This week, we wanted to share a time-sensitive Christmas activity, but due to events which we’ll get into in this post, we’d like to share both the original activity as well as an alternative. So buckle up for a rundown of how to write a letter to Santa – or to someone else!

Thanksgiving is approaching, and preparations for the festivities are in progress in many of our homes. Just as you prepare your home and hearth, we invite you to prepare your heart to celebrate your blessings, two minutes at a time.

In Japan in 1997, an international coalition of like-minded organizations formed to “inspire individuals towards greater kindness by connecting nations to create a kinder world.” This coalition, the World Kindness Movement, introduced World Kindness Day on November 13 of the following year. As this year’s World Kindness Day approaches, we wanted to remind you that every act of kindness has a ripple effect that expands much larger than the initial deed. How will you start a ripple this year?

For the past few years, we have spent the season of Advent traveling together around the world, experiencing Christmas traditions in different countries. This year, we’d like to travel around our own corner of the world and share traditions from the Desert Mission community – and your family tradition could be one of them!

Next week we celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the chartering of Desert Mission! In preparation for this monumental occasion, we’d like to invite you to take a look back at the last 20 years…and a look forward into the next 20. And then, let’s make some art together!