Box Number 2 :)

The second box that I have packed this season is for a boy, age 10-14.  I am going to try to pack 4 or 5 boxes for this category because I have just learned that boys age 10-14 is the category with the least number of boxes packed each year; and if there are not enough boxes for these boys to open they have to open a box that was intended for a younger child, which we can imagine would be no fun for them.  A 14 year old receiving a box that was intended for a 2 year old..... I think you get my drift.

So, in honor of hoping that more people will pack boxes for boys 10-14, I am posting what I put into my box!!

Sorry for the horrible quality of the picture, it was taken on my phone.  So in case you can't see (or tell) what all is in it, here's the full list :

• T-shirt
• socks
• toothbrush
• toothpaste 
• deodorant 
• bar soap
• travel pack of hand wipes
• pens/pencils/sharpeners
• notebook
• water bottle (filled with hard candy - double bagged, of course!)
• Jacob's Ladder
• bouncy ball - it lights up!!
• hot wheels car
• para-cord bracelet
• sunglasses
• trick yo-yo
• returning baseball

This age group was particularly hard for me, since I wanted to include practical things, but also plenty of  personal care items and school supplies.  Luckily, I have a 13 year old brother who I can sometimes get to help me.  

What do you pack in your Boy 10-14 box?!

First Box of the Season!! :D

The first box that I've packed this season is for a little girl, aged 5-9 :)

If you're not familiar with how Operation Christmas Child works, I'll give you the crash course -
1) choose a gender
2) choose an age range: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14
3) fill your shoe box with gender and age appropriate gifts
4) smile knowing that your time and gifts are going to bring joy to a wonderful child

It's just that simple!! And wonderful for families, couples, churches, classrooms to do together. Not to mention it's a perfect project to help teach little ones about helping others, appreciating what they have, and, most importantly, giving!!

So....... Drum Roll Please..............

My First Box!!



























Like I said in my first post - I'm VERY new to this whole blogging thing, and I haven't quite figured out how to rotate my images - ha ha ha!! But at least you can see what I have put into it! And just in case you can't, here's a list, and some thinking/explanation, of everything I put into this box

• Flip Flops - I bought a size 5 - even though I know they'll be too big for a 5 year old, it's possible they'll be worn by a 9 year old, so I wanted to make sure they were plenty big
• Pink Star sunglasses - so glamorous!! 
• Purple bead necklace - like Mardi Gras beads - can be bought in packages of 6 (or maybe 8, I cant remember!) and split up to put into multiple boxes
• 2 packs of fruit flavored gum - the only "candy" type things that can be sent in these boxes are gum and hard candy!
• Pink Glitter Purse
• Pink Fuzzy Monkey - I try to put a stuffed animal in each of my boxes, kids of all ages like something to snuggle with, and boy was this monkey soft!!!
• Mini Barbie - you can buy these in packages of 2 at my local Dollar Tree, so I split them up so I could put one in another box too!
• Notebook
• Pens/Pencils/Pack of Crayons - a pack of pencils costs an entire week's pay in some countries, and some children can't go to school simply because they don't have the proper supplies, so these are basic items that I make sure to put into every box I send!!
• Soap
• Hand Wipes
• Toothbrush
• First Aid Kit - free from Walgreens!! :)
• 2 bath pouf-y things
• Jump Rope
• 3 jars or Play Dough
• 1 bottle of bubbles
• 3 pk of socks - very cute socks, I might add!!

All of that packed into a small plastic container (which I prefer to use instead of a shoe box because they are a more standard size and I don't want to be unfair with the size of my boxes - I get mine from the Dollar Tree!!) and this is the finished product!!

The only thing left to do is wrap, and stick a Label on it!!

Let me know what you think!! And Happy Packing!!

Hailey

My First Blog Post!!!

Hello Blog World!! My name is Hailey, and I am very new to this whole blogging thing; but I have this new-found obsession that I just HAVE to share - Operation Christmas Child!!  If you haven't heard of it, check it out and find out how you can get involved here!

I have packed several boxes to send off with church groups before, but this year I am trying to make a much larger impact. Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year ( I start putting up Christmas decorations and singing Christmas songs the minute my Thanksgiving dinner is over!!!) and I love love looovvvveeee the idea of all the smiling children during this season and especially on Christmas Day, but it absolutely breaks my heart to think of a child feeling "forgotten" or like they weren't "good enough" for Santa to visit them to bring gifts simply because their parents weren't able to get them gifts.  I totally understand that Christmas is about so much more than just presents, but I just cant help myself when it comes to gifts for children! 

Sooo, on to my OCC Obsession ( isn't that the coolest name ever?!).  I wish that I had started this earlier, and I am planning to collect things from now until the time OCC season comes around again next year so that I can pack my goal of 15 boxes next year, but this year I'm sort of on a tight budget.  Here is where I plan to share my ideas, crafts, deals, coupons, pictures, stories, and anything else OCC related that I think you guys will love just as much as I do!!