Advent Conspiracy Update (aka - why we aren't sending Christmas Cards this year)

I promised an update on how the Advent Conspiracy is going in our house and I have to say that I am really excited about some of the different choices we are making this Christmas season. If you need to catch up on what the Advent Conspiracy is go here (there is a GREAT video) – but it is basically a challenge to keep Christmas simple, buy less, and donate more. So that you know that we are trying to practice what we preach here are a few of the things we are doing and maybe it will give you some ideas you can incorporate in your home:

1. The past couple of years the girls have bought gifts for each other which we or course financed. I liked that they were thinking of each other and not just themselves so this year we took it a step farther. Instead of buying a gift for the other sisters each girl picked out a child from the Angel Tree Network to buy for. This has been great because we have been able to go shopping for the gifts to the Angel Tree children together, wrap them together and open up a conversation with the girls about the ways they have been blessed.

2. Drew and I are actually buying fewer gifts. Fewer gifts for the girls, fewer gifts for family and fewer gifts for friends. If you typically buy a gift for us please join us in the Conspiracy and we will gladly be your one less gift – all we ask is that you take the money you would typically spend and donate it to any cause that is close to your heart.

3. We are still giving some gifts because the point of the Conspiracy isn't to go all Scrooge and we do want to show our family (especially our grandparents) that we are thinking of them this Christmas. However, we are spending less on the gifts we buy, giving homemade gifts where we know they would be appreciated and also giving gifts with purpose such as:

- The FABULOUS Homecoming CD -with all proceeds going to AIDS relief

- Microloan Gift Cards - these Microloans help women caught in the sex industry in Thailand get out, gain education and start their own business.

If you are interested in giving these gifts as well just let me know and I can hook you up!

4. Finally, we are not sending out Christmas cards this year. I know this seems extreme but we questioned all our Christmas expenses this year and when I thought about how much money and resources it takes to send our Christmas cards – which I am terrible about getting out in a timely manner anyway – it seemed like a good choice for our family. That money instead will be donated with the rest of our Advent Conspiracy savings. So, here is our Christmas card to you (you can click on it if you want to download a full print quality version):

I never wrote a Christmas letter in the past and I figure that if I actually keep this blog updated you will be able to keep up with our adventures and misadventures throughout the year!

So there is our Advent Conspiracy update! If you would like to join us head over to this website. Need some more ideas on creative gift giving? There are tons here. You can also listen to the AMAZING messages from our church pastors on the Conspiracy here. Can I cram in the links or what??

My prayer for you is that you are having a blessed and peaceful Christmas season so far!
Still Conspiring -