I was so excited the week before the event!  I have a team of seven women at the office that I purchased tickets to the event for.  As I handed out the tickets, the ladies got very excited that this was happening in their backyard and that they now got to be involved.

The night of the event was a blast.  I got to give twice.. once to share the message of GracePoint and to invite my team to a very special event.  The gifts they received that night are now being gifted throughout NWA.  The team was so excited, they have now decided that each quarter next year, they will hold a fundraiser, purchase gifts and have us go out into the community throughout the year into areas that are in need to distribute gifts.  They really are taking the message to heart about giving all year long.

The second gifts that iGet2Give are to those of my neices and nephews this year.  I have been trying to think of a way that I can get them to be less materialistic during this season and to understand there are families/children that are less fortunate then they are.  This year, after the event, I was motivated to find a way to get them involved in donating even though they are all in Chicago and I am in NWA.  Then it hit me…  Their presents this year included a present they must return to me.  I gave each child (all 9) cash gifts.  $50 of their gifts are for them to spend on themselves for what they want, and an additional $50 is for them to find someone in their community in need and either give them cash, purchase a present, or provide a gift card to that person.  They get to give!  I told them in my card to them with their gift, that their gift back to me this year must be an email, phone call or text on how they spent the monies and who and how did they impact someone else.

While I didn’t have bracelets for each of them, I think I have just started a new tradition in the Henry household and I am very excited to spread the message to my family up north.

Thank you for hosting this event, for a wonderful evening and for inspiring a community of women and a community of Christ to share such a wonderful message! – Tammy

I received an infant care basket at the event.  I was very excited to pass
this gift along but at the same time I had no idea who I could give it to.
I called Northwest Medical Center and spoke to a nurse in the maternity
ward.  I explained to her about the gift basket and she said they would be
happy to pass it along.  So, today my three year old and I dropped it off at
the nurses’ station.  My daughter kept asking to see babies so I held her up
to the nursery window.  There was one little one getting care from a nurse.
My daughter looked at the baby for awhile and then asked “is that baby
Jesus?”  Wow – my young daughter just experienced bringing a gift to a baby
just as the wise men did for Jesus.  What an amazing experience for both of
us!!
Thank you to all who made this event happen.- Manda

At the iGet2Give Christmas party I “won” a scrapbook/craft carrier with some
office supplies in it. My sister-in-law’s husband has been without a job for
a few weeks and she only babysits two days a week. They have almost no money
and a 4 year old and a 7month old. I knew that whatever gift I won needed to
go to her. Before the event I prayed that I would win something that she
needed. I was thrilled to win the scrapbook carrier as she loves crafts and
could definitely use the office supplies in it. I knew I wanted to give
more. After asking her what she needed, she said nothing. I bought her a big
package of diapers and a big pack of wipes and filled up the carrier. She
came to visit that weekend and I gave it to her along with a check for $50.
She was absolutely overjoyed with what I gave her. She had been running out
of diapers and wipes. I told her to pass on the giving to someone else. Even
though what I gave was in the family, I knew she was truly in need. I have
been truly moved and changed by giving. My heart is now broken for people in
need. Look around, they are all around us. –Julie

Today I gave my bracelet away…I have worn it each day since the event; even to church on Sunday; which added a little ‘christmas flair’ to my outfit.  I didn’t know what I’d do with it, who I’d give it to, so I just kept wearing it. Knowing I would find someone to give it to. This isn’t a touching story, and I almost feel dumb posting it after reading the other posts. But I will post it and I will feel dumb because I want to come on here and read where every bracelet went, big stories and small stories. So I suppose I can start, with my small story.

As I sat in line at Starbucks today, I thougtht “Hey! I’ll pay for the person behind me”. Boy, that’s original, huh? Then hoped there wouldn’t be a car behind me and I could just leave a gift card for the next person and maybe they would smile. As I ordered 3 cars pulled in behind me. Seriously, I must have been crazy to think I would get through STARBUCKS without a car behind me! Plan foiled…”now what”, I thought. So, I put the 2 together. I paid for the car behind me and I left them a gift card with the bracelet wrapped around it. I pray for that person to hop on this site and see what NWA is doing. I pray that they will ‘give’ what they ‘got’ and pass the bracelet on once again.

