compassion Archives - Saving Time & Money l SamiCone.com

Change the Story: The Compassion Experience February 8-10

January 31, 2013 By brenna

I love Compassion and what they do to help better the lives of so many in need. When I heard about this event they are having, I couldn’t help but share it with everyone. All the details are listed below:

Change the Story: The Compassion Experience will be at HopePark Church in Nashville Feb. 8-10 (8001 Highway 70 South, 37221). This immersive experience brings visitors into the developing world through a story told by a child growing up in poverty in one of three countries around the globe. The self-guided tour takes about twenty minutes to complete.

Change the Story offers a unique opportunity for those who have desired to travel overseas but haven’t had the time, resources or ability to briefly experience what life is like in another part of the world. The tour is also a great opportunity for parents to teach their kids about the realities of poverty and also to help them understand the blessings they have — all in the safety of a controlled environment. Visitors will also experience the hope that exists for these children through the love of Jesus and the care and support of a child sponsor.

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies Tagged With: 2013, compassion, event, february

How to Give Back during the Holidays with your Kids & Meaningful Gifts

December 20, 2012 By sami

If you’re wondering how to give back during the holidays with your kids, or even just give some meaningful gifts, I have some great ideas that will help everyone on your list!

No matter how young your kids are, there are resources you can share that will not only help them tap into their special talents that they can use to help others, but most importantly, remind them that this season is not just about receiving gifts.

Here are just a few ways to keep focused on the meaning of the season:

*Set family goals – Dave Ramsey has great programs for adults and kids so you can set financial goals together, plus has a great kids book “The best Christmas ever” teaching kids about compassion and a handmade Christmas (Starter bundle: If you’re just starting with Dave’s principles, this is a great way to get immersed in the essentials that will transform everything you do from here out. – was on special for only $39.99) + Kids Monster pack for just ($49)

If you want to win 1 of 5 copies of the Dave Ramsey Junior series book “The Best Christmas Ever”, enter here!

If*Don’t underestimate your kids: Thomas Nelson’s “Live to Give” is about how a teenager’s idea turned into a full-fledged charity. Ask you kids what they’re passionate about and how they’d like to help then go do it!

Case in point, “Live to Give” is about and written by Austin Gutwein who founded a relief ministry that has saved and improved countless lives in Africa. Ultimately, “Live to Give” has the message that every teen needs to hear: You are more special than you know, and you can do big things. This teenage philanthropist accomplished all these things before the age of 16, and shares how to take what may seem like the simplest of talents, gifts, and interests and use them for something Jesus can use to move mountains.

*Don’t get so over-booked that you don’t have time to give of yourself. Some of the best ways to give back are simply offering your talents and skills in your neighborhood or community (plus it doesn’t cost anything but your time!)

*One of our favorite ways to teach our kids about giving back is through child sponsorship. We sponsor two children through Compassion International and also pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child – both have ways you can still give in time for Christmas online!

However you choose to help this Christmas, make sure to involve your kids and give gifts that have a deeper meaning that point people to the true reason for the season!

Watch my Fox TN 17 Mornings Video on the same topic!

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, Kids Tagged With: charity, compassion, dave ramsey, fox, gifts, give, thomas nelson, tv

Our new Sponsored Compassion Kids!

August 30, 2012 By sami

If you recall from last month, we wanted to celebrate Kariss’ 8th birthday in a very unique way…by sponsoring two children from Compassion International (you can read all the details of what lead us to this decision on the Compassion Blog).

Well we finally received our child sponsorship information and got to “meet” our kids for the first time thanks to the welcome kit!

It was extremely important to our kids that we find kids to sponsor that shared their same birthdays. But once we did that, there was little more to go on besides a little bit about their family and where they lived.

So when we received a twenty-three page booklet in the mail that not only shared more about the child, their family environment and country of origin, as well as how we could better communicate with and pray for them, we were thrilled! It finally felt like we could really incorporate them into our family in a meaningful way.

It hasn’t been long since we’ve received our information kit, but the kids have already hung their pictures on the fridge and started praying for them by name daily. We especially appreciate the bookmark that was included that has the child’s picture on one side and a specific prayer request for every day of the month on the other side. I’ve come to realize that not only are these important characteristics to pray over our Compassion child, but equally important to pray over our own children as well.

Because correspondence can take so long between us and them, we’re already planning what we want to do to help them celebrate Christmas and how we can begin to give them a glimpse into our family life. While these children may not be physically here with us, they have already taken root in our hearts and in our home.

It’s even to where Kariss has asked to give her birthday money to Gabrielle and asked how much more money we needed to save to go visit her in Brazil. When watching the Olympics and learning that the next Summer Games are in Rio, Kariss exclaimed, “That’s in Brazil – we can go visit Gabrielle!”

Love her thinking

Have you taken the time to look into sponsoring a child through Compassion International? Just promise me you’ll take time to think about it and maybe click over to see their precious faces…I guarantee you’ll never be the same!