this along, recruit friends, and consider participating yourself. We already have several friends/family members who are going to be donating money instead of scurrying around trying to think of gifts that aren't really necessary.

So instead of receiving gifts on Christmas day, our loved ones will be receiving cards that simple say: "Merry Christmas. We didn't buy you a gift this year. Instead, $X has been donated to World Vision in your name. With this gift, World Vision is able to provide clean water to X people."

Let us know if you'd like to participate. If we can raise $5390 for World Vision, that would be enough for a 60' well that would provide 600 gallons of clean water per day. That's enough to provide for a village of 150 people, year round.It's a huge goal, but we'd love to make it happen. Please consider taking part. Call or e-mail me at jessemarble@gmail.com if you have other questions or want to participate. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays :)

**This wasn't our idea. The youth pastor at our church has challenged the high school and middle school students to do the same. Read the article from the Colorado Springs Gazette here.
$450Billion (with a "B") will be spent on Christmas this year. Wow. Consider that noted economist Jeffrey Sachs believes we could effectively eliminate abject poverty worldwide if developed nations increased current aid from $65B/year to $135-195B/year by 2015. We could do that twice in one Christmas season.

A couple of bonus things:
1) Watch this and I dare you to not smile. I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite.
2) This if funny if you've never seen it. Elf Yourself.
3) Santa Claus is coming to town. Well, he came to our town today. On a Harley. With a police escort. Followed by about 500 other bikers doing their annual Toys For Tots ride. Very loud. Here are a couple pics and a video.

You can see why this woke Kate up. (She worked her final night shift last night. For a couple months at least. Her husband thinks this is a good thing. )