Giving this Christmas ~ a New Tradition

There's a small group of local writers I'm part of, and usually at our Christmas party, we give each other small gifts. 

L to R, front to back: 

Patty Smith Hall, Barbara King, 

Nora St. Laurent, Barbara Davidson, Me, 

Anita Mellott, Julie Garmon.

But this year we're not. 


We spent much of 2010 and 2011 praying for one of our member's daughter, Olivia King, who has CF and was in need of her second liver transplant. She spent more of those two years in the hospital than out. 

Olivia is in the center, back row.

The floor she's normally on houses other CF and transplant patients ... all children, as this is Egleston Children's Hospital, or as her parents call it, Hotel Egleston. 

This year, as we planned our party, Liv asked her mom if this year, we would get gifts for the kids spending Christmas at Hotel Egleston instead of for each other.

We all love the idea and now, have a new tradition. I haven't had the fun of shopping for young kiddos in a long time. I can't wait to hit the stores! We'll wrap them at our party and let Olivia distribute them. She'll know exactly the right recipient. 

So, what are you dong this year?