I called our dentist, Dr. Grant Brough, and asked if they could donate some toothbrushes and toothpaste. I thought they would be out of supplies from others asking for donations, but they weren't. They gave us 48 toothbrushes and 48 toothpastes. AWESOME! HOLY COW! I cried when they told me how many they would give us.
Then I called Erika and asked if they still were wanting to get rid of all the shampoos, lotions and stuff Sean brings home from all his work trips. So she gave us a bag full.
So for family night this week we assembled 3 big & lots of mini hygiene kits. The kids were loving it. Then we talked about what else we should go and buy. We all went last night to buy deodorant, razors, shaving cream, blankets, thick socks, food, drinks, and I can't remember what else.
So this morning we assembled the bags and then we went down to Pioneer Park down in Salt Lake City. Before we got out of the van we talked to the girls. We said they can choose one person that they want to give there bags too. But first we walked all around the park so they could find someone they wanted to give it to.
There was an event going on in the park that a group was feeding and giving clothes to the homeless people. Isabel found a person sleeping on the ground by a tree that she wanted to give her bag too. But we kept on walking so that maybe that man would wake up so Isabel could give it to him. Lili saw a man and started running toward him. He had no idea a little girl with a huge bag was running slowly to catch up to him. He got way ahead and we told her we'll catch someone else.
We walk to the center where the food was and Lili takes off. She sees her guy she chose. He then walked to the front of where the food was. Enrique was walking with her and then as soon as the man started walking the other direction, so did Lili. Enrique couldn't see her as she was going through the crowd. Enrique caught up to her and they found her person.
Lili tried to give him her backpack and the man didn't realize what she was doing. Then Enrique told him that she wanted to give him her backpack she made for him. Then he saw the little Christmas card she had made also. He asked her name and his name is Gus. Lili asked Enrique to pick her up and he did. She leaned over and gave Gus a huge hug. That's when I saw her. I was just so proud of her, I got all chocked up and the tears couldn't be held back.
Just then Gaby found a man she wanted to give her bag to. She walked up to him by herself and said "Hi sir, I would like to give this to you. Merry Christmas." He grabbed the bag and walked away very fast.
Then Enrique and Lili came back over and to us with another person. She was one of the people in charge of the event going on and she also went to high school with Enrique. We talked a bit and Isabel was antsy to take her bag to the man still sleeping by the tree. So they went over and tried to wake up the man. He never did wake up and she was a bit sad but happy to know he would have a blanket to cover up with because he only covered up partially with his coat.
As Enrique and Isabel took her bag over, the rest of us went to get in the van, it was freezing. On our way to the van, Gaby says "Mom, I feel so good inside. This really made me feel really good inside." Again the tears could not be stopped.
We all got in the van and we still had 45 other hygiene kits to give away. So we went down to the homeless shelter where the people were lining up to get in. We parked and started at the end of the line handing out the hygiene kits.
I was honestly uneasy about it, the kids were too but we did it any way. Most people wanted them, some people didn't. We handed all the hygiene kits out and now it was just toothbrushes with toothpaste. Isabel asked the one man and he said 'no thanks, I don't need it, I don't have any teeth." Then he smiled and yup, no teeth. It was hilarious.
When we were done, the kids said, "it was more fun than we thought it would be." They all felt really good inside and we talked about it.
I am just so proud of our girls. They truly did get the true meaning of Christmas. I don't think they will ever forget this Christmas, what they did or how they felt.
