Giving even when we don't want to...

Today is Saturday.  One of the few days I get to "sleep in".  One of the few days I don't end up at school helping where I can, one of the few days that can be more lax and take it easy kind of days.  However, this weekend my small town also has a festival going on called Court Days.  This festival (basically a big flea market with both new and old and used items being sold and TONS of fair type of foods) has been going on for many many years.  It's always the weekend of the 3rd Monday of October and lasts Friday through Monday.  I have many memories of October Court Days, some fantastic such as days of family coming to visit and playing with my cousins all day, cotton candy brought to us by family members going to Court Days and bags of cashews as well.  Others aren't as fantastic, such as the year I got lost with my aunt who wasn't from this area.  I was very young, maybe 5ish?  I will never forget that feeling of uncertainty and wondering if I'd see my parents again, even if we were only lost for a little bit.  

This particular year for Court Days will be memorable to me as well.  The past 6 years our small group from our church has parked cars in our church parking lot on Saturday only for a fee of $5.00/carload and shuttled any people that park there down to the festivities with our church van.  We then take this money and purchase coats on Black Friday for kids that don't have them in our community.  This year we did the same.  Many times it's hard for me to do this.  I'd rather be spending time with my family from out of town.  I'd rather go down and enjoy the festivities myself.  I'd rather go down there and have a ribeye sandwich from the cattlemen's association.  I'd rather sleep-in.  You get the picture.  However, I make myself do this, because I know this isn't about me.  It's about kids in our county that get cold when the weather turns freezing.  This year was different however.  I still didn't particularly want to do this, but this year my daughter (age 10) and 3 of her friends had a bake sale at the church while we parked cars.  They also had 3-4 other friends bake cookies/cupcakes/brownies for them to sell while we were there.  THEY did the baking, THEY made the posters/signs, THEY did some of the selling.  They were there with us for 6 hours today to raise money.  This money wasn't for them though, this money will be donated to our small group to be put toward coats for kids their age and younger in our community.  

I must admit, my heart is full tonight.  Yes, I'm tired.  Yes, there were messes to clean up.  Yes, these girls were loud.  BUT, they had fun together and they put their efforts together to serve God and our community. They were very proud of themselves and what they accomplished this afternoon, as they well should be.  I'm so thankful for my girls and for the hearts they have for others in need.  What a blessing they are to my family.  What a blessing all of these kids are to our church/community!

Setting up the bake sale...

Ready to sell cookies/brownies/cupcakes...