Advent is coming to a close – because Christmas is almost here! Yipppeee!
If you didn’t get a copy of the Truth in the Tinsel earlier this month – definitely keep it in mind for next year. It’s such a fantastic Christmas resource for kids!
And, if you haven’t gotten to all of the Active Advent exercises over the past few weeks, that’s ok too! You can totally catch up now. Even if you haven’t started, this can be a great activity (including for larger groups of kids) to do some kinesthetic learning of the Christmas story. Here’s the Active Advent link one last time if you want to print it off.
As you’re learning and reviewing the Christmas story – whether with crafts or books or exercises – I do hope that you are remembering to “Cherish Every Moment” of this wonderful holiday season!
As some of you may know, “Cherish Every Moment” is the tagline of The Dax Foundation, an organization committed to helping the families and children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I won’t even try to retell the story here (I would never be able to do it justice) – but you can read Dax’s Story (straight from the source) here.
If you’ve heard Matthew West’s song, “One Last Christmas” or seen the movie, “The Heart of Christmas,” (with one of my favorite actresses, Candace Cameron Bure! – and Winston-Salem local, Burgess Jenkins!), then you are familiar with Dax Locke.
We hold a very special place in our heart for this story, this message, this mission … because we lived just two blocks over from the Locke family in Washington, IL. Never, ever will I forget the feeling of standing in their front yard singing Christmas carols by candlelight, knowing the struggles they were enduring.
I am so proud of Julie… For fighting a valiant fight, for honoring her son’s legacy, for persevering, for spreading hope to others…. And – just last week – for the announcement that the Dax Foundation has raised her initial goal of $1.6 million dollars, the amount needed to run St. Jude Hospital – for ONE day!
And I thank her – for beyond everything else – the simple, daily reminder to “Cherish Every Moment.”
If you’re interested in making any donations-as-Christmas-gifts or year-end donations, do consider the Dax Foundation. Beyond the St. Jude contributions, the foundation also provides financial assistance for families as well as supports Camp Coco – a summer camp for children with cancer (and incidentally a place I worked two summers during college).
This Christmas, I hope you’re active and exercising and eating well. I hope you’re coming to know Jesus more and more. And I hope that you’re remembering to “Cherish Every Moment.”
Merry Christmas!
Everyday Faith + Fitness 