this...

Toy Time 2011

this...

became this...

when over 100 volunteers

got together for 5 days

to clean, sort and price

13,400+ toys 

from 160+ donors

we even had a little fun...

with Ami,

our fearless leader

what if...

What if?  I think I know the answer...  I would be changed from the inside out.  Every. single. thing would take on a new luster and I would take on a new joy. 


I am quick to forget though.   He is faithful to remind me.  This morning this cartoon was on the wall of a facebook friend.  This is how I want to be every. single. day.


Continuing to count with the gratitude community on this Multitude Monday...


... a warm house
... love inside
... my big bathtub
... snuggling with a warm puppy
... a girl big enough to make her own teacher treats and clean up afterward


... coffee with Sweet Italian Cream
... smaller jeans
... learning to cast down idols
... forgiveness
... His faithfulness


... coming home to a rousing game of Monopoly
... the creativity of my friend Kari
... her servant's heart
... the sharing of her talent
... friendship


... family Bible time
... hearing the prayers of my children
... the glimpses of maturity I see
... Advent traditions
... that the almost 15 year old still participates

... learning to embrace more by living less each Advent
... the thrill of my 3 E's servant hearts this beginning day of Toy Time
... answered prayer
... upcoming Christmas break
... the promise of family coming

the most wonderful time of year..

December... my favorite time of year.  I love tradition and have built many family traditions around the month of December.  I love Advent and the counting down of days.  I love spending a whole month reading of the coming Messiah... my Savior.

We talk about the candles and we read through the scriptures.  We study the One who came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets and to offer grace for all.

We reacquaint ourselves with some of the names of Jesus found in Scripture.  He is the Lion of Judah, the Messiah, the Bright Morning Star.  The Word is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  The Holy One of Israel came to be the Light of the World.  I need the reminder of all that is I Am.

We schedule around the 10 days that we call Toy Time.  Ten days to give of our time, our energy, our stuff to serve others.  Ten days to stop in the madness of the Christmas rush and to give rather than receive.  Ten days to hand out toys and give away Jesus.

December is a month steeped in tradition.  Traditions that get harder to keep year after year.  The kids grow up.  More and more events pull and tug at us.  We can't do it all and sometimes we don't do any of it.  Other times, we do what we can and love on each other the best we can.  This year, we are late starting our Advent tree.  We haven't gotten our Christmas tree yet and our work at Toy Time will be sporadic around school schedules.

This December I don't want to wig out on what we don't do and how we haven't fulfilled every idea and tradition that I've created.  

Instead, I want to rest in awe of my Creator, my Messiah, my Savior, my LORD.  I want this most wonderful time of year to be all about the most wonderful gift of all... HIM!

Jesus size holes...

I can't get her out of my mind.... She came in to the toy give-away yesterday... an unknown in a sea of faces... identified only by a worn brown coat.  She came for new toys for her children... she thought she left with Jesus.


I didn't see her.  I don't know her name... or what she looks like.  I have no idea how many children she has or which toys she took.  She quietly came in while I was out... just a number... maybe A-1032 or C-77 or B-1102... no one remembers...


I didn't sleep much last night... couldn't get her out of my mind.  My heart is heavy for her... I prayed... or tried to pray... mostly the Spirit intervened because I couldn't articulate what my heart was feeling.  


I begged Him to bring her back today... I wanted a 2nd chance with her... an opportunity to give her what she didn't take.  My heart longed for a chance to share the greatest Gift ever with her.  


She didn't come... and yet I pray.  I pray for this one... this mom who is struggling through life... searching for something to fill the emptiness inside.  I pray to the One who intimately knows this faceless, nameless mom with the worn brown coat.  I pray that she would find Him in her search.  


All I know of her is that she came searching for more than a few Christmas toys for her children... this I know because this woman quietly lifted Baby Jesus from the manger scene on the table and slipped it in her pocket as she walked out the door.  


I want to tell her that you can't take what is freely given and that what she took won't fill the Jesus size hole in her heart... 


