As we celebrate Epiphany today and the end of the 12 Days of Christmas, I am re-reading the Matthew West book, 101 Simple & Thoughtful Ways to Give This Christmas Away in preparation for the end of our giveaway. Looking back through it makes me smile, there are  so many wonderful ideas that I want to implement in my family throughout the year. 

While initially reading the book, I shared some of the suggestions with my children as examples of good works.  My 6 year old son has taken #89 truly to heart.  Every time I went into a parking lot during the Christmas shopping season, he would remind me - "Mom, remember to park in the back!"  Now, even when he is at school, I smile as I pull into a parking lot and hear his little voice  in my head telling me to leave the close parking spots open for people who need them.  Speaking of smiles, that's #19! 

In celebration of #72 - Give this book away - Shelly and I will be sending a copy of this book to a random person who comments on our original post about this Matthew West book or here by the end of today. 

I know this book will have a positive impact on you and your family like it has with mine. 

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me....

As a child, I often wondered about the days of Christmas. When were they? Did the days begin in Advent... counting down the days to Christmas? I never thought it could mean the days after Christmas, because we all knew that Christmas runs from the Day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. After Christmas comes New Years Eve. The days following contained a post-holiday exhaustion that always seemed to linger for a few weeks, until we geared up our anticipation of the Super Bowl parties, followed by Valentine’s Day.

After I grew up, I learned that the Twelve Days of Christmas referred to the church Christmas season – December 25 through January 5—culminating in the Epiphany on Jan 6. I know I probably should have learned this in CCE as a child, but for whatever reason it didn’t stick in my mind.

Since Christmas Day, my daughters and I have spontaneously broken out in song each day. Without planning it in advance, we only sing the lyric that begins with that day, caroling down to “...partridge in a pear tree.” And then it’s over; just a simple moment between us.

To recognize this 12th Day of Christmas, please take a moment (or three) to enjoy this delightfully unique performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser from 1998.

While shopping at a local Christian bookstore recently, I picked up a little inspirational book titled 101 Simple & Thoughtful Ways to Give This Christmas Away by Matthew West.

This small, hardback book offers inspirational, out of the box ideas of how to have a better Christmas. It is a quick and easy read - I sat and read it while waiting for my daughter at choir practice. You may want to dog ear pages or highlight suggestions as you go.

It didn't take me long to read one that really hit home for me. #4 is "Write a Letter". The author encourages you to write a real letter, not text message or email, but an old-fashioned pen and paper letter to tell someone how much they mean to you. His mentions that after his grandmother passed away, he regretted that he didn't write her often enough when her health was fading. As I read this one, my eyes welled up. My husband's grandmother has been in the hospital ICU this last week with heart trouble. And now that she's been released and is at home resting, sending her a heartfelt letter has become very important to my husband.

There are many beautiful ideas that work for our families, coworkers, friends and kids of all ages. And the ideas will work not just for Christmas. I found myself taking notes of things to incorporate into our lives year round.

I really want to pass this book on to others so they can share in the wonderful ideas, so we're offering a copy to a randomly selected person who comments from now until the end of the Christmas season (Jan 6). While preparing for Christmas is suddenly another year away, a copy of this book will not only get you ahead of the game for Advent in 2010, but help you find many beautiful ideas of how to Give Christmas Away all year round.