abundance

Sitting in my dining room and hallway of my home are fifteen market baskets heaped with goodies. Each basket has a theme. There's one packed with teddy bears of all sizes, another filled with every size candle imaginable. One has Christmas ornaments, wrapping paper and gift bags. Another is loaded with red and green items. Jolly ol' St. Nick peaks out of one and Frosty and friends smile out of another one. One "Just for Dad" and one for a whole family to delve into on a snowy winter day. They are all wrapped in clear cellophane and adorned with a big diaphanous bow. My daughter and I arranged the items in the basket and then wrapped them together.

After we completed the task, we stood back to take in the result of our fun task, the word that leapt to mind was abundance.

Why do I have 15 baskets in my home? Every year, the school that my son now attends (my daughter attended as well but is now at middle school on her way to high school next year..........how did that happen so darn quickly??) has a Christmas Bazaar. It's the one big fundraiser of the year for the school. The event is next weekend, but the preparations for it begin in early October. This is our 7th Garden Creek Christmas Bazaar and our 5th year pulling together the theme baskets for the event. They will be raffled off to raise money.

The theme baskets are only one part of the event, but definately my favourite. By next Saturday the gym will have been transformed into a happening with tables of abundance. Homemade baking, craftwork, used books, mounds of playdoh made by the Kindergarten class, a teacher's table to show off their individual talents, a whole back end of yard sale items will have accumulated. Pre-ordered wreaths and pointsettias for pick up, and a whole slew of donated items to be raffled off.......... Ralph, a community member who by day works as a minister and by night at this time of the year works as Santa in the local Mall, takes part selling popcorn and slushies will be there too. Every classroom on the main floor of the school will be set up with an activity the kids can take part in. It's a swirl of energy topping off individual efforts.

What I love about pulling together the baskets with Martha every year is the symbolism. Each item is donated by a child and their family. Each basket belongs to a class. A couple of weeks ahead of time, I send off a list of themes to the teachers. After they choose their theme, I write up a letter to be sent home with ideas to consider and with instructions that the item can be homemade or purchased for only a couple of dollars. A communal effort.

Then, the stuff just comes flying into the school. By the time Martha and I get over there to pick it up, each classroom has accumulated bags full of goodies. What amazes me every year is that rarely do I find duplicates. What I do find is that most items I mention in their letters are represented. It amazes me every year.

The reaction to the end product is especially rewarding due to the sense of community they represent. We all do our part and no one spends more than a couple of dollars for the effort. Together, we create abundance which in turn will benefit the children at this school.

Now, if we could just take that concept and reach out in a small way to the larger community think of the goodwill we could spread.

Abundantly.......................... together.