This event moved me. This event inspired me. This event opened my eyes. This event made me smile. This event was like no other.

I will let this event change me. —Annie

I was invited to “I Get 2 Give” dinner  by Desiree Weber. Christmas is a hard time for my family since we lost our 10 year Matt to a horrific car accident on I-540 2 years ago. We moved here right after for my husband’s job. Lori & Desiree have taken me under their wing. God’s provision.

Honestly, I came to the dinner thinking I’m ready to be in a large crowd celebrating Christmas. As I sat in my seat I had to hold back tears. I look at the audience & see smiling faces & inside my heart is breaking. Then, I hear the girl’s testimony of all that she’s been through & I see how selfish I am of only thinking of myself. I had to confess that to the Lord.

I was given a backpack! I’m praying for what to do with it & feel that I will donate it before next year’s school starts. I go on still praying who to give it to. The Lord spoke to my heart & by NO accident did I receive a boy’s backpack. God reminded that in my Matt’s backpack the last day he came home from school before he went to be with the Lord, was his spelling test. All the words were “ea” words. He had to write a sentence with as many of the words as he could.

Matt’s sentence read: “I want to go to heaven because there is no death or disease in heaven”. WOW! That little boy didn’t know that within a few short hours he’d be there.

As I was praying for whom to give this backpack to it came to me to give it to a 10 year old little boy. Again the Lord keeps reminding of the sentence Matt wrote & stuffed in his little backpack that that is where he wanted to be. A gift from God we’ll never forget.

Thank for an evening of gift giving to others, yet I received as well.

Blessings
Dana Russell

When I got to work today. I went to the Cafeteria and gave the cashier $3. I requested she tell the customer that someone paid for their meal.

When I got to my desk, an email from a guy in our dept. He sent it to the entire group.

Good Morning!
This morning someone paid for my breakfast in the Cafeteria.
That was a very nice surprise. You shouldn’t have.
If it was you, THANK YOU!!!!!! It made my day!
If it was not you, and you know who it was, please pass along my thanks!

At the Dept meeting today we were asked to write on paper our best or worst gift.

This guy wrote on his that the nicest gift was that someone paid for his breakfast. I was sitting next to him. He was really surprised. He still does not know. He said that the cashier told him Merry Christmas your meal has been paid for.

Thanks to Lauren Ashley Photography for capturing the event in photos! You can see all of them by clicking on the photo tab above.

I was very inspired last night at the event i get 2 give! It is so true. . . it not about me, it’s all about Him. It is so fun to just be a living channel of His blessings. You know, a living channel always absorbs some of what flows through it. We can choose to become stagnant or let His love flow!

Today I got with a friend to bless my new neighbor who has many needs. My neighbor is waiting for the courts to approve her to receive disability funds. In the meantime, she is selling almost everything she has to have the money to eat and pay her bills. She has been without heat, hot water, phone and tv for some time until she sold her precious piano that she received as a youth.

My neighbor is fighting depression. She is stuck in her house without a car and feeling ill. I don’t have extra money right now; but because I don’t have much work, I do have time. So, I got with a friend who can sew, and we made curtains to give her a cheery room. My neighbor’s windows were covered with newpaper and old gift wrap that was half torn up by her dog. Now she has privacy, beauty, and lined drapes to help with her utility bills. The fabric came from my mom’s old drapes. It only cost us time and drapery rods.

My friend and I had a blast getting to know each other better, laughing as we worked. My neighbor is overwhelmed by people who hardly know her who would show her such love. I’ve gotten to pray with my new neighbor, and I have a new dear friend. God is so good. He certainly rewards those who do good in His name!

So the event is over, but the lifestyle begins!  Cannot wait to hear how you use your gifts, or how you are blessed by giving!  I’ve already heard so many stories. Let us know here online how your part in a bigger story goes. You get to be a part of something greater than yourself! How cool is that?  Still figuring this blog thing out, so for now, click on “comment” and tell your story. Or click on “comments” and read stories.  We will upload some photos from the event soon!