Last night, Cassidy and Scarlet baked cookies together. I had received an ultimate cookie recipe book from my uncle last Christmas, and Cassidy had received an attachment for our KitchenAid mixer from my parents which would mean we wouldn’t have to scrape the bowl anymore. We were excited. I started to smell the cookies wafting up into my office as I put some work stuff together and I followed the smell, entranced. We did a three-person taste test, although poor Des was asleep. They were good. Great. And after we had all sampled at least one cookie, Scarlet said, “They’re good. So now we go and give them to homeless people on the street right?” Not in this case but I’m not surprised she said it. It’s been a season of giving.

It’s been a season of meaning. We celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah & New Year’s quite in style, coming together with family & friends. It’s one of our favorite ways to spread joy during the festive season. We have been in full holiday mode for a month now, and it’s been a season of kindness, community, discovery and acceptance. It’s been completely wonderful and I think a memorable year for my kids. We’ve been expanding our horizons. I decided it was the year to introduce the kids to CARE.org.

When you do your holiday shopping with CARE, your money directly impacts women & girls around the world who need it most. Contributions to the CARE catalog strengthens communities and empowers individuals to be independent & successful.

This is an unforgettable holiday season experience for gift-giving. A CARE team in Malawi introduces you to girls like Maliyana, Evelisi, and Alinafe – and many others – whose lives have been transformed by CARE’s work, and also by the generosity of donors. “I want to be like my mother. She is hard-working, caring and above all a strong woman.” – Maliyana “Without CARE, I don’t know what could have happened to me and my three children,” – Magret. These stories are common in developing countries, such as Malawi in Southern Africa, where resources are scarce and educational opportunities are limited.

These girls and their families are profiled in CARE’s annual gift catalog. The catalog contains a page of farm animals – like the ones Magret raises – because a goat can give a family nourishing milk to drink, and provides a vital source of income since extra milk can be sold at local markets. Give a gift of a goat, or a variety of other catalog items to help empower girls and women around the world to reach their potentials. It will be a gift you will be proud to send.

1 – Taking fresh cooking and baked goods, and blankets, to people out in the cold on our city streets.

2 – Scarlet’s favorite – we pay for people behind us at the Starbucks drive-thru.

3 – Baking cookies for our neighbors.

4 – Making surprise boxes for loved ones going through rough times. What a delight to get those in the mail!

5 – We picked a few “angel” ornaments off the Salvation Army tree in the mall, and plan to shop for our those children.

6 – We will buy gifts through the CARE catalog.

7 – We will call older or ill relatives we hadn’t talked to in awhile. Bonus points for video chats with adorable kids!

8 – We will food, clothes, personal care items, and toys to our local survival center.

9 – We will give large tips on restaurant bills, along with handwritten notes on the receipts. That’s actually something Cassidy did on our first date together, so sometimes I like to do it with Des or Scarlet.

10 – We will show appreciation for all the people in our life who help us!