For Wendy

Dear Wendy This year I decided to avoid the Christmas crunch I always feel and work on one service project per month. I made a list of projects that I felt acceptable and got to work. Some were small, really small--like writing a note to a friend who was having a hard time. One month I cleaned a friends house who was having a difficult pregnancy. A couple months we fed missionaries...who I wouldn't have chosen to spend time with....seriously, that was a major service. One month I took a meal to a recent widow with a grocery gift card. Some were bigger, some were simple, one month I needed some service. I felt the exercise helped me focus all year on thinking of others and enjoyed the experience. I am thankful for the Saviors example and love. Merry Christmas Love, Heidi

Pictures for Craig from haylee

haylees ipad has problems

Dear Craig,

I have to apologize to you to start because I usually try to serve in some way that is significant my service honoree. But this year, for some reason, I had it in mind that I was serving in honor of Gina, so forgive me if this seems off the mark for you and your interests/talents. This year, I volunteered as part of Birthday Cakes 4 Free, which provides free cakes to financially and socially disadvantaged kids and seniors. My goal was to do four cakes, but they have an abundance of volunteers now, so I only had the opportunity to make and deliver two. But then I had a friend ask me to bring cupcakes for the Young Women's birthdays and I jumped at the chance to at least make one more "cake" to dontate.

Love,
Haylee

p.s. Pictures are in another post.

Dear Kylie, From Uncle Owen

Kylie,
       This year for my service I decided to do random acts of service as often as possible.  These service opportunities included things like paying for popcorn in a redbox movie, donating blood, helping strangers change tires on the side of the road,  giving money to those in need,  blowing leaves  on our wards day of service, helping many families move into and out of our ward.......and the list could go on and on.

One service I would like to highlight was changing the tire of a single mom on the side of the highway.  I passed by her vehicle while driving to work one afternoon and notice she was standing outside her van obviously distraught.  I decided to turn around and see if i could help.  She was traveling from Tennessee to another part of our state in a rental car and there was no one who could help her and her 2 year old daughter get off the side of the road for several hours.  I was able to quickly change the tire and get her to a location where she could safely wait for a new vehicle from her rental company.

The reason I chose this service for you is because of your infectious joy you spread to others.  Thank you for your great example to me and my family.

(Sorry about no pictures but due to the random nature of most of my acts there was no time for pictures)

To Uncle Anthony, Love Kylie

Dear Uncle Anthony,

I love being around you and your smile is so contagious!  You love helping everyone around you.  I love you!

This year, I spent a lot of my spare time knitting hats to donate to a hospital for newborn babies.  I made 100 of them!  One of them I was even able to donate in person to my newest cousin, Grayson Thomas Tucker!  He was so cute in it and I loved being able to donate my time and talent.

Merry Christmas, Uncle Anthony!

Love,
Kylie

Dear Callan, Love Aunt Gina

Dear Callan,

What a special young woman you are!  I love you!  So many things came to mind that I could do that would exemplify your qualities in the service that I chose to perform.  Ultimately, I chose to focus on the fact that one of your main jobs/focuses at this time in your life is being a student and learning.  Learning is such an important part of this life!  It's something that we never stop doing.  We are all learning and growing each day. 

But for my service in your behalf, I decided that I would help students who are seeking an education.  I did this in two ways:

1. First, I have been volunteering 2-3 days a week at our local elementary school, working with 3rd graders one on one.  Some days, I help students who haven't scored well on a certain test that week and come from families that may not be able to provide enough structure and support to child.  I sit down with them and go over each question they missed and help them understand the information.  Other days, I work one on one with a little boy who is struggling to learn to read.  It's been amazing to see how the light bulbs go off when they are able to make a connection to learning.  Learning is fun, but sometimes when it feels too overwhelming, it's helpful to have someone on your side helping you in bite-sized steps!  I've loved being able to help these students.
2.  Second, I have been a speaking partner for a student in the BYU-Idaho Pathways online degree program.  She lives in Mexico and is learning to speak English.  We Skype with each other every week and talk about what is going on in our lives to give her an opportunity to practice speaking English with an actual English speaker.  It has been a wonderful experience! 

Callan, I love you and I hope you will continue realizing what a gift your education is to you not only now, but for the rest of your life!

Merry Christmas!
Love,
Aunt Gina

To Linda From Scott

Linda,

When I think of you the first thought that always comes to my mind is that you constantly speak up for and in behalf of the little guy.  You seem to constantly be doing things for those in need.  Every month 2,000 people worldwide are killed or maimed by landmines.  Over 1000,000 individuals worldwide are missing a hand either through landmines, accidents, or congenital absence.  Many of them are in poor and developing countries without resources to provide a prosthetic limb.  In March of this year I helped to fund and assemble LN-4 prosthetic hands for these poor and deserving recipients around the world.  We started with a kit of over 30 unmarked plastic and metal pieces per hand.  We had to work as a team with one hand covered so we could not use any of the digits on it.  This allowed us to experience on a very small scale and for a very short time some of the frustrations of only having one hand.  These prosthetic hands are then delivered and fitted at no cost to deserving recipients in over 70 countries around the world.  They are able to use these for writing, working, driving, and otherwise improving the quality of their lives.  It restores the ability to grasp and clasp to tens of thousands.   I realized I was using my hands to create something for someone who does not have a hand.  This helped to magnify my attention, compassion and care.  It helped me to count my many blessings.  It humbled me to all the many wonderful gifts I have been given.  Please think of this gift for the next little while each time you use your own hands in daily living or in the service of your fellow man. 

Scott F. Tucker