This Reminds Me

Sure, it’s February.

But the holidays will roll around again before we know it. And there are clearance sales now. My friend Lisa has already been traipsing through Oriental Trading Company, picking up bandanas, etc. for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. Laura’s snagged some primo plastic boxes at Costco. Keith, the girls and I dropped $160 at three Targets on New Year’s Day, snagging the 70% off Dollar Spot treats.

Many stores have “heart-y” stuffola in their clearance bins now. Last year, Sharon sent us a stack of green bowls and beads that were obviously (to us) St. Patrick’s Day clearance but to a child who gets a box, those are Christmas treasures. Red and green plastic stuff – Christmas, right?!

So in case you’ve been wondering what to look for in the dark back corner of Sam’s and on those dusty bottom shelves of Kohl’s – here’s what might go into a box you pack. I made this video for church last year, but the basics (plastic box, plastic Ziploc bags over cloth, bagged candy, stuff’em full) featured are timeless.

Julia-the-kindergartener had been home only a few months when she serenaded us with this reminder of how time marches on.