So, I wrapped the remainder of the manger scene with a Bible and waited for her to come... I waited with a pretty box and a new Bible... thinking I would be the one to show her Jesus.  
"What are you going to do if she doesn't come, Mom?"  the question of the wise 7 year old.


And when she didn't show... Jesus showed Himself to me...  


We all have Jesus sized holes in our hearts and in our desperation, we often grab at anything that looks like it might fill the empty space and slip it into our pockets... sometimes buying, sometimes borrowing, sometimes stealing... only to get home and realize that what we got doesn't fit and we are still empty... and more desperate... because we can't fill a Jesus size hole with anything less than the One True Jesus... 


... and you can't steal what is freely given.

giving away Jesus...

They came this morning.... those for whom we have prayed as we cleaned, priced, sorted and sold toys last week.    

They lined up in the cold and the dark early this morning... those who thought this was all about getting a few free toys.

They waited... we prayed... uplifting them before the Throne of Grace... thanking Him for the avenue of toys and asking for opportunities to give Him away this Christmas season.

They rushed in... grateful to be in the light and out of the cold... some eager to take... others hesitant to ask.  

They took used toys while we filled their bags with new... a Barbie here, a Tonka there... but always the Gospel and a smile... "Jesus loves you! Merry Christmas!"  ...giving away Jesus one bag of toys at a time.

They left... arms laden with gifts... new and used... some grateful... others begrudging... all leaving with a seed of the Gospel planted.

They represent 1289 children who will receive a new toy for Christmas this year... a day of giving away Jesus as we gave away toys.


In the prayer and in the rush, we failed to mention that we wanted Jesus to go home with them in their heart...not their pocket.... 

...we gave away Jesus today...

... because I just don't think you can steal Jesus.

the end of round one...

****My apologies if you are tired of reading about Toy Time by now!  I sincerely will not be offended if you close this window and walk away from my blog for a while.  You may want to take a loooonnngggg walk because I still have five days of Toy Time to talk about! ; )

my 4 year old friend, Rachel, working hard cleaning toys

This evening marks the half-way point of Toy Time... the end of Day 5 in a 10 day journey.  However, it's only the end of Round One and we still have 3 more rounds to go.  Today ended our toy drive.  Over 100 volunteers came together in 4 1/2 days and collected, cleaned, sorted and priced over 12,000 toys!! Yep, 12,000!!!  Isn't that a crazy amount of play apparatus?

a partial view of ALL of the toys!

Round Two of Toy Time begins tonight with the consignment toy sale.  Consigners have been invited to pre-sale the toy sale tonight to purchase new and gently used toys at a reduced price.  We had A LOT of brand-new toys come into the toy sale to be sold.  We also had some GREAT used toys... a FurReal S'more Pony, a Powerwheels Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a stuffed Nintendog.  It was fun to see what would come in next!  Tomorrow the sale opens to the public.


On Sunday afternoon the sale will close and my incredible friends, Ami and Tena, will spend several hours settling accounts.  All consigners have the option of earning 50% of the sale price of their toy or the consigner can donate their profit for the purchase of brand-new toys.  When all accounts are settled, Ami will have money to go buy new toys to pass out to needy children in our area.


Monday is Round Three!  Shopping day!!  Ami and Tena (and sometimes an extra helper or two) will go shopping with the proceeds from the sale.  They will purchase as many toys as they can and will bring back a trailer full of new toys.  One of my favorite Toy Time memories was the year that Tena's husband, Mike, pulled in with his semi-trailer full of toys!


Tuesday and Wednesday will be Round Four... toy give away!  It's for toy giveaway that we work so hard.  We love to pass out toys to needy kids and their parents because when we give them a toy, we can tell them about Jesus.  He is the greatest gift ever given!


Stay tuned... I'm sure I will have more to say about Toy Time 2010... until then, I'm down for the count after Round One...  g'night!

What do toys have to do with it?

