We learned how to make these cute pillowcases at Enrichment. So I decided to make one for each of my kids this year.


About a month ago, I decided I wanted to help my kids think outside themselves this year for Christmas. Being a parent means helping your children internalize certain things you might already know. That can sometimes be very difficult to do. And as I thought about that last month, I decided we should take our children to an old folks home. Even better I thought, I would teach them how to make these pillowcases and spend one night making a few to take with us.
So we cut out the material and pinned it together...

...then did the sewing....
Little scarey with this in particular helper! She tended to have a lead foot..

Ironed and WAA - LAAAA!


So next was the delivery. Last night for FHE, we picked up some little Santa stuffed toys and took the pillowcases to the nursing home. There was a little dance group there, but some of the people stayed in their rooms and we specifically visited them...probably about 10. We sang a Christmas carol to each one and handed out the little gift. It was such an uplifting experience...the kids were very good and gentle with them. One 100 year old blind guy, when asked if wanted us to sing, he said "Let it rip!" After we were done, he yelled out "Waa..hoo!!" It was funny! And he kept singing after we walked out..loudly!




In another man's room we sang "Away in a Manger" and he started crying in the middle of the song which of course made it then hard to get through the rest of the song. The kids noticed it and I think they could feel a difference in bringing a little bit of happiness to these people's lives. We have decided to make it a regular family activity.