Dear Scott,

I thought forever about what to do in your name this year. There are just so many needs and so many opportunities to help others, it's hard to narrow down what would be "the perfect thing." But then one day I was out cleaning stalls and thinking (It's my favorite time to think. Odd for others perhaps, but perfect for me. :) and it suddenly struck me what I could offer to the whole family!! I as thinking of all we've all experienced and accomplished in the past few years and marveling at what we have become. We've all been sealed in the temple, started families, survived school, gone out into the world and become successful in our chosen fields; we have strong marriages and strong testimonies. We serve the community and at church. I think we've all done fairly well up to this point. But then I began thinking of Mammaw and Uncle Dan and Uncle Pete and so many others. I know they're all proud of our lives, but I wish I had done more to record some of the stories and experiences from THEIR lives. I know the story of the first time Mammaw saw Pappaw, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we had it in her own words?! And what did she think when she held her first child, or how did she feel when she lost her only girl? I can imagine, but I wish I KNEW. And, I have the photos of Uncle Dan's military service, but who are the people standing there serving with him? We'll never know now. How much easier would Anthony's family history be if we had ANY records from his dad or grandfather? What lives they lived! But we have so very little. That's when it occurred to me what to do! Those opportunities are gone but we still have family members here whose lives we can begin to document. So, I gave Daddy a book with questions about his life to answer. I thought I would type them up and give each family a copy. I have done that (the typing but not the distributing), but as I was typing up his answers, I realized there is so much more that could be added to it! Stories he skipped over and answers that need more depth. I guess you could say this will be a continuing act of service for a bit as I work with Daddy to flesh out his record and figure out the best way to bind it all together for everyone to have. Merry Christmas!!

Dear Mother,

We were excited about the prospect of giving the gift of service this year. I liked the idea of celebrating the Savior's birth the way He lives, serving others. There is certainly no shortage of needs in our world, but I wanted to choose something that would allow the recipient to better their lives, rather than bettering that moment. After we read a story about a family who received a goat and was able to feed their family and produce some income, I knew what I wanted to do. I won't lie, the agricultural nature of the gift appealed to me; it's no secret I believe in farming! So, I looked up Heifer International, the charity mentioned in the book. Heifer International is an organization that provides livestock, clean water, educational opportunities, and various other benefits to families in 3rd world countries. They also provide the families with the education necessary to successfully put the gifts to good use. The families in return agree to pass along the things they learn and the gifts given when possible. We chose to purchase a flock of chicks in your name. According to Heifer International, "A flock of chicks can help families add nourishing, life-sustaining eggs to their inadequate diets. The protein in just one egg is a nutritious gift for a hungry child. Protein-packed eggs from even a single chicken can make a life-saving difference. Heifer helps many hungry families with a starter flock of 10 to 50 chicks. A good hen can lay up to 200 eggs a year - plenty to eat, share or sell. With Heifer recipients' commitment to pass on the offspring and training, the exponential impact of adding chickens to communities in poverty is truly a model that helps end hunger and poverty. Because chickens require little space and can thrive on readily available food scraps, families can make money from the birds without spending much. And chickens help control insects and fertilize gardens." Hopefully with this gift, a family can provide a better life for themselves and those in their community. Merry Christmas! Love, Wendy