What do toys have to do with telling people about Jesus?...

I'm asked this question a hundred different times a year in a hundred different ways....  

Why work so hard cleaning a few thousand toys when 

you could just go pass out Bibles all around town?

Why allow people to even bring in dirty and broken toys when

you could just hand them a new toy?

Why go to the trouble of cleaning someone's smelly bear when

you could just go to Wal-mart and buy a new one?

Why work 12-15 hours a day for 7 days to make a few dollars when

you could just go ask local corporations to give for a tax write off?...

... and 996 other similar questions...

The answer is never changes... 

Toys are simply an avenue to reach

people right where they are.

My Jesus meets people where they are.  He's not a God who requires us to clean up our act to come to Him.  He doesn't demand that we change ourselves to be accepted by Him.  He came to love the unworthy... the unlovely... the undeserving... like me.

In this day and age, I don't think there are many unsaved people who do not celebrate Christmas.  While most may not care at all about a baby in a manger... all that I have met over the years do care about presents, trees and Santa Claus.  And, while I can't condone Santa, I can meet these people where they are....  

We can offer them a chance to make a little extra spending money 

this season by cleaning and selling their toys for them.   

We can accept toys without demanding that those dropping them 

off conform to our man-made standards.  

We can love them because Jesus loves us.

I've never been laid off.  I've never been a single mom.  I've never been hungry...cold... worn out... only because of the grace of God.  Without Him, I could easily find myself in the same shoes as those I serve.  All that I have is because of His grace in my life... and to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).  

In December, toys have much to do with meeting the unsaved where they are... in our hyper-commercialized world where the emphasis is on a jolly old elf who delivers toys to all the good little girls and boys... toys become a tool....

a tool to meet the heart's cry of the father who lost his job last year

to introduce him to the God of hope

~Romans 15:13~

a tool to minister to the single mom

to introduce her to the Great Provider

~Psalm 68:10~

a tool to minister to the hungry

to introduce them to Bread of Life

~John 6:48~

a tool to minister to the sick

to introduce them to the Great Physician

~1 Peter 2:24~

At Christmas time, a simple toy packaged with a Bible and given by a child who says "Merry Christmas!  Jesus came to earth so that He could die for your sins.  He loves you!" becomes an incredible weapon in a spiritual battle for souls.

...and in that respect... toys have a lot to do with it!

all in a days work...

This week is our annual toy drive.  This is an annual highlight for our family.  We spent long days working hard pricing and cleaning toys... as well as playing hard rollerskating around the building, laughing and sneaking lots of yummy holiday treats!

Remember this picture?  I posted this picture of our empty building on Sunday....

Here's a picture of the same building 4200 toys later...

The number of our used toys is down considerably this year.  Last year we took in over 9000 toys.  If we were to meet or exceed that this year, we would have to take in over 4000 toys tomorrow because it is our last day to collect, clean and price toys.


We not only worked hard on toys today...

we also worked hard on wiggling and wiggling a tooth until it finally came out!

and the list goes on...

And the list goes on... working toward a list of 1000 gifts from Him...

#266~#290

... the quiet of a snow fall

... fun skiing on our hill

... $5 ski sets for the family

... the laughs and giggles of children 

... a dad who is willing to bundle up for Ski School

... another Toy Sale year

... a great group of kid volunteers

... Ami and Tena who organize this opportunity year after year

... heart changes in me that occur each year

... watching my children share the love of Jesus with complete strangers

... a friend that gifts me with Love and Respect book

... the same friend who listens much... says little... prays more

... deep friendships that challenge my spirit and draw me nearer

... kindred spirits

... coffee and laughter with the girls

... a marriage with a strong foundation

... a man who hasn't walked away

... being a team of two 

... the familiar warmth in the cold of the night

... amazing children who challenge me daily

... a God who never changes

... and who loves me the same

... the never ending relevance of His Word

... the lessons the Spirit whispers to my heart

... blessings too numerous to count

it's beginning to look a lot like...

