Christmas 2007

HOLIDAY  HUGS 2007

Holiday Memories 2007

  What a memorable holiday season we had! Numerous churches, Sunday school classes, professional organizations, and friends, workers, and financial supporters worked hard to create a holiday filled with special events, programs, parties, and presents for about 80 kids and their families associated with Rachel’s Kids Inc.  These families in Binghampton were blessed to have people from the faith community step forward. Special thanks to the women’s group at Decatur Trinity Christian Church, Mullins Methodist Sunday School Class, The Women’s Guild at Holy Communion Church, First Unity Church, Central Christian Church, Bellevue Baptist Church and New Hope Christian Church.  Our friends and volunteers spread the word about Rachel’s Kids Inc. and we were so fortunate to have organizations like The Insurance Woman of Memphis, The Designers Work Room, Memphis Neurology Group, Bright Ideas Day Care Center to participate.

    Our holiday began with the Decatur Trinity Women’s group sponsoring a wonderful Christmas store set up in our recreational study facility. It was full of presents that the children could select from for their families. The women wrapped the gifts the kids selected, and placed name tags on them. This was a labor of love and enjoyed by all.

    The next week the Insurance Women of Memphis along with Toys for Tots gathered with a meal and cookies and presents that were given out to the kids. A uniformed Marine accompanied the Insurance Woman and called out the children’s names and presented them with toys. The spirit of Christmas was felt by all.

   We gathered on a Sunday evening and had the opportunity to go see and hear the singing Christmas Tree at Bellevue Baptist. We had tickets donated, and for all of us this was a spectacular production during the holiday season. Thanks to Bob Farley.

   We had our own Christmas Party on Wesselly on December 23.  We had so many people who donated, shopped, wrapped, and helped with our party. Funds that we received help finance this event. This year our list included over 80 children. Judy Lang worked hard orchestrating the adopting of families and the list of details so that all kids were included and no one was left out. Several churches adopted families this year and chose to give out their presents when we gave out ours. We made new friends, the Skylers who called to request to adopt a family this year. B. J. Ramey worked with one of our families and along with her church created a wonderful Christmas for this family.  The kids and families all gathered to eat hot-dogs, sing favorite songs with Adam, a former camp counselor at Camp Columba. We all experienced the joy of Christmas. The kids took their gifts home to open with their own family.  How do we say thank you to the hundreds that made this day and year possible. A special thank you to Mike Avioti who donated hams for all the families to enjoy at Christmas.

    Our annual trip to Zoo Lights was the grand finale. The Prentiss family made it possible for fifty of us to see the lights, decorate cookies, dance and sing with Ms Patches, attend a magic show and try to stay warm at this outdoor event. We had a blast!

 Our holiday was spectacular. The joy of Christmas, the time shared with family and friends, the traditions relived, all made the birth of Jesus Christ alive in our hearts. Our memories will always make 2007 special. Jasper Hughes and Patricia Hill will always be in our hearts. You never know what to expect from the kids. Will they be animated? Will they be numb? They will always be spontaneous and full of surprises. Our hope for 2008 is that it’s full of surprises and it’s as rewarding to you as the time we are spending with these children is to us.

God’s blessing to you and your family

Rachel and Harry