It's about giving....

Christmas is about giving - to our loved ones as well as those less fortunate. Valentine and the surrounding communities really know how to give; always I'm amazed at their generous nature from spaghetti and hamburger feeds to the time and energy spent on the Relay for Life, and the way the Veterans Club work together for the betterment of the area with youth activities like Legion ball, the Easter Egg Hunt and Fill an Empty Stocking!

Here's a message for this Christmas...

Parents or guardians receiving social services may sign-up their children to benefit from these projects at Union Bank & Trust Company located at the corner of Hall Street and Highway 20 in Valentine. The deadline to sign up is Monday December 19, 2011. 

A Christmas tree placard will be placed in the Veterans Club window. Numbered hearts will represent each family of children and will be placed on the tree as they are signed up. Leo Brinda Post 90 and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 90 are hoping that local folks will choose a number and “adopt” those children for the project. Please look at the tree and call 402 376-2443 to adopt. The deadline to adopt a family of children is Tuesday December 20.
After adopting, donate gifts of your choice, wrap them, mark them with the family number, age, and gender; and then drop them off on the porch at 427 North Main Street. The deadline to turn in gifts for the adopted children is Wednesday December 21.

A delivery date for both projects has been set by Post 90 for Saturday December 24, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Members of the American Legion Family are grateful for the community’s help with these projects that fill the heart.

Yesterday was about books...so today is about toys! You can surely help Santa's gift giving by stopping by these stores and discovering the amazing toys that can be found right here in the Sandhills! 

Let's look at Bomgaars for everything Western, John Deere and hunting lodge! 

Of course there are many little girls who'd greatly appreciate John Deere, but there are even more who would LOVE babies, Lalaloopsy and those squishy, loveable, can't sleep without them, stuffed animals all of  which can be found at Alco!

Between Alco and Bomgaars, there's plenty of games for the entire family! What a nice way begin the  family game night tradition!

Surprise! Toys can also be found at Towne Square! Puzzles, dolls and toys made of wood. And there's toys for boys and girls!

There's one more store to think about toys...the electronic version and that's at Huskerland - Radio Shack! Toys for kids of all ages to be more precise!

Big toys...little toys...soft toys...learning toys...and fun for everyone on your gift giving list toys.. right here in the heart of the Sandhills!

The gift of adventure...

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deeds. Proverbs 19:17

That's what giving is all about! And that's why we celebrate Christmas - because of His fantastic gift to us! And that's why reading is so very important...to read about HIS gift and to share that Gift.

Since 1994, the American Legion family has collected new and good used books to be given to area children at Christmas through the Share the Gift of Reading program. All donated books will be sorted and placed with gifts to be distributed through the Fill an Empty Stocking project. (More information on this tomorrow.)

Books are needed for children of all ages from 1 through 18. Please donate books that you know your own children or grandchildren would enjoy. These books should be new or in very good condition.

Drop boxes for books will be located in the Valentine Library lobby, Plains Trading Company Book Sellers, Valentine Elementary School, and on the porch at 427 N. Main Street. For more information call 402-376-2443. Deadline for all book donations is December 20.

We're so blessed to have two fantastic book stores in the Sandhills!

Plains Trading Book Sellers have books on a wide variety of topics: best sellers, kids books, art, cooking and books about the outdoors. There are also books from local authors who share their version of ranching Sandhill style! There are beautiful photo books that showcase the very best the Sandhills has to offer.

 Best sellers!

 Fun for ALL ages!

 Plains Trading Book Sellers even has books with blank or lined pages for people to sketch or write  down their own thoughts for book! What a beautiful fore edge!

The Ark Christian Books and Gift Store has books for all ages including Bibles that tell of Christ's birth.  There are Bibles for teens, cowboys, and military personnel. There are Bibles for brides, dads, moms, and for the busy woman, there is the Bible clutch! How about that?! There is a place for your cards - debit and credit - drivers license and check book with the Bible right inside- held together with a secure zipper.  Pretty clever!

 Share the gift of hope with Todd Burpo's story Heaven is for Real! 

Of course, the Reason for the Season...read His story and find out how it does become your story...

Cherry Blossom Paperie is a place to make your own books by way of memories and photos in scrapbooks. How about putting your Christmas memories together for future generations to enjoy...you can begin over the Christmas break and families could work on it  t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r!

 Cherry Blossom Paperie also has  a little gift for someone special because friends are the best presents!

Radio Shack has a Nook Color and Kindle for people who prefer to download their reading material. Actually these devices can hold more than one book - they can hold a mini-library! Ta-da! They can also download newspapers and magazines by subscription. Notice the sale prices on these up in the corner of the flyer!

The Ad Council says reading is fundamental...but it's also just plain fun...adventurous...educational...informative...enlightening...and in some cases...life changing!