Monday, 04 May 2009

  • Simple Living Total Giving when you plan your summer vacation!

    From a LSV Village Parent who now serves the fatherless at LSV

    Summer is coming, and for most families that means taking a vacation.  This year’s challenges are how to fund your getaway, and not hurt our delicate environment.   More importantly, how will your vacation be a meaningful event that brings blessings to others?   The answer is easy, enjoy your vacation while experience the joy of giving to those who do not have such a priviledge!

    Consider simplifying  your vacation and thus you can donate part of your vacation expense: the air tickets to Florida, the gas and hotel to LA, the cruise to Alaska or Mexico, the $80 ski lift tickets and rental costs, to the LSV children’s summer program and new home completion.  The joy of giving leaves you refreshed in a special way!  Other creative ideas to live simply and thus can give to others.

    1. Use the money for Fresh Choice, or whatever buffet restaurant you think of, to make your own buffet at home.  Let the kids build a salad, make a burrito, or whatever.  Have a lot of dip and chips.  For the mornings, make your own pancakes and omelet or whatever you were going to have out.  Eggs are cheap, and so is flour.  The costs will not be too much more than usual.
    2. How about switching houses with another family for a week?  Let the kids enjoy some new toys, another backyard, Neighborhood Park or whatever.  The kids will enjoy it more than a hotel and the price is right- free.
    3. Instead of going to Disneyland, get some healthy DVDs and popcorn, and splurge!  Our kids always complained that we would never sit still to watch a movie at home.  Just offer a DVD every night and stay seated, and I guarantee happy kids!
    4. Instead of eating out, buy some chicken and marinate it in hot sauce, and BBQ it at the park.  Bring a Frisbee and play together.   You can also drive a bit farther to a State Park in the woods or beach to hike together.  Some other ideas for small kids are camping in the backyard, going fishing at a local pond or lake, riding bikes on a bikeway, fly kites.  We live within an hour drive of several parks that allow wonderful hiking and camping.
    5. Take pictures during the day and look at them together as a family at night.  At the same time take time to look at the LSV website and newsletters.  Read some of the stories together or to the younger kids.  You can look at the LSV video together too, and pray for the kids you see.

    Bless you to have a wonderful and meaningful vacation!   And that you and your children will know the joy of helping others!

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