This post is brought to you by New York Life and BlogHer.
The holidays are finally here and it’s one of my favorite times to enjoy the season, but also remember what these joyous occasions are truly about. When I think about all the holiday celebrations during my childhood, I can’t remember all the details about the gifts I received, or my emotions regarding those presents, but the most treasured memory that stands out to me is how we always made a point to give back to others who are less fortunate than us. And this is my favorite holiday experience of all.
Every Thanksgiving, we donated canned/non-perishable goods to local food pantries through our church and my school, as a way to make sure we helped others have a warm meal during those cold weather months. It may not be much, but it taught me the value of doing for others from an early age and helped instill how important it is to give back. This always reminded me that I had so much to be thankful for, and a tradition we still participate in as much as possible. We have been blessed and we have much to give thanks for…our health, our family, our children, our friends, our jobs, and so much more.
Once Christmas rolled around, Mom and I would venture out to the mall and visit the Angel Tree and we would select an angel to buy gifts for. We would look though each and every angel on the tree and then would pick one that stood out to us…coincidentally, it was usually the ones that asked for a bike or a larger fun item, as well as a coat and clothes to keep them warm. More than anything, this treasured tradition showed me what Christmas was truly all about.
Then when I was out on my own, my friends and I adopted the very same tradition and would get together during our girl’s holiday weekend and shop for our angels. Now with a family of my own, Jeff and I have continued this with our girls and I cannot wait to take them shopping for our recipient this year…I hope this means as much to them one day as it does to me, and demonstrates unconditional generosity. I want to pass this good onto my children and keep this tradition alive and well so that others know how important they are, even to complete strangers.
This year,
New York Life is hosting a Keep Good Going campaign and encourages readers to visit their website to share photos and discuss their special moments and experiences during the holiday season.
· You can also participate by tweeting your holiday traditions or memories using #KeepGoodGoing and the hashtag #FeedingAMillion. (New York Life Twitter handle: @NewYorkLife)
· For every tweet including the two hashtags mentioned above, New York Life will donate 25 meals to the Feeding America organization…what an incredible way to help pay it forward this season.
**Through 1/9/15, New York Life will donate $2.50 for each approved post, with a minimum of $25K & a maximum of $100K.
See full terms and conditions at NewYorkLife.com/CelebratingGood. Find info about Feeding America at feedingamerica.org.
Leave a comment and share what you are thankful for this holiday season, and you might win one $50 VISA Gift Card and a $50 donation on behalf of BlogHer in the winner’s name to Feeding America.
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Be sure to visit the New York Life brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
I am thankful for my family- especially my husband and two little girls!!
Thankful for my newborn baby boy <3
What a wonderful gift to pass along to your children!
I am thankful for my amazing husband and the little one who will join our family in March!
Thankful for my job, family and health and also to be able to secure a loan to fix our home before winter sets in as we found rotting walls to the studs.
I'm thankful for Jesus and his gift of my salvation. I'm thankful for my energetic two year old, who blesses me everyday with being her Mother. I'm thankful for my wonderful boss and my job, who goes above and beyond to make sure that I enjoy working for him.
aww this is really sweet! my husband and i participated in a local angel tree and we plan on continuing that tradition with our kids in the future. xo jillian
I'm thankful for my husband and kids.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
tweet:
https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/539579298550915072
I am thankful for my family
elena150980@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/539611464332357632
elena150980@yahoo.com
This year I am so thankful for my sister having a new baby boy, I get to have a new nephew.
Nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com
Shared via Twitter: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/539620926736711680
Nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com
I am thankful for my husband and 2 kids.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/539629507318407168
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
I am thankful for my Dad being here this Holiday season and not being sick anymore!! I am thankful that all of my sisters and brothers will be spending the Holidays with me! And I am so thankful for my new baby niece who was born a few weeks ago-healthy!
jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com
https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/539786113217732608
jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com
I am very thankful for my loving and supportive family, and most of all Jesus and all he has provided for me. I am also thankful that I just got a job offer!! yarbr012 at gmail dot com.
Thankful for the healing of my little boy, salvation and many more blessings!
My babies. 🙂
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm thankful for my amazing family and most amazing gift of all; my three year old son.