It's beginning

to look

a lot like

TOY TIME!!

Our annual help at our local toy drive

starts tomorrow.

We worked in the building today, 

setting it up for a 10 day toy drive, 

2 day toy sale

and a 2 day toy giveaway.

This will be our 8th consecutive year of helping...

Emme mentioned today that she has 2 nights a year when she knows she will not 

be able to fall asleep... Christmas Eve and the night before Toy Time.

You can see pictures and read about

last years Toy Time

by clicking the Toy Time link

on my sidebar.

...stay tuned..

much more about Toy Time to come!

crunching the Toy Time numbers...God's way

Toy Time 2009 ended today. Once again, God multiplied in amazing ways! Here are the numbers....

**We took in, cleaned, priced and sorted 9,187 toys.

**The profit from the sale plus donations equalled over $5,100 with which to buy new toys.

**At the end of the day, 2059 children in the area received new toys for Christmas.

I love seeing how God's math works. Let me just tell you that Ami spends as little as possible on new toys. She goes to Big Lots and cleans them out of all of their inexpensive toys, spending between $5 and $8. So, if you were to divide the $5,100 available to spend by $5 for each toy, you answer would be 1020. According to mathematical reasoning, then, 1,020 children could each receive a new toy. Instead, over 2000 children have each received a new toy and a small stocking stuffer and all of the new toys that were purchased or donated left the building.

I love the way God crunches the numbers!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

Psalm 77:13

What it is all about.

Today is probably my favorite day of the year! Today was day 1 of toy giveaway. All of our hard work last week paid off in huge dividends today.

Last week we took in over 9,000 toys (who knew there were that many toys around?) and over the weekend, the toy sale was a big success. When all the dust settled, Ami and Tena had over $5,000 dollars to go buy new toys. Last night we spent about 4 hours sorting used toys from new toys and marking out all UPC codes on all of the toys. We also prayed over the toys, asking God to multiply the toys the way He once multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5,000 people. And then we all went home for a good night's sleep before the stampede today.

Anyone, regardless of economic status, can come get new toys. Ami refuses to refuse anyone toys because "You don't know their story. We give them Jesus and toys and let God take care of the rest". So, this morning people began lining up in the cold and in the dark around 6 a.m. When I arrived at the building at 8:20 there was a line of people! We didn't open the doors for the giveaway until 9 a.m.

I wasn't kidding when I said "before the stampede". It was amazing to watch today. People were arguing and pushing in line, much like a line in a kindergarten room. I kid you not, I heard these quotes:

"She cut in line...."

"He's pushing..."

"That lady, she doesn't even have any children and she's here to get new toys!"

And, this was before we even let them in the building to fight over used toys that didn't sell during the toy sale!

When we finally opened the door, we had four lines going of people signing in. As the people signed in, we would find out the ages and genders of their children. Then they were allowed to look for 2 toys per child among the toys that didn't sell during the sale. While they were looking, our children would run behind a closed door and "shop". They would chose toys by age and by gender. When they had finished "shopping" they would go back in the main room and give the toys to the person as well as tell them about Jesus.

Within 10 minutes I had a woman return her bag of toys to me angrily and accuse me of short-changing her children. Since I really couldn't say "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!", I took her toys back and found the specific toys she asked for. I figured I might as well make this an opportunity for telling her about Jesus. So, I returned with her new toys and gave her a hug and told her "Jesus loves you. Merry Christmas!" I'm not sure she knew what to do with that! ; )

Between this woman, the woman I had to confront (not once, not twice but FOUR times because she was taking too many things), and the people pushing and shoving in line, I was about done in! We had not even been passing toys out for 30 minutes and I was already losing my focus of why we do what we do.

I'm so thankful that God restored my focus. For each of those negative things, He gave me a positive that makes my heart sing and restored today as my favorite day of the year. In the hustle and bustle, I walked up behind my 10 year old friend, Rebecca, and heard her say "We do this because we want you to know about Jesus!" to a beaten and worn out man waiting patiently for his toys.