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
Tweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/540677668027793408
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
I'm thankful for a job that I adore!
madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/541330566381985792
madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com
My health and the treadmill in our basement 🙂
I am very thankful for good health of all my family and friends.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/541790197931708416
I'm thankful for my family and a warm, cozy house to live in!
i'm thankful for all the ways God provided for us this year pryfamily5@gmail.com
i tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily2/status/542805474303688705 pryfamily5@gmail.com
I'm thankful for my life and my family
dlatany at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/543039811695554560
dlatany at gmail dot com
I just had a baby one month ago. I'm thankful to have him
tina19820115@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/543105995912646658
tina19820115@gmail.com
I am very thankful that I am healthy and so is my family.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/543266512492978178
I am thankful for my husband and 2 kids
s2s2 at cox dot net
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/543412139252547584
s2s2 at cox dot net
I am very thankful for my family and the love and joy they bring
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/544245547775700992
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
I AM THANKFUL TO BE SURROUNDED BY POSITIVE PEOPLE WHO MEAN THE WORLD TO ME! afjackly@oakland.edu
2ND ENTRY TWEET! https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/545364961388535808 afjackly@oakland.edu
I am thankful for my family's health and happiness!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/545710325954531328
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
I am thankful I get to se my whole family…we bake and bake and bake!!! I love spending time cooking with the christmas music on and everyone around! truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)com
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/547842101237776384 truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)com
i am thanks for my boyfriend
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/548590819838803969
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/548590819838803969
I'm so thankful for a happy and healthy family!!
Shiebs24 at gmail dot com
I'm thankful for my happy healthy family and the roof over our heads!
Shiebs24 at gmail dot com
I am thankful for all my family.
rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com
I am thankful for my husband and being married
https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/549238947058962434
I am thankful for my family and a stable job to take care of the necessities of life.
willitara [at] gmail [dot] com
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/549280434769891330
willitara [at] gmail [dot] com
I'm thankful that it didn't snow in Wisconsin yet!!!
I am very grateful for all that I have, especially my family.
https://twitter.com/jennad289/status/549354780465061889
https://twitter.com/jennad289/status/549354780465061889
I'm so happy to have my family together as one, and very thankful for the job my husband found.
westiemks5 at yahoo dot com
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/549799171654684672
I'm thankful my recent biopsy for breast cancer came back benign.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/550026313348956160
I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to make connections with other people who want to make the world a better place.
https://twitter.com/Attea2d/status/550048479771648000
Thankful for my family
I am thankful for my health. My parents both died frighteningly young and so far I'm in really good shape.
dmarie824 at aol dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/550054036041265153
I'm thankful for wonderful friends and family.
I'm thankful for my 2 healthy daughters, and the good job my husband has.
I am thankful for my family.
I am thankful for God and my family
I am thankful for a paycheck.
I'm thankful for all the smiling faces of my friends and family when they saw what I got them!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Tweet: https://twitter.com/coriwestphal/status/550106303884832768
coriwestphal at msn dot com
I am thankful for our two grandbabies.
I am very thankful for family. letessha at yahoo dot com
I'm thankful for my health.
i am thankful for my home and my family
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/550153228827262976
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
I'm thankful that I'm in good health at age 63 – thank you.
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/550159515258085378
I'm thankful for my family.
austma7@aol.com
I am thankful that I have an amazing family and that we were able to enjoy my daughters first Christmas. I am also thankful for an amazing God.
I'm thankful for a happy family:)
I am thankful my family has good health.
I am thankful the holidays are over.
I am thankful for my wife
JOE GERSCH
JOEBISSY@MAIL.com
I am thankful for my family.
I am thankful that my house is paid for, free and clear, with no mortgage. I am truly blessed.
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/550316376343453696
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
im thankful for my family
POKERGRL8 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/550320404364283905
POKERGRL8 at gmail.com
I am thankful for my daughters! 🙂 They are truly awesome and wonderful people! I'm also thankful for life itself 🙂 Things are pretty good right now and I hope they continue to be the same next year 🙂
anastasia2013@gmail.com
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/550324228302843904
anastasia2013@gmail.com
I am thankful for my health and the health of my friends and family.
motioncitycutie(at)aol(dot)com
I am very thankful for my children, my grandchildren, and my husband-they make my life wonderful!
I am most thankful for my six awesome kids.
I am Thankful for my family and for a roof over our head and food to eat
I am thankful for my family.
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
I'm thankful for my hard working husband and my healthy children.
Thankful that all my children are healthy
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/550378847804604416
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/550376456195284993
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I am thankful for my good health and being close to my family
Thankful for my three children.
MCantu1019 at aol dot com
I am thankful for my children.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/550394261339131904
I am thankful for my wonderful husband who learned to walk again after
having a stroke and be told he would not walk again
I am thankful to have an awesome family who is always there for each other 🙂
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/550405745213071360
I am thankful for my fiance
wlbellows at gmail dot com
Tweet: https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/550407851219636226
wlbellows at gmail dot com
I am thankful for the reason of the Christmas Season. Thank you
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm thankful for every moment. I'm thankful for God, my family and best friend. I'm thankful for being healthy. I'm thankful for having the basic necessities, such as having a place to live and food. Needless to say, I'm thankful for everything. 🙂
SeasideMermaid@twc.com
i am thankful for my husband and kids
stigay at comcast.net
I am thankful for good friends, good health and a warm house.
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/550454330654855168
slehan at juno dot com