I saw a mom hug Ami on her way out of the building and say "Ami, thank you for doing this. I lost my job this week and I wasn't sure how I was going to provide Christmas for my kids."

When I blogged about Toy Time last week, I mentioned that every year we have a story or two to share. This story is my story of the year.... My almost 9 year old friend, Cassadi, was choosing toys for a mom whose husband had been hospitalized last week. Since he can't work, there is no money for this family right now. The mom came in hoping for a few little things to wrap up for her kids. Cassadi was able to give this mom a brand-new bike that had been donated for her little girl. Cassadi gave the lady the bicycle and boldly told her about Jesus~how He loves her and came as a baby to die on a cross for the sins of everyone. The lady cried and thanked Cassadi... Cassadi cried and hugged her... and all those watching cried because this is what it is all about!

It's not about adults acting like impatient children who can not wait their turn. It is not about selfish and greedy people snatching up anything they can hide in their coats or bags. It is not about unsatisfied "customers" who throw a fit when they don't get what they want. Amazingly, it's not even about toys. Instead, it is all about Jesus and making Him known by giving away some simple toys for needy families. It's all about Him and it's totally amazing!

I can't wait!

Not a day goes by that I don't beat myself up about one thing or another. Today is no exception; rather, it seems to be the rule in my life.

Here's the story... today was day 4 of Toy Time. I wish you could experience it. To see a building filled with over 7,000 toys and twice as many children (not really, but when we all bring our kids to "help" it seems like at least 14,000 children!). To hear the dull roar of kids laughing & playing, mom's chatting, feet running and wheels (of roller blades, skates, scooters, and ripstiks) clattering over the concrete floor. Obviously, the volume increases as more and more people come to help. By 5 p.m., the noise reached record level. And, yet, I wish you could experience it. It is the organized chaos (a bit oxymoronic...) that ensues and encompasses Toy Time.

Equally obvious, by day 4 we are all getting tired. I've been battling bronchitis all week and though I am on a potent antibiotic, I still am not even close to feeling 100%. I've worked less this week at Toy Time than I ever had and I am much more tired. Everyone is getting tired! It's par for the course and we are all right on track. I just wish I could handle my weariness with a smile like my friend, Rachelle. I wish I could be a mom like Rachelle...she NEVER yells (how does this work?)!

Unfortunately, I am not Rachelle and unfortunately for my kids, especially the almost 13 year old, they're not Rachelle's kids. So, sick and tired mom hit the wall today. I don't know if it was the high decibel level in the building or if it was because I had just sorted and priced 485 Beanie Babies (seriously!). Whatever the reason, I snapped (in front of God, my friends, my kids and their friends....). You probably heard the yell that ensued. It was loud, it was angry, it was wrong. I over-reacted. Again.... and this time the almost 13 year old was the recipient. The result, an embarrassed kid who wished the floor would have opened and provided a hole in which he could have crawled.

Why do I do this to my kids? I hate it when I do and yet, I do it again, and again, and again. I confess, I repent, and I make wild and crazy promises to myself that I will never do that to my children again. Not much time goes by at all and I find myself repeating the confession, the repentance, the promises....

I know this is the battle of my sinful will verses my redeemed soul. I know that this battle will not be conquered on this side of being in His presence. Can I just say, I can't wait! I can't wait until I'm ushered into His presence and presented with a perfect body! I can't wait until there are no more tears, no more sin, no more reason to yell, scream or cry. I can't wait to be 100% redeemed and rescued from my sinful self!

In the meantime, I will apologize once again and hope for my son's forgiveness. I will throw myself at the mercy of my Savior and asked for Him to make me more like Him and less like me. And, I will cling, again, to the promise "I am confident of this, He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" Philippians 1:6. And, I will wait.

wordless Wednesday

All tuckered out!

Here are some pictures from Toy Time today. To date we have over 6,000 toys for sale and we still are collecting tomorrow and Friday!

The story of Toy Time....

It's the most wonderful time of the year! There will be parties for hosting, marshmallows for roasting and... toys, toys, toys and more toys... it's Toy Time in my neck of the woods!!

I love Toy Time! I love my friends, Ami and Tena, who have organized a misfit bunch of volunteers year after year! I love seeing God multiply dollars and multiply toys to provide toys for hundreds (actually thousands) of needy children in our area! It's incredible to be a part of this effort year after year.

The Toy Time story goes like this.... Once upon a time (say 15 or 16 years ago), a woman named, Ami, took over a Christmas toy consignment sale. The founders of the sale would price used toys and offer a sale. The consigners would receive a part of the sale of their used toys and the organizers of the sale would earn Christmas spending money for themselves. When the founders no longer had children at home, they looked to someone else to run the consignment sale. They found Ami. And instead of simply maintaining the toy consignment sale as it was, Ami dared to dream big.

Ami enlisted the help of her cousin, Tena, and their children, and together they started the first year of what we now know as Toy Time. These two women took the toy consignment sale and instead of using the 40% profit for their own Christmas shopping, they opted to use this money to buy brand new toys for needy children in the area. Over the years, Ami has relentlessly pitched her idea until she has gotten our area community assistance organizations, the Salvation Army, area churches, the local media and the Marine's Toys for Tots to join in and be a part of an incredible community outreach. Within a few years, Ami and Tena needed more help in cleaning, pricing and sorting toys. They now have a small army of trained volunteers who consider it an honor and a privilege to be part of the fun!

Throughout this week, people in the community will drop toys off in a heated building at our local fairgrounds. Inside, smiling and laughing adults and children busily clean, sort and price the used toys for the sale this coming weekend. By the time Ami and Tena open the doors for the sale, there will be thousands and thousands of toys ready to sell over the weekend.

Next Monday, Ami and Tena will take the profits from the sale, along with cash donations that were made and go shopping! Last year, Tena's husband, Mike, took his semi-trailer and these two ladies filled it with brand new toys! Volunteers met them and unloaded and sorted the new toys by category (ie baby toys, toddler toys, 2-4 year old toys, etc.). When they return with the new toys Monday afternoon, there will be hearts rejoicing because it will be time to give away!!

Hundreds of people will come and stand in line in the cold next week to receive a brand new toy for each of their children for Christmas. When they receive the toys, they will also receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With adult supervision, the children volunteers go behind closed doors and pick out gifts for the children and pass them out to the parents who have come. The children will have Bibles and tracts for the adults and all day long the sound of "Merry Christmas! Here are your new toys. We want you to know that we do this because of Jesus. He loves you!" fill the building. I wish I could adequately describe the thrill of seeing children proudly proclaim Jesus Christ! Every single year, tears of joy run down my cheeks.

At the end of two full days of giving toys and the Gospel, we will have no toys left. With tired bodies and joyful hearts we will clean the building. Ami will turn out the lights and lock the door and we will all travel home to rest and to prepare for our own Christmas celebration with new "Toy Time" stories ringing in our hearts. Stories like the year that Rissa gave up her shoes to a little girl that needed them or when Bryce was able to give a bike to a boy who had none.

As I said, I love Toy Time! I wish everyone could experience the privilege that God has given us. I wish that everyone could pray in a circle with children volunteers thanking God for a bunch of brand new bikes that were donated, or witness their own children boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ! I do know, though, that God uses the Body of Christ in different ways to complete His work on earth. He gives us all ministries to complete. Though they may look different, they are all for the same goal~spreading the love of Jesus and telling others the story of His birth, death and resurrection. So, my heart is joyful and thankful that God has given this ministry opportunity to my family. Our lives are blessed because of the vision that Ami and Tena have had and have allowed us to join. I am forever grateful to these dear friends for telling me the Story of Toy Time and for allowing me the privilege of being a part of their dream. This truly is the most wonderful